TRUST IN THE LORD?

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths

This verse may well be one of the very first I ever memorized and it has given me great comfort over the years.  Whatever language you understand and whatever version you prefer, you should know this verse by heart.  In the past few weeks as I studied the book of Job I came to one conclusion; we are gnats living at the whim of a giant of unfathomable knowledge, wisdom and holiness.  He is not moved by our ignorance except to feed us knowledge.  He is not moved by our pain except to offer us love and a direction away from that pain.

All Job’s friends offered him wonderful advice following Man’s wisdom about God and of the four of them, the three oldest and wisest were wrong.  Job had not sinned.  He did not deserve what happened to him.  There was no handy scriptural formula or pattern that could lift their friend up from his current position of grief and restore his fortunes.  For his part, Job was incensed that they would keep demanding that he acknowledge his faults and admit to the sin they KNEW must be there.  Job had kept the faith and had not sinned against God in word or deed; a miraculous event in itself.  If he had a fault it was to cry out, “I have not fallen short!”  That led God to censure him for his pride.

The fourth man was a young man and he of the four did not blame Job for his sins.  He was far more angry with the other three for failing to offer any help to Job in his circumstances.  Of the four, he alone did not warrant a chastening from God.  The others were so certain of their righteous understanding that they failed to acknowledge that there might be some wisdom, deep wisdom, that God had not chosen to reveal to them.  God’s insistence that they offer a sin offering through Job was a complete slap in the face to their pride and arrogance. 

I feel like the fourth man.  I know we are not perfect and never insist that I have perfect and flawless knowledge of God’s Word.  I have learned enough to know that there are many levels to knowledge in God’s Word and I have just scratched the surface.  When I hear someone say, “It doesn’t take all that to serve God,” I know that they have completely missed the depth and holiness of God’s Word. It truly is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.  I may die for my faith but as long as I live I will live for it as well.

I love how God sought Job’s input on the creation of the universe.  “Tell me little man if you can, how did you stand the earth on it’s pillars and set the stars in place (Job 38:3).”  Job’s answer is priceless,  “Lord, I’m just going to sit here with my hand over my mouth and SHUT UP! (Job 40:3-5)”  This is often a wise decision that should be copied by all the earth.  You may not understand God and what He is doing in the earth today, but He expects your total faith, obedience and adherence to His Word, whether you know why things are happening or not. 

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?”

It appears that the angels present themselves to God at regular intervals, perhaps on a yearly basis.  Notice that they are called the “Sons of God, Ben Elohim.”  Some have tried to say that this referred to the line of Seth the son of Adam but in reality Seth was not Ben Elohim but Ben Adam, son of Adam.  Only angels were called the sons of God until after the crucifixion of Jesus when we too were redeemed and could be called the sons of God.  Prior to that point all mankind – except for Adam – were called ben Adam.  Only Adam was ben Elohim because he was a direct creation of God.  After the fall it only applied to angels until Jesus came and redeemed us to God.

You can hear a note of curiosity in God’s question to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?”  Satan “the accuser” answered, “Why shouldn’t Job serve you faithfully.  You have him hedged and protected from all harm.”  Satan was once Lucifer, the brightest angel of great light.  His pride darkened his vision and now he can only see things through that pride and anger.  Angels have free will just as we do.  Do you stop to consider that God must work with angels as well?  Isn’t it possible that even the Angels must be trained and taught?  We wrongly tell ourselves that we are the center of God’s universe when we might well be a poor neighborhood with a high crime rate; a slum in effect.  He has a universe of life and light and we may well be just a small part of that universe.  

Stop screaming.  I know most of us believe we are the greatest creation of God and this universe is all ours.  Perhaps, but there is no certainty of that.

In Job Satan once again questions the honor of God, “Doth Job serve you for nothing?   Notice Genesis 3:1 where Satan works to seduce Eve,

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Hath God said…?  What is the main challenge from those who want to disbelieve scripture?  You hear it time and time again, “Is the Bible real?”  “Is the Bible true?”  “Is homosexuality wrong?”  “Is stealing wrong?”  It is only a step or two from “Thus saith the Lord,” to “Did He really?” to “It doesn’t take all that.”  Men and women now actively insult and mock a God they say they do not believe in and yet when they really want to curse someone they choose the name of God.  Even in homosexual relationships there is always a masculine and a feminine partner.  Our sexuality was preordained from the garden of God in Eden.  Even when we try to change our passions through abominable practices we still are drawn by the Word of God to truth, even if it is a false symbol of truth. 

Psalm 44:22 KJV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Live before God according to SCRIPTURE and He will direct, guide and make straight your paths.  This doesn’t say you will always enjoy the path He has you on.  Jesus didn’t.  You might ask yourself why you are led in a particular life direction but if it is scriptural and godly then let God direct you.  He has preordained your path and your provision.  Walking with the Lord is a growth process.  He is not concerned if you don’t use all your gifts immediately as long as you are willing to press into them and gradually grow into your complete purpose. 

