Mark 5:25‭-‬34 HCSB “A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe. For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!” Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction. At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My robes?” His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”So He was looking around to see who had done this. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.’ ”‬

What an amazingly happy true story that teaches us about faith in Jesus! This woman didn’t feel in order to be healed she needed a showy display like a long prayer or laying on of hands or anything like that. SHE SAID, “IF I CAN JUST TOUCH HIS ROBES, I’LL BE MADE WELL!” She said what she meant and really meant what SHE SAID. There was no doubt in her mind that it would happen as she said. Her actions spoke louder than her words because she fought her way through the crowd to get to Jesus then touched His robes. This lines up exactly with what Jesus teaches:

Mark 11:23 KJV “For verily I say unto you, That WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT in his heart, but SHALL BELIEVE that those things WHICH HE SAITH shall come to pass; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH.”

SAY IT IN FAITH

What worked for this woman can work for any one of us. We simply have to do what she did: believe in the power of Jesus. We like the woman must say our desire (out loud), that’s right, SAY IT just like the woman did. We must speak to our situation in full faith just like Jesus tells us to in order to move mountains. As we seek to GET IN TOUCH WITH JESUS and only Him for help regarding our situations we are guaranteed success if we believe and do not doubt.

Do not seek to reach Jesus through anyone else. This doesn’t work. The woman did not need a go-between between her and Christ. She reached out to Jesus alone. This is where so many fall short. They want God to help them but they’re depending on man to do it. In the Bible God tells us exactly how to get to Him:

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Pro 8:17 NHEB “I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.”

John 14:6 KJV “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

THE UNIVERSE MUST OBEY YOU?

Many motivational speakers through their seminars, books, and videos will tell you to think positive thoughts, speak daily affirmations to yourself, and work in harmony with your goals. Then you will have everything you want. “The universe has to obey you,” they say. These motivational speakers (preachers) messages are usually bent on obtaining material wealth. But that’s not what Jesus teaches:

Matthew 6:24 NLT “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

And on this teaching, “The universe has to obey you,” God (or who they call the universe) doesn’t have to obey anyone. He created all things, we are His creation. Hence the onus is on us to obey Him or perish.

The woman with the 12 year affliction knew that to have what she wanted she needed to get in touch with Jesus Christ and Him alone. She didn’t seek a motivational speaker or spiritual guru to attain her desire. Satan has many false prophets out here who are spreading lies including the prosperity gospel which is no true gospel at all. The woman with the 12 year affliction teaches us so much about putting faith in God THE RIGHT WAY. May we follow her example by getting in touch with Jesus and receive our heart’s desires.

Psalm 37:4 KJV “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

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Psalm 19:1-4 KJV “The heavens declare the glory of God; and THE FIRMAMENT sheweth his handywork. [2] Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [3] There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. [4] Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN.

Woe, a tabernacle is a tent. God inspired David to write that the sun has a tabernacle or tent. That means that the sun is inside of an enclosed space. Let’s further examine the creation account of Genesis and see if it confirms this:

Genesis 1:1-2 KJV “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was without form or structure, there was nothing in it, it was dark, and there was only water. God’s spirit moved upon the waters. Next:

Genesis 1:3-8 KJV “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. [4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. [5] And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. [6] And God said, Let there be A FIRMAMENT in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. [7] And God made THE FIRMAMENT, and divided the WATERS WHICH WERE UNDER the firmament from the WATERS WHICH WERE ABOVE the firmament: and it was so. [8] And GOD CALLED THE FIRMAMENT HEAVEN. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”

Some more interesting things happened. After God created light and night and day He created the firmament. God divided the waters below from the waters above, and the space in between these waters He called the firmament, which God also called Heaven. Keep in mind that God separated waters above from waters below, and called the space in the middle the firmament and heaven. Next:

Genesis 1:9-18 KJV “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. [10] And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. [11] And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. [12] And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [13] And the evening and the morning were the third day. [14] And God said, Let there be LIGHTS IN THE FIRMAMENT of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: [15] And let them be for LIGHTS IN THE FIRMAMENT OF THE HEAVEN to give light upon the earth: and it was so. [16] And God made TWO GREAT LIGHTS; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: HE MADE THE STARS ALSO. [17] And GOD SET THEM IN THE FIRMAMENT of the heaven to give light upon the earth, [18] And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.”

