What a joy to experience God’s love as David describes in the passage above. Powerful enemies may be mounted against you. Or you’re facing financial difficulties. Or maybe a relationship left you heartbroken. Sometimes it’s all the above and then some. David, the man after God’s own heart went through the same trials we go through. David was a king, a musician, a warrior, a writer, among other things. But David was also a crying man. His life wasn’t easy. Tough situation after situation, problem after problem at times zapped his strength. Sounds familiar? But David knew who to cry to and how to ask God for help. And God came through for him time and time again.😊
God maneuvers people and circumstances to care for us in ways we could never imagine.😊 God often does this when you have no resources left. Then you know it’s Him who rescued you:
2 Chronicles 16:9 BSB “For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him…”
As we just read, ‘Heart’s that are fully devoted to God,’ will always experience His help. There is no insurance policy (Assurance Policy) like it on earth. God is constantly on the lookout to show Himself strong to, “Those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” This is why David received God’s help so often and could write about it. He was fully devoted to the Lord:
Psalm 34:19 NIV “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
Again, David, the man after God’s own heart, knew how many are the troubles of those who earnestly seek God. But he could also say affirmatively that, “The Lord delivers him from them all.” What a confidence to possess! What a relationship to have with Almighty God!😊
Would you like to have such a relationship with God? We can pray to God and ask Him for it.😊 (Matthew 7:7-11) We can let God know how much we need Him in our lives, that we don’t know what to do, that we’re not in control like we thought we were, and that we want God to be our leader and guide us. A relationship with God should not be solely because of what He can do for us, but because we recognize who He is: Almighty God; the creator of all things (including us) in heaven and earth! Doesn’t that alone mean He deserves our loyalty?🤔 If we come to God the right way; with humble hearts, He will hear us:
James 4:6 HCSB “But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Want to be heard when you are in distress? Cry to God. He will amaze you with what He can do that no one else can! And when He rescues you from your troubles, simply say, “THANK YOU!”😊
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Who wouldn’t want to live a life free from fear? Fear of the bills not being paid on time, fear of what others think, fear of not having enough to eat, fear of losing loved ones, fear of losing a job, fear of not getting a job, fear of not having somewhere to live, fear of getting sick, fear of dying, and so on. People constantly seek to alleviate their fears. But are they willing to do what is truly necessary to live fear free?🤔
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
As we see in the passage above, morbid fear does not come from God. God gives us the very opposite: Power, Love, and a Sound Mind. So where or who does fear come from? The Devil. Love destroys fear like light destroys darkness. God is love (1 John 4:8), and nothing is more powerful than God. A life filled with God’s love cannot live in fear. It is impossible. On the other hand a life full of fear is void of God’s love. That doesn’t mean God has no love for timid people. No, God loves the whole world in spite of all it’s character flaws. (John 3:16) But it’s a fact that a life filled with fear is evident that a person has not fully experienced or is walking in the love of God. Hence the remedy to a fear free life is accepting and living in God’s love.😊 (John 13:34-35John 15:9-10)
DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU?
Do you believe what God says about you? That you are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-15), that you are created in God’s own image😊 (Genesis 1:26-27), that you are so special God sent His son into the world to die a humiliating death and save us from our sins, and give us ETERNAL LIFE? (John 3:16) People who refuse to believe what God says about them cannot enjoy intimacy with God. They do not experience His love. Many often make degrading comments about themselves. Hence they are incapable of showing true love to others. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) They will always be fearful, because only God’s perfect love drives out ALL FEAR.
THE WRONG DIAGNOSIS
Many who battle fears and are clinically diagnosed for it. By telling a person that ALL of their fears are due to having a disease cripples them. Once they believe that they have no choice but to live with fear unless they take medication they find it ridiculous to believe living a life of love can drive out all their fears. The creator of feelings; the heart, and the mind, Almighty God, should be consulted regarding this above men. But He is not. What a trick the Devil has played on us!