If we judge ourselves by others we may feel good about ourselves or bad depending on who you observe.  If you judge yourself against God you will always acknowledge your weaknesses, flaws and dependence on Him.  This is just fine with God.  Where we are weak, He is strong.  Not leaning on God is considered a lack of faith.  Failing to trust in Him is sin as well.

Isaiah 53:7 KJV He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Jesus had a powerful reason to release His life and comfort…your salvation.  God certainly could have protected Dr. Martin Luther King or more recently Pastor / Senator Pinckney.  There may come a time when your death will win more souls and progress the purpose of God to a greater degree than simply dying of old age.  Are you willing to be so spent?  I suppose it would grieve me to know that my death would do more good than my life, but I am still hopeful that I am somewhat centered on the path God has for me.  As an individual, I want to see God do more with me…selfishly I suppose.  In Christ I am willing to spend and be spent for the gospel sake. 

Acts 8:29 KJV Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.—32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Should we do less?  God considered this passage of greater importance to the eunuch than any other.  It was so important that He supernaturally transported a preacher to explain it to him.  Jesus was led as a sheep to the slaughter and did not open His mouth to call down the angels to defend Him.  That call was His right.  If you had the right to speak an end to someone, would you use it?  Wisely?  Without error?  Would you know the heart of that man or woman you ordained to die?  I don’t think so.  This is why God will often keep us in those places of trial and pain until we cry out, “Not my will but thine be done Lord!”  Then He knows you have given all.  If you curse Him and rail against His plan for your life it won’t stop Him from working on you.  It will however let Him know you aren’t ready for release yet.  You need more time in the slow cooker.

Back to the above scripture.  God for His own reasons informed the Eunuch that Jesus had not died permanently as was supposed and that He would return again.  Why would this be so important to God and the Eunuch?  I have an idea but for now remember, God never does anything for frivolous reasons.  He always has a powerful purpose.  There is reason enough to believe that God will still do this today for reasons important to His plan.

Romans 8:35 KJV Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Shall we do less?  Once again I ask the question.  Should we do less than Jesus?  When Jesus met Nathaniel He told him that He saw him in the spirit praying to god.  Nathaniel said, “You are the son of God.”  Jesus answer was, “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these (John 1:50).”  As the body of Christ we are supposed to be walking miracles.  Our lives should be surrendered to His Word to the point that God will give a quiet unction and we will move immediately or as the Word says, “suddenly.” 

We are kings and priests.  Kings rule.  Priests intercede.  The body of Christ ought never be powerless and defeated.  I remember watching movies as a kid where they would burn a witch or an evil person.  That person would curse them and speak terrible imprecations against the one who punished them.  The most you might do to me is to kill me and I promise you this; if you do, God will have something powerful to say about it.  Revelation speaks of the tribulation saints crying out from under the altar, “Lord, where is our justice (Revelation 6:10)!  The day of grace was over and the day of the vengeance of our God had begun.

Psalm 116:12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

God does not take your life OR death lightly.  You are not God and may never understand His complete ways.  God is eternal.  Even He cannot remember a time when He did not exist.  Life in Christ requires a sacrifice just as it required a sacrifice for Jesus Himself.  Roman’s chapter eight is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible.  In verses 16-18 God said,

“16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Just how much authority does your flesh have over your joy, happiness and self worth?  Does your spirit rule or your flesh and passions?  We live in a dangerous world and yet for the one who is bought by the blood of the Lamb of God it is safe and secure.  You might lose your life, but it will only cause you to gain it eternally.  I hope you will understand that while trials and tribulations come they are not to cause us any terror or sudden fear (1 Peter 3:6). 

I wrote this lesson after hearing dozens of men and women cry to me about their pain and sorrow and wondered why God didn’t do something.  He has His reasons.  That may well be the only comfort you will have.  There is more than enough TRUTH with a capitol T in the Bible to let you know it is truly the Word of God.  That said, you will still have to trust Him when all the lights are out and the heavens are brass.  I have great respect for those who have learned to serve God without prophetic gifts or major prophetic words in their lives.  Those people serve God based purely on what they read in the Bible and live victorious lives.  What would I have done in those circumstances? 

Beloved, having done all to stand, stand therefore.

Bishop J

The World Needs To Know…Right

That cry is often heard by those who call themselves the news media.  They try to set themselves as the protectors of mankind while trampling the privacy and lives of everyone.

This past month the world of sin has screamed and jeered and happily tried to disassemble a family in America because of the foolishness of a Na’ar.  What is a na’ar?  A na’ar is a youth, a child too young to have developed all the wisdom, reason and understanding we should develop as adults.  They may have been taught the basics of Christian doctrine and how to live but it has not yet become fully established in their life.  A young man behaved badly toward some family members and others and his parents had to take measures to ensure he received correction.  His life thereafter has been one of growth and maturity even while living in a fishbowl of cameras and observation.  In all the thousands of hours of video his family has lived under they have only been able to find one or two instances of thoughtless comments to hound him on. 

