KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:24 KJV “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

In one of the African countries a private intelligent organization, went undercover to investigate how corrupt or sincere the Justice system was. It came out that some judged righteously, and a number of them were very corrupt, and took all kinds of bribes to temper Justice.

The Lord calls on everyone to Judge righteously not on how things may appear. To judge also means to choose, conclude or to act rightly. Man is always called upon to make choices or judgements between good and evil, God and Satan.

 Judgement always demands knowing what is just in order to choose rightly.

 It also depends on what has become of interest to you. Titus 1:15 KJV” Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

According to the preceding verse one’s persuasion influences his choices or judgements. The carnally minded individual will certainly make carnal and mundane choices. Whiles the man who is inclined to the Spirit will surely make godly and right choices.

A study of the kings of Israel and Judah shows many of them who chose to worship idols against God’s word and were all rejected by God, died early, defeated by enemies and even ended up in exile. There were those who were very circumspect and chose to please God all the days of their lives. Such kings led their nation into great blessings and prosperity, long reigning period and conquered their enemies. Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter 2: verse 7 and 8 sums up the judgements people make and their corresponding outcome. Verse 7 reads,” To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: And verse 8 also says,” But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Dearly beloved, in the light of the above expositions what judgement would you make about the issues of life? Your judgement determines, whether you have chosen life or death. Deut 30:19 KJV.

 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ” Remember that your judgements or choices are inclusive of your descendants now and some generations after you have left. Get responsible and act righteously, less you jeopardise the life of some innocent souls. Make righteous judgements always.

THOUGHT: YOU ARE AS GOOD AS THE CHOICES YOU MAKE

FURTHER STUDIES

1Kings 15:3 KJV” And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.”

1 Samuel 2:30 KJV “Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:23 KJV” If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?”

In our key scripture the Lord asks the Jews why do they take offence against Him, for making a man whole on the Sabbath day, yet they see nothing wrong in circumcising a man on the sabbath day? The sabbath according to the Lord is made for us Mark 2:27. It is to be a blessing to mankind and not to become of bondage to us. The Jews in defense of the sabbath were planning to kill the Lord, because they felt his action was wrong, yet in the same vein they do circumcise on that very sabbath. This was a double standard. This is a hypocritical stand. These people were like the Jews who brought a woman, they claimed

was caught in the act of adultery. The Lord asked, let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone at her. Everyone left without a single stone hitting her. They were all equally guilty.

 These religious zealots have no love of God in them, and in actual fact, they do not know the Lord.

Their action at defending any law stern from their self-righteousness which is the motivation for whatever they do.

 The self-righteous man lies in the gull of deceit.

 In Luke 18:9-14, the Lord described two men who went to pray. A publican who saw he was an adject sinner, and a Pharisee who justified himself throughout his time in God’s presence. The Lord said the Publican went justified while the Pharisee remained in his sins. Luke 1:53 KJV

” He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

 Salvation is by grace through faith and not of works, it is a gift of God. It is never of works less anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9.

 Self-righteous pursuit is the reason religion becomes a threat to any society.

It creates murderers who are ready to kill any one they fill has fallen short of their religious standards. This was the reason our Lord Jesus came. He came that the self-righteous, swimming in deceit may see the light and be set free. Dear brother or sister if your religious teachings create a sense of self-righteousness in you, then I humbly want to tell you, you need to be saved. Rom 10:3 KJV “

 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Dear one, there is a righteousness that God gives through our faith in Jesus. This has nothing to do with our self-righteousness. Would you do like the Publican and say, “save me Lord for I am a sinner.” Go ahead repent, of your sins and acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your soul today.

THOUGHT: GOD REJECTS, THE RICH, SELF RIGHTEOUS MAN, BUT ACCEPTS THE POOR, SINNER WHO BELIEVES IN HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 10:4 KJV” For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

Luke 18:13 KJV “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:20 KJV” The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?”

A man managed to enter a hen coop, trying to steal some of the chickens. The owner heard the noise in the coop and shouted, ‘who is in there, and the man answered ‘it’s me a chicken’

Jesus who is the truth told the Jews; you people are scheming to kill me. They answered, you have a demon, who is planning to kill you? They would not accept the truth. They ultimately killed Him During the last supper, the Lord had with His disciples, He said in John 13:21, that one of you shall betray me. All of them asked, who is it who will betray you?’ Judas was right there and he never came forward to say, Lord, it’s me, and could have asked for the Lord’s help to be delivered from such a thought. He kept quiet, and after the master dipped the sop and gave it to Judas, Satan entered into him. John 13:27

 Truth is light., and a refusal to admit the truth, sends you into Satan’s grip.