Fear is like a giant. God wants us to slay it just like David slayed Goliath. The little boy David looked helpless verse the giant Goliath. But that little boy loved God!😊 And his love for God drove out all of his fears.😊 This is how he was able to go up against someone (something) much stronger than himself (in the natural). We know how the story goes: the boy took down the giant with God’s help. That’s what God wants you and I to do to fear. The key, the secret weapon is loving God with our whole heart, our whole mind, our whole soul, and our whole strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
How often do we hear or think of overlooking offenses as GLORIOUS? I can’t remember the last time I heard that. Yet God says it is.😊 You don’t have to insult folks these days to get a negative reaction. Just say something they don’t agree with. Have you ever been in a relationship (any relationship) where you were often accused of doing or saying things you didn’t do or say? This can be oppressive.😓 Good communication is the lifeblood of any friendship, marriage, partnership, etcetera. Sadly, accusers are filled with so much animosity that’s all they can give. You can only give what you have.🤔
THE POWER OF PATIENT FORGIVENESS
There is great power in overlooking offenses? Listen to some of what God says about it:
Proverbs 14:29 NIV “Whoever is patient has GREAT UNDERSTANDING, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”
Proverbs 15:18 NIV “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
Proverbs 16:32 KJV “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
Colossians 3:13 KJV “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Fatherwill also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Carrying around pains from the past and present can make us sick, mentally, spiritually, and physically.🤕 The person who will not forgive and let go of their burdens will have a very hard go of it. Burdens weigh us down. Carrying them make it impossible to have happy, normal relationships with others. We can unload ALL of our burdens on the shoulders of someone who truly cares. Jesus invites us to cast ALL of our burdens on him:😊
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT ‘ “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” ‘
There’s a saying, “Let go and let God.” (Matthew 6:33-34Philippians 4:6-7Romans 12:17-21) Letting go ain’t always easy. Neither is letting God. But I ask you, has anything else worked? Isn’t learning how to let go and cast ALL of our burdens on God worth investigating? Isn’t it better to live a glorious life than to die in defeat?🤔
Luke 10:19 HCSB “Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and SCORPIONS and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you.”
A scorpion approached a very nice frog one day and asked him, “Can you give me a ride on your back across the pond? I don’t have the awesome ability to leap on lily pads like you do.” The frog said, “You’re a scorpion, you might sting me.” The scorpion said, “I won’t sting you. I only want to go to such and such a place. I could surely use your help.” The frog said, “Are you sure you won’t sting me?” The scorpion said, “I’m sure. I promise I won’t sting you.” So the frog gave the scorpion a ride on his back. As he was jumping to a lily pad the scorpion stung him! They both fell into the pond and drowned. But before they drowned the frog said to the scorpion, “Hey, I thought you said you weren’t gonna sting me? The scorpion replied, “I’m a scorpion, that’s what I do.”
Have you ever felt like the frog? You went above and beyond and against your better judgment to help someone only to have them bite you? If you’re reading this article you haven’t drowned or died like the frog. You may feel like you have at times but you haven’t. Our world is filled with scorpions. Those who earnestly seek God are like sheep. But sadly, sheep are considered as weak and to be slaughtered:
Romans 8:36 NIV ‘“As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”’
Scorpions and snakes gravitate to sheeplike folks. These hunters want easy prey (or prey they think is easy). Genuinely kind people will always attract scorpions. It’s not that you are necessarily doing anything wrong that attracts them, it’s often because you are doing something right, you have compassion. Evil people prey upon those with compassion. They feel they can easily be used. These wolves come in sheep’s clothing stalking you. How we respond to them is all that matters. I know sometimes you wish it would just stop. David did too:
Psalms 6:7-8 HCSB “My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies. DEPART FROM ME, ALL EVILDOERS, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.”
Psalms 139:19-20 HCSB “God, if only You would kill the wicked — you bloodthirsty men, STAY AWAY FROM ME — who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely.”
As you just read read David too strongly hated having to deal with these kinds of people, especially those who invoked the name of God falsely. Yes, people even pretend to be God fearing to get what they want. David cried out to God often because of his encounters with such people. But David knew who to cry to: GOD!😊 Prayer really works and is so powerful. (James 5:16) If you are a person who truly seeks God, and seeks goodwill towards others, it is inevitable, you will attract parasites. These moochers will always spot you. The Devil wants you and I to become so bothered by their attacks that we become just as mean and hateful as them in the hopes that this will make them stop. But becoming stone-hearted only opens the door to more problems, worse ones.