I am 58 years old.  I would hate to have all my foolish comments or actions from my teens and early twenties thrown back in my face.  If I have lived a few years with no increase in bad habits and a definite pattern of good ones then both God and man should be satisfied with that.  Thankfully God is but man holds grudges even if it may cost them their eternal future.  Growth is a continuous process, it is added to our lives, line upon line and precept upon precept.  The demonic attack against this young man has not come because someone is righteously trying to protect the public.  There is no public danger involved in this man’s life, in fact his goals and honesty have placed him light years ahead of his peers.  He is a godly caring Christian man and that is where the problem lies.  His life will forever be ridiculed by those who are offended by his desire to be better and rise above the rampant flesh we all war with. 

Many of his accusers do not even try.

Romans 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

I won’t attempt to write about all of this right now.  Verse 28 explains the result of a refusal to acknowledge the God of the universe.  Once you have declared God to be non-existent he leaves you to your father the Devil.  It is no wonder that those who do not believe usually are disgusted by or bear animosity toward Christians.  The Spirit of God dwells in us and Satan hates us.  Christians and Jews have always been hated and abused throughout history.  It has always been so except for those periods when the state religion has been a twisted form of Christianity that bore little relationship to the truth.  They are filled with malice, strife, deceit and maliciousness.  By definition they bear us ill will. 

These people gossip and slander any with whom they do not agree.  If a Christian desires to live a holy and upright life before God, he or she is said to be filled with hatred and a ‘phobe’ of one sort or another.  It does not help that many Christian churches respond in fear rather than love, in many cases appearing to prove those opinions against us.  That these churches have absolutely broken the doctrines contained within our scripture is conveniently ignored for the purpose of casting blame, not where it is deserved, but where it is most wanted.  If someone wishes to blame Christians, then there are enough deluded lunatics who call themselves “Christian” to heap that blame upon us all. 

Oddly enough, they will accept Islam with it’s doctrine of death and jihaad but not Christianity with its doctrine of love and grace. 

In our most pure state, we are truly the people of the book.  Our scriptures are not flexible, allowing for hatred, thievery, unmarried sexual intercourse or violent anger.  These things are forbidden of us.  Christ said, “Love thy enemies.”  Any other response places you dangerously near the enemy’s camp.  While we are not forced to fixedly obey the Old Testament law, we are required to obey an even greater law of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.  I once wrote a book about the heart.  Most scriptures I explained took a single chapter for sufficient depth.  The few verses about the agape love of God contained in First Corinthians 13 required six chapters.  It takes great faith in God to love those who do not love us.

1 Timothy 5:13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

Recently I wrote about a woman of virtue.  Proverbs 31 shows how she stayed busy and did not idly lay about.  She was a woman who sought out the vision of God for her life and multiplied that vision 30, 60 and 100 fold.  There is another type of woman (and probably man for that matter).  First Timothy 5:13 speaks of the other sort.  They wander from house to house spreading private truths and even lies with a sparkle of malice in their eyes.  They tell a tale with an eye to wounding a soul and breaking a heart.  Verse 12 says that they receive damnation for telling truth OR lie for the sake of wounding another. 

Whether or not the story you tell is true or not is unimportant.  God says that the tongue is a world of iniquity.  We are supposed to protect each other and help one another to grow.  1 Peter 4:8 says, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”  God has never intended that everyone’s sins and flaws should be revealed for the whole world to see.  He is gracious toward us when we repent and often covers our faults even as He forgives them.  When we shove those forgiven flaws out for the world to see, we have set ourselves in the place of God and that is a position He will not allow us to take.  Gossip is an abomination as great as any other. 

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am fearful that somehow or other I may come and find you not as I desire to find you, and that you may find me too not as you want to find me—that perhaps there may be factions (quarreling), jealousy, temper (wrath, intrigues, rivalry, divided loyalties), selfishness, whispering, gossip, arrogance (self- assertion), and disorder among you.

In this scripture Paul placed gossip right along side of factions (taking sides), jealousy, anger or wrath, selfishness (and coveting), disloyal (lying friends), whispering (back biting), arrogance and disorder.  Take a moment to ask if any of these moral flaws are found in your own heart.  We’re quick to judge others for transgressions we call the BIG sins, but God judges the heart well before judging mere actions.  He came to heal the broken hearted and it is a well known saying that hurt people hurt people, damaged people damage others and wounded people are quick to wound.  Unless you see someone’s heart and treat that heart with God’s Word then you have no right to point out actions.

