“They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they down to Sheol” -Job 21:13
The Bible is a book of answers, and not a book of an ending puzzles. When Jesus’s disciples, asked why he spoke to the crowd in parables he answered.
“Because it is given unto you know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, but to then it is not given” -Matthew 13:11
The inability to understand the things of God is not a religious attainment, but a sign of reparation. 
There is a conversation that Mark had with his mother in “God’s Not Dead” movie that explains why the evil prosper perfectly. That conversation went like this:
Mark:
You prayed and believed your whole life, never did anything wrong. And here you are. You are the nicest person I know. I am the meanest. You have dementia. My life is perfect. Explain that to me!
Marks Mother:
Sometimes the devil allows people who live a life, free of trouble because he doesn’t want them turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it is all nice and comfy, and there doesn’t seem to be any reason to leave. The doors wide open. Until one day, time runs out, and the cell door slams shut, and suddenly it’s too late.
The difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the wicked have their rewards now and it will be taken away from them. But the righteous wait for another reward as is yet to come -a reward that will endure into eternity.
The momentary suffering of the righteous in this world is the wages for an eternal life of joy.
The momentary luxury of the evil in this world is the cause of their destruction, the “wages” for their sin. The more wealthy and prosperous the evil, the more they will lose when they face judgment. In other words, the better off they are now in this world the greater their suffering will be upon judgment day. They are increasing their suffering by increasing their wealth.
It is more worthwhile to endure a temporary life of suffering and enjoy an eternity of joy and peace. Enjoying a temporary life of sinful luxury leads to suffering, eternal destruction.
It is hard to say because, they both have benefits to your health. Mountains improve lung and heart health, along with providing better metabolism mountains because of higher altitudes it can help the human body metabolizes food causing our bodies to to burn more sugar and build up less fat.
The beach is good for stress management because of the wave, and the ocean breeze. Provides vitamins D which helps your body absorb calcium and phosphate for healthy bones, teeth, and muscle. It can also improve our immune system and helps the thyroid because of the iodine in the waves. Saltwater swimming can help reduce inflammation and speed up healing of skin issues.
Both provide much needed benefits. Maybe the answer is living half the year at the beach and half at the mountains. I have never been to the beach.
If you keep up with the news, it’s difficult not to get discouraged. Every day brings stories of human suffering through war, terrorism, national disasters, and crime. In addition the world is attacking Christian faith from every angle imaginable. We live in spiritually dark times that can lead us to despair.
God is at work even in the darkest times and even with the weakest, most mixed up people God has a sovereign purpose for His glory.
The book of Judges, Gideon never would have done what he did if God had not taken the initiative. Gideon was shown as a hero, when in fact the hero of this account was God. But God chooses to work through some weak whom He teaches to trust in Him. Paul puts it best when he writes,
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” – 2 Corinthians 4:7
Because God is at work even in the spiritually darkest times, we can trust Him to use us even in our weakness to accomplish His sovereign purpose.
When you look around at the depressing news, it may seem that bid had gone on vacation. But He never does. Paul says in Ephesians 1:11,
“We were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of Him who does all this after the counsel of His will.”
Through the Book of Judges, we see that Gideon lived in dark times both politically and spiritually, but God was a work. He was at work in disciplining His wayward people. He was at work to raise a prophet to confront the people with their sins. He was at work to show up in Gideon and call him to deliver His people.
No matter how dark the times, even if we can’t see how God is working, we can be sure that He is working to accomplish His sovereign purpose for His glory.
In Judges, God didn’t look for a man with renowned military skills who was already a recognized leader in his community and nation. Rather, He picked a weak man who remained somewhat weak through the entire book and one who failed. We see Gideon’s weakness in the Book of Judges, in a few ways.
Gideon was defeated and cowardly. He was threshold wheat in a wine press. Normally farmers would separate the wheat from the chaff by using oxen pulling a heavy threshing sledge over it in an exposed area where the wind would blow the chaff away. But Gideon was down in a wine press beating the wheat with a stick “in order to save it from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11).