Hurt after hurt, disappointment after disappointment, failed relationship after failed relationship, and you still wonna be nice to people? That takes real strength which is divine. It comes from God. Those whose love has grown cold are the ones who are weak.
NOT ALL NICE FOLKS ARE LIKE THE FROG
Some of us are learning to love others as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31) And because we love ourselves we avoid dangerous scorpions, let alone give them a ride on our backs. Jesus gives true believers authority to TRAMPLE on scorpions and snakes physical and spiritual. (Luke 10:19) That means they are under our feet, not enjoying a comfortable ride on our backs. Sometimes the believer must say, “Enough is enough!” and exercise his/her authority in Jesus Christ. Our job is not to carry people in an attempt to save them. We can carry or bear one another’s burdens as scripture says (Galatians 6:1-2), but carrying scorpions is a totally different matter. Only God can change and save someone.
I must admit I’ve been that frog at certain points in my life. I’ve unwisely went above and beyond to carry others to my own demise. And yes I got bit, hard! There’s nothing that hurts quite like a scorpion’s bite. Thank God my bites were not fatal. But it felt like it at times. Solomon describes a certain scorpion’s bite this way:
Proverbs 7:21-27 NLT “So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. [22] He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, [23] awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. [24] So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. [25] Don’t let your hearts stray awaytoward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. [26] For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. [27] Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.”
Ecclesiastes 7:26 NLT “I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare.”
How many men and women have been bitten by this scorpion?🤔
Genuinely nice people are so cool. They are not weak. They’re strong. Hurt after hurt, disappointment after disappointment, failed relationship after failed relationship, and you still wonna be nice to people? That takes real strength which is divine. It comes from God. Those whose love has grown cold are the ones who are weak. Jesus said:
Matthew 24:10-13 GNT “Many will give up their faith at that time; they will betray one another and hate one another. Then many false prophets will appear and fool many people. Such will be the spread of evil that many people’s love will grow cold. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.”
Jesus said in the last days the love of most people would grow cold because of widespread evil. Those days are here. He also said many would give up their faith, betray and hate each other. Those days are here. He also said MANY FALSE PROPHETS would appear and fool so many. Again, those days are here. Widespread evil, people giving up their faith, betraying, hating one another, and false prophets, are all contributing factors as to why people’s love has grown cold. Ask yourself honestly, “Have I been affected by any of these?”
I meet people regularly who have had bad experiences with false religion or false prophets. Some of them are healing from their wounds but many are not. Many don’t seek God anymore like they once did. (Revelation 2:4) The encounter damaged them and understandably so. The scorpions did their job on these souls. I was one of them. I hated life, God, and everyone else because of what I experienced in false religion. It wasn’t until I cried out to God one day and asked Him questions regarding my bad experience that He answered me, and my healing process began. I greatly encourage you dear friend to do the same if you haven’t already. I’ve never been freer since.😊
In conclusion, none of us have to end up like the frog. If you’re reading this article you’re not dead. God is a specialist at healing broken hearts. I know this from experience. As we truly seek Him and grow we learn better how to identify scorpions, and sheep from goats. We learn how to tell them, “No! You can’t have a ride on my back,” without feeling any remorse for it. Why should we feel bad about not giving someone a ride on our backs who only wants to sting us? Saying, “No,” when appropriate is powerful. This becomes part of our repertoire. It’s not a sin to say, “No!” to scorpions.😊
Proverbs 2:3-6 NIV “Indeed, if you call out for insight and CRY ALOUD for understanding, [4] and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, [5] then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. [6] For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
We don’t like peeling the onion. Is it because we know the more we peel the more we will cry? Is it really a bad idea to have a good cry? God invites us to, “CRY ALOUD,” to Him. It’s part of the process of obtaining true knowledge of Him. When we peel the onion and go beyond the surface that’s where the truth lies. The truth hurts. It can make us cry. But these are well-spent tears. Often there are years of tears held prisoner waiting to escape. Free them and you’ll free yourself.
Psalm 51:6 NLT “But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.”
