Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of The LORD
And when The LORD heard it, HIS anger was kindled, and the fire of The LORD burned among them
And consumed some of the outskirts of the camp
Numbers 11:1

Why is an ungrateful heart a destructive spiritual condition of the heart that leads to death? There are many reasons, but we will discuss two in this study.

First, an ungrateful heart is a sinful heart, because it is an unbelieving heart. It is a heart that does not:

• believe in our Beloved LORD GOD (Deu 1:32, Deu 9:23, Zep 3:1-2)
• have confidence that HE can or will deliver (Psa 78:22, Num 13:25-33, Num 14:1-11, Heb 3:19)
• have trust in HIS WORDS (Psa 106:24, 2 Chr 36:15-16, Jer 6:16-19)
• believe that HE is a rewarder of those who seek HIM (Heb 11:6, Mat 7:7-11, Psa 84:11, Rom 8:32)

An ungrateful heart, belongs to a person who does not operate from faith. And when one does not operate from faith, they sin (Rom 14:23); and we know that sin leads to death (Rom 6:23, Jam 1:15).

Second, an ungrateful heart is a heart that finds fault with GOD (Num 14:1-4, Job 9:11-35, Job 10:1-22, Job 32:2, Job 40:1-8, Job 42:1-6). An ungrateful person complains about adversity (Num 11:1) instead of being grateful in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18). When an ungrateful person continues to find fault with GOD, they will eventually begin to spurn and blaspheme HIM (Num 14:11, Exd 32:4, Neh 9:18, Psa 106:19-22, Rev 16:9-11, Rev 16:21). And their refusal to repent of their ingratitude, will lead them to death and destruction (Isa 1:4-6, Pro 17:10, Pro 27:22, Jer 5:3, Eze 33:11).

How does a complaining tongue reveal an ungrateful heart? An ungrateful heart cannot understand that every moment, every detail and every circumstance in our lives, is part of GOD’s providential working in our lives (Rom 8:28). An ungrateful heart cannot understand that our Beloved GOD has made both the day of prosperity and the day of adversity (Ecc 7:14), causing them to foolishly only accept good times from HIM (Job 2:9-10).

Does a person with an ungrateful heart know GOD? No. Remember that an ungrateful heart is also an unbelieving heart. And an unbelieving heart is a disobedient heart (Jer 7:22-28, Jam 1:22-25).

Are there those who think they know GOD and do not? Yes, there are many who think they do (Mat 7:21-23, Mat 25:1-13, Luk 13:22-27). But acknowledgement of, is not intimacy with (Jam 2:19, Pro 3:32).

How can we be sure that we know HIM? The answer is found in 1 John 2:3-6 as follows:

By this we know that we have come to know HIM
If we keep HIS Commandments
The one who says, “I have come to know HIM,” and does not keep HIS Commandments
Is a liar, and the truth is not in him
But whoever keeps HIS WORD, in him the love of GOD has truly been perfected
By this we know that we are in HIM
The one who says he abides in HIM
Ought himself to walk in the same manner as HE walked

So every Christian has a grateful heart? A very good question, especially when you know that a grateful heart is a believing heart. And you cannot truly be a follower of JESUS CHRIST (a Christian) if you do not live a life that puts complete trust in HIM and HIS WORDS. This is such a perfect opportunity to just stop, take a moment and prayerfully ask our Beloved LORD JESUS “am I indeed living a life of trust in YOU? (2 Cor 13:5); “do I first seek YOUR counsel on matters, or do I trust myself in how I should proceed?” (Pro 3:5-8); “do I do what YOU say, or as I please?” (Luk 6:46); “is my public life as YOUR follower reflect the same one I live privately, and in my innermost thoughts?” (Mat 23:27-28). If you find that you need course correction simply follow HIS instructions from 1 John 1:9:

If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Therefore, just as the Holy SPIRIT says,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED ME BY TESTING ME,
AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
“THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;
AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'”
Hebrews 3:7-11

When we read about lethal heart conditions in The WORD of GOD, most of us thinks HE’s talking about the unbeliever. But please realize that HIS WORD was written for us (Rom 15:4), HIS followers. That is why we must ask HIM specifically what is HIS WORD is addressing in our own lives.

