Beware of Dogs!
“Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice. Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.” – Hebrews 3:7-11 (KJV)
Entering the Rest of God takes more than going to church or being born again. It clarifies what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, that a man, though born again cannot enter into the Kingdom as that is an exclusive reserve for those born of water and the Spirit.
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” – John 3:5-6 (KJV)
In our text, the Apostle Paul sounds a note of warning about how thin a line there is between entering and missing the rest of God. He started by reminding us how God swore (a serious thing when God swears!) that all that came out of Egypt will not enter His rest, save Caleb and Joshua. And this was because “they have not known my ways.” – Hebrews 3:10 (KJV), they hardened their hearts to the ways of God, which Isaiah tells us is higher than the ways of Man. (Isaiah 55)
Paul admonishes, and very strongly too, that we should not be like the wilderness church; that if we hear His voice, we should not harden our hearts. There is a thin line here, and this is because we love God and no one knowingly wants to harden his heart against God! Like Paul who loves to do the will of God according to the inner man, but found himself doing what he did not want to do. (Rom 7), something else other than us is at work to prevent us from entering God’s rest!
This thing may allow us “hear the word” but not the “Voice”, “the letter” and not “the Spirit.” We are not only to hear the word – the letter, but the Voice – the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. In Acts 13:27, the Bible tells how the children of God read the Law, the Scripture every Sabbath day, yet could not hear the “voice” of the prophets, the actual message they passed across!
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.” – Acts 13:27 (KJV)
That was exactly what happened to the wilderness church; that made them “err in their hearts” and not know the ways of the Lord. Unfortunately, it is happening to the Church of today!
Why did they miss it? The dogs!
“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” – Philippians 3:2-3 (KJV)
… to be continued.
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I was at a programme recently where a “prophet” stood and led a series of prayers of which “Terah must die!” was one. The supposed reason Terah had to die was that he had been sitting on Abraham’s progress; so until he dies, Abraham may not progress or succeed in life and Ministry. The air was super-charged with the energy of prayer – Kai! Nigerians can pray! And you could hear the reverberation of thunderous “amens” at the end of it. Most Christians are so gullible, accepting just about anything and everything they hear; whether as message or prayer points.
I believe this stems from the fact that many do not study the Bible on their own to see if what they have heard or received is so written in the holy book. Or is it something peculiar to Africans? The African man is known to hardly read, and that is why someone said if you want to hide a thing from the African, put it in a book!
One example is the last two verses of Genesis 11 and the first few verses of Genesis 12.
“And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.” – Genesis 11:31-32 (KJV)
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” – Genesis 12:1-4 (KJV)
Going by these two scriptures, it would seem that Abraham only progressed in life after the death of his father Terah, and would indeed call for a “Terah must die!” prayer. But no it is not so! A careful study of these would disprove that thought and show that Terah gave every possible encouragement to ensuring Abraham’s success, making unscriptural and baseless, such a prayer.
Why should we look at this?
Let me point out here that this is not a swipe at anyone or Assembly but of the “practice”, of the message that is damaging, with the hope that it would be corrected for the common good of believers.
There is a spirit behind every word. Consequently, the spirit that dwells or resides in such prayers is the spirit of lie and deception; sown in the hearts of men weakens, and if not checked, would completely destroy their Faith, and draw them further from God and His will.
When the foundation, the knowledge of these people is destroyed (Psalm 11:3), there is nothing the Righteous God would do in their lives. God desires us to come to the knowledge of the Truth and to be rooted in it.
“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:7 (KJV)
Every unscriptural message or prayer does more damage than good; rather than build up, it breaks their faith, without which they can’t please God!
Breakdown.
(1) Terah had Abraham when he was 70years.
“And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.” – Genesis 11:26 (KJV)
(2) Abraham left Terah when he was 75years.
“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” – Genesis 12:4 (KJV)
At this time Terah was 145years old. (70years when he gave birth to Abraham + 75years of Abraham.)
(3) At 100 years (25years later) Abraham had Isaac.
