When We can't See God’s Work at Hand.

When the king of Edom, and the king of Moab, and the king of Ammon, and the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon, and Josiah king of Judah were taken into subjugation under Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon many prophets falsely prophesied the quick restoration and the return of those in exile. But the prophet Jeremiah with a Yoke of wood he wore on his own neck until the prophet Hanniah throw it to the ground and broke it, did not receive this prophecy from God

So God spoke to Jeremiah and said that the yoke that Hanniah broke was of wood, but God had put a yoke of iron around the nations and had given Nebuchadnezzer dominion over all they had, even the beast of the field.

So Jeremiah wrote a letter to those in exile rebuking the false prophecy of the other prophets, and reminding those in exile that even in times of difficulty, God still had a better plan for them. Rather then complain because of their situation, Jeremiah suggested that they should strengthen themselves, in the present, that they may be fully able at the appointed time of God’s deliverance.

• Jeremiah 29:11-14 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Sometimes we feel that God has left us all alone that he has forgotten us or may not know the severity of our problem. But God want us to know that even when we can only see the evil, He has plans for our good. And when we get serious about finding God and want to be in his presence more than life itself. He will hear our prayers and will not forsake us.

Here is my prayer for such an occasion as this.

My Heavenly Father, in Jesus' Name I come to You in Prayer. Oh God sometimes I get confused Heavenly Father, when I’ve done everything I can and trouble and calamity still follows me. Father you said you will make me the head and not the tail in every situation, but sometimes it just don’t seem that way. Your Word says You’ll never leave me, and that Your Spirit dwells in me, but oh Jehovah Shammah, sometimes I feel all alone.

It’s hard dear God, leaning on You when all my life I have had to do things on my own, make my own way, be my own man. But calamity is all about me; and I just can’t fix what’s broken in my life, I’ve got to depend on You, and You alone to bring me out of my exile, to restore all the vessels that the King of Babylon has taken from me.

Help me God to be strong because I just can’t do this by myself. Father, if you don’t save me, I can’t be saved, if you don’t deliver me, I will not be delivered. If You don’t stretch forth Your Omnipotent hand and snatch me from the grasp of the enemies of this world. They will surely devour me like a roaring lion.

So with a sorrowful and contrite heart I call on You in prayer, hearken Your ear to my supplications; and save me; make the evil which was intended for me to be as a blessing, and let my trials and tribulations, be testimony of Your Glory

In Jesus’ Name I pray Amen

Your Brother in Christ.
T. Charves FireSpeaks

Appearance of Evil

Appearance of Evil

In 1^st Thessalonians Paul gives some very sound advice on how to walk daily as a Christian. We often forget these very sound precepts and assume that we can attain to a standard of Christianity on our own. In verse 16 though 22 the Apostle gives a seven step process whose simplicity has outlasted anything man has up to this point thought of.

If we follow these steps there will be no condemnation in those that are in Christ, from the world be they in church or on the street. Today we will address only the last one found in verse 22 “Abstain from all appearances of evil”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰ Despise not prophesyings. ²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.
When we consider this verse we must realize that Paul is not asking us to abstain from evil but even the appearance of evil. Not just that which is wrong but that which seem wrong in the eyes of others! As ambassadors of God that which we do that even appears wrong in the eyes of a non-believer, be it wrong or not it defiles God’s Name. this is why Samuel said to King David after his issue with Bathsheba “You have caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme his name” (2 Sam12:14)
Just because a thing does not appear to be wrong, in any way, and does not break any law, does not make it acceptable for God’s Ambassadors. It can still be improper for men and women of God because it is inconsistent with the respectability (Higher Standard in God) that we must attain to as Sons and Daughters of the Almighty God.
When we do not carry ourselves in a way that correctly represent God or put into question our love for God, we are putting God’s Name in judgment of the world, we have through our action allowed others to blasphemy the Name of God we have through our behaviors blasphemed the Name of God ourselves

This is why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. If our actions, or our behaviors, or if we find ourselves in places, or situations and conditions were our Christianity is questioned; if we are not doing what will openly edify God’s Glory then we are not avoiding the appearance of evil.

Now because men (people) can not see our motives, what our intentions are is of very little importance, it makes little difference if we are motivated by Godly intentions, if what we do appears to be wrong in the eyes of the world; we have blasphemed God’s Name.

It is always safe to lean to the side of virtue, therefore we don’t get so caught up on the action being right or wrong the virtue of the action should cause us to abstain, and the desire to rightly represent God reframe from any indulgence.

Because we represent God, when there is a possibility of misinterpretation of our motives, or actions we are presenting a defiled picture of God. God requires us to aim at living our life Holy, to be different form the rest of the world. Therefore how we conduct ourselves, where we find ourselves, whom we associated with will do more to bring a true believer to God then all the witnessing in the world when they do not see you living the life you are witnessing




T. Charves FireSpeaks