In this study we will look at men who heard HIS words, and experienced HIS miracles; yet their hardened hearts kept them from understanding the miracles and intimately knowing The Miracle WORKER. We will look at a warrior, a king and 9 lepers. Let’s start by reading about them in HIS Holy WORD:
The warrior – Judges 6:1-16, Judges 7:1-25, Judges 8:22-27
The King – 2 Chronicles 14:1-15, 2 Chronicles 16:1-9
9 lepers – Luke 17:11-19

In all the aforementioned Scriptures the following similarities exist:
Our Beloved LORD GOD moved miraculously on behalf of the warrior, the king and the 9 lepers.

The warrior Gideon, King Asa, and the nine Lepers all had hardened or insensitive hearts, and therefore did not:
perceive (mentally grasp the miracles our GOD performed)
 With 300 men and no weapons (Jud 8:16-22) HE put to flight two armies too numerous to count (Jud 6:3-5)
 With an army a little over half a million, our Beloved LORD GOD defeated an army of one million men and three hundred chariots (2 Chr 14:8-15)
 Stepping out in faith, to follow the instructions by our Precious LORD JESUS, brought cleansing of leprosy (Luk 17:11-15)

understand (to have insight into; to know the meaning of; to totally get it)
 The warrior Gideon did not understand his calling. He had been called as a warrior (Jud 6:12-16) but thought himself a minister (Jud 8:22-27, 1 Sam 2:28); thus creating a snare for himself and his household, and an idol for the nation (Jud 8:27).
 King Asa did not understand that his victories came through reliance upon and trust in our Beloved LORD GOD (2 Chr chptrs 14-16).
 Nine of the ten lepers did not understand their cleansing came by faith in JESUS not in the pronunciation of cleansing by the priest (Luk 17:12-14, Mat 8:1-4, Lev 14:1-2).

remember (to keep in mind; to be careful not to forget; to maintain a memory of HIS moving on their behalf)
 The warrior Gideon did not remember that he spoke to The LORD GOD directly (Jud 6:36-40), he did not need an ephod to inquire of HIM (1 Sam 30:7).
 King Asa did not remember trusting in and relying upon The LORD only is what brought peace to his kingdom and deliverance from his enemies (2 Chr 14:2-7, 2 Chr 16:7-9)
 Nine of the ten leper did not remember it was from JESUS HIMSELF their cleansing had come (Luk 17:17-18)

How can you know for certain that the warrior Gideon, King Asa, and the nine Lepers had hardened hearts? The conditions of a hardened heart are describe by our Precious LORD JESUS CHRIST in Mark 8:17-21

And JESUS, aware of this, said to them
Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread?
Do you not yet see or understand?
Do you have a hardened heart?
HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR?
And do you not remember when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?
They said to Him, “Twelve.”
“When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?”
And they said to Him, “Seven.”
And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

A hardened heart is a mind that is unable to see, understand/perceive, hear or even remember what The LORD has done; and as a result it is a mind like those of the Israelites in the opening Scripture (Heb 3:7-11); it always goes astray from GOD and HIS WORD. It is a heart that does not know HIM or HIS ways. It is a mind that relates more to the natural than the supernatural. For example, how many times have you heard a message from The WORD of GOD that moved your heart at the time of hearing it, but never got a hold of it to the point that you immediately began to apply it to your life? In fact you soon forgot what moved you so in the message?

Are there other examples in The BIBLE of people with hardened hearts? Yes here’s three more found in Ezekiel 33:30-32, Matthew 7:26-27, and Matthew 13:18-22.

Is there a cure for a harden heart? Yes, if you treasure GOD and HIS WORD in your heart (Psa 119:11) by pondering (Luk 2:19), reflecting on (Psa 63:6-8, Psa 103:2, 1 Cor 11:23-26) mediating on (Psa 77:12, Psa 119:48) and obeying (Psa 40:8, Jam 1:25).