“And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.” – Genesis 21:5 (KJV)
Add 25years to Terah’s 145 years, and you’ll have 170years! At this time Abraham had
(a) entered Canaan, (b) prospered and become wealthy and(3) had Isaac (if you do not want to add Ishmael), and Terah was still alive and never “delayed” Abraham in any way!
(3) Terah died 35years later at the age of 205!
“And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.” – Genesis 11:32 (KJV)
Abraham was a fulfilled man before Terah died! I still can’t fathom where the prayer point “Terah must die before Abraham would succeed” came from!
God used Terah to help Abraham.
According to Scripture, “God HAD said to Abraham.”
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” – Genesis 12:1 (KJV)
But he did not move! Was it fear, doubt, uncertainty? The answer is best known to Abraham. God had to move Terah toward Canaan, but not to take him there; hence his decision to settle in Haran, just like God sent a whale to move Jonah to the shores of Nineveh but not enter it. God wanted Abraham alone to enter the place he would afterwards inherit; not with his father or siblings, and informs the reason God did not show him the place till Lot had departed from him.
This move to Harran stirred the mind of and greatly encouraged Abraham to move to Canaan.
Terah trusted Abraham.
It is not often that we see a father whose son had died easily let go of the grandchild as they keep the grandchildren in loving memory of their dead. Terah’s son Haran was the father of lot, whom Terah not only cherished, but took with him to Haran. While still alive, and letting go of Abraham, he allowed him to take Lot with him. This must have cost him emotionally, yet he let go because of trust! He believed in Abraham.
Let us be careful how we interpret and receive the Scripture, one misinterpretation can send multitudes away from God and His will
This is a continuation from SITTING WITH THE LORD https://jimout2002a.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/sitting-with-the-lord
BUT THERE IS A CONDITION!
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.” – Rev. 3:21a
This makes it clear that not everyone can come to His throne or share in the power of His throne!
Only to him, that overcomes. Overcomes what?
There is a power, a force that resists us, desiring to bring us under its control. This brings us back to Psalm 1.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” – Psalms 1:1 (KJV)
There is a combination of:
(1) “….the counsel of the ungodly.”
(2) “….the way of sinners.”
(3) “….the seat of the scornful.”
These things, I call them “the joint forces of this world”; desire to kill us – the sons of God. They tried against Jesus whom they crucified. But He overcame them:
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” – Col 2:15 (KJV)
And was raised by the Father,
“….according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” – Eph 1:19-20 (KJV)
This is Resurrection Life! In Christ, we all have resurrection life.
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” – Eph 2:6 (KJV)
This is like the children of Israel whom God raised up out of Egypt. It was as though Egypt had buried them: no hope no life until with the mighty arm of God brought them out. Now they had life, but not all had power! It takes more than resurrection life to exercise dominion or rule with Christ from His throne!
Being born-again only lets you into another life; operating the power in this life is yet another thing!
How did He overcome, because Resurrection life is from the Father? Resurrection Life is the power of God at work, what did Jesus do?
“…..even as I also overcame.” – Rev 3:21 (KJV)
He did something! He was involved in this victory! What did He do? Especially as He was raised from the dead by the Father.
“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” – Eph 1:20 (KJV)
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” – Psalms 110:1 (KJV)
By Sovereign ordination, we can say Jesus was given resurrection by the Father Who made Him sit.
(1) How did He overcome?
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” -Rev 12:11 (KJV)
He overcame by agreeing totally with the Father’s plan for Him to die for mankind!
He agreed to the full thought and plan of God for Him.
“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.” – Psalms 40:6-9 (KJV)
“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” – Heb 10:7 (KJV)
He went all the way with the Father; not part.
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” – Phil 2:6-9 (KJV)
He was not forced but did this Himself, willingly.
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” – John 10:17-18 (KJV)
Caleb followed God fully. Shedrack, Meshach, and Abednego; with Daniel, followed God fully. What do we say about Paul who was ready to die just to fulfil God’s plan for him?
