Saturday, September 12, 2015

Fatal Mistakes

     I haven't been worried or depressed in 4 years 5 months and 29 days.  I know this may sound strange to some people, but it is the truth.  My pastor would say, "I haven't been worried or depressed in.................days", and before I was set free from depression, it sounded strange to me.  Now, since I have been walking in it, it's not strange, and there is no reason to go back now, I am going to stay free until I go to be with Jesus or he comes and gets me.

     Sometimes I wish I could just shake some people as hard as I can and scream, "WAKE UP, JESUS IS YOUR ANSWER!!!!"  The problem is, most people don't want to hear what Jesus has to say, they would rather get in what they think, what they feel, what their opinion is, what someone else said, or what they believe.  Well I have news for you, only Jesus has the right answer.

     I was reading in Jeremiah in Chapter 42 where the children of Israel inquired of the prophet Jeremiah saying in verse 3 "Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."  Then when Jeremiah told them he would inquire of the Lord, they said in verse 5, "May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us.  Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God."

     Ten days after they asked Jeremiah to seek the Lord for them, he answered and told him what to tell the people.  The Lord told them exactly what to do.  He told them to stay in the Land of Judah, and to not go to Egypt (short version).  After giving them exactly what to do, and exactly what not to do, the children of Israel, in fear of the King of Babylon, decided to go to Egypt and disobey God.   In verse 19 Jeremiah by the Lord said "Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, "Do not go to Egypt."  Be sure of this:  I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, "Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it."  then he said, "but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you."

     God has not changed today in Jesus.  Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments."   Jesus commanded us in John 15:12 "That you love one another, as I have loved you." or you could say it this way, "That you forgive one another, as I have forgiven you."  These words are just as important to obey than the words God spoke to the children of Israel in the old testament, and you make a fatal mistake when you do not obey them.  In John 3:18 you see why it is fatal, He said, "He that believeth on him (with action to obey) is not condemned but he that believeth not (with action to obey) is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name (Character and Authority) of the only begotten Son of God."  The Holy Ghost confirms this in Hebrews 2:2-3 "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.  How shall WE ESCAPE, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be SPOKEN by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;"

     So you see their salvation by the word was to obey what the Lord said do.  It is the same today, that we do what the Lord commanded us, We believe that Jesus loved us (by looking at the cross), and then live that same love to others. 1 John 3:23.  I encourage you believers out there, that you do not let the enemy deceive you in thinking you have the right to be in unforgiveness toward anyone.  Remember Jesus said in Mark 11: 26  "But if you do not forgive, neither will your father which is in heaven forgive you."  If you have unforgiveness in your heart, repent and tell the Lord you are sorry and ask him to change you,   DON'T MAKE THE FATAL MISTAKE OF UNFORGIVENESS, and the Lord will bless you.