Then I said to you, “do not be shocked, nor fear them”
The LORD your GOD WHO goes before you will HIMSELF fight on your behalf
Just as HE did for you in Egypt before your eyes
And in the wilderness where you saw how The LORD your GOD carried you, just as a man carries his son
In all the way which you have walked until you came to this place
But for all this, you did not trust The LORD your GOD.
Deuteronomy 1:29-32

Background
Moses spoke the aforementioned words to the children of the nation of Israel whom our Beloved LORD GOD had brought out of Egypt (Num 14:31). Almost forty years had passed (Deu 1:3) and the children of the unbelieving nation of Israel were once again standing at the border of the promise land (Deu 1:5). Moses knowing he would not enter the promise land with the children of Israel (Num 20:1-12, Deu 1:37, Deu 3:23-29), under our Beloved LORD GOD’s instruction, prepared them for entry into the promise land by reminding them of their history (Deu chptrs 1-3); renewed the call to obedience while emphasizing that their obedience was tied to their success (Deu 4:1-40); taught them again the Commandments and Law (Deu 4:41-49, Deu chptrs 5-30); encouraged them to trust in The LORD and take the promise land (Deu 31:4-29); appointed Joshua their leader (Deu 31:1-3); and blessed them (Deu 33:1-29).

What does all this have to do with a lethal condition of the heart? An unbelieving heart is one of the conditions that lead to spiritual death. A heart that does not believe in our Beloved LORD GOD (Num 14:11, Exd 32:1-6), nor trust HIS WORDS (Psa 106:24, Heb 9:7-19), is a sin filled heart that continually turns away from HIM (Isa 1:4, Isa 59:12-13, Jer 17:13, 2 Tim 4:3-4); a heart that denies HIM (Pro 30:9, Job 31:24-28, Eze 8:12, Tit 1:16); and a heart that will not be able to see evidence of HIS continual provision and protection (2 Chr 32:24-25, Psa 106:7, Jer 17:5-6). We see an unbelieving heart in full demonstration by the actions of Israel in Deu 1:30-32 and Psa 106:6-48. Despite all the miracles our Beloved LORD GOD performed on behalf of the unbelieving Israelites within Egypt and even in the Promised Land, they continued to go from bad to worse. They behaved wickedly (Psa 106:6), had no understanding of GOD’s wonders (Psa 106:7), did not remember HIS kindness (Psa 106:7), quickly forgot HIS works (Psa 106:13), did not wait for HIS counsel (Psa 106:13), and finally forgot GOD HIMSELF and all the wonders HE performed (Psa 106:21-22).

What does it mean to believe? To truly believe in our Beloved LORD GOD and to really trust in HIS WORDS is more than a mental belief. It is a trust in GOD that is so complete and a reliance upon HIS WORD so absolute, that one’s confidence does not waver regardless of circumstances. It is a belief or trust, which can only come through intimately knowing our Beloved LORD JESUS CHRIST. And over time and through every situation HE develops this level of belief and trust in those who love HIM (Heb 12:2).

Is there any hope for an unbelieving heart? Yes the answer is found in Matthew 7:7-11

Yet, with respect to the promise of GOD
He did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith
Giving glory to GOD, and being fully assured that what GOD had promised, HE was able also to perform
Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 4:20-22

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold
Matthew 24:12

Lethal heart conditions is a series of messages that my Beloved LORD JESUS first begin to give me on February 28, 2018. HE spoke to me about the very harmful, and destructive spiritual conditions of the heart that leads to death. 