Going the full length of God’s plan will put us through the fire and through the den of Lions! That is the entry to ruling with Him on His Throne. Think about it, was it just those four Hebrew children that were in Babylon at that time? No! These did not shrink from the command of God, even when threatened with fire and the lions! We must not shrink or pull back as God takes no pleasure in them that drawback or compromise!
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” – Heb 10:38 (KJV)
“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” – Matt 10:39 (KJV)
The greatest temptation and challenge for us as Christians is the desire to save our lives.
(2) Where did He overcome?
The place where He fought the battle and won the victory was in the Garden of Gethsemane on Mount Olives.
“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives…..and they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.” – Mark 14:26, 32 (KJV)
(3) When did He overcome?
On the Cross? No! He overcame for mankind on the Cross. But for Himself, He overcame before the Cross! That was what gave us the Cross. If He didn’t overcome, He wouldn’t have gone on the Cross! Not just the prayer at Gethsemane but at the time of self-denial when He said “not my will but your will be done” after the agony of a Soul filled with sorrow to the point of death! It is possible to pray all that prayer yet not submit to the will of the Father; certainly, mankind would still have been doomed. But despite what sorrow He began to feel, He still denied Himself, putting His will aside and resting on the will of the Father. This was when He overcame!
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” – Luke 22:42 (KJV)
The time of submission to the Father is always the time of victory.
(4) What did He overcome?
He overcame the self-nature! The Adamic nature was not in Him, however, there is a gravitational pull on the soul of man not to do the will of God (bearing in mind Jesus was hundred percent Man and hundred percent God). He was not spared this battle, which is the reason for the agonizing sorrow of His Soul!
“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” – Luke 22:44 (KJV)
The Mind, located in the Soul, is the battlefield. Paul recorded this battle in Romans 7.
“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” – Romans 7:21-24 (KJV)
Jesus overcame this gravitational pull, and we are expected to overcome it!
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” – Luke 9:23-24 (KJV)
You have to overcome this pull before you can even pick your cross!
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” – Romans 8:12-13 (KJV)
Note!!!
This very victory; there are seven of them of which this is the seventh; this victory does not come through groups or by associations! You win this victory when you are alone!
“And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.” – Mark 14:35 (KJV)
“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying……” – Matt 26:39 (KJV)
Jacob overcame, “prevailed” when he was alone.
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” – Gen 32:24 (KJV)
Abraham did not receive the inheritance until Lot was separated from him.
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.” – Gen 13:14 (KJV)
Elijah shunned Obadiah’s suggestion of other prophets. He did not ask to see any or try to have a “prayer partner”.
“Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?…… ….then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.” – 1 Kings 18:13-14, 22 (KJV)
Jesus had to teach Peter this aspect of leadership.
“Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” – John 21:21-22 (KJV)
True leaders are, in a strange way, alone. They can work with people, yet they know that victory does not come when actions and decisions are based on general opinion. Learn to be alone sometimes, like Jesus. If you cannot pull yourself once in a while out of the crowd, you cannot have access to the Throne or rule with the Lord. Learn to walk alone, with the Lord!
Who is a rich man?
“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:13-21 (KJV)
A man came to Jesus asking Him to intervene in a wealth-sharing dispute between him and his brother who did not want to share their father’s wealth with him. Jesus answered, telling him He wasn’t made a judge over them. His answer has a two-way application. He wasn’t a judge officially over such matters, but indirectly, He told him that the material life was not the reason or purpose of His coming.
This inspired the teaching against covetousness and the parable of the “rich Fool”, a man society called “rich”; Jesus also acknowledged he was rich, and that means he was rich! Yet, heaven called him a fool. Why?
1) He thought the security of life depended on the earthly acquisition: an abundance of wealth, education, connection, location, etc. Sadly, many hold this view today, even in Church, that the more wealth a man has, the more secure he is. This lie looks so golden, whereas it is deception in its highest form, and the creator of the end time god – mammon.
Jesus warned against the deceitfulness of riches and taught that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses.