Why do people normally do not accept the truth? One reason men would not admit the truth, is because of fear. Fear of being exposed. This thought is wrong.

 Always know that, it is rather the error which is waiting to destroy you, which would be exposed, saving you from that final shame or destruction. Secondly, Joh 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Truth is light, but men like darkness more than light. Unfortunately, darkness which is the domain of Satan is that which destroys men.

 Darkness simply means to live in error.

Error will always destroy the man or woman who embraces it.

Never think you are smart to deceive others, you have chosen to plunge into the midst of darkness. According to the word of God every deceiver is first deceived

2 Tim 3:13 The husband who starts deceiving the wife ends up being destroyed, and the same goes for the wife who does so. The politician who deceives the masses finds himself in a big public shame. Even his name is not allowed to rest in peace after his death.

 You can’t party with the devil and go away a free man, he would have fed you with poison.

The scripture said man’s deeds are evil and so they love darkness more than light. This has to do with the state of people’s heart. You need a new nature, a new heart. The Lord Jesus is the one specialises in changing people’s hearts. Come to him today for a new heart. Repent of your past life and surrender to Him. Make him the Lord of your life.

If you are born again, yet you are in the gull of deceit, then you may need help from a senior Christian who can instruct you well and pray for you. If not, you may meditate over this message, thinking through it, and then come out with a decision never to walk in lies or deceit again.

 Truth is light and it is the strongest weapon against Satan.

Jesus is the truth. When you always admit to the truth and speak the truth, you would grow up to be like Jesus. Ephesians 4:15

THOUGHT:  LIVING IN LIES KEEPS YOU IN A WORLD OF ILLUSION, YOU HAVE NOT JOINED THE REAL WORLD YET.

 ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH, AND YOU WOULD HAVE NO WORRIES ABOUT FUTURE QUESTIONS

 TRUTH IS LIKE A LION; IT WILL ALWAYS DEFEND ITSELF

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 4:15 KJV” But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

2 Tim 3:13 KJV “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:19 KJV” Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?”

Recently there was a story which went viral on social media, about a girl whose friend poisoned her because she had an iPhone.

King Saul was killed in a battle he should not have died, yet because of envy, he went to that battle and was killed. David should have gone to fight for Saul, yet since he disliked David, he David could not go to that battle.

 Envy in most cases fights and attacks the man who is ordained to save you.

Envy always blindfolds a man to rob him of the human solutions God brings into his life by using him to destroy that very solution or person.

There is a difference between envy and jealousy. Envy is a sense of insecurity that develops in an individual because of the potentials, gifting s, and privileges that another individual may possess, and so considers the existence of that individual as a threat to his glory, success and what have you. Jealousy is also a sense of insecurity but this time, it comes as a result of being over protective about losing something dear or someone dear.

Our key scripture talks about the dominance of enviness over the Jews, that made them want to kill Jesus. The Lord reveals the reason why they fell into the clutches of this cruel   nature. He said they failed to practice the teachings of the law.

 The basic reason why people get envious is because of lack of faith in God.

It is the absence of faith that creates that sense of insecurity and makes the other person look very superior and threatening to you.

 Any one filled with envy lacks the dominance of God’s word period.

A knowledge of the word would teach you in Ps 145:16 that “God opens His hands to satisfy the desire of all living.” You would also know that God has no favourite and would accept all who does what is right.

Gen 4:7 “If thou doest well, will thou not be accepted……” Your state of affairs is as a result of your performance and not any body’s doing.

The Lord said in the last line of our key scripture that, “…why go ye about to kill me…? I wish to ask you, are you going about to kill someone.? This question may sound very much outrageous; for you may be saying, how can I go about seeking to kill anyone? Well, may I ask another question, are you envious of another person? Envy may start as a little dislike against some traits, potential of another, yet it has the great ability to overwhelm you.

 A little envy sets you up on the way to murder.

Kill every evil feeling towards any person. It does not matter who you are, whether, a student, a pastor, a politician or just a friend, kill the slightest feeling of envy. It can make a murderer out of you.