Gideon was dense spiritually. He either had not heard or not understood the message of the prophet, to attribute Israel’s profound situation to their sin. Gideon rehearsed for the angel how God had delivered Israel from Egypt through the mighty miracles. But he mistakenly concluded,
“But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian” -Judges 6:13
He was right about God giving Israel into the hands of Midian, but he was wrong in saying that God had abandoned them. God was working even in this spiritually dark time.
Gideon was depressed. We see this in his complaint that God has abandoned Israel Gideon had lost hope for any deliverance from this oppressive enemy that was literally eating Israel’s lunch.
Gideon was down on himself rather than staying focused on God. When the angel tells Gideon in Judges 6:14,
‘Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?
He was not implying that Gideon had the strength to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Rather. Gideon’s strength was to be found in the angel’s rhetorical question, “Have I not sent you?” and in the angel’s promise in Judges 6:16, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man. Gideon was focused on his own incompetence rather than on God’s power and presence.
Gideon was doubtful of God’s promises. The angel promised to be with him and that he would defeat the enemy. But Gideon needed a sign to confirm the angel’s words. God graciously complied with His weak servants request, first my incinerating Gideon’s offering and then by making Gideon’s fleece first wet and then dry. Knowing Gideon’s remaining doubts about attacking the Midianites, God graciously provided a final sign by allowing Gideon to overhear an enemy soldier telling about a dream where Gideon was victorious over the Midianite army (Judges 7:9-14). But up to that point, Gideon was marked by doubt.
When we are weak, doubt robs us of the fullness of God’d blessings in our lives. We don’t see how God can possibly be at work in a dark situation.
Whatever the world tells us, to not believe in ourselves. It’s not to build our self-esteem or to follow steps to get our success.
“If we can do nothing, self-confidence is the height of presumption. If God can do everything, despondency is the height of folly” – C.H. Mackintosh
We do not want to be unaware of our affliction when we are burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we are despaired of life. Trusting in God is the solution for weak people who want to see Him work in dark situations. We need to be in a place where when we are we are strong in the Lord.
We may be weak ourselves, but because we have the Holy Spirit within us we are strong.
We cannot trust God to use us to serve Him until we know that we are at peace with Him through trusting in the sacrifice of His Son.
Paul wrote in Romans 5:1-2,
“Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom we also have our access by faith into His grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
If our faith is in Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins then we are at peace with God. Even in the darkest of times. He wants to use us in our weakness as we trust Him, to help accomplish His sovereign purpose for His glory.
Our world, our nation, and our communities may be spiritually dark but know that God is at work even if we don’t see immediate evidence of it.
When I think of the dark times in my life I realize that God was at work even when I thought He wasn’t anywhere to be found. He was there protecting me, even from myself at times.
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
One person I would have loved to meet from the past and also spend some time with would have been Luke from the Bible.
The New Testament mentions Luke as a physician. I would have loved to learn of the medical practices in these times. Colossians refers to Luke as a beloved physician,
Luke was a traveling companion of Paul and the Acts of the Apostles.
I don’t think meeting anyone in history is valuable if you’re not going to take the time to learn from them, or at least in a nugget of knowledge.
Salvation is often thought of as a means in which we get to heaven after we die. It is true, we must be saved in order to get to heaven, and the hope of eternity with Jesus is the center of salvation. But salvation bears fruit in our earthly lives as well. Salvation is not simply a ticket to a better future, it is a change that takes place and has an effect now.
Ephesians 2:8-9 is often used to demonstrate that salvation is by God‘s grace and receive through faith, not works. We are forgiven our sins and reconcile to God because of what Jesus did on the cross.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”
Because of this we are saved, we are free from the penalty of sin, and granted eternal life. Eternal life speaks of quality and quantity of life, and it begins when we are saved. Our time on earth is a taste of all God has in store for us, but it is much affected by our salvation. We see this evidence right in Ephesians.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them” – Ephesians 2:10
Clearly, God has a plan for us on earth.