In Proverbs 30 says a man prays, “7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

  Living for the Lord is a balancing act.  We stand between the complete (and unreachable) holiness of God and the desperate and abominable degradation of man.  As long as we are living in this fallen world, we will often find ourselves struggling to simply ‘obey the Spirit.’  Paul decried the impossibility of this life in Romans 7:22, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”  For this reason it behooves us to minister God’s love to others by grace and mercy.  In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” 

1 Peter 4:3 AMP For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do—living [as you have done] in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries. 4 They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you]. 5 But they will have to give an account to Him Who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the good news (the Gospel) was preached [ in their lifetime] even to the dead, that though judged in fleshly bodies as men are, they might live in the spirit as God does.

I had a friend who was in the Air Force with me.  She was an alcoholic who drank every day with the men and women of her shop.  One day she gave her heart to Jesus and he delivered her from her dependence on alcohol.  Instead of partying with the others she would sit quietly aside and read her Bible during slow times rather than drink.  The people in her office were deeply offended by this action.  She never spoke against their lifestyle or got “preachy” toward them as is the usual complaint against Christians. 

She didn’t act like that Baptist church that curses people at homosexual’s funerals.  It didn’t matter.  They began to lie about her and say she refused to do her job.  They hounded her about her activities and ordered her not to bring a Bible to work even though she only read it when others were drinking and playing cards.  Eventually they forced her to accept a discharge and except for the Lord’s help would have given her a bad conduct discharge.  He worked it out so she received an honorable discharge instead.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

This scripture is one that should affect all our lives powerfully.  We are living in the end times.  This much is obvious by our current world climate and recent history.  Israel has returned and is in her rightful place.  All the world hates or is beginning to hate her.  Even many Christians, God’s elect, are against Israel and siding with the so called Palestinians.  The truth is that God STILL curses those who curse Israel and blesses those who bless Israel (Ezekiel 36:1-8). 

Verse eight tells us to FERVENTLY love one another.  That means we must love each other with great zeal.  We don’t have the right to love in a lukewarm manner.  The second part states that this fervent love hides a multitude of sins.  People sin, saved people sin; as long as we live in this body we will sin because it is our NATURAL inclination to do so.  Christians who live as holy a life as they can are fighting against that sin nature.  All of us fail and fall short but we are admonished to press toward the mark of the high calling and grow into greater maturity.  The Bible says a righteous man falls seven times but he gets back up again (Proverbs 24:16).

When people in the world point out our failings to make themselves feel better it doesn’t change the fact that overall we are more holy and live better lives.  On the one hand we can’t compare ourselves to them because it is God’s holiness we are aspiring to; on the other, they can’t honestly compare themselves to our shortcomings because it isn’t who or what we are and our righteousness is of God as Isaiah 54:7-8 says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

We make mistakes as Christians when we follow a dynamic personality and try to live up to their expectations.  We should always strive to live up to God’s expectations.  Obviously we’ll always fall short overall, but we will improve daily, line upon line and precept upon precept.  Verse nine above should be a challenge to all of us.  We must offer hospitality to one another without grudging.  If you can help someone, help them.  Certainly there are those who are users and abusers, I don’t believe you must allow yourself to be misused but on the other hand, you should never shut up your bowels of compassion toward others (1 John 3:17).

In verse ten we are admonished to fully use the gifts we have been given.  It also says that we received those gifts due to the manifold grace of God.  We are to be good stewards of that grace and those gifts.  It isn’t ours.  God gave them to us to be used.  They are our talents and those who fail to use them may find themselves cursed by God and lose all they have (Matthew 25:14-30).  Love is not a choice; it is a commandment.

John 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

Galatians 3:28 says there is no difference between male or female, even the Torah said adultery was a death penalty offense for both men and women, but we can see from this challenge to Jesus that obedience to scripture fell short here.  If she was caught in the VERY ACT of adultery, where was the man she was found with.  People who judge one sex or race or nationality to be above another have not surrendered to the love of God or even the righteousness of God.  There ought to have been two people standing before Jesus, one man and one woman. 

Can you picture this scene?  Under Roman rule or not, the Jews would normally have stoned this couple.  The Law of Moses was clear, they (or she) should have been stoned.  They only brought her out for political reasons to make Jesus stumble.  Her crime was a death penalty offense.  Under Moses, you might repent and ask God for mercy, but the LAW offered little in the way of grace.  Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. 

John 8:6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

They wanted desperately to find some flaw in Jesus’ logic or in His instructions.  How could he possibly slip out of this one?  The law was clear, stoning.  He appeared to ignore them and squatted down on the ground, writing with His finger.  Never forget, every word, every idea and every action in scripture is filled with meaning.  Jesus is the Word of God.  Whatever He wrote on the ground had great meaning.