Four things should be noted as you go through this series:
1) Our Beloved LORD GOD’s messages are not about the physical heart. The physical heart like the rest of our physical body, is not who we are; it is just the place where we temporarily reside (Job 4:19, Lam 4:2, 2 Cor 4:7). Our physical bodies are mortal (will eventually die), and as such can be killed (Mat 10:28, Luk 12:4-5).
2) Our Beloved LORD GOD’s messages are about our spiritual heart, also known as:
a. our soul (Psa 103:1-2, Psa 119:129)
b. our inner man (Rom 7:22, 2 Cor 4:16, Eph 3:16)
c. the unseen or hidden person within each of us (1 Pet 3:4)
Our spiritual heart, is the very core or essence of who we are (Psa 42:1-2, Psa 130:5-6). It is It is the place where our thoughts, our will, our emotions, our attitudes reside. It is within this place where harmful and destructive spiritual conditions left unchecked, leads to spiritual or the second death (Rev 20:14-15, Rev 21:8). The soul/inner man/hidden person is immortal (will never die). It is the part of us that will either have eternal life or eternal judgment and punishment (Dan 12:2, Mat 25:46, Jhn 5:29).
3) Our Beloved LORD GOD is calling each one of us to:
a. to examine ourselves (Lam 3:40)
b. to probe ourselves (Psa 139:23-24)
c. to consider ourselves (Psa 119:59-60)
d. to test ourselves (2 Cor 13:5)
To confirm that we have not fallen (1 Cor 10:12, Rev 2:5), or repent, return and be revived (Act 3:19, Psa 119:25).
4) Every single lethal heart condition of the inner man represents a stage in a disobedient heart. Disobedience or sin in one’s spiritual life is equivalent to the gradual build-up of plaque in one’s physical arteries; both of them left unchecked lead to death.

In conclusion, there are two questions that you should prayerfully consider:
1) How does one know if their heart is disobedient? The answer is found in the opening Scripture, Matthew 24:12. Are you still as devoted to studying HIS WORD, and being in HIS presence (Jer 2:2) as you were when you first came to HIM? Or do you now justify all the reasons why you can’t? Is pleasing yourself more important than pleasing HIM (Jhn 8:29, 2 Cor 5:9, Eph 5:10)? A disobedient heart is one that is growing or has become cold. It is a heart that loves our Beloved LORD JESUS less than at the beginning (John 14:15 and John 14:21).
2) How can one test the condition of their heart? Consider your answer to the following questions, does HIS WORD still move you (Neh 8:8-9, Psa 119:120, Isa 66:2)? Do you call JESUS your LORD, and yet you do not submit to HIS authority in your life (Luk 6:46, Eze 33:30-32)? Are you ashamed of your sin (Isa 3:9, Jer 8:12)? Do you remember the last time you heard the voice of GOD speak to you (Isa 30:21, 1 Sam 28:6, Pro 1:28-31)? Are you aware HE sees and knows everything you do (Job 34:21-23, Psa 90:8, Pro 15:3, Heb 4:13)? Do you care (Psa 119:136, Eze 9:4)?

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him

They came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite

And they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him

When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept

And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky

Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him

For they saw that his pain was very great

Job 2:11-13

In these passages of Scripture, we see when Job’s three friends hear about all his adversity, with good intentions:

• they make an appointment with each other, to get together and come offer him both sympathy and comfort
• they mourn greatly when they first see their friend, because they barely recognize him due to his physical condition
• they sit with him for seven days and seven nights without speaking a word, witnessing how greatly he is suffering

However their good intentions go awry, and they eventually become:

• his accusers, (accusing him of wrongdoing―Job 19:1-4)
• his scoffers (expressing doubt about his integrity and righteousness―Job 16:20)
• his persecutors (causing him more suffering with their words against him―Job 19:21-22)
• his condemners (declaring him guilty of wrongdoing―Job 32:3).