How to deal with envy;

1 Thank God for the good things, blessings you notice about your neighbour. ROM 12:15

2. Accept that God is not a respecter of persons, but blesses all according to His perfect love and judgement. ACT 10:34

3. Accept responsibility for your current state, knowing that, if you improve on yourself, your prospects would rise. Genesis 4:8

4. Decide never to be envious, but refuse any feeling of envy.

The following are some scriptures on envy

(Job 5:2, Prov 3:31, Prov 14:30, Prov 23:17, Prov 27:4)

THOUGHT:  KILL THE SMALLEST FEELING OF ENVY IN YOU, FOR WHEN IT GROWS, IT WOULD MAKE A MURDERER OUT OF YOU.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 27:4 KJV “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”

Job 5:2 KJV “For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:18 KJV “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”

The above key scripture has a lot of answers to gives us.

1. It answers the question; who is a true minister of God?

 The man who seeks the glory of God, who sent Him is a true servant of God.

2. It further answers the question who is a false minister? The false minister is the one, who speaks of himself.

This aspect goes more deeper than just speaking of oneself, but more about the motive for which one does what He does. The way one approaches testimonies may seem he is giving glory to God, yet deep down the heart of the man he is showing how good or powerful he is. All these is self-glory. It makes one seriously miss the mark.

 The Lord says such a person is not a true servant of God.

Dear ministers, may we be very careful not to miss our reward or even access into the kingdom of God at the end of the day.

3. The verse also answers the question, who has no unrighteousness in him?

 The man who continually seeks God’s glory has no unrighteousness in him.

 This implies anyone who seeks self-glory is full of unrighteousness! MERCY!

Let us take a closer look at this issue of seeking self-glory. This is a very subtle means of the devil to rob the servant of God off so much blessings.

 The bases of self-glory is pride.

It is an inner longing for recognition, appreciation and reward. These three corrupted virtues become the foundation or motivation for whatever such a person does. It may lead him to exaggerate about events that never occurred. He may even say exactly what happened, but deep down within him, he is saying, ‘don’t you see I am a great man of God’. This is the quest for recognition and appreciation coming to play over here.

The aspect for rewards, is normally seen in building up offence in that man. He may easily complain. “These people are ungrateful and they seem not to notice all the sacrifice, I have been making.”

(Note: This does not mean it is wrong to instruct the people of God to appreciate the gift of God, it is all about the motive Ph 4:17)

The motivation for rewards can cause the man to be very manipulative in order to obtain some benefits from the people.

The way out of such a nasty Web is to closely observe the ways and attitudes of our master Jesus. Philip 2:5 -7 reads, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God taught it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of not reputation and took upon Him, the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men”? The Lord gave no place to recognition, appreciation and rewards, by putting down His reputation and glory as God and became a servant or a slave. As a slave he has no grounds to demand reward.

 The truth is that, God makes things functions in such a way that, true servants or those who really give acceptable services cannot be ignored.

They would surely be rewarded. Stop getting offended and complaining, keep serving in the name of the Lord, and He would reward you. Luke 10:17, 1 Tim 5:18

Please note also that, every ability you have was not self-made. You received it from the Lord. Let the glory go back to Him. Let your joy be that His name is continually glorified through you.

THOUGHT:  KICK OUT EVERY SELF GLORY, AND PROJECT THE CHRIST GLORY.

 WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM, THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD NEVER BE PROUD

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:27 KJV” John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”

1 Ch 29:11 KJV” Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:17 KJV “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Bishop David Oyedepo once said,” the secrets of men are in their stories”, in the same way, the ways of God are in His doctrines. His teachings reveal who He is, and how He does His things. Doing His word brings you into knowing Him. The Lord said, if a man will act on God’s word He will encounter God, and then know that, God is the source of that teaching. What is the mark of God’s presence in anything?

1. The first sign of the presence and power of God, in any place or life, is the perfect peace, He fills one’s heart with.

2. The next is a life of uprightness and hatred for sin, as well as love for all persons. If one has no genuine love for others, God is not in that person’s life.

3. Then comes freedom from satanic and demonic dominance.

There are also other blessings like divine wisdom, healings, prosperity and supernatural occurrences that demonstrates the works of God, and in some cases persecutions. Mark 10:30

The grounds, on which to experiences these, is by doing what the word says. James 1:25 KJV “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

The scripture says if you would act on the scripture, you would be blessed in that deed. It means God will approve of your actions by making it bring positive results.

If your heart and mind is tormented by all kinds of issues, then the scriptures say, be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6,7). Peace will surely come to the man who honors this word. The scripture says further in Isaiah 26:3 that, God will keep the man whose mind stays on Him in perfect peace., so if you would fix your thoughts on him, you would maintain your peace.