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us all who are in Christ are new creations. Jesus said that He came that those who believe in Him may have life and have it abundantly. in John 10:10 and John 15 Jesus talks about abiding in Him and bearing fruit. There are many times when Jesus calls His followers to obedience, linking it to our showing love for Him and experiencing joy in Him.
In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives us the Great Commission. And the apostle Paul echoes the fact that believers have been “given the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5). This shows us that salvation affects us, and when we become new, we bare fruit and share God‘s message in the hope and forgiveness with others.
When we are made new and barefoot, we can actually experience a more satisfying life on earth. Our entire perspective changes when we are saved we begin to see the darkness in this fallen world for what it is, and we recognize the light of God. we are not only freed from eternal death because of sin, but by the enslaving power that sin that has over our lives.
While we may still struggle with sin, we also know that in the joy of forgiveness we can experience the Holy Spirit’s transforming and enabling work to help us be free of sin. we gain a godly perspective of this world and we can endure. Rather than attempting to see meaning through earthly pleasures or world success, and we can rest in the fact that we are loved by the Creator of the Universe.
We can more appreciate things like beauty and joy because we the One who created it. Being able to recognize our earthly experience as a mere shadow of what will one day be. We are able to experience God’s Shalom peace.
When we are saved, we are invited into a relationship with God through Jesus. It becomes more than just a destination for our after lives because we are children of the living God. We have access to our Father through prayer. In Jesus, we have someone who understands our weaknesses and sympathizes with us (Hebrews 4). we also have the Holy Spirit who reveals truth and enables us to live a righteous life. (John 14:13-17).
Salvation frees us from condemnation, and secures us firmly in God‘s love making us heirs which affects our lives on earth (Romans 8)
It is because we are saved, but we can know the truth, experience, freedom, and join in God‘s work in the world. We can rest knowing that our hope in Him will be fully realized.
Salvation is about the afterlife, but it is also about so much more.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to be Him the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever“- Ephesians 3:20-21
I listen to my intuition, and feelings that my body gives me about what’s right or wrong. Sometimes it involves acting on a feeling that I cannot explain logically, like a bad feeling about someone I have just me.
My instincts are right more times than not. And when I second guess them, I usually end up somewhere I don’t need to be or have made a choice I will regret.
Intuition can be a valuable tool and can help me ma good choices. There have been studies that people who trust their intuition are more likely to do the morally right thing. Intuition helps me stay true to myself.
Intuition can help identify cues to pay attention to in a situation.
I believe that intuition is how the Holy Spirit communicates with us and guides us. It guides me to make decisions that align with God’s will.
It’s important to know that intuition is not just a hunch. It’s a I know that I know that I know feeling.
Intercessory  prayer involves spiritual warfare. Our battle is not with flesh and blood, and it is not fought with carnal weapons. We win battles on our knees.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing the exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” -2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Intercessory prayer is a sacrificial prayer. It focuses less on you and more on others he asked for God‘s power to be unleashed in the world.
Through intercessory, prayer and agreement, you can seduce the forces of hell and render Satan powerless, because “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”
Through intercession, we can change the course of history. Through prayer and intercession, we can rescue our children from disaster and pray them into the will of God. true intercession, we can touch our communities and impact the world.
We are powerful, that’s why evil wants to take us out of the world. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy anything that power over him. He doesn’t want us standing with God. He wants us miserable. I wish more people understood this concept.
God has placed all that He is and has at our disposal in prayer. No principality or power can stand against the person who knows how to pray.
By our intercession, or lack of it, we hold the power to life and death over the souls of people.