How did these three friends turn from comforters to torturers, especially in the midst of his great suffering? They made the same mistake many make:

• they judged Job’s situation according to the flesh (Jhn 8:15), which is a standard that only considers outward appearances (1 Sam 16:7, John 7:24)
• they trusted in their own understanding to assess Job’s situation (Pro 3:5, Luke 13:1-5) instead of inquiring of our Beloved LORD GOD through prayer (1 Sam 23:1-5, 2 Sam 21:1, Isaiah 11:3-4)
• they did not really know our compassionate GOD nor understand HIS WORD (Mic 4:12), therefore they thought and spoke in error of HIM and about what happened to Job and his children (Job 42:7, Job 4:7-9, Job 8:4, Jhn 8:19, Jhn 16:1-4)

What standards should we use in choosing friends? Simply use the standards our Beloved ABBA FATHER set for us in HIS WORD:

• Do choose:
  • the faithful who have an intimate relationship with our GOD (Psa 119:30-32, Psa 119:63, Pro 13:20-Pro 14:16) and obey HIM consistently (Num 14:24, Jhn 4:34, Jhn 8:29, Act 13:22)
  • the obedient who are willing to obey HIS WORD no matter the cost (Num 14:6-9, Dan 1:5-20, Dan 3:12-18)
  • the intercessors who are willing to pray for you (Rom 1:9-11, Eph 6:18, Col 1:9-12) and pray with you (Dan 2:17-19, Jam 5:16)
  • those who faithfully go to GOD’s House and encourage others to do so also  (Psa 95:1-8, Psa 122:1, Heb 10:25)
  • those who love The LORD or obey HIS WORD (Psa 119:63, Jhn 14:21, 1 Jhn 5:3)
• Do not choose:
  • the wicked an ungodly person who is hostile to GOD (Psa 26:4-5, Psa 36:1-4, Psa 139:19-22, Jude 1:15)
  • sinners a person who does not obey The WORD of GOD (Pro 14:7-9, Mat 7:21-23, Luk 6:46, 1 Jhn 3:4)
  • scoffers:
    • a person who scorns GOD and HIS servants (2 Chr 30:6-10, Luk 6:22)
    • a person who scorns the truthfulness of HIS WORD (Gen 3:1-5, Isa 5:18-19, Eze 12:21-28)
    • a person who mocks both GOD and HIS WORD (2 Pet 3:3-4, Jude 1:18)
  • one who claims to be a believer, yet engages in sexual immorality, is greedy, worships idols of the world, is abusive, gets drunk, and steals (1 Cor 5:9-13)
  • idolaters a person who serves other gods (Deu 13:6-11, Mat 6:24)
  • slanderers a person who lies/makes false statements about another in order to hurt their reputation (Psa 15:3, Psa 50:19-20, Psa 101:5, Pro 10:18, Pro 20:19)
  • gossips a person who reveals personal or secret information about another (Pro 11:13, Pro 21:23, 1 Tim 5:13, Jam 3:2-12)
  • quick tempered a person who is easily angered (Pro 22:24-25, Pro 29:11, Pro 29:22)
  • lovers of the world and the things in it (Rom 12:1-2, Jam 4:4, 1 Jhn 2:15-17)

Do not be deceived

“Bad company corrupts good morals.”

1 Corinthians 15:33

And Job again took up his discourse and said,

“Oh that I were as in months gone by,

As in the days when GOD watched over me;

When HIS lamp shone over my head,

And by HIS light I walked through darkness;

As I was in the prime of my days,

When the friendship of GOD was over my tent;

When the ALMIGHTY was yet with me,

And my children were around me;

When my steps were bathed in butter,

And the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

Job 29:1-6

“And now my soul is poured out within me;

Days of affliction have seized me.

“At night it pierces my bones within me,

And my gnawing pains take no rest.

“By a great force my garment is distorted;

It binds me about as the collar of my coat.

“HE has cast me into the mire,

And I have become like dust and ashes.

“I cry out to YOU for help, but YOU do not answer me;

I stand up, and YOU turn YOUR attention against me.

“YOU have become cruel to me;

With the might of YOUR hand YOU persecute me.

“You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride;

And YOU dissolve me in a storm.

“For I know that YOU will bring me to death

And to the house of meeting for all living.

