The life of man on earth 22.0 (many words; confused feelings

Too many words lead to confusion. 

An unrest mind is evidence of a confused mind.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

James 1:19 NLT

It is difficult but let’s give it a try.

Speak less and listen more.

A wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17:27 NLT

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Proverbs 10:19 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.10.19.NLT

Alright, less typing; more doing.

Actions speak better!

The life of man on earth 21.0 (the past, the present, and the future)

For Job, he encountered crises. 

He could not control the events. The past we cannot control. 

How we respond to the past determines the future.

Our attitude to life demonstrates our current actions. 

Job believed he didn’t do anything to warrant his current condition, but he never cursed God. He trusted God. 

When bad things happen to good people, it is part of the cruelty of life.

Joh 16:33 NET I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world, you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.”

The life of man on earth 20.0 (the mystery of wisdom, the unknown)

There is much more unknown than there is.

Those who claim knowledge of everything do not have enough to solve every problem.

We all know that air exists, but no one has seen air before. You cannot hold it.

There is more mystery than revelation.

Those who claim to know God know only a tiny of Him. It is like comparing a drop of water to a mighty ocean. 

Job 38:4-6 NET 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding! 5 Who set its measurements – if you know – or who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its bases set, or who laid its cornerstone –

God gives sufficient knowledge for man to rule the world. 

Dan 12:4 NET “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”

Job 38:36-37 NET 36 Who has put wisdom in the heart, or has imparted understanding to the mind? 37 Who by wisdom can count the clouds, and who can tip over the water jars of heaven,

Those who do not believe in God acknowledge He exists or that there is a Supreme being, but they do not believe in Him.

No one knows it all, and no one can fix this world. 

I believe God knows it all and can fix what He created. 

Jer 18:6 NET “I, the LORD, say: ‘O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter’s hand.’

Rom 9:20-21 NET 20 But who indeed are you – a mere human being – to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?

Believe in God even when it makes no sense!

Under the Oppressor — risk and reward

The enemy intends to make you suffer. 

Every action comes with bad motives. If the devil gives you a gift, it is for a bad purpose, and if he does not give any gift, he is making one of his bad moves on you. 

Either way, the enemy is out to get you!

If you are successful, the enemy is not happy about it. He is sad seeing that you are doing fine.

Exo 1:12 NET But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. As a result, the Egyptians loathed the Israelites,

We must take every step that counters the enemies’ onslaught. The reward of doing this far outweighs the risk. 

Psa 118:6 NET The LORD is on my side, I am not afraid! What can people do to me?

The Bible also says Mat 10:28 NET Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Faith in God (to take a worthy risk), under the Oppressor, is the killer of fear.

God will reward you for the good you do.

Exo 1:17-21 NET 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women – for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!” 20 So God treated the midwives well, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them.

The three Hebrew children refused to bow to a god. 

They risk their lives, but God rewarded them with His glorious presence. 

Daniel chose to pray to the sovereign God. They threw Daniel into a lion’s den. The lions could not touch him because God shut their mouth.

Job said, Job 13:15 NET Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!

And Paul said, 2Ti 1:12 NET Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.

We know that faithful is He who had promised, who also will do it.

Amen!

The life of man on earth 19.0 (tested and tried)

Everyone goes through a test.

A test is a trying period in any man’s life. 

Also, a test is an examination of your stance.

You don’t need to be a believer or an unbeliever to determine whether you will be tested or not tested. 

Job is an example of what I am discussing. 

I am talking about what it is like living in this world. 

Although I believe Jesus is Omniscience, He had a life experience too. So, He knows. 

Heb 4:15-16 NET 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

So, when you go through a challenging time, be strong! 

Respond positively, and in the end, you will win.

One great lesson I learned from Job is that he prayed during challenging moments.

Abraham prayed when he faced a dilemma.

David cried out to God even after committing a sin.

Jesus prayed during the most challenging situation of His ministry.

So, I would pray even when I think I am unworthy, or I am a sinner, or when I feel that God may not hear me. Then, I will pray again.

Remember, “Tough times never last; tough people do!”

Under the Oppressor — back to vomit

The Oppressor does not give up on its victims. Its satisfaction is in the suffering of its victims. Does it care? No!

Slave masters do not like to lose their slaves. 

History told us that after the Emancipation Act, some slave masters still kept their act of slavery and did not let go of the slaves. The devil does the same thing. 

After your deliverance, the devil keeps trying day and night to get you compromised and lose hope so that you go back to your vomit.

The Bible refers to those who give up and return to the old lifestyle as fools.

Pro 26:11 NET Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

Don’t be a fool!

Jesus gave a perfect illustration of this. The evil one does not easily give up on its prey.

Luk 11:24-27 NET 24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ 25 When it returns, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.” 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!”

You must rescue yourself like a gazelle. 

Pro 6:5 NET Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap of the fowler.

Fight hard to rescue your “gates” from the clutches of darkness. The devil wants to get in but do not give him the opportunity.

1Jn 2:15-16 NET 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Pray for us, oh Lord Jesus!

 

Note: the use of certain words reflects the potency of the meaning.

Under the Oppressor — Inertia

I have talked about how easy it is for anyone to give up on anything, but there’s another dimension to this.

There is another part of us that is unable to do anything and unable to make moves to experience freedom. 

It is unrelated to the human willingness to remain in perpetual bondage but a subconscious plus a  master-class act of the enemy that makes anyone unresponsive. 

It is similar to the bizarre experience you have in dreams when you are unable to do anything, especially when you are “pressed” to the bed against your will. I believe some understand what I am trying to convey. 

Judges 16:18-21 NET 18 When Delilah saw that he had told her his secret, she sent for the rulers of the Philistines, saying, “Come up here again, for he has told me his secret.” So the rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her, bringing the silver in their hands. 19 She made him go to sleep on her lap and then called a man in to shave off the seven braids of his hair. She made him vulnerable and his strength left him. 20 She said, “The Philistines are here, Samson!” He woke up and thought, “I will do as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not realize that the LORD had left him. 21 The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison.

The enemy weakens you and makes you unresponsive to the slightest impulse. 

I will give one more example. 

Jesus encouraged Peter to pray so that he could escape the temptation. I believe Peter wanted to pray. He probably made attempts. 

He made bold claims that he would 

Luk 22:31-34 NET 31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.”

He tried. He was too weak.  If he had prayed, the story could have been different.

This was the inertia state of man. It consists of the inability to do anything even though you want to, and it represents the weakest state of any man.

It is the most vulnerable condition that anyone cannot escape. 

Jesus saw his willingness, and He prayed for Peter.

So, Jesus, having been through all our problems prays for us all the time.

 Heb 4:15-16 NET 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

I feel like if Jesus does not pray for us, we will still be saved but not victorious here on earth. 

Heb 7:25 NET So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Yes, Jesus is still very busy in heaven working on our behalf. 

Rom 8:34 NET Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.

Hallelujah!