King Makers

John 6:14  Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
John 6:15  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

This was following the feeding of the five thousand. Those men wanted to take him by force to make him king. Jesus would be king, but not by man's doing in man's time. He obeyed the Father's will and easily walked through the crowd out to a desert place alone to pray. We can learn from this to not get ahead of God's timing. Sarah could not wait on the LORD's timing and brought her handmaid to Abraham. From this union, the child, Ishmael became the seed of the Arab nations who are always fighting against the existence of Israel.

 

We must not let people or circumstances sweep us into something that is not of God's timing. Wait upon the LORD, not the will of men or women. Many a fool has been made "king" by the will of men in power. In 2008 the king acted like a god, but proved to be much less. This may well be God's judgment on this nation. Seek God's plan and will and don't be made a fool by flattery or the persuasion of men.

Eaglewings Ministries

Hezekiah's Treasure

Hedonism is a school of thought that argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.

 We are in a generation of people that seeks personal pleasure over the good of future generations. Millions of their babies are aborted and millions of people indulge themselves in pleasures including the use of drugs and alcohol. In times of crises the supreme leader is taking a vacation or playing games. People like him keep him in power until a once prosperous nation is destroyed. So what? If it feels good , do it, is their attitude. The Bible speaks fresh to us on every important subject. Listen to this story of a good but selfish king of Judah.

Isa 38:5  Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. 

Isa 38:6  And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. 

Isa 39:1 At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

I friend once advised me to beware of gifts from strangers, for they may want something that will cost you dearly. Another thing to beware of is flattery, there is usually hidden motives from those who flatter.

Prov 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

When an enemy pretends to be your friend? Be careful to not let him get too close to you. Hezekiah was not so wise or discerning; he was glad to be alive for another fifteen years.

Isa 39:2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

Just because you have good will towards people, this does not assure that all will seek your good. Satan often comes in unawares to take advantage of your open door. A naive person shares all things to a stranger; some things we should keep to ourselves, especially if it brings temptation to another. Hezekiah was trying to impress the envoys from Babylon. God knows our hearts, so we are to share all things with God, but not with a stranger. Why do we want to impress strangers? Maybe to look good in the eyes of men? What is our greatest treasure? It should be the LORD.

Isa 39:3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

God sent Isaiah to the king. We all need an Isaiah as a friend who hears from God and sees what we do not see. We need trusted godly friends.

Isa 39:4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.

What have they seen in your house? In your person, that they desire? In your possessions, that they pretend to be your friend? Hezekiah explains that they have seen all of his treasures. We have had presidents, members of Congress, who were and are given gifts by strangers. The strangers are invited in to see our treasures, of wealth, of commerce, of technology, of military equipment. They see it all and are given access, because the leaders are selfish, covetous and contemptuous to those they represent as well as to God above.

Isa 39:5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
Isa 39:6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

All will be taken, Hezekiah. All the treasure of your nation, all the nobility of your nation, will be taken; it would happen in one hundred years. How much time do we have?

Isa 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Terrible news; his own grandson's taken as prisoners and made eunuchs. This would be Daniel and his descendants.

Isa 39:8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Hezekiah said it is good? A self centered king, only cares that he himself will live in peace the rest of his days. We have leaders like this. Not caring about the future of the sons and daughters of the nation. When all is lost, they have their personal treasures and their selfish lives to live, with no care for what follows because of their foolish behavior. A Christian must be a person of character. He or she should stand for purity and righteousness, leaving a godly inheritance to the children. As good citizens, we should make our communities a better place. Woe to wicked self centered rulers, God sees all. We do not have to be like them. Be the light of truth and righteousness and pray for God's revival in our land. Think about the good of others. JOY, Jesus, Others and then Yourself.

Servant and Prophet

The story of Hannah is a beautiful story. She had not been able to bear a child and was being tormented by her husband's second wife. She vowed to the LORD that if she could bear a son that she would give him to the LORD as his servant. Samuel was born to Hannah and when he was weaned she brought him to the house of the LORD to be raised by the high priest who was named Eli. Eli had two son's who were priests in name only. They stole from the offerings and seduced the young women who served in the temple. Eli did not discipline his son's and everyone knew they were evil. This is the place Samuel was brought to be in the presence of God and to live for him. The ark of the covenant was in the temple. Samuel began to hear the LORD calling to him. At first he thought it was Eli. Eli told him to respond by saying, yes LORD, speak for I am your servant and I hear you.