Job 30:16-23

In these two passages of Scripture, Job first talks about how blessed his life was before tragedy and intense suffering befell him. He then describes his intense emotional and physical suffering, which seemed to be met only with silence when he cried to our Beloved LORD GOD for help. This sadly leads him to accusing our precious GOD of indifference, cruelty and persecution. Which leads us into our current lesson from The Book of Job. Do not let your circumstances cause you to lose confidence in our GOD, doubting HIS love and concern for you.

Our prayer is that each one of you would personally and intimately know our Beloved LORD JESUS CHRIST, so that as HE dwells in your hearts by faith, you would know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep HIS love is. And that you would know and experience that love beyond your understanding, so that you would never again doubt HIS love or concern for you despite your circumstances (Eph 3:14-19).

And that from the very depth of your heart and soul, you would understand our LORD’s declaration to each one of us in Romans 8:35-39:

Can anything ever separate us from CHRIST’s love?

Does it mean HE no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through CHRIST, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from GOD’s love.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow

Not even the powers of hell can separate us from GOD’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of GOD that is revealed in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

New Living Translation

Our brother Paul knew GOD’S love for him and all the other apostles going through intense suffering when he declared in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12:

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.

This makes it clear that our great power is from GOD, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.

We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by GOD.

We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of JESUS

So that the life of JESUS may also be seen in our bodies.

 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve JESUS,

So that the life of JESUS will be evident in our dying bodies.

So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

New Living Translation

It is important to stop here and emphasize, you cannot have confidence in someone you do not know. If you do not have a real, personal and intimate relationship with our LORD JESUS CHRIST, you cannot know GOD (Jhn 14:6, Jhn 8:19, Jhn 16:1-3) you will never understand HIS WORD (2 Cor 2:14-16), nor trust in HIS promises (Zep 3:1-2). You can know HIM, by simply accepting HIS free gift of love and salvation (Rom 6:23, Jhn 3:16, Rom 5:8). Ask HIM today to come into your heart and life, HE’s waiting for your invitation (Rev 3:20).

For those of you who have a personal relationship with our Beloved LORD JESUS CHRIST, do not let your circumstances cause you to lose confidence in our Beloved ABBA FATHER. If you know HIM, then trust:

1. HE is causing all things to work together for good (Rom 8:28), as demonstrated in Job’s suffering (Job 3:25-26, Job 9:28, Job 30:15, Job 42:5-6, Jam 5:11―Job 42:10-17).
2. As any good parent HE disciplines those HE loves (Heb 12:5-8, Pro 13:24).
3. HE is creating holiness within us, and causing the fruit of righteousness to be produced through us (Heb 12:9-11, Jhn 15:2, Gal 5:22-23), the more obedient we become the more present The HOLY SPIRIT is in our lives (Acts 5:32, 1 Pet 4:14)

HE humbled you and let you be hungry

And fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know

That HE might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone

But man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of The LORD

Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years

Thus you are to know in your heart that The LORD your GOD was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son

Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of The LORD your GOD, to walk in HIS ways and to fear HIM

Deuteronomy 8:3-6

If only you listen obediently to The voice of The LORD your GOD

To observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today

For The LORD your GOD will bless you as HE has promised you

And you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow

And you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you

Deuteronomy 15:5-6

Many governments, scientists, environmentalists, and people across the globe are concerned about global warming and climate change. Yet our Beloved LORD GOD forewarned us about a global coldness that would occur. A time when:

• most people’s hearts will grow cold toward HIM and HIS WORD (Mat 24:12, Isa 29:13, Eze 33:31, Tit 1:16)
• truth will be flung to the ground (Dan 8:12, Isa 59:12-15, Isa 30:9-11, 2 Tim 4:3-4)
• evil will be called good, and good evil (Isa 5:20, Psa 94:21, Jhn 15:18-21)
• the hearts of ungodly men given fully to ungodliness (2 Tim 3:1-5, Rom 1:21-32)