2) He believed the things he got were results of his labour and hard work. Again, this is another sad thing in Christendom. There is a general belief that the harder a person works, the richer he would be. Over the years, the “prosperity message” has hoodwinked many a believer into a frenzy of going to work very early in the morning and coming back late at night “only to eat the bread of sorrow”, forgetting that “the race is not to the swift …”
3) He made plans as though he had power over his life. We often times forget that our lives belong to God and are in His hand, and He can make a demand of the life at any time. Job reminds us that no man has the power to retain the spirit (life) in him. When God calls, we respond. But hear this “rich man” speak as though he had power over tomorrow and can resist the call of God. People think some are being “over righteous” when they add “by the grace of God” to their statement.
4) He built his life on and around things that have no eternal value. Everything changes: nothing in this world is stable or durable. Building one’s hope on a shifting thing is like building without a foundation! How secure are those things after the death of the man? Who will inherit those things?
The frenzy with which man run after these things that the Bible clearly and unequivocally teaches to be “deceitful” is so alarming that it has become a standard of judging who is, and who is not a true believer, forgetting that love of things in the world is enmity with God.
Jesus said anyone who thinks and plans like this way, is regarded by heaven as a fool. (Luke 12:21) Why?
God’s ways differ from ours! The way we see things is not the way heaven see things! (Isaiah 55) What Man calls treasure, heaven calls nonsense! We do not value the things God values!
Clogged heart of Man
Solomon realized this and said on his return to God, “all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2). Vanity means the quality of being without value; futile, useless, nonsense! That is where Man’s heart is, and God is clearly disappointed in this.
“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.” – Psalm 4:2 (KJV)
Man’s heart is clogged up with the “weeds” of this world – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. All these dull the heart, choke the word of God and makes one unfruitful in godliness.
What are we expected to do?
This is a heart situation, because where the treasure of a man is there will his heart be also, and since man cannot fix himself, only God, Who can farm or cultivate the heart can. But He will not; until we willingly come to Him.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
We need to come to Him; to present ourselves to Him to weed off “the cares of this world” from our hearts. For this, He calls us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
“Come”, He says. Many have not “come”, though they have come to church. However, this is not a Church issue! Many are in church but have not “come” to the Lord. Nevertheless, He knows those that are His. Neither is it a ministry issue. It is not what work you do for Him because on that day He will say to some, “depart from me ye that work iniquity, I know you not”. It’s like saying, “I don’t know you, I don’t remember seeing you; you never came to me!”
The proof of your coming to Him is in how much value you place on what He values! Jesus asked Peter in John 21, if he loved Him more than the fish, representing all we wake early to pursue and come in late to acquire.
What does God place value on? His Word!
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” – Psalm 138:2 (KJV)
How much of His word do we treasure? How have we been handling His word, because this is what shall be used to clean us!
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” – John 15:3 (KJV) Emphasis mine.
It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to live in agreement with the Father, loving what He loves and hating what He hates; and He will not live or dwell in a dirty, polluted heart. Using the instrument of the Word, the disciples were cleaned and made ready to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Without the Word spoken to them, they would not have been able to receive the Holy Spirit!
Again, the Bible repeats it.
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it (the Church) with the washing of water by the word.” – Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) Emphasis mine.
In 2 Kings 5, we see the Syrian captain Naaman, instructed by the prophet Elisha to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River for him to be clean. The number seven, here, represents the mind of God; completeness, nothing to be added or subtracted. The water represents the Word of God. Like Naaman, we should dip ourselves in it to be made whole and clean.
But again, in the Church of today, how much of the Word do we value?
….continued from “The Core” https://jimout2002a.wordpress.com/2018/04/22/the-core
What were the children of Israel doing when Aaron was work on the image? Excitedly preparing to receive “their god”! They gave life to the image through their collective thought energy.
That is how a spiritual house is built. The collective agreement of a people, “what two or more shall agree…” Whether it is divine or cultic that principle is potent!
The direction of your thought, of your mind, determines what deity you contact; God or the dog! That is why Paul would encourage us to think pure thoughts.
Now satan, prince of the power of the air, influenced God’s people to build him a house.
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”- Eph 2:2 (KJV)
“In which you were living in the past, after the ways of this present world, doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air, the spirit who is now working in those who go against the purpose of God.” – Eph 2:2 (BBE)
“….doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air.” Many are still under his influence, doing his will.