Honesty is something God requires if we are to be in a relationship with HIm. As we grow we even require it of ourselves. There’s nothing like being honest with yourself. Let’s look at 2 benefits for doing so:
1 John 1:7-10 KJV “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, andthe blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Notice the first benefit in the passage above for walking in the light, or truth: we have fellowship with one another. Have you ever met someone for the first time and knew you both honestly clicked, and it turned out to be really true over time? Not only did you see things you have in common your beliefs were the same. It was very easy to talk to one another, in fact, you enjoyed each other’s company so much it felt as if you were benefiting just because you were in one another’s presence. There were no ulterior motives, only love. For those who believe in God, this is how it is. We walk in the light; in truth, in honesty, therefore we have sweet fellowship, true friendship, with one another.
The next and most important super benefit I noticed in the passage above for being honest is having ALL of our misdeeds forgiven. When we peel the onion we see wrongs we’ve committed. It’s not always everyone else’s fault. Recognizing our faults is not pretty, and it doesn’t feel good. But it’s not until we deal with them we can ever have peace. So many folks are suffering greatly mentally, physically, and spiritually because they either don’t know this truth or are unwilling to face it. They’ve been programmed to think confessing their missteps and having a good cry to God makes them weak. But on the contrary, it is the strongest thing a person can do. When done with a penitent heart a miracle happens: we experience the refreshing joy of total forgiveness for our many sins. Healing in all areas takes place.
All of us have missed the mark. There’s not a person alive who can honestly say, “I’m perfect!” or, “I’ve never done anything wrong.” Those who are truly in tune with themselves know this. But fools think there’s no need to make amends:
Proverbs 14:9 NLT “Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.”
Proverbs 12:15 NLT “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”
Want to experience ultimate peace? Ultimate joy? Peel the onion: acknowledge the truth about yourself, and seek reconciliation with God and others you may have harmed. Have a good ole cry to God. Peel away the past hurts and years of pain. He will heal you. God will make you whole.😊
2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
The scriptures repeatedly foretell a time when there would be great animosity for God even among those claiming to be believers. Instead of folks streaming to the the truth, truth would be cast to the ground, with the help of a ruling entity:
Daniel 8:11-12 KJV “Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. [12] And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it CAST DOWN THE TRUTH to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.”
Matthew 10:22 KJV “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Is not the world we live in as scripture describes? Is not truth cast down to the ground? Are people not hated for the name of Jesus Christ everywhere?
WHY CAN’T I FIND A TRUE CHURCH?
There are many who will say, “I go to a good church, you should come to my church.” But who’s definition of, “a good church,” are we going by here? Theirs or God’s? Usually theirs. To some folks a good church is a place where there is live music, a good meal after service, and a popular, charismatic, preacher. To others less showmanship and sticking to the word is so much more, even if there are few members present. If you’re wondering why it’s so hard to find a good church these days listen to Jesus’ own words:
Matthew 24:10-13 NLT “And MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM ME and betray and hate each other. [11] And MANY FALSE PROPHETS WILL APPEAR and will DECEIVE MANY PEOPLE. [12] Sin will be rampant everywhere, and THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Jesus said in the time of the end most folks would, “TURN AWAY,” from Him, not come running to Him. Does that sound like a great falling away or a great revival? I often think of the above text when I hear preachers claiming to have these great revivals over here and over there. Not saying people can’t be revived. Their claims just don’t match the scriptures. What Jesus Christ Himself said would be going on today is just the opposite:
Matthew 24:23-26 NIRV “At that time someone may say to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ Or, ‘There he is!’ Do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will do great signs and miracles. They will try to fool God’s chosen people if possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘He is a long way out in the desert,’ do not go out there. Or if anyone says, ‘He is deep inside the house,’ do not believe it.”