The time we now live in. In this present time we see each of the aforementioned passages of Scripture occurring daily. We experience it in our daily lives and we see it in the headlines. I frequently see The WORD of GOD rejected by those who do not know and do not believe in GOD. Just as frequently, I see The WORD of GOD rejected by those who consider themselves spiritual, for positive affirmations that give full acceptance to errant behavior or lifestyle. And finally, I see The WORD of GOD rejected by those who profess to be “christians” because it is in conflict with how they choose to live their lives. I have experienced and witnessed those who stand for our Beloved LORD GOD and HIS TRUTH, be called many ugly names including intolerant, brainwashed moron, hateful bigot…  

Nevertheless, in HIS great mercy, our Beloved LORD GOD continues to forewarn men about HIS impending judgment against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18). HE continually calls everyone to turn from wickedness and live (Eze 33:11). HE patiently states HIS case concerning the value of obediently listening to HIM (Jer 26:1-6, Zec 1:1-6) and to HIS SON, our Beloved LORD JESUS CHRIST (Mat 17:5, Mrk 9:7, Luk 9:35).  

Why does GOD need us to obey HIM? The “need” is not with GOD, but with us. GOD wants not needs us to obey HIM, for our own good. We need to obey GOD for many reasons.

Then why does GOD want us to obey HIM? It is not HIS desire for even one to perish (Eze 18:30-32, 1 Tim 2:4, 2 Pet 3:9).

That is why, over and over until this very day, HE sends HIS servants out with HIS WORD to compel the unbelieving to accept the invitation to Salvation (Luk 14:23), and to warn the disobedient concerning the consequences of their ways (Jer 7:23-28).

In the creation of the universe, our Beloved LORD GOD set many different laws in place (Job 38:1-12, Psa 104:5-9, Pro 8:29). Three common laws most of us are aware of, are the laws of motion, laws of thermodynamics, and laws of physics. HE also put spiritual laws in place. And all these laws hold constant, whether we believe them or not. 

Take for instance, Newton’s third law of motion which states “when one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body. Accident investigators use Newton’s third law of motion routinely as part of their accident investigations, to determine the rate of speed when the accident occurred. And will accurately determine that rate of speed by the damage to both the vehicles and bodies of the people involved in that accident.

This also hold true for our Beloved LORD GOD’s spiritual laws, which impacts both our physical and spiritual lives. In 1 Cor 15:33, our Beloved LORD tells us “do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals.” In fact HE further warns us concerning this spiritual matter:

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Psalm 1:1

Do not be bound together with unbelievers

For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Or what harmony has CHRIST with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

Or what agreement has the temple of GOD with idols? For we are the temple of the living GOD; just as GOD said,

“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says The LORD.

“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;

And I will welcome you.

“And I will be a FATHER to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to ME,”

Says the LORD ALMIGHTY.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

We see the spiritual law of “bad company corrupting good morals” carried out in the lives of people daily. You cannot hang out with, be a friend to, or constantly associate with someone who does not live a godly life and not be affected by the way they live. For instance, if your friend is a gossip and you continue to associate with them, you become a gossip. You might think gossiping is not that bad, but was does our Beloved LORD GOD say about gossiping? HE tells us that those who do it, reveal secrets (Pro 20:19), and are part of those who with depraved minds, filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed and evil (Rom 1:28-32).   

GOD desires good for us, we are HIS creation, HE desires that we would all become HIS children (Rom 8:14-17), and walk in blessings in this life and the next, because we listened to both HIS messages and HIS warnings concerning spiritual laws.

What does it mean to listen? It means to give constant heed (to pay close attention to; to take careful notice of).

What does it mean to listen obediently? It means to carefully listen (hear intelligently) to what is spoken, so that you may diligently follow the instructions being given.

What will happen when we listen obediently to GOD? We live free of fear and worry (Lev 26:6, Psa 4:8, Pro 1:33, Pro 3:24). We experience prosperity and power (Deu 11:13-15, Deu 28:1-14, Psa 19:7-11, Isa 1:19-20). We walk in victory (Deu 28:7, Jos 1:7-8). We have eternal life (Lev 18:5, Eze 20:21, Mat 19:16-17, Jhn 14:15, Jhn 14:21-24, Jhn 17:3).