1Sa 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
1Sa 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
1Sa 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
1Sa 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
1Sa 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
1Sa 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
1Sa 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
1Sa 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
1Sa 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

The young prophet Samuel had heard from the LORD. A prophet hears from the LORD and is to deliver the true message of God. Eli wanted to hear the truth and told Samuel to speak the truth. This is important for a prophet and a man of God. Samuel spoke what the LORD said to him, that Eli's son's would be killed and his family would be cursed because he did not restrain his sons.

There are many lessons here. One is that a man of God is to speak the truth of God. Too many are not speaking to discipline those in the house of God. They only allow sin and speak as if God will bless them anyways. I am not speaking this to the Pastors I know and love, but the churches are in danger of slack leadership. We are to speak the truth in concern for the family of God. We are also to live separated lives unto the LORD. Eli's son's had it all, but it was all of the flesh and God cursed them.

Last night I met a man in an Internet Bible chat who has stage 4 renal cancer. He was a blessing to all of us with his positive heart full of love and faith. He said that everyday was an opportunity to bless and to be led by the LORD. We prayed for his healing, and his soul is already healed. He is a man of faith with the spiritual presence of God. This was a truly blessed adopted son of the Father. Pray for John that he will be healed in body as well.  

Chosen before birth

John the Baptist was chosen by God from the womb. He was the answer to the persistent prayers of his elderly parents. They prayed for a son, but God made him to be His prophet.

Luke 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Luke 1:16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The parents may not have seen John as he baptized people for repentance in the Jordan River. God sees and calls his people into service. John had a special calling to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Repentant hearts bring restoration to families to the community and to the nation.

Some do not want children but I wanted my children. Some people were mistakes, not planned while others have aborted their mistakes. Let the babies live, God has a purpose for them to fulfill. He has called them from the womb to be his witnesses.

Jeremiah was called from the womb.

Jer 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jer 1:6  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jer 1:7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jer 1:8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jer 1:9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
Jer 1:10  See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

We are chosen before the womb.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Jesus' birth was foretold

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The everlasting king will come from David's family and he will bring many to God's family to a restored earthly kingdom where there are no harmful creatures.

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

All are foreknown of God and are his creation. A woman has rights over her own body, but not of the babies life. God has placed the baby in the womb for his purpose. We are not to interfere with his chosen vessels. Those who respond to the calling of God are his chosen. Be at peace with God. If you have sinned and made mistakes in the past, Jesus will forgive you and restore you. Come to Jesus as the chosen of God. He loves you and will receive you.

Watchmen

Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

I read these words spoken by Jesus and began to meditate on what this means.

Night can be death or darkness. We must finish our work before night comes. Other thoughts about the night: In the night evil people come out. Night can refer to sadness or anguish, but in Christ we can be encouraged in the night. The night is a time for dreams and visions too.

The watchman watches in the night. A watchman looks out for danger or trouble. A spiritual watchman watches always and tells the church what he hears. Some like the prophets are given the gift of hearing from and speaking the message of God.

Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Jer 31:28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

If a people in a city or nation do not want God in their lives then anything can happen; natural disasters, sinful violence, fire and mayhem. I can foresee much calamity coming to our cities because a generation has leaders who mostly do not obey God and do not want him in public life. May the LORD watch over us and guide us.

Isa 21:6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

The LORD's watchman warns the people of spiritual dangers. David Wilkerson was a watchman who warned us of a coming economic disaster. He warned us and told us to prepare.

Jer 51:12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.

Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Is there blood on our hands because we did not warn those we were told to warn?

Hosea 9:7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

They had prophets and preachers preaching prosperity and ease, but this was not what God was saying. They were foolish and as madmen. Often they treated the truth spoken with contempt. Because of their iniquity they hated the messengers of God.

Isa 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Eze 13:7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Hosea 9:8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

The true watchmen, the prophets who warn the people, are hated, even in the house of God.

The prophet is to speak the word of God. The Pastor or teacher who hears from God is to share what he hears. Jesus made us all watchmen and witnesses to the lost.

Jesus heard from God and told us many things and he warned us of hell

Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Jesus also spoke of eternal life

Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The church has an obligation to share the word of God and to warn the lost while it is day. A time will come when we are no longer in this place and have passed on by death to everlasting life. We are to share our Lord with those who are sent to us.

Wait, watch carefully and obey when you hear from the LORD

Psa 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psa 130:6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

It seems that Christians are often too busy fighting with each other thinking that they are doing the Lord's work. I think many have turned from our message because of our fighting with each other. We are to love one another; however their are wolves among us.

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.