How true is this scripture! I was recently invited to be a part of a church by a man who said he was one of the 7 elders of the church. It was in a different state deep out in the woods somewhere. They promised to furnish me with a place to live etcetera. The man knew the Bible well. But when I checked out his church website he proudly directed me too all I saw was them praising and lifting up men. One of these men I know for sure is a heretic who preaches a different gospel. This man through his books, sermons, and the like has misled many. The man has been dead for some time but to this day many especially leaders in churches view him as a great example. I gently confronted the church elder about this and the answwers he gave me were so pitifal I wanted to cry. Because I knew this man was headed straight for hell if he did not repent. I thought about how many in his church and folks around the world that their website is misleading. Jesus was not joking when he said there would be many false prophets claiming to have Him (the Messiah) in their midst.
Despite all the false preachers and all the fake churches you and I can be saved if we endure to the end.
We are living in great apostasy as foretold by scripture. The bright side to this is it means Jesus is really about to come soon. The scripture says the falling away has to happen first before Jesus returns. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) So there’s nothing that could stop that from happening. But what I also find interesting is in Matthew 24:13, and Matthew 10:22 Jesus says, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” That means despite all the false preachers and all the fake churches you and I can be saved if we endure to the end.😊 Our situation is not hopeless just because falsehood is running rampant.
CAN YOU SERVE GOD WITHOUT BELONGING TO A CHURCH?
If we find some real servants of God to fellowship with–as they are few and far in between–by all means meet with them. (Hebrews 10:24-25) But remember Jesus’ words says we will all be judged by God individually (“the ONE who endures to the end will be saved”). He did not say if we find the right church fellowship we will be saved. Annanias and Sapphira found the right church. They fellowshipped at the church with the apostles who walked daily with Jesus. But they were both judged for their sin. Finding the right church wasn’t enough to save them. Read about what happened with this couple please in the book of Acts 4:32-5:1-10. And yet people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and many others were often alone away from likeminded people of faith and served God faithfully. Hmmmmmm.
Many of us know about Job; the man who refused to curse God no matter how much physical and mental torture the Devil put him through. The Bible tells us that Job was the most righteous man in all the earth. (Job 1:8) Yet Job did not have a church he belonged to.
Joseph is another great example who was taken away from his father Jacob at a very young age. Jacob was a great encouragement to his son Joseph when they were together. But when they became separated Joseph grew into manhood in a land he knew nothing about and among foreigners who worshipped false gods. Yet Joseph did not curse God for being mistrerated (sold into slavery) by his own brothers, and then going to prison for a crime he did not commit. In spite of all this, and not having likeminded believers to fellowship with Joseph maintained his integrity to God!
And ahh Jeremiah; this man was among the chosen people of God the Israelites who were steeped in apostasy. God chose Jeremiah to warn the people to repent from their wicked ways. Jeremiah did indeed warn the rebellious house of Israel repeatedly for 40 years yet no one paid attention to what he said. Can you imagine preaching to the same people (who claim to know God) over and over for 40 YEARS, and all they do is persecute and ignore you? Jeremiah faithfully did his job through thick anfd thin. He lived among apostates, not a true church, but this did not deter him from serving God!
And lastly the apostle John found the true church. He met with Jesus Christ himself regularly. After Jesus death and ressurection John fellowshipped with other true believers and was a pillar in the church. Then one day he found himself exiled away from like-minded, true believers. John was persecuted and put on the Island of Patmos (alone) as a punishment for preaching about Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9) Did John’s faith waver because he now had no church on earth to fellowship with? No. In fact it was while he was alone on the Island of Patmos that the Lord Jesus came to him and gave him a series of powerful dreams, visions, and instructions that John recorded then later shared with God’s people, and the world! We know these powerful dreams, visions, and instructions today as The Book Of Revelation.
YES, you can indeed serve God even if you don’t have a church fellowship here on earth. It is my prayer that believers everywhere will examine this next text and realize the true church we all (true believers) belong to whether they’ve found a good fellowship or not:
Hebrews 12:22-24 NIRV “But you have come to Mount Zion. You have come to the city of the living God. This is the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to a joyful gathering of angels. There are thousands and thousands of them. You have come to the CHURCH of God’s people. God’s first and only Son is over all things. God’s people share in what belongs to his Son. Their names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the Judge of all people. You have come to the spirits of godly people who have been made perfect. You have come to Jesus. He is the go-between of a new covenant. You have come to the sprinkled blood. It promises better things than the blood of Abel.”
Like The Bereans 