Abba Father, teach me how to be the powerful spiritual intercessor You have called me to be. Show me how I should pray and prepare. Thank you that I do not have to walk alone, but I can have confidence that You are with me every moment, day by day. Thank you that you are placing other believers in my life to join in one accord. Thank you for the eternal reward in heaven that makes the trials, spiritual warfare, and waiting worth everything in Jesus I pray. Amen!
We live in a broken world among broken people. We live in a world that is constantly dominated by evil. The news reveals new acts of violence and incredible wickedness day by day.
How do we handle all the evil that surrounds us? How do we handle it when we hear of great destruction that is caused by evil people? Where we place our trust matters. Evil people are against God’s people, we see it every day.
A few weeks ago, I was watching the news and saw our vice president attack two college men’s faith and values. I will have to say I was shocked that she dared to do what she did. It woke me up to the fact that the world is in a dark place.
It’s not hard to be overcome with fear and panic, and become depressed in despair. But that’s right where Satan wants us. He wants us to steal, kill, and destroy us.
The Bible tells us, the world becomes darker and darker, as the end of the age comes. Man can not fix what is happening, he can delay it, but not fix it. Only God can. Everything that is happening right now was prophesied in the Bible and it was meant to prepare us, not scare us.
“Evil may seem to flourishing at this moment, but we must build our trust and faith in a God of judgment and a God of grace.” -James Long Jr
God is greater than the trials and troubles of this life. We will be reminded that people will hurt and harm us. But God’s coming judgment and His committed and unchanging love will be our comfort and consolation for these evil times that are among us. We must see that the way forward is to grow our faith and trust in God.
Throughout the Bible, we see the word “Selah” which means to ponder, consider, think deeply, meditate, deliberate, and contemplate the issues of the scripture. In Psalm 51 David teaches us to count one two certainties: God’s grace and God’s judgment.
David describes his life as flourishing and fruitful because of his faith in the steadfast love of God.
The determination of getting through any tough situation includes,
Being thankful to God
Waiting on God
Being rooted in a community of faith
Jesus tells us that the end of the age we will repeat the days of Noah,
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of man be” – Matthee 24:37-39
Jesus describes the “days of Noah” as similar to those that existed before the flood when Jesus returns to earth.
People will be unaware of His return. Jesus described how people will be living ungodly lives in a world filled with violence when He returns
The world will be full of turmoil. Jesus described a season of unimaginable world turmoil and persecution.
People will be caught by surprise. Jesus said that everyone would be caught by surprise at the sudden appearance of the signs of His return.
Jesus will come with authority. Jesus will come with the authority needed to right every wrong in the world.
Jesus pointed out in Luke 17:26-27, that although the people of Noah’s day were totally depraved, they were not the least bit concerned about it. They were carrying on the events of their lives without a single thought of the judgment of God.
God allowed Noah nearly 120 years to complete the building of the ark. Through all that time, God patiently waited (1 Peter 3:20). Scripture seems to imply that Noah preached to the people of that time about what was coming. (Hebrews 11:7). They did not believe Noah and we’re content with their wickedness and idolatry. Their hearts were hard and their ears dull. No one repented, and no one cared to seek God.
Jesus warned us to “be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” in 2 Timothy 3:1-4.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that, to understand what the world was like in the days of Noah, one only needs to watch the news.
Rick Rinner has an excellent book called “Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters, and the Word Before the Flood.” He was an excellent interview on YouTube on Encounter Today: Fallen Angels & Monsters – Strange Bible Prophecy Reveals Shocking Truth.
My favorite month used to be July. My children and I used to be fond of fireworks. When they were home, we would go off looking at fireworks throughout our town. It was a special bond we had when they were young. After they were raised and out of the house, those times were no more.
I’ve grown older I have become fond of November. The scent of crisp air and the crunch of the leaves under my feet is like a soothing melody. I can almost get lost in the crunching of the leaves.
I live in a small town, so there is not much to see and the bulk of the town are restaurants and bars with a mix of mom-and-pop stores. Not much to see in a coal-mining and railroading town.