In Exodus 31:18 it says God wrote the law on the tablets with His finger.  In Daniel 5:5 God’s fingers wrote the judgment of Belshazzar on the wall.  Many scholars believe that Jesus was the hand in both of those instances in His pre-incarnate form and that while he stooped upon the ground and wrote He was writing down the sins of each of those accusers.  Remember Matthew 7:1-2 says, “Judge not, lest you be judged with the very same measure.”  I’m not sure what it is about people who are fully aware of their own sins and yet will point out someone else’s and incur God’s judgment upon themselves. 

I might tell you that homosexuality is a sin, but I am not going to vilify you before others as if my sins (and we all have them), are somehow less disgusting to God.  One problem I have with people mocking or attacking Christians in media for their sins is that it is often after these people have already identified their sins and have corrected them and asked God for forgiveness.  1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 

I don’t believe Christian young man in the news this month has ever stated that he has never sinned or never sins.  The point people miss is that he has repented of those sins and has corrected his behavior which occurred as a 14 year old child.  As far as God is concerned they never happened.  He is forgiven.  Satan and his children use condemnation to marginalize us.  Whether the unsaved or even Christians will give him that grace is unimportant.  God will still use him and punish those who have publicly attacked him.  I can’t even imagine how severe the punishment will be for the Chief of Police who released his sealed records for the sake of political gain or the news media who ran the story.  How ever you judge someone else, your sins will come out and attack you (1 Timothy 5:24-25).

John 8:9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

I love how it says that they were convicted by their conscience from the oldest to the youngest.  Scribes and Pharisees, the cream of Israelite religious society, brought this pitiful sinner to Jesus.  They were the KEEPERS OF THE LAW.  From the most noble and aged scholar to the youngest trainee, they all walked away trying to maintain as much dignity as possible in their retreat.  They knew they were all sinners.  If Jesus was using His gifts to tell their sins when He wrote on the ground it would have served to shake the arrogance of even the most self righteous leader. 

Maybe we need that today, someone who has the prophetic gifts to call up the President or congressmen and say, “This is your hidden sin and God expects a change.”  Might be good for them.  In this case He finally got up and looked around.  He and the woman stood alone in the midst of those He had been teaching.  He had just publically embarrassed all the Pharisees and Scribes with knowledge of their own sins.  Jesus came to bring grace, frequently withheld by the proud religious leadership, and he dispensed it to the woman, “Go and sin no more.”  If you notice he asked her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?  Does no one accuse you?”  She answered, “No one Lord.”  By now she was probably saved AND delivered.  She called Him “Lord,” kyrios, not “teacher” didaskalos like the Pharisees did to put Him in His place.  She knew He was the life and death authority over her.  So did the people.  It didn’t silence the Pharisees long but they were NEVER able to win a single argument with Him. 

There have been many times where God has shown me an “Ah hah!” moment; where I understood a new truth about a scripture.  When we decide we know all there is to know about scripture we will become as petrified and traditionalized as they were and God can no longer teach us anything.  This was a major lesson He taught, and while the common people believed, the Pharisees did not.  Luke spoke of this attitude in Acts 17:10-13.  The men of Berea were willing to hear what Paul and Silas said and searched the scriptures to see if it was true.  The Jews from Thessalonica came and tried to start trouble when they heard about it.  They denied any possibility of a deeper understanding.

The word talebearer is used for the word gossip in the King James Version of the Bible.  The word gossip is used in the New International version (NIV).  Talebearer defines the word gossip well.  Proverbs 11:13 states, “A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.”  The Bible also states “Whoever spreads slander is a fool (Prov. 10:18a)” and, “A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies (Prov. 12:17 NIV)” or “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor (Prov. 25:18).” 

Gossip may be completely true, partially true or a complete lie.  It usually has greater or lessor amounts of truth.  In the case of the young na’ar in the news, gossip was a sin because God had dealt with the flaws and mistakes of a child and had reinforced His holy word in that young man’s life.  God has offered us the opportunity to be forgiven and have our sins washed away.  Man wants to punish those who fall short UNLESS they are the one who has fallen short; then they want to be forgiven.  Man cries, “JUSTICE!”  God says, “You do not want justice.  It will cost you your life and an eternity of suffering.”  Jesus said, “I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” 

There is no sin too great to be forgiven except blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.  That sin is so difficult to accomplish that few have done it.  Simply looking to Heaven in a moment of anguish and crying, “I hate you God!” is not enough.  God knows what is in man and is gracious and merciful toward us.  We ought to give that same grace and mercy to those around us.

John 6:70 AMP Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And [yet] one of you is a devil (of the evil one and a false accuser).

Judas falsely accused Jesus of conspiring against God.  He knew in his heart it was a lie.  He was zealous of a future where Israel would defeat Rome.  He was also a thief who hid his sin in self righteous complaint against Christ.  Judas carried the bag with their money and stole from it (John 12:4-6).  He even complained that a gift of ointment given to Jesus should have been sold and given to the poor who he disdained.  Many of our accusers are living lives of darkness and wish to steal our light.

