The Gross Stupidity of Turning Away from God and following the Evil Satan!

Jeremiah 10:10a.        But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king:

Ah mih people, I know it’s tough to get up and get going this Monday morning after all the marvellous celebrations of Mother’s Day yesterday. But one of the many things our mothers taught us is responsibility; that’s ensuring we do what we have to do to the best of our ability. Looking ahead, and not doing stuff that will negatively affect our responsibilities, like going to work. Consequently, we ought to have been careful to exercise a modicum of circumspection in our celebrations. (smile) 

But unfortunately, many of us ignore the wisdom of our mothers, and thus end up in unsavoury situations brought on by stubbornness and a kind of infantile rebellion.  We mistakenly feel, that as adults, we’re quite capable of controlling and guiding our destiny. (smile) And so often we’re proven wrong. It’s like the Lord said through Malachi to the people of Israel in one of their disobedient and rebellious times. ‘Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?’ (Mal. 3:7) 

Oh friends that’s the very same thing the Lord is saying to us today, in the evil, wicked and ungodly society that now prevails over the earth. At the height of our intelligence, the very pinnacle of our evolution, when we should be using our hard bought wisdom and embracing Almighty God as our Sovereign Lord and God, instead, we’ve fallen into the dark and dangerous abyss of Satan’s deceitful machinations, embracing evil and all its negative connotations, which is sadly driving our world on a crazy merry-go-round, of strife, wars, rumours of wars, and all that ungodliness brings. 

And though our God is LOVINGLY calling out for us to return to his wonderful fold, we are obstinately ignoring His fatherly call. Just like Israel did, and were summarily punished for it. And we won’t even talk about the robbing of God in tithes and offerings which comes after verse 7. That’s an entirely different sermon for another time, (smile) but we’ll move on to verse 13, where Malachi writes: ‘Your words have been stout (harsh) against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully (as mourners) before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy (blessed); yea, they that work wickedness are set up (raised up); yea, they that tempt God are even delivered (go free).’ (Mal. 3:13-15) 

And that’s exactly what’s happening today my people! A large proportion of the population doubt God, even challenging His existence. As the Sons of Korah declare in Psalm 42: ‘My tears have been my meat (food) day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?’ (Ps. 42:3) The complaints are also rife re, the wisdom of following Him, with calls to follow other religions with dead gods, while ours is the ONLY Living God in existence. Thus the prophet Jeremiah writes: ‘But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.’ (Jer. 10:10) 

Oh friends, we definitely don’t want to experience the real wrath of God, for it is indefensible, as the world found out when He destroyed it all by the flood, except Noah and His family. And so many of us seem to revere Satan, but let’s remember who and what he was and why he’s where he is right now. 

Isaiah says of him: ‘How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (Day Star), son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides (farthest sides) of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.’ (Is. 14:12-14) 

And that’s where he made his fatal error. Yes my brethren, once upon a time Satan was Lucifer or the Morning Star, one of the highest ranking angels in heaven, but his pride and greed caused him to try to overthrow God. What a joke! The created trying to overthrow the Creator. He was then kicked out of heaven with the other foolish angels who sided with him, and thus became the epitome of sin and evil. And it’s the same foolishness we’re trying to do today, encouraged by Satan’s evil and deceitful machinations. 

And as one commentary so wisely tells us: ‘The Significance of this scripture emphasizes the consequences of pride and ambition, illustrating how such motivations can lead to a catastrophic fall from grace, not only for Lucifer but also for all who seek to exalt themselves above God.’ 

So friends, let’s wake up to Satan’s purpose nuh, revenge against God, with much company in hell, and therefore ignore him and his evil cronies, by keeping the Word of God and its ordinances in first place in our lives. And to help us do that, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, seeking divine aid in these most difficult of times. 

Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. 

So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And it’s obvious from the chaotic state of the world, that we need to substantially improve our weak Christian witness, if we hope to receive divine aid. Much LOVE!

…you can either foolishly follow Satan…to eternal death…or wisely follow Christ…to eternal life…the choice is strictly yours…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 July 2019 Obadiah 1:4.

Obadiah 1:4.    Though thou exalt thyself as (high as) the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, then will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.
 
Unfortunately friends, it’s once again time to begin a new week of work! And we all jump up in shock, crying out in frustration and disbelief: ‘What! Yuh mean to say is Monday already? But it was just Saturday…and I haven’t done a blooming thing around the house all weekend because I was so bloody tired from working two days overtime last week! Steups! This working for a living going to be the death of me yes! Anyway, since I’m up already, I might as well get up and get moving oui.’ 
Yeh, it’s amusing, but also saddening re what goes on in bedrooms all around the world on a Monday morning. But as we keep reminding you, we have the marvellous antidote for whatever ails you on a Monday morning; simple, sincere prayer, that we call our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So please join us as we go to the throne room of our heavenly Father, with humility, but strong faith and belief, asking for His help to overcome whatever is ailing us this morning and preventing us from getting ourselves together to go out and do His work. 
As one humble but confident voice now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. 
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. 
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ 
And you know it works every time my people! We soon feel the peace of God coming into our souls, and a supernatural energy just rises up from nowhere, and the light in our eyes is a joy to behold, as we begin to move with a sense of purpose; that of getting ourselves together to go out and fight whatever battle comes our way in our current ungodly and evil world, obviously with the help of our shotgun rider, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Yes friends, you just can’t beat that Jesus Christ connection and godly communication! It’s the best connection in this whole wide world! And I can attest to that through personal experience. 
But this Monday morning I have some telling news for you; if you’re a believer it’s good news, but if you’re one of Satan’s host, then it’s dreadful news. And believe me friends, there’s nothing fake about this news, (smile) because it comes straight from the horse’s mouth, the Lord God Almighty, Creator and Controller of the universe.
He said it long ago to the Edomites, descendants of Esau, who lived in a mountainous, desert part of the land. And according to the scholars, “enjoyed the security of their mountain stronghold and the prosperity obtained by taxing caravans travelling through their territory.” 
But that same prosperity got them in trouble with the Lord, just like it’s getting us in trouble with Him today. Thus He said to them through the prophet Obadiah: ‘Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen (nations): thou art greatly despised. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?’ (Oba. 1:2-3)
You know it’s the very same thoughts that are going through the minds and hearts of the wealthy, wicked and ungodly and prideful folks in our current world. And, unfortunately, the same words the Lord used to the Edomites are the same ones He’s saying to those who are following the wide and divergent path to destruction. ‘Though thou exalt thyself as (high as) the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, then will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.’ 
Powerful words indeed friends, but from a divine Being who has the power to do it. And He has done it many times down through the ages with recalcitrant nations and people. But possibly the most notable time was when His Archangel Lucifer tried to overthrow Him. 
Hear how Isaiah puts it nuh: ‘How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (Day Star), son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the (farthest) sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell (Sheol) to the sides (lowest depths) of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon (gaze at) thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house (would not release) his prisoners?’ (Is.14:12-17) 
So friends, if the Lord could kick out His most powerful creation, or helper from heaven, why do you think He’ll have any trouble keeping His promise to us, mere mortals eh? Please friends, the only sensible alternative is for us to be wise and accept the Lord’s warning, for you know that one of the things He thoroughly despises is pride or haughtiness in mankind, which intimates that we don’t need Him. And there’s a great lot of that taking place currently in our strife-filled society and He’s not about to let anyone or anything steal His glory. Please remember that, and let Satan’s downfall be a lesson to us. Much LOVE!
…he who doesn’t hear…he will surely feel…