Woe, the Bible says that after God made the dry land and all vegetation He set the sun, the moon, and the stars, INSIDE OF THE FIRMAMENT; the enclosed space separated by the waters above and the waters (seas) and earth below. This explains why sometimes when you look at the sun you see clouds in front of and BEHIND the sun. Because the sun is in our atmosphere just as clouds are in our atmosphere. The sun is not 93 million miles away in space like we have been taught. It’s in the firmament; the sky, in heaven right above our heads. God said that’s where the stars are too. Stars are not shining lights millions of light years away as we have been told. The Bible says nothing about planets or millions perhaps billions of galaxies in the creation account either. Read the rest of the Genesis creation account and see it for yourself.

Our sun, the moon, the stars, and the whole earth is indeed enclosed in a tent or tabernacle just as David inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote in Psalms 19:4. That tent or tabernacle is God’s firmament.

What else are we being told about our world that isn’t true? And why? Hmmmmm. 😓

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Psalm 61:2 KJV “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

David inspired by the Holy Spirit gives us the secret to overcoming being overwhelmed: cry out to the Lord! David was a warrior but he wasn’t too macho to cry out to God. Let us follow his example by telling our Heavenly Father how we feel. It works. He gives us His peace when we cry out to Him:

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

John 14:27 NIV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

This world presents many circumstances that can overwhelm our hearts. Learning to lean on God in prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do to face life’s challenges. The more our hearts become weighed down the more we should be praying. David was a much better spiritual warrior than a physical one. He was a man after God’s own heart, a man of prayer:

Psalm 109:4-5 NIV “In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.”

David went through many hardships, some he brought on himself but the Lord still heard his prayers? Why? Because David depended on God and knew how to repent. David is a poster child for having the right heart attitude:

Psalm 51:17 “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

Isaiah 66:2 NIV “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

As we just read if we have the right attitude; humility, contrition of heart, and reverence for God’s word He will look on us with favor and hear our prayers. Whatever we are going through; whether self-inflicted wounds or not, as long as we confess our sins and repent God will forgive and hear us.

Isaiah 57:15-16 NIV “For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me—the very people I have created.”

It’s ok to have a good cry to God when your heart is overwhelmed. You’re not weak because things in this life get you down. You are powerful in the strength of the Lord when you take your problems, worries, and concerns to Him in prayer:

1 Peter 5:7 NIV “CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM because he cares for you.”

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If you are seeking the Lord in spirit and in truth—the kind of worshipers the Lord seeks—you are on the right track:

John 4:23-24 KJV “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

If the passage above applies to you demons will follow you everywhere you go, I do mean EVERYWHERE! They will pursue you through people to persecute you. In fact part of the definition of PERSECUTED in the Greek means, “to pursue, follow after.” Jesus said all who desire to live in association with Him WILL be persecuted:

2 Timothy 3:12 NET “Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

But take heart; God is with you everywhere you go too, so be encouraged. 😀

JUST LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH AND LOT

Evil situations will occur regularly that may seem to make no sense at all on the surface. Did you know that we are living in a time period Jesus described as, ‘just like the days of Noah, and just like the days of Lot?’ (Matthew 24:37-39 Luke 17:26-30) Do you know what happened in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot? If not I suggest that you not only read but study that material in depth. Because we are in those days Jesus says. Understanding what happened then and why it’s happening now is the only way this life makes sense. There’s a reason why more and more people are losing it and just giving up. There’s a reason why our world is spiraling out of control. There is a reason why you as a believer face conflicts daily. The earth is under the same influence it was under in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. Do yourself a favor and study those Bible accounts in detail. God says it’s because of lack of knowledge that people even His own people are destroyed. Don’t lack knowledge on such an important topic. (Hosea 4:6)

There are many evils happening that seem to make no sense at all. They will never make sense to those who don’t understand the times we’re in. Jesus reveals to His servants exactly what time it is and what is to come:

John 9:4 NET “We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work.”

Let us work diligently to do God’s will while we still have some daylight left. Because night is fast approaching when no one can work.