Dear one if you are struggling with any bad habits, just spend a great deal of your time reading over and over again scriptures that shows you, how that Christ has made you conquer that habit. As you start affirming that, indeed, you are free from that habit, you would indeed see your freedom from that lifestyle. When you continue in the word, you would know the truth indeed, and it would surely make you free (John 8:32). Dear one you continue in the doctrines of scripture and experience the mystery of answered prayer, and healings of sicknesses.

 The bible is not a history book, it is the breath of God expressed in words and thoughts.

THOUGHT:  TO EXPERIENCE GOD, DO HIS WORD

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:31 KJV “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.:

Prov. 4:20-22 KJV” My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:16 KJV” Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”

When the Jews expressed their wonder about the fact that, the Lord had not undertaken proper training in the law, yet could teach so well. He corrected them that he is not teaching anything of His own, but the one who sent Him, He gives him what to say. He is only a conveyor of what he receives. No wonder His messages were so impactful.

 It is one thing teaching what you think you must teach, and it is another thing receiving from God to present to the people.

In John 5:30, the Lord said, ‘I can of mine own self do nothing, what I hear I judge……”.The Lord said, He was helpless without the Holy Spirit .

 If what you teach is not that which you hear from the Lord, then you may be teaching outside the will of God.

The last statement is very serious and also very important. How could Jesus feel helpless without the Holy Spirit? Remember that according to Phil 2:6 He has always being in the form of God and it was not wrong to remain that way, yet He put aside His glory as God, and then became man. As a man He had to depend totally on the Holy Spirit to be very successful. Most preachers who do not wait on the Lord to receive specific instructions on what to teach or preach may either be running ahead of God or behind him. Now just consider the Lord’s statement again. (John 7:16 KJV Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.)

His statement meant, His message is from the Father, and He is on assignment for the Father. This means He is representing God. As a representative of God, the following points stand out

1. He speaks on God’s behalf

2. He bears no glory or shame for all glory goes to God

3. Every ability comes from God.

When a servant of God has this understanding, he is free of worrying about anything. His main duty is to polish up himself, or discipline himself in such a way that the master can rightly make use of him.

The process of discipline involves

 1 Abstaining from sin. 2Tim 2:19 KJV” Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

2. Discipline, also involves giving in to search the scriptures to let the word fill you up , so you would rightly divide the word.2 Tim 2:15.

3. The next is to give attention to prayer and fasting Matt 17:21. Prayer will put your spirit on fire and fasting humbles the soul of man to easily yield to the Spirit of God. Matt 6

4. To be always ready to do what the Spirit instructs you. 1 Corinth 15:58

Anyone who goes through these disciplines diligently, will be fine-tuned to be used by the Holy Spirit. You would be a good representative of God.

THOUGHT: TO BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD, JUST FOCUS ON THE LORD AND  GIVE OUT WHAT HE GIVES YOU .

FURTHER STUDIES

2Corinth 5:20 KJV” Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

2Corinth 2:14 KJV” Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

WHEN MEN DON’T KNOW JESUS

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:15 KJV” And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”

The Jews marvelled at the teaching ability of Jesus. They even said implicatively, ‘ this one has not learnt to write how come he is teaching so powerfully like this’? This trend has not changed at all. People still say all kinds of negative things about Jesus because they have no idea about who He is. On the flip side Jesus keep manifesting His power and presence to the many who come to Him like babies. Matthew 11:25 KJV” At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” It is only the humble ones who can really accept what God has revealed about Himself. According to the bible man through his wisdom cannot know God. 1 Corinth 1:21.

The Jews marvelled at the abilities of Jesus because they did not know He is God, the creator of the universe John1:3. They knew not that He is the eternal word of God John 1:1. These people were   not just hearing Him teach for the first time, but have been hearing Him teach and perform diverse kinds of miraculous feats, yet their minds were still closed to accepting who He was. The Lord is a supernatural infinite being whose existence is outside and beyond our finite world. To know Him, you must accept the revelation of Himself. You must accept all that He has revealed to us about Himself. Our minds cannot figure out how He exists or His origin. It is simply beyond our ability to reason it out. He Says we cannot know Him by reasoning.

He has given us enough manifestations about Himself to help us know and surrender to Him. The scriptures say in Heb 11:3 that by “faith we understand…”. To understand Him, according to the scriptures, believe what He’s said about Himself. His virgin birth, His incomparable teachings, amazing miracles, the Father’s testimony about Him, His sufferings, death, burial and resurrection. His resurrection encounters with His disciples and His ascension into the heavens. All these were not done mystically but among people who lived to testify of their encounters with Him. Above all most of these people were prepared to be killed terribly for what they testified and said they indeed encountered Him. Those of us who humbly accept their testimony have also encountered amazing experiences in His name. In His name I have seen the dead come back to life and certain incurable diseases healed.