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” – John 8:44 (KJV)
We are of the priestly – the Core.
This satanic life was what Aaron saw; something beyond natural eyes!
This was the reason Moses blamed him; it’s like saying “you saw this thing and invited it upon the children of God?”
Moses never said Aaron lied because he also saw something in spirit; something no other saw, not even Aaron.
“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)” – Ex 32:25 (KJV)
They were not stripped of clothing but of the presence, power and protection of the Lord. Like Samson after his hair was cut, they thought God was still with them. But no, they had been rejected.
Why were Adam and Eve driven from the Garden of Eden? They became naked spiritually, stripped of the presence and glory of God and consequently rejected. What about King Saul who was also rejected?
Why were they all rejected? They had crossed the line to another deity! How?
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” – Romans 6:16 (KJV)
Our God is a jealous God. He will not share His glory and honour with any being; human or spirit. Whenever any being is brought into His realm He withdraws.
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. 6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.” – Ezek 8:5-6 (KJV)
“That I should go far off from my sanctuary”. God wants to leave because some other being was brought in.
Why wouldn’t He resist? Is He not God?
He respects our free-will.
“See what they do?” (Eze. 8:6)
To what do we apply your free will?
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” – Romans 6:16 (KJV)
However the consequences of our choice, good or bad, still await us.
“For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. “ – Jer 31:11 (KJV)
Our text suggests that Jacob was in trouble.
He had sold himself to people more powerful than he is and would ever be. Either by indebtedness or by any other means, he had mortgaged himself, his life forever without any possibility of him being able to save himself.
God decides and declares that he has come to his rescue. The word redeem from where we got redeemed, means to recover by an expenditure of effort or by a stipulated payment.
Jacob served Laban, his father-in-law because he had no money to pay dowry and other expenses. One can, like Jacob in such a case, buy back himself by serving if he does not have the cash to do so.
And the word ransom implying the same means money demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner. The only difference in this is that the person (prisoner or slave) is not directly responsible for his freedom. It takes another, a guarantor, a bailiff, to deliver him. In either case, Jacob needed the intervention of another.
In this case, however, God was not referring to physical issues such as we have between Jacob and Laban, but between Jacob himself and the spiritual forces that made him “Jacob”, sup-planter, cheat, etc. He was up against forces that no amount of physical labour could quantify to pay for his release.
I remember a story I read about a horse that a man bought for a member of his family. They all fell in love with the horse, but it was not in the compound most times; always found in the lawn of their neighbour whose family had also fallen in love with the animal. In the fear that the horse might stir up a cold war between the man and his neighbour, the owner sold her to a Jockey.
When both families heard the horse was to compete in a race, they went to the race course to cheer the horse. Both men found themselves at the side of the Jockey who had mounted the horse, enabling the horse one more time to hear their beloved voices which I believe spurred her not only to clear all the hurdles set before it but also to beat all the other horses to return first.
The following day, the man woke to see the horse in his compound. Both families rejoiced at seeing the animal but that was before the Jockey came looking for it. The horse had to be bought back from him, even twice the amount they sold it to him. Why? The worth of the horse had appreciated!
The devil is the accuser of the brethren. We all know this. But one thing we do not all know is that in accusing us the devil puts us up in the spiritual slave market, to hand us over to the taskmaster that promises the most gruesome persecution and pain. That was exactly what happened to Joshua the high priest.
“And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” – Zech 3:2-3 (KJV)
Joshua was “a brand plucked out of the fire”. He was on fire, burning for God, Who makes His angels wind and His ministers a flame of fire.
“Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.” – Psalms 104:4 (KJV)
“And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.” – Heb 1:7 (KJV)
He was in the spiritual state of godliness, with the fear of the Lord in him yet the devil “plucked” him out of that state and clothed him in filth, in rubbish and shame! The filthy garment certainly would have been upon him by a demon making his life miserable. Oh, let him that thinks he stand take heed!
