BLESSED--REVILED

BLESSED---REVILE

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you (give you a bad name), and persecute you (are cruel to you), and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely (tell lies about you), for my sake.

One quick question I need to ask myself, “Am I living in such a way that my life and demeanor are enough of a contrast to my neighbor as to cause him to hate me because of my better lifestyle?” “Do I have enough of the Spirit of God in me as to annoy and anger him just by being in my presence?”

We are still writing about the Traits of Character that Jesus will be looking for when He “Makes up His Jewels” for membership in the KINGDOM (Royalty) OF GOD here on the earth.

Our Ministers have, to a great extent, shied away from teaching and preaching about the Kingdom, probably due to a lack of understanding it as much as they would like to. Many have relegated the Kingdom as being equal to Heaven and Eternity, but, according to my understanding, this is a mistaken view.

Fact is, we have so very little teaching (in the Bible) about what, where, when Heaven will take place, that most of our learning about the subject is still “on the back burner.” It is just as well to have been left there, for we don’t seem to have a much better “grip” on the subject than the early Disciples had. They perceived of it as a POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC system when they asked Jesus about it, according to the Gospels. Most Christians today have the same general idea about the matter, though an increasing number of readers are catching a glimpse of the fact that it will actually materialize RIGHT HERE ON THE EARTH, before what is known as Eternity or Heaven begins.
Jesus did VERY LITTLE teaching about when and where Heaven would be. Most of what He taught was concerning the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Men have tried to interpret with their human, natural minds, what He said in the SPIRIT. It didn’t work then—it won’t work now. We are IN that proverbial “Swamp” of (mis)understanding. We need someone to come along with a Rhema from God to set us on the right path to a proper understanding and interpretation, similar to Elihu with Job and his “friends”.

Job 32:7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration (breath) of the Almighty giveth them understanding (ability to sort out).
Job 32:9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
Job 32:10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.

Only the Spirit of God can enable us to properly “sort out” the teachings of Jesus. The “ink on the paper” is not sufficient for the task. Neither is it sufficient for guiding us in our daily life. WE NEED THE RHEMA OF GOD.

When we listen for, and pay heed to, the Rhema of God, changes begin to take place in our life that set us apart from other folks—even other Christians. A “division” in lifestyle soon begins to become manifest in our daily routine that will become a rebuke to those around us who are more careless about their relationship to Jesus. “Attitudes” begin to raise their ugly heads, and we are “in trouble”.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 IF YE BE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, HAPPY ARE YE; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

“He drew a circle that cut me out—
Heretic, Renegade, a thing to flout--
But Love and I had a wit to win---
We drew a circle that cut him in”.




WHO IS THAT GOD?

The king of ancient Babylon "talked when he should have been listening" one day, to the three Hebrew children. While we have to admit that he was not much different than a lot of us folks living today, we should realize that it is wise to know whom we are talking about when we boast ourselves in what we believe we are able to do. If it is another mere man, we might get away with our boastings, but if our vaunting ourselves involves the God of the universe, we may get more than we have bargained for. Listen:

Daniel 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; AND WHO [IS] THAT GOD THAT SHALL DELIVER YOU OUT OF MY HANDS?

A wicked queen said a bit too much one day, and the Lord took note of it.

I Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

Dogs licked up her blood at about the time she had threatened the Prophet of God. It is risky business.

The king of Assyria sent a message to King Hezekiah one day to tell him that his God would fall before the Assyrian armies the same as the other gods of the country had fallen.

II Kings 18:34 Where [are] the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where [are] the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? Who [are] they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

Good question, but not a wise one. Isaiah, the Prophet of God sent a message to King Hezekiah, telling him: II Kings 19:21,22 This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy [One] of Israel.

II Kings 19:27 But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

The arrogance of the Assyrian king brought forth a speedy and very severe penalty. It is very foolish to defy our God.

II Kings 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

Of course, we don't have anybody who dares to defy our God these days. Right? WRONG.
Such an attitude on the part of mankind is perhaps a bit more subtle and polite than it was in days of yore, but it is still present, none the less.

And, although the longsuffering of the Lord is more pronounced than before, the penalties are similar to those experienced in historical times.

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will GRIND HIM TO POWDER.

OUR GOD WILL DO WHAT HE CHOOSES TO DO, and "all the king's horses, and all the king's men" will not be able to stop, or even retard Him in His plan.

Are there agencies of Government that are opposing our God? Are the governments of the world, any of them, defying our God? Are there any segments of society that are aligning themselves against the knowledge of God? You know the answer.

But, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEM!!! YOU CAN'T STOP THEM. BUT GOD INTENDS TO-- in His own time, and in His own way.

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

We will be wise to fix our attention on God, rather than what our enemies are trying to do to the cause of Christ. Our help will come from Him. Our defense is in Him.

He created the Universe-- not those who oppose Him. He has declared the decree, not His enemies.

His enemies will be made a footstool for Jesus Christ. It will be accomplished by the Hand of God.

Let's look at Him. Let's trust in Him.