I will tell you this about the days of Noah and Lot: things got so bad that destruction was imminent. God’s righteous judgment; destruction of the ungodly, is imminent in our day too. Wonna be able to make sense of it all true Christian? Wonna understand why you are attacked for no obvious reason everywhere you go? Wonna understand why the smallest tasks gets met with stiff opposition? Study what happened in Noah’s and Lot’s day. And once you wrap your mind around it believe it with your heart. Also believe Jesus who says the exact same things will be happening right before His return; the end of the world. This weird world system will make sense if we simply receive and believe what God’s word says.

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John 14:26 NET “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”

Wow! JESUS SAYS that the Holy Spirit is God’s advocate sent by the Father to teach us EVERYTHING! And that He (the Holy Spirit) brings back to our memories everything that Jesus says. So how can organizations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that without their help you cannot understand the Bible? How can they say that unless you become a Jehovah’s Witness you will die in Armageddon?

Leaders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses have said time and again that they are God’s only channel of communication on earth today. And that without their help you can have no communion with God. This is heresy at it’s finest. Anyone that makes such claims is antichrists. Not only have Jehovah’s Witnesses stolen Jesus’ title by calling their religion, “The Truth,” (see John 14:6) they also claim to do the Holy Spirit’s job by saying you need only them (Jehovah’s organization) to understand God and the Bible. There are other sects out there who make such bogus claims. Any person, any organization, any entity, that says they are the sole way to God is a liar and antichrists:

1 John 2:18 KJV “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”

1 John 2:22 KJV “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

Jesus is the only Christ; the Messiah, the Savior, the Anointed One of God. Interestingly the leaders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses call themselves, “The Anointed Ones,” “The Anointed Remnant,” and the like. Hmmmm, think that’s by coincidence? 🤔 In the Bible the word, “Anointed,” is used often as a verb but is used one way as a noun and specifically refers to one person, Jesus Christ. So for the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses to call themselves, “The Anointed Ones,” of God they have again stolen another one of Jesus’ titles and have sat themselves in His seat of authority.

John 10:10 KJV “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

As the scriptures says, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist.“ JW leaders have denied Jesus is the Christ; the Anointed One of God, by calling themselves, “The Anointed Ones,” Of God. They are antichrists. It is no wonder that they say you must come to them and through them to have a relationship with God. That is something only Jesus can do:

John 14:6 KJV “I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.”

THEY SEEM LIKE NICE PEOPLE

Jehovah’s Witnesses boasts over 8 million members. All those people can’t be wrong, right? Unfortunately that’s over 8 million souls that have been misled. They are on a worldwide mission to recruit as many as they can to spread their false doctrine. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses on the surface seem like nice clean-cut people. I believe some of them are. Most of them don’t have a clue of what they’re really into. I know this because I used to be one, so was my deceased grandmother, and my mother is still a JW, that’s 3 generations. I had no clue what I was into. But ignorance is not bliss. Choosing to follow men over and against what the Bible says; WHAT GOD SAYS, makes you guilty. When one’s eyes begin to open to the fact that he/she is in a false religion, a cult, etcetera, one must repent and heed Jesus’ words:

Matthew 15:14 KJV “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

There are lots of so-called nice people out there that are mere cults. But remember what God’s word says:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV “For such are FALSE APOSTLES, deceitful workers, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST. [14] And no marvel; for SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Matthew 24:5 ESV “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”

Satan is using the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization as a tool to war against Jesus Christ on all fronts. Of course they’re gonna seem like nice people, that’s how the Devil operates! Trust God, not organizations or men and women who put on neat appearances, and make boastful claims to be the only religion that offers salvation on earth. All you and I need is the direction God’s word provides. The true Advocate; the Holy Spirit, will lead us into all the truth about God. That’s what Jesus promised. Believe Him! Study the Bible to show yourself approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15), and depend on the Holy Spirit (not men) to teach you:

1 John 2:26-27 NET “These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you. Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and YOU HAVE NO NEED FOR ANYONE TO TEACH YOU. 😃 But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.”