God intervened by sending His angel to rescue him because he was valuable to God. If you were put up for sale in the spiritual slave market, how much would you be worth to God? Would God so value you, that He would give lives, or kill people just to redeem or ransom you? Would God readily give nations for your sake?
“For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” – Isaiah 43:3-4 (KJV)
Generally, God loves us all; and this is recorded in John 3:16. God is not partial and does not take sides. He is not committed to people, race, colour or language. He cannot be bribed or bought over either with our tears, words, thought or deed. However, He is committed to Jesus.
….to be continued.
THE
There is no time in the history of the Church as now when we need to fumigate our spiritual lives, killing of the spiritual pests that trouble us; and make straight the way of the Lord.
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt………And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) 26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” -Ex. 32:1-8; 25-28
Theologians have said for centuries that Aaron lied about throwing gold in the fire and out jumped the calf. But, Moses never said he lied! Yes, to the natural man, this could be the greatest lie in the history of mankind. What if he did not lie!
There are things that we cannot see with the naked eyes, yet we cannot deny their existence. Aaron could have seen one of those. But how would he explain to people what they couldn’t see? Sometimes it is very difficult, almost impossible explain to others what they have not seen, how much more a spiritual thing!
In Psalm 22, David narrated what Jesus saw behind the actions of men.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?…………He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him…………..Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” – Psalms 22:1,8,12-20 (KJV)
These are not the words of David but of the Lord Jesus! You see David was a prophet and one so dear to the heart of God; he was permitted a peek into what the Messiah would go through on the Cross. There is no place in Scripture where David’s garment was parted (vs. 18) or cast on lot. Neither is it recorded that his hands and feet were pierced (vs.16).
Jesus on the Cross saw “bulls of Bashan” (vs.12) and “dogs” (vs. 16), the forces of darkness that influenced man against God, prompting His prayer, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
There were unseen forces at play around the Cross which were also at play in the wilderness in the days of Aaron; even today those forces are still at work, which is why “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Eph 6:12 (KJV) Humans are not our enemies, there are forces influencing them that cannot be seen!
Aaron saw something others did not see.
“And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.” – Ex 32:5 (KJV)
Look at the scenario. Aaron asked for the earrings, they brought them to him and he fashioned a calf out of it. What was so special about what he saw that the Holy Spirit would note “it” for us? “And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it.” Certainly “it” is not the people bringing their gold which at this time they had stopped. Neither would “it” be the “art” work which was always in his sight. So, what did he see?
Something else at this time had “jumped out” onto the calf to take over the image. God would not be jealous if nothing was there!
There is a law of double-identity. God spoke to the prince of Tyrus (Ezekiel 28:2) and the king of Tyrus (Ezekiel 28:12), but He referred to the entity or intelligence behind them: Lucifer – the covering cherub. People could only see the humans, not the power motivating their actions. Jesus turned to Peter but spoke to satan (Matthew 16:23), Paul spoke to a girl but addressed an unseen entity (Acts 16:18).
I remember searching through the store one day, while still living with my parents. I saw a wooden masquerade face my father bought for us as kids in one of his many tours. As I looked at it, I thought how beautiful it would be as a decorative art piece. Since it had openings where the eyes would be, I got two pieces of white paper and with a black pen drew two eyes which I pasted inside the mask where the eyes should be. I hung this mask on the wall of the living room facing the door. The eyes were so real; everyone including visitors noticed the mask and passed comments that the eyes seemed to be looking at them. Two days later my mother asked me to remove it because it was frightening and seemed to follow her every move that day. I just laughed telling her it was a harmless piece of decoration. That night with everyone sleeping, I was alone in the living room writing; gradually I began to feel uneasy and uncomfortable: I was not alone! Something was with me there! But, what or who? I raised my face and looked around. There was no one, yet I continued to feel the stare of something! The second time I raised my face, my eyes went to the mask; a pair of eyes was staring at me! A sudden fear gripped me as shivers ran down my spine! I mustered courage, and with shaky legs walked to the wooden face, took it off the wall and removed the papers I posted on it.
What happened? An entity had “jumped upon” it to reside! It would have been dangerous if I had delayed.