Have you ever heard anyone say “You just know that you know when something is right? Like knowing when you’re in love, or when God speaks to you.
For most people, “knowing that you know” is an unhelpful description. What is that supposed to mean? But there is help, at least for knowing if you’ve heard God.
It’s a myth that hearing God’s voice is just open to a spiritual elite or a select few. There are a few things you need to know to learn how to hear God’s voice.
Who does God talk to?
God is a loving Father who wants to speak to everyone. In John 1027, Jesus said: “My sheep hear My voice.” If you’re a follower of Jesus, you can hear Him.
Throughout the Bible, and in history since, there are clear examples of God speaking to all types of people from all walks of life.
How does God Speak?
If you look at Hollywood for example, you are probably expecting a “big booming” voice from the clouds. But in 1 Kings 19, God shows Himself in quite the opposite way. When Elijah wanted to hear God he didn’t hear Him in the wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but in a gentle whisper.
Of course, God is able to get our attention in that vivid resounding voice, but that’s not always the way it happens. Only a few times have I been awoken from a dead sleep, with the vivid voice of God and it’s usually because I have been missing the more subtle one. It’s like Him telling me, “You better listen and do it now.”
In the Bible, God speaks through dreams, visions, pictures, scriptures, prophets, His subtle voice, angels, miracles, and even a donkey. God is not limited in the ways He can communicate with us. We are the ones who limit Him.
Who are you listening to?
Hearing God is about learning to listen for a whisper, asking God to speak in the quiet of your mind. But what if other inner voices seem much louder and clearer? How can we tell if we are hearing God, and not something else?
There are three options for who we might hear when we’re listening out for what God is saying. Yourself, Satan, or God. Let’s hope you can differentiate between the three:
Yourself
Your one thought is probably going to sound logical, or analytical. It will sound like the kind of things you often think.
2. Satan
Satan always condemns us. His purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. So if the thoughts you’re hearing are negative, destructive, vicious, or accusing it’s the enemy.
3. God
When God speaks, it always lines up with the Bible -His character and His actions. He is kind, loving, and does not condemn.
My Pastor always says that “God speaks to us every day.” We just need to listen and obey.
There are four keys to hearing God’s voice, that people from all over the world can use:
Be Still: Quiet Yourself Down.
In our crazy- bust lives, it’s important to take some time out to find peace and listen to God without any distractions. Find a quiet spot, get comfortable, and get rid of any distractions like computers, cell phones, etc… Keep a paper and pen close by for the items on your to-do list, that will inevitably pop into your mind.
Welcome the Holy Spirit, simply by saying, “Holy Spirit, I welcome You. Come and be here with me.”
Look: Fix Your Eyes On Jesus
Use the eyes of your imagination to picture Jesus. You might see in black and white or color, or a still image or a movie on the screen in your mind.
Most of us have been told at some point in our lives that it’s not good to use our imagination. But, if it’s so bad why do we have one? It’s important to remember that people heard from God through visions all throughout the Bible. Jesus even used vision to connect with the Father. “The Son can do nothing by himself, he can do only what He sees His Father doing” ( John 5:9).
As you picture Jesus, ask Him a question, “Jesus what do you want to say or do today?
Listen: Tune To The Spontaneous Flow
Listen to what Jesus is saying. His voice might not be audible, but God often speaks in our thoughts. It might sound like your own thoughts at the start, but as you practice, you’ll be able to more clearly distinguish God’s voice.
This is where the last key comes in.
Remember It
Write it down if you have to. write it down just as you heard it -unfiltered. Don’t worry about spelling correctly or grammar, and don’t try and correct it with your own beliefs or views.
The last thing you should do it to obey what God told you. What’s the point of hearing God’s voice if you’re going to ignore it and not act on it?
Believe me when I tell you, I have brushed off somethings that God has told me, and I have always regretted it.
From Pity to Praise 