John 14:26 NET “But THE ADVOCATE, THE HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in my name, WILL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”

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Jeremiah 17:10 KJV “I the Lord search the heart, I TRY THE REINS, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

As I was studying this verse I looked up the meaning of the word, “REINS,” in the Strong’s Bible concordance. The concordance said it means kidney, and figuratively the mind. I asked myself, “This God examining the kidneys, could this have something to do with the mind literally? Or does this only have a figurative meaning?” Then something (or someone) said, “Do a quick Google search to see if the kidneys affects the mind.” And lo and behold I came across the below quote in ScienceDaily.com from an article titled: “Decreased Kidney Function Leads To Decreased Cognitive Functioning, Study Finds:”

“Decreased kidney function is associated with decreased cognitive functioning in areas such as global cognitive ability, abstract reasoning and verbal memory, according to a study led by Temple University. This is the first study describing change in multiple domains of cognitive functioning in order to determine which specific abilities are most affected in individuals with impaired renal [or kidney] function.”

Basically what they’re saying is their study proved that when your kidney function decreases so does your cognitive or mental abilities. So goes your kidneys so goes your mind in multiple areas. And they were trying to figure out which specific areas of the mind suffer the most. I also saw studies conducted by other professionals that confirmed this. Since it’s been proven that the brain and kidney work together this led me to conclude that when God says He tries even the Reins (or kidneys) of a person, He is not only saying that He examines the heart and the mind, He tries even the organ connected to the mind (the kidney) because He knows how it works. And He said He does this, “even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10 KJV) Yes God our creator goes deep:

‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭CEB‬‬ “Because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions. No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer.”

Jeremiah 17:10 is not just a metaphor. I’m learning there are many things God says that are not metaphors, God meant them literally. God is the only righteous judge. He created human beings. He made the heart, the kidneys, the mind, etcetera. He knows how it all works. Hence He and only He can perfectly evaluate every human being.

A SIDE EFFECTS NOTE

Learning what happens to the kidneys also affects the mind made me think about this: “How many medications are out there with side effects of decreased kidney function or kidney failure? Hmmmmm. Could this be another reason why so many are losing their minds?” 🤔

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Matthew 23:6-13 KJV “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

There are people who feel you must address them as, Pastor, Elder, Reverend, Bishop, Father, and so on. Paul the apostle (who was a true apostle) at times felt it necessary to remind folks of his office, yet he never told them to call him, “Apostle Paul.” Believers just called him by his name; Paul. They called the apostle Peter, Peter. That’s because the early church believers, Paul, Peter, and all the other apostles understood and took seriously what Jesus said about wearing religious titles. Let’s examine why Jesus said not to title ourselves.

Jesus says there are certain religious leaders who love the VIP treatment. And he calls them, “hypocrites!” They may constantly call themselves, “servants,” but that’s not how they really feel. They love being served. They love the most important accommodations like the best rooms and the best seats at gatherings. We see this even at church meetings where the Pastors and their wives are given special seats of honor (usually the front row). Some have literal thrones on the pulpit. They have elevated themselves above the rest of the flock. Jesus says these individuals love to be greeted by their religious titles even when you see them out and about on the street in the market places. You’ve heard it before; “How yah doin Reverend …?” “Hi Pastor …” So the VIP treatment goes far beyond just when they’re at church. Yet Jesus commands us not to be this way. And He gives us the reason why; “For one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” We all are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. So how dare we lift ourselves up above the rest of God’s flock?

Wanting, demanding, or even allowing others to address us by these vainglorious titles is breaking Jesus’ command and exalting ourselves to His status. Yes, this is the same sin the Devil committed when he said that he would lift himself up above all the other stars of heaven and be like Almighty God Himself! (Isaiah 14:13-14) Sounds like I’m being too harsh? Jesus showed this when telling His disciples not to be called Rabbi, Father, Master, and the like. He iterated this when he said, “For one is your Master, even Christ.” Jesus is saying that wearing these religious titles is putting yourself in the position of MASTER; His position. The Greek word for, “Master,” in this passage means, “A guide, a Teacher.” Jesus is saying that only ONE (He) is our guide and teacher. Yes, titling oneself, letting others title you, and proudly wearing these titles is placing yourself in the seat of Jesus Christ! 😳 That’s serious!