 Above all I have known the peace of mind and the power of a changed life that is patterned after His word.

Dear one, do not be deceived by others and your mind that cannot conceptualise His existence, humble yourself and believe on Him today. You would also experience the peace of mind and a changed life. He will heal your sick body too, if you would trust Him to do so.

THOUGHT:  JESUS IS REAL, BUT ONLY THE HUMBLE CAN KNOW HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 1:11, 12 KJV He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1Corinth 1:18,19 KJV For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:14 KJV Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

The Lord went to the feast inspite of all the threats of the Jewish leaders, yet He took advantage of the large gathering to preach the Goodnews to them. The scripture says we must “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  2 Tim 4:2 The Lord fulfilled this scripture to the letter This was an out of season period, yet He saw a great opportunity to share the word with them. The Lord was not going to allow the threats of the people to prevent Him from doing what the Holy Spirit prompted Him to do. We must always be ready to obey the voice of the Spirit even in moments when we do not feel like doing it.

 Conquering your will to do what the Lord says is the real molding of character.

What each one of us must know is that we do not live for ourselves. The scripture said, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:21

The anticipated threats of the people did not materialise after all. He spoke and did all that He was led to do and nothing happened.

 Real failure is to respond to the instructions or threats of the devil. It is seen, when you act out of fear. Indeed, it is what God says that matters. We will achieve so much for God if we would just follow the voice of the Spirit.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome shared a testimony of an occasion that certain cult group on their campus warned that everyone in the school should stay indoors and put out every light in their rooms, because they would be matching through the campus. They threatened that, anyone they met would face their fury. The man of God said, he prayed about the situation, and the spirit of the Lord asked them to meet at that very hour. They obeyed, met and prayed. The cultists could do nothing to them. The cultists rather dispersed. A number of the cult members were later converted to Christianity.

 The threats of the devil do not carry any substance.

The Lord says the following about the threats of the enemy. Isaiah 8:10 KJV “Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us_ “.The Lord is with His people, and it is what He says that would prevail.

THOUGHT:   SUCCESS IN LIFE IS ALL ABOUT PLEASING GOD*

FURTHER STUDIES

Joshua 1:7 KJV “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”

John 4:34 KJV “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:14 KJV” Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.”

The Lord’s action in going to teach during the course of the feast, sounds like a big paradox. The Jewish leaders were seeking for Him to kill Him, and so He kept Himself in the quiet. He did not even go along with His brethren. Barring all these He goes to the feast and then goes to teach in a place where everyone could see Him and attack Him, if they so wished. What is happening here? The Lord’s action was never out of fear for His life, but just following the counsel of the Spirit. He was also never afraid of the Jews.

Fear is a detachment from the Spirit. Fear is one of the signs of the dominance of the flesh. The Lord never functions in the flesh. The Lord was always on top of every circumstance because He was constantly led by the Spirit. He is the creator of all things, and his creation could never threaten Him. John 1:10 KJV” He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. “He said His father was always with Him, because He always did that which pleases the father John 8:29. Fear has so much torment and nothing could torment the Lord emotionally since that would show no faith in the father. Anything done without faith is a sin. The Lord was without sin.

Why could He never be overtaken with fear?

1. He said, the father was always with Him.

2. He could ask for angelic support and assistance.

3. Nothing took Him by surprise.

4. He was a man of the Spirit and walked in absolute faith in God. Fear is a product of the flesh. Fear does not function in the presence of faith in God.

What do we learn from His example?

1. Get to know the Lord in truth. You do this by accepting the revelations He’s given about Himself. Totally trust in Him

2. BE always aware of the presence of angels to assist and protect you. Note we do not give direct commands to angels, but rather ask the Lord to release them for us. Matt 26:53 KJV ” Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”

3. Decide never to panic at any situation, but to trust the Lord always,

4. One sure answer to fear is to live in the Spirit. To live in the spirit is to view everything from God’s point of view. Accept that you are a Spirit, living in a body and having a soul.

THOUGHT: FEAR OF MAN BREEDS MULTIPLE ERRORS

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 29:25 KJV “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Matt 14:9 KJV “And the king was sorry: nevertheless, for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.