How did the entity get there? Collective thought energy! Everyone that came into the living room thought the mask face was real and alive!
“……..and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” – Gen 11:6 (KJV)
We invited the entity through our thought! The fiends of hell; the powers of darkness can be drawn through thought! That is why need to think pure thoughts.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Phil 4:8 (KJV)
What were the children of Israel doing when Aaron was working on the image? Excitedly preparing to receive “their god”! They gave life to the image through their collective thought energy.
…….to be continued.
Polygamy thrives among the deeply traditional peoples of Africa and especially with the rulers. Jealousy, envy and strife reign supreme as each wife employ every conceivable idea to out-do others in the quest of producing the heir to the throne. This is the story of Abakasina.
ISBN-10: 198693747X
BISAC: Fiction / Cultural Heritage
Available at Amazon.com
STRANGERS IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
A stranger is someone not known, he may be from your community, State or Country; yet a stranger: unknown. A foreigner is someone that is not just unknown but from a completely different country.
“We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.” – Jer 51:51 (KJV)
“The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.” – Lam 1:10 (KJV)
Some translations use “strangers”, some, “foreigner”. But whatever the translation, one thing stands out: the person does not belong there! He is not justified to be there; does not possess the right to be there! Like the image of jealousy in the Temple of God that eventually made God leave His house – The Temple.
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. 6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.” – Ezek 8:5-6 (KJV)
Whatever is not consistent with the nature of God or His word drives Him away from the place; decreasing the manifestation of His power and glory upon that place. When God withdraws His presence dryness and draught would set in bearing various afflictions and diseases; a lack of revival!
If God is the God of all flesh what makes people strangers in the house of God?
“On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever.” – Neh 13:1 (KJV)
God made them strangers! Why? They are not His covenant people. No covenant people were allowed to enter the congregation! The presence of any who is not a covenant person of God threatens the manifestation of the full glory of God at that place. This is the reason revival seem far even in Church today.
Even those of the covenant that did not go with God but followed the strangers were cast out as strangers.
“Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” – Heb 3:8-12 (KJV)
God has a nature: Spirit (John 4:23-24). When one does not worship in and through this nature he becomes a stranger in the house of God; a vessel of dishonour.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” – 2 Tim 2:19-20 (KJV)
How did the strangers come in?
They were brought in by the children of God against the will of God!
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” – Gal 2:4 (KJV)
“In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.” – Ezek 44:7 (KJV)
The strangers were brought in! We the children of God are responsible for the presence of strangers in Gods house! We brought them in against the will of God! We are “adding” to the Church which is the exclusive responsibility of the Holy Spirit!
What is the consequence or effect? Dryness; a lack of glory!
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” – Jude 1:11-12 (KJV)
They defy, pollute and carry away the blessings made for us!
“The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.” – Lam 1:10 (KJV)
The provision given us is shared with the stranger, and now we don’t have enough!
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” – Gal 2:4 (KJV)
THEY POLLUTE US!
Because of them we are gradually loosing our liberty, our provision, our health; we are not manifesting His glory as we should! Again, this is because they are gradually polluting us. They are stiring in us lust for the things of this world. They make us believe they are true brethren and as Christians there is nothing wrong with lusting after these things.
“These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” – 2 Peter 2:17-19 (KJV)
“They boast with words that mean nothing. They lead people into the trap of sin. They find people who have just escaped from a wrong way of life and lead them back into sin. They do this by using the evil things people want to do in their human weakness.” – (ERV)
“When they speak……words of vanity…..they allure”, their words are powerfully potent, yet pungent, especially to the undiscerning Christian who gets carried away through lusts: through “much wantonness”, the weakness of the human flesh!
THEY WEAKEN OUR HEART!
Faith and trust are products of the heart. The words of these strangers weaken our heart, consequently, our faith and trust in God.
“Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.” – Ezek 13:22 (KJV)
THEY MAKE US LEARN THEIR WAY!
“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” – Jer 10:2 (KJV)
Because of the strangers in our midst we have learnt the way of the heathen!
But what would God want us to do?
Flush them out; separate from them!