“HE GAVE SOME …”

I know what some are thinking, I hear it every time this matter comes up: “Well, don’t the Bible say that God gave some to be apostles, some to be pastors, some to be teachers, some to be evangelist, and some to be prophets?” (Ephesians 4:11) Yep, it sure does say that. And many of these Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets are smart enough to stick to the Biblical script by simply doing their jobs, and not wear the titles. An apostle does what an apostle does, a teacher does what a teacher does, a prophet does what a prophet does, etcetera. If God made you a teacher teach, but don’t have people calling you, “Teacher,” that’s Jesus’ title. The office of teacher, prophet, or bishop in no way nullifies what Jesus said in Mathew 23 about wearing religious titles and receiving the VIP treatment the hypocrites love so much. “All ye are brethren,” Jesus says. None is above the other. True men and women of God simply do their jobs. They do not seek or accept glory from men. Hypocrites do that Jesus said.

True men and women of God who are particularly gifted are like John the Baptist who indeed was a prophet. Jesus said John was a prophet and more than that:

Luke 7:24-26 ESV “When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A PROPHET? YES, I TELL YOU, AND MORE THAN A PROPHET.”

John was indeed a prophet and more than a prophet Jesus said. John also knew his assignment in God. But note in the next passage when John was directly asked by some priests and Levites, “Are you a prophet?” notice the answer John gave:

John 1:19-24 NET “Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed – he did not deny but confessed – “I am not the Christ!” So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “ARE YOU THE PROPHET?” HE ANSWERED, “NO!” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)”

The great prophet John the Baptist (whom Jesus said was even more than a prophet) never called himself a prophet or wore any other religious titles. John was humble. He simply did his job. He is unlike so many of these bootleg, self-titled, prophets, apostles, elders, bishops, evangelists, reverends, holy fathers, etcetera today.

As Jesus said John didn’t live high on the hog either or wear fine clothes like religious pimps do today. John did not receive or seek the VIP treatment. Instead he got the very opposite as did his Master Jesus Christ. If you consider yourself a man or woman of God and are wearing these vainglorious titles I urge you to repent. If you consider yourself a true believer and call men and women by these titles instead of just calling them by their names I encourage you to repent too. How can we be true men and women of God if we directly go against God’s commands? Jesus tells us not to lift ourselves up above God’s flock. Not only does He call those who do so hypocrites, He gives a stern warning regarding this: “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” If we decide to exalt ourselves above God’s people (just like satan did) God will decide to humble us. He has the power to humble us all the way down to the lake of fire (eternally). And if we humble ourselves (be true servants of God’s flock) God will exalt us all the way up to heaven in His presence (forever)!

If you still think this message is too hard on religious leaders who love wearing religious titles and love receiving the VIP treatment consider also what Jesus said while discussing this topic:

Matthew 23:13 NET “But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.”

This is serious!😳

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Proverbs 15:29 NIV “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

I’ve heard people say, “God hears the prayers of all people.” The Bible says that God hears the prayers of the righteous, and that he is far away from the wicked. But does that mean that God does not even hear wicked people’s prayers?

Proverbs 28:9 KJV “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

1 Peter 3:12 ESV “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Isiah 59:2 NIV “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

James 5:16 NIV “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

John 15:7 NIV “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Proverbs 21:13 KJV “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”

1 Peter 3:7 NIV “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

Jeremiah 11:13-14 AMP “For [as many as] the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah; and [as many as] the number of the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I shall not listen when they cry to Me in the time of their disaster.”

Jeremiah 15:1 AMP “Then the LORD said to me, “Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me [interceding for them], My heart would still not be [turned with favor] toward this people [Judah]. Send them away from My presence and out of My sight and let them go!”

James 4:4 KJV “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

John 3:36 AMP “He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”

Amazing isn’t it? Many don’t want to listen to God or do what he says but want Him to listen to them. No relationship works like that. And that’s part of the problem; some don’t see God as a real person. They believe all the mystical crap they’ve been taught about Him. God is not some genie we can conjure up whenever we want who will perform our wishes. He is not some abstract force in the universe that we just need to learn how to tap into, then we can control that great energy and have whatever we want. God is a real person. He originally created mankind in His own image. Yet many either want to control God or be gods themselves. God makes it very clear that if we are wicked He is against us, and HE WILL NOT hear or answer our prayers. The prayers of the wicked are an abomination to God. If we want to be heard we must repent.

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