Beloved, love one another.  Be gracious to one another.  Keep your opinions to yourself.  Preach the Word, be ready day or night to speak God’s truths.  Trust the Lord.

Bishop J.

The Virtue of Woman

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Virtuous = khah-yil (a force) strong, valiant, worthy. Quality clear rubies are more rare and more valuable than diamonds though the word translated ruby might refer to a pearl which is a remez to Matthew 13:46.  Oysters are unclean to Jews and the pearl which is in response to an irritation doubly so but Jesus considered God to be a merchant who discovered one pearl of great price and sold all to possess it.  God paid His only begotten Son to seal the price. The church is that pearl of great price and should be filled with virtue.  We are often an irritation to the Jews but of great value to God nonetheless.  A woman of virtue is also of great value to God and a husband who treats her without honor or respect may well find himself ill treated by God in response.

Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

A virtuous woman is not wasteful or foolish and demanding. In the words of a silly parable, she is able to make a silk purse of a sow's ear; in other words, a virtuous woman can take things of little value and find great purpose in them. She is faithful and full of zeal toward her husband. A wise man respects his wife; a foolish man treats her badly or without respect and reaps the reward of fools.  A wise man knows she is his muse, his encouragement.  She can inspire him to accomplish great things.

Proverbs 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

A virtuous woman is not fickle, she is steady, trusting in the Lord. Her desire is for the welfare of her husband.  A wise husband acknowledges this and in return complements her hard work and gives her honor.

Proverbs 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

With wool and flax she could keep her family warm in winter and cool in summer. She keeps her eyes open for opportunities and seizes them when they appear. She is diligent and has a positive outlook.

Proverbs 31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

When one is focused upon their responsibilities they recognize even distant opportunities to improve family life. The more distracted you are, the narrower your vision. In our cell phone, computer, internet and television society it is a wonder that we can focus on anything of value at all.  It limits your effectiveness to give undue attention to unnecessary stimulus. Your eye is not single, clear, and focused.  How can you even make time to hear God and give Him His due?  How can you see God’s vision when you can’t even see God for the noise in your life.

Proverbs 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She is the first to awaken and makes sure her household has sufficient food to begin their day energized. She cares for any servants as well as family.  In many ways a woman has more endurance than a man.  His strength is greater but his use of a day’s energy is quicker.  The virtuous woman is like a slow fire that can burn longer and more evenly than his.

Proverbs 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She is thoughtful and considerate. She takes the household excess and uses it for the good of the family and tribe. God multiplies her seed sown and produces an excess for trade.  Her focus on His will for her life lead to Proverbs 3:5-6 choices in family and business. She is motivated and led to greatness due to her singular devotion to this passionate desire to bless God and her family.  God has made her to be a visionary in her own way.

Proverbs 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

A virtuous woman is not one to take the easy or simple path.  Through weariness or pain she presses on to achieve greatness. She is motivated by faith in God and believes she can do all things 'through' Christ.  We often complain that we are too tired or worn out, emotionally and physically, to continue.  Isaiah 40:28-31 argues,

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Are we willing?  Will we WAIT upon the Lord?  A virtuous woman will.

Proverbs 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

In her wisdom she knows her worth, not in pride but because of God's grace.  She receives value for value and prepares for God's prosperous seasons and also dark times by storing much oil / spirit.  Even those who appear to lack the necessities are made fat by the grace of God (1 Kings 17:9-22, 2 Kings 4:1-7).  Nights will always come while we live in this fallen world.  God will see the faithful through the night into day.

Proverbs 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She knows how to produce the needs of her family. From start to finish she produces and is useful. Her gift to the family is incalculable.  She is a powerful provider.  God never intended that a family should only have one provider.  This is unscriptural.  Both husband and wife are needed for the financial, spiritual and emotional health of the family.  Her primary burden may be the immediate needs of family members but it leads her to exercise the wisdom God offers to meet those varied and important needs. Titus 2:5 says she is to be a keeper of the home.  In all history there have been many varied opportunities for a woman to produce extra income through wisdom.  I believe this is the first and best choice for a family and one in which she is always there to speak into the lives of the next generation.  Even after the loss of her husband and sons, Naomi was a fount of wisdom and support for her daughters-in-law.  She became nurse and supporter of the family after Ruth and Boaz had a son.  According to the Midrash Boaz died the day after his wedding but left Ruth pregnant.  Boaz was a wealthy prince of the land of Israel and under Ruth's management that wealth increased. 

Their son Obed "serving" produced a son named Jesse "I possess" who produced a son David "beloved" whose throne would last forever and be ruled by another who would never die.  This Living Word (John 1:14) who SERVING all mankind would POSSESS ALL and having been acknowledged by God as HIS BELOVED SON would become the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.  In the background of these three men were mothers who consistently did what was needed to make sure their sons would fully arise to accomplish God's will for their lives. 

