Many Christians do not read enough of the bible to understand God's ways and His plan. It is sad that many Christians know more about their sports team, hobbies, career, movie stars, singing stars, Oscars, soaps, and whatever trend the world has to offer more than they do of their God. If we reject the knowledge of God, we are not only going to be destroyed, He said He will reject us and not remember our children. Is that not a wake up call?
Hosea 4:6(AMP) "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children."
When Moses returned to Egypt, God's people were at first very excited bowing down and worshiping God for the great news. As many people would think even today, when a word comes, we think that prophecy of breakthrough will come the next hour, week, or month. Many do not ponder on the reality it can take perhaps years and through hardship. Our God is not here to let us win the lottery. If you are His child and in His Will, you will never win the lottery. Our God is here to purge you through His Fire so you may find Life.
When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him to "Let My people go" do you think the enemy would just let them go without a fight? When deliverance was at the door, the lives of God's people became harder! Nothing comes for free. Do you think the devil is going to let you have your healing, financial breakthrough, spiritual breakthrough, or other breakthroughs without a fight? Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters to tell God's people to make bricks finding their own straws without compromising their quotas.
God was not only going to deliver His people but He was going to show the world and Pharaoh who was the King of Kings and who had the real power. But in order for God to show His Power and Glory, we must sacrifice ourselves in all of our situations so God's Will and Plan are unfolded. It was God who made Pharaoh's heart to harden even more against His own people. As the lives of God's people immediately became difficult, they complained not only to Pharaoh but to Moses and Aaron as well. In fact, they were very angry at Moses.
Exodus 5:20-21 "And the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who were standing in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh.21 And the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us."
Even after delivering God's people out of Egypt and witnessing the Red Sea part, God's people continued to complain and rebel. When Moses had gone up the mountain for 40 days and nights, the people's faith became weak and they turned to their hand made golden calf to lead them out. God was ready to destroy them and start again with Moses. But yet Moses interceded on their behalf and with God's heart Moses pleaded to the Lord for mercy and he even said to blot his name out if God would not forgive them.
Moses experienced 40 years in the desert with a stiffed neck people but they were God's people. They complained, grumbled, murmured, and even tried to overthrow Moses' authority to rule by themselves. Yes, Moses had his moments of anger but Moses still possessed God's heart to always fall on his face and intercede on their behalf. He did not run or abandon them. He was not only willing to die for them but even lose his soul on their behalf.
Today, many Christians face difficult situations with their families, spouses, friends, co-workers, and especially other brothers and sisters in the church. God has shown me that people are very predictable. We all have the same sin nature of greed, lust, gossiping, coveting, and so on and so on and so throughout history, we seem to make the same mistake over and over again. The bible was written not only to point to Jesus Christ but to warn us of ourselves as Paul described.
If we have been given a higher revelation or if our eyes are open to see the sin of others when they complain, mummer, grumble, and gossip are we to complain about them to other people and ourselves? If we complain about others because their sins irritate us, are we any better? If we think someone is deceived and we call them "stupid" are we the more wiser for calling them "stupid"? If we call anyone "stupid" because we think they are the ones deceived then it is us who is going to be in for a big surprise. If we run or abandon them because we think they are hopeless, then are we any better? Are we better than them for leaving them? We must always be led by the Spirit and not of our flesh in any circumstance.
Matthew 5:22 (AMP) "But I say to you that everyone who continues to be [a]angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be [b]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be [c]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You [d]cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be [e]liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire."
When God's people spoke harshly against Moses, how did Moses react? When Pharaoh called for God's people to find their own straws, out of a difficult situation and out of anger, God's people told Moses the following in verse 21-22.
Exodus 5:21-22 "And the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us."
How did Moses react?
Exodus 5:22-23 "Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, O Lord, why have You dealt evil to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people, neither have You delivered Your people at all."
Moses did not react in kind against his fellow brethren. Although they spoke harshly to Moses, he interceded and took his issues and complaints directly to God.
When God's people had made the golden calf, Moses went back up to the mountain and interceded for God's people for another 40 days and nights. When God's people complained and irritated Moses, he fell prostate on his face and interceded on their behalf.
What do most Christians do today? Do we have the heart of Jesus to intercede on those who do not know better? When they kicked Jesus, when they spat on Him, when they whipped Him, when mocked Him, and as they lifted Him on that cross, did Jesus complain about His enemies to the other people? Jesus interceded even on behalf of His enemies and asked the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing!!
Exodus 9:18-29 "Then I fell down before the Lord as before, for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate food nor drank water, because of all the sin you had committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.19For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the Lord held against you, enough to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also.20And the Lord was very angry with Aaron, angry enough to have destroyed him, and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21And I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust; and I cast the dust of it into the brook that came down out of the mountain.22At Taberah also and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the Lord to wrath.23Likewise when the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you, then you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and you did not believe Him or trust and rely on Him or obey His voice. 24You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. 25 So I fell down and lay prostrate before the Lord forty days and nights because the Lord had said He would destroy you.26And I prayed to the Lord, O Lord God, do not destroy Your people and Your heritage, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember [earnestly] Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or at their sin, 28Lest the land from which You brought us out say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which He promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness. 29Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm."
Luke 23:34 "And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them."
If you have been given the revelation to know weaker Christians or your non believing families to complain, gossip, grumble, and mummer, then the revelation has been given to you so that you may intercede on their behalf. It has not been given so you may find another church or another family or another spouse. You cannot leave until the Lord gives you permission to leave. Jesus died for us sinners while we were sinners. Many say they are willing to die for the Lord yet they seem to always be running away from death.
If you had complained of others and ran, REPENT and FORGIVE THEM if they had hurt you and return to the front lines of the war for the souls of His people. Set the path straight for He is returning for His Bride!
If you do NOT Forgive people or your brethren, then your prayers will NOT be answered! Ask the Lord to search your hearts for any unforgiveness.
Mark 11:22 "And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. 23Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. 25And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [g]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."
We are all called to stay in the FIRE and intercede on behalf of our brethren and for those who do not know what they are doing. Are we really willing to walk up to Calvery with our own crosses willing to die of ourselves to intercede on behalf of our brethren and even our enemies?
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
January 25, 2012
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