In the days of Nehemiah, when they discovered strangers were not to be in the congregation, they separated from them.
“Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.” – Neh 13:3 (KJV)
Old Testament you say?
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” – Rev 2:20 (KJV)
Jesus tells His displeasure over the tolerating of a stranger in the congreation and allowed to even teach!
What about 2 Corinthians?
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Cor 6:14-18 (KJV)
The word of God is clear and has explained itself.
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying.
THE MESSENGER
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:1-6 (KJV)
John begins by telling us about the messenger, the person who brings the message. He says many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Prophets profess! They speak There is a spirit behind words or messages spoken. He tells us to examine, look closer, deeper, at the prophets to know or discern the driving force beneath their “professing”. We are not asked to believe the prophets but the spirit. Not just what they say, but the spirit or power that inspires or propels such words.
In Acts 16:
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” – Acts 16:16-17 (KJV)
A young slave girl followed Paul and Silas, saying “good and God-sounding things”, but the spirit behind her message was evil! NO MATTER HOW GOOD A THING MAY BE OR SOUND GOOD, IF THE SPIRIT BEHIND IT IS EVIL THE THING IS EVIL!!!
PREACHING IS NOT ENOUGH!!!
We need to look behind or beneath the message to know what inspires it!
What is behind the message?
(a) Does the Messenger acknowledge That Jesus was born of a virgin, crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, and is the Son of God?
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” – 1 John 4:2-3 (KJV)
“They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” – 1 John 4:5-6 (KJV)
“Confessing” in the New Testament means more than just speaking but goes beyond to establish and confirm the thing spoken by testimony. Some Ministers have denied the Deity of Jesus unknowingly, by claiming to be of some “divine birth”, being anointed before accepting Christ! I can hear Simon the sorcerer claiming same!!! And the seven sons of Sceva before God exposed them!!!
It is not the miracles done, what do they believe? Belief dwells in the heart, in the deep recess of the being, the fountain of Living waters; from where the Spirit flows. What do they believe? On the surface this won’t show (deception), but through the microscope of the Holy Spirit, it can be perceived! (1 Cor 2:10)
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” – Rev 12:11 (KJV)
WORD, not words! Confessing means to “declare”; to speak or say something: one thing, a “testimony” (not testimonies), a life-time investment, what you believe and are ready to defend or die for. The first rule of discipleship is to defend the Faith!
(b) Does the Messenger or Minister convince people of Jesus Christ? He should point or lead people to Christ, not to himself!
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” – Matt 24:5 (KJV)
Today, we advertise ourselves: how wonderful and eloquent we are, where we have been, and people we have met or have in our circle of friends. The mention of Jesus in messages has become more of reference than The Subject. Paul says “we preach Christ.”
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” – 1 Cor 1:23 (KJV)
(c) Does the Messenger confirm or establish the minds of people in Christ? He should deepen the root of his hearers in Christ by giving them hope and peace in Christ and in His word.
“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” – Col 2:7 (KJV)
The Messenger of God should make people know their hopelessness without Christ. There is a false hope given to the people today; “WHAT YOU CAN CONCEIVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE THROUGH A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE!” This sounds good! But it is half Truth and so is not of God! This makes people believe in themselves and in their ability, not In God, Christ or His word! There is absolutely nothing of God in that teaching, which was exactly the same preaching Nimrod gave the people to make them build the Tower! Did they conceive the idea? Yes! Did they build? Yes! Was it of God? No! That was why He scattered it. A false hope is only but for a moment! Enduring hope can only be in God, not in man!
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” – Jer 17:5-7 (KJV)
(d) Does the Minister or Messenger stir in his hearers, higher and more noble thoughts of Jesus than they used to? He should encourage people to love Jesus more and trust Him more; even through his own life style. Is the messenger a person of integrity? When people see the messenger, do they glorify the name of the Lord or do they loathe “the God” of this messenger?
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matt 5:16 (KJV)
Like sensitive children would look at and study a person closely before accepting a gift, we should test the spirits driving the messenger before accepting his “gift”.
To be continued.
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