What happens when we don’t listen obediently to GOD? You suffer (Deu 28:15-68, Mal 2:1-3, Rom 2:7-8, 2 Ths 1:7-9).

To whom can I speak and give warning?

Who will listen to ME?

Their ears are closed

So they cannot hear.

The WORD of The LORD is offensive to them;

They find no pleasure in it.

Jeremiah 6:10 (NIV translation)

GOD’s Message came to me. It went like this:

“Get out in the streets and call to Jerusalem, ‘GOD’s Message!

I remember your youthful loyalty

Our love as newlyweds

You stayed with ME through the wilderness years

Stuck with ME through all the hard places

Jeremiah 2:1-2

(from The MESSAGE translation)

I was brought to tears as I read the aforementioned passage of Scripture in my favorite translation of The BIBLE (NASB), but for some to get the full impact of what our LORD was saying, I used the Message translation.

I had to go back more than 40 years to remember what it was like to truly be a newlywed. The times when I didn’t know how to cook, so it took me all day to plan a meal made mostly from cans. He never once complained, and looked at the meal I had prepared for us as if he was sitting down to a feast. The times when we sat and talked to each other. We would sit down on a Saturday afternoon to talk about our past week and upcoming plans, and wouldn’t notice until it grew more difficult to see each other, that hours had passed and night had fallen. And though we had hard times and deep losses, we stayed together, because we were committed to each other. Both of us had married our best friend. For many years we clung to each other, until life got between us, and the husband of my youth stopped clinging.

It was during the years of being alone, that my Beloved GOD, WHO I always knew as ABBA FATHER; became my FRIEND (Prov 18:24) and my COMPANION (Isa 54:5-6). I had always loved HIM as ABBA (Gal 4:6-7), but when I grew to truly know HIM as The ONE WHO loves me (Jer 31:3), The ONE WHO drew me to HIM with cords of love (Hos 11:4), The ONE WHO protects me (Psa 121:5-8, 2 Thes 3:3) and The ONE WHO lifts my head (Psa 3:3), I fell in love with HIM. I wanted to be wherever HE was. I understood King David’s proclamation “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psa 122:1). I experienced the same longing for HIS presence as King David (Psa 42:1-2) and the prophet Isaiah (Isa 26:8-9). HE became my strongest desire (Psa 73:25-28).

As I travelled through many valleys filled with the shadows of death, HE was right there with me (Psa 23:4). When I experienced hurts so deep that I could not cry out, HIS Holy SPIRIT interceded for me (Rom 8:26). When I traversed deep waters, HIS presence gave me peace; When I went through rivers of difficulty, HE did not let them overwhelm me; When I walked through the fires of trials and tribulations, HE kept me be from being damaged or destroyed (Isa 43:1-2).

Through all my wilderness years, those rough years of drought and famine, HE has steadfastly held me with HIS strong right hand (Psa 18:35, Psa 63:8); HE has kept me hydrated and full of fruit (Psa 1:2-3, Jer 17:7-8). Through all the rocky places in my life, HE has made me as surefooted as a doe (female deer also known as hind – Hab 3:19). I closely followed HIM through it all, because HE clung to me in faithfulness (Deu 7:9, 1 Cor 1:9, 2 Tim 2:13). My constant prayer then, and continues to be “let me never lose my first love for YOU, nor forget the fullness of joy in YOUR nearness. Yet let my love for YOU, continue to grow stronger and deeper throughout all eternity.”

As you read this, and you are no longer experiencing the closeness of GOD, or you are feeling empty; go back and reflect on the time when you were first “in love” with HIM, turn back from where you are now (Rev 2:4-5); call to HIM, HE will hear you (Psa 4:3)!

Hear my cry, O GOD;

Give heed to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I call to YOU when my heart is faint;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For YOU have been a refuge for me,

A tower of strength against the enemy.

Let me dwell in YOUR tent forever;

Let me take refuge in the shelter of YOUR wings.

Selah

Psalm 61:1-4