The Midrash reports that Jesse after producing six sons of good character with his wife Nitzevet began to doubt his own purity and value (shoresh).  His grandmother and great grandmother were a Moabitess and Prostitute respectively.  He was a prince in Bethlehem, respected by all, and yet he felt he did not warrant this honor.  He was like those who say an illegitimate child should have no place in any family history except that Jesse began to hate himself.  Jesus made sure that His lineage included prostitutes, the illegitimate and murderers.  God absolutely wanted mankind to know they have no standing with Him by virtue of their own goodness or strength.  Jesus said, "Why do you call me good?  There is no one good but God (Matthew 19:17).  He said this because while He was God He did not come as God but as a suffering servant.

Jesse misunderstood this concept and refused any further contact with his noble and upright wife Nitzevet.  He felt SHE was of too noble a family for such as he and after six sons were born he refused to touch her.  According to the Midrash he married a servant of Nitzevet who loved this virtuous woman and on her wedding night while her new husband was drunk allowed Nitzevet to take her place.  That night produced David.  During the entire period of more than 25 years of David’s early life, Nitzevet's other sons believed she had cheated on their father and that David was illegitimate.  They treated both he and she with contempt and only his mother and the servant who would not speak knew the truth and accepted him.  Psalm 69 tells of this period of his life.  When Samuel came to anoint him as king and had examined 7 brothers he asked Jesse if this was all his sons (1 Samuel 16:11) he said, “There is only the ketan left.”  I use the Hebrew term because it can mean youngest or despised one.  1 Chronicles 2:15 says that David was the seventh son.  That means he was not the youngest out of eight sons.  He was despised.  All he had in the family was his mother’s love.  She carried the burden of that pain alone for almost 30 years before David became king and redeemed her.  Women have the strength to endure the long difficult years.

Proverbs 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not guilty of greed or filthy lucre. Her hand gives to the poor.  Both hands help the needy.  She is love in action and not mere words.  Faith, which is powered by love, does not function without works (James 2:20, 26).  Giving money is not always the best way to help the poor.  Quite often they are far more in need of training or opportunities than mere money which lasts but a short time.  The virtuous woman displays God’s wisdom in this thing.  She might give a little money but will often provide more useful opportunities.  God rarely allows his children large sums of cash or lottery winnings because it often causes more problems in their faith than it solves; in fact it can damage their faith to see Him as a large vault dispensing money.  God expects us to work by faith with our hands, heads and most especially our redeemed spirits.

Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Due to great faithfulness a virtuous woman grows beyond wool and flax.  Her family prospers and are clothed like royalty.  It becomes apparent to all that this household is blessed by God.  There is an old saying that it takes money to make money.  This is true to a point.  It takes a start to make an end.  If you never begin because you can see no sense in it then you will never arrive at success or ministry.  A virtuous woman begins with the modest basics.  She is diligent with the family and God will bring opportunities past her to be noticed.  Scripture says we grow line upon line, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10-12).  In spite of all these opportunities to grow and flourish, God said, “…yet will they not hear.”  We waste far more opportunities that God gives than we seize.  He is more patient than we and often we begin to become angry and frustrated at the apparent lack of opportunities.  God continues in this chapter in Isaiah and says we consider those moments to be temptations and not true opportunities.  This is a slur on God’s character and it causes us to backslide (v13).

Proverbs 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

It is not enough that she produces her own basic materials, she receives great prosperity through her wisdom.  She is clothed as a queen with cloth obtained from afar.  This is the culmination of all her focused godly labors.  The Lord says in Malachi 3:10-12:

“…and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Yes I know I left off the part about tithes.  It is assumed that if you are a virtuous man or woman you are paying tithes.  My point is that when you continue to press to hear God and obey His leadings, your crops begin to flourish of their own accord; you are protected from plagues and attacks that defeat those around you.  You will be blessed with more than you can really use and it is a small thing to buy better clothing and nicer homes to live in.  Consider that God is not blessing you to build your pride.  He wants to bless you to increase HIS glory and honor.  A modest woman who dresses extremely well and is not arrogant about it may simply be showing her love and adoration for God by doing so.  God arrays the lilies of the field in beauty because He loves beauty.  He does not withhold it from us unless it is a matter of pride in our own hearts. 

Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

The gate of the city is the seat of power.  King David used to sit in the gate.  The virtuous woman is one who best displays his ability as the head of a household.  In 1 Timothy 3:1-6 we read that a bishop is a husband who rules well his own house and is not a novice.  Husbands and wives grow together in marriage.  Today's adversarial or self gratifying marriages are not discussed here.  Abigail was married to Nabal who was a self-satisfied fool.  When he heard how his actions nearly killed him it broke his heart and he actually died (1 Samuel 25).  Not all men with virtuous wives are honored as leaders in the gates, but far fewer men married to foolish women are.  The higher you go in public life the more your family is used as a measure of your worthiness.  A virtuous woman is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Until now she has been working her own property and using the proceeds to ensure the care of her family.  Now she is branching out and producing items for the market.  Her actions are beginning to bring real wealth into the family.  She is a true business woman (Acts 16:14).  A virtuous woman (or man for that matter), is always on the lookout for these moments.  They have long patience for them and a focused laser sharp attentiveness.  I am persuaded that these opportunities are far more frequent than we observe.  My late Apostle, Joseph Sims spent hours in prayer and days in fasting to make sure he would not miss these fleeting moments of God’s extraordinary provision.  These moments take us from being a mere saint of God to being a visionary leader of men or women.  These moments take a woman from raising a few beans to sell for extra household needs to starting a business that may even exceed her husband’s income.  My point here is that this goal can be reached through our Lord’s help without the family suffering for a lack of maternal guidance and nurturing.  As with all things it is a process.  Satan would much rather cause us to miss this pattern and chose one that endangers our future generations of children. 

It may not be a sin to work in a business under someone other than your husband’s leadership, but it is hardly ideal.  I can hear the gnashing of teeth by some women in this.  Please understand that I am not speaking about a family whose husband is not working or a family who does not know or is incapable of tapping into the reservoirs of God.  I am speaking of a family that know their Lord from husband to smallest babe.  This can only work for… ‘they that wait upon the Lord.’

Proverbs 31:25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Her character has become much more than the wife of...  She is clothed in the strength and honor of her accomplishments.  This woman has diversified her businesses until she no longer fears what the future may bring.  Money now comes to her.  She is sought after for advice from other women and is an example to all.  When others ‘lamps’ go out, hers will burn brightly.  A woman like this is quite literally like a “tree planted by the river of life.”  She has roots that run much deeper than mere life experiences.  She can endure because of faith’s deep roots.  Her kindness calms the concerns of those around her.

I read an article today about a powerful woman freed from jail.  She had been arrested for throwing a dangerous tantrum and endangering others in a fight of wills.  The Proverbs 31 woman is not so.  When she speaks it is words of wisdom and understanding.  She has learned that only through kindness and grace will you get the very best of others.  When the law of your tongue is kindness you make even your enemies be gracious.

Proverbs 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Can you picture the image of the English noble woman who sits in the parlor doing needlepoint and learning to play the piano.  Her servants bring her every delicacy while she remains useless for any real task, in fact, many disdained to learn any form of useful work as being beneath their status as if idleness is honorable. 

This is not the image we have of a virtuous woman.  The concept that a woman of virtue is idle and lays about doing nothing is a farce.  God has always intended that we work with our hands and are productive.  A virtuous woman is a business woman and her corporation is made up of her own household.  Her employees are her own children who learn early that idleness is not acceptable.  How different this is from the wealthy children of many of our current rich.

Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

When her husband comes home from his place of business he is pleased to find all things in the household (it cannot be called a mere home) are running smoothly and productively.  Her own children appreciate the sense of direction and purpose she has taught them.  Through her heart, hands and mind run a myriad of ideas and she walks in the respect of those she loves.  A woman’s mind is much more adept at multitasking than a man’s.  We so often forget that God made her this way for a reason and many men ignore this obvious gift as if it is lessened because of her nurturing emotions.  She is able to comfort and encourage all in her household and help them attain the highest and closest walk with God possible.  As much as any man, a virtuous woman is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Proverbs 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

There are those who are quite religious and spiritual.  Many exude the love and grace of God in abundance yet accomplish little.  Some are quite industrious but lack that deep love and grace that comes from a close walk with God.  The truly virtuous woman is one who walks in the love and grace of God while working diligently and productively and multiplying all the gifts given her by God.  She receives inspiration directly from God and acts upon that direction.  Again, it isn’t pride that motivates her, but a sincere desire to accomplish all that God will reveal to her.

Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Some obtain favor due to power or wealth.  Many have great external beauty but none within.  A woman who fears God will be praised because her value does not come through falsehood and lies.  She is genuinely appreciated for her grace, righteousness and the joy of the love of God shining through her. 

Proverbs 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Some husbands consider their wives to be property, little more than farm animals to be fed and cared for due to their labor and sexual value to the farm.  Women are not property.  God has given virtue to women and a husband would be well disposed to respect and allow her this freedom to grow and prosper and should be pleased to see her praised by others.  Scripture says, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a treasure, and obtains favour of the Lord (Proverbs 18:22).”  What do you suppose God will do to the man who fails to respect the great treasure that God has entrusted him with?  I have seen Christian men who have married and abandoned their wives.  I have seen God’s punishment land upon them.  Treat the treasure of God as a treasure and not like chattel.  She will pour her love and faithfulness into your life and make the path you walk that much easier.  A virtuous woman is worth this grace.

Be virtuous beloved.

Bishop J