A RIGHTEOUS MAN’S REWARD
Wednesday – May 6, 2020, Iyar 12, 5780
Greeting dear friends and partners of this Ministry and welcome back to this powerful and life altering (if we chose) Bible Study of the Book of John. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to expand the reach of this Ministry. The picture today was taken from the back deck of Lilac Cottage at a lovely vacation spot in Fayette, Maine. I understand that I use the same introduction to the Book of John Bible Study for all four days each week. We, the Church, are in really tough shape, and don’t seem to know it. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God thus the repetition. Our God is nothing but good dear saints. There is nothing bad in Him, there is no tragedy in Him. That is not to say He does not allow bad in the earth, it is all around us, perhaps even in our own finances, bodies, and families. Who allowed that? Anyone know how it got there? It was our choice and God upheld the words of our mouth; it is spiritual law.
The words which we speak and have faith in determine the circumstances of our lives. The more we align with God in thought, word, and deed the more our lives will look like that of Jesus in His earthly ministry, and God the Father in Heaven. We dear saints chose Heaven or Hell and all the details in between. You and me are not robots or puppets controlled by God. When talking about the Coronavirus or any other part of the curse it is an abomination to attribute it to God. To say that God is using this plague or any other part of the curse to work out some mysterious plan is blasphemy. That is not to say that God can’t take bad things and make good out of them when we repent and align with Him. God teaches us out of His Word not with tragedy, poverty, and disease. We, the saints of God, have allowed every tragic thing in the earth and in our own lives. So, there is no confusion, this includes every plague, every pestilence, and every war. We the Church corporately and we as individuals seem to be completely unaware that we possess all authority, the highest authority by far in the earth. We are the governing body in this earth. God is now holding us accountable and we will give a final accounting on Judgement Day. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and read it aloud.
John 15:23-25 (KJV)
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
I have been speaking at some length about the connection between hating or despising the men and women God sends into our lives as being the same as hating or despising God. It is of the highest importance that we honor all of the people in our lives especially those that are sent to strengthen us. People are never our problem. Our problem or challenges come from evil spirits. Let us be kind and tenderhearted towards all people. We are highly valued by God, we were redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus, the Messiah, by God. He paid the highest price ever paid or possible to pay for each and every person who has been on the earth, is on the earth, and will be on the earth. Everyone! Let us determine to follow the Law of Love not just towards God but our neighbor also. Jesus makes it clear that if you hate the man or woman of God you hate Him. Wow! Let’s carefully review the following passage and see what is being said and what is not being said explicitly. There are two sides to every coin, to every statement.
Matthew 10:40-41 (KJV)
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
Jesus is talking to believers, His disciples in this passage. Are we believers, disciples? When we receive a child of God, we are receiving Jesus and in turn the Father (the One who sent Jesus). The other side of that coin is this. If we do not receive the one Jesus sends by His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, we are receiving neither the person sent, nor Jesus, nor the Father. I wonder if there are any consequences to that? Jesus goes on to say that if we receive a Prophet as a Prophet, we get the same reward as the Prophet. What might that be? Prophets (not persons with the gift of prophecy) see what is coming and can give warning to keep us out of harms way. We must hear and honor the Prophet, but the Holy Spirit will speak to each of us just like the Prophet.
John 16:13 (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Picking back up with the Matthew reference Jesus goes on to say that if we receive a righteous man as a righteous man, we receive a righteous man’s reward. A righteous man is anyone who is in right standing with God. The righteous man’s reward is the Blessing and not the curse. So, if we do not receive the righteous man as a righteous man but judge him or her as unrighteous what reward do we get? The judgement alone makes us unrighteous and allows, invites the curse. The curse! Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow. God is so good.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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