A COIN HAS TWO SIDES
Monday – January 13, 2020, Tevet 16, 5780
Greetings to our wonderful and precious friends and partners of this Ministry and blog. Welcome back to this powerful and course correcting 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 encourage us and spread the good news. The picture today was taken after a fresh snow and much of the snow remained on the trees giving us a beautiful winter scene. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and read it aloud. Yes, read it aloud! How does faith come? Do we need faith? Are we to live by faith? In case you are struggling, faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), and, yes, we need faith (Hebrews 11:6), we cannot please God without it, and yes, faith is to be a lifestyle (Romans 1:17). Now, let’s read this text aloud.
John 14:21-23 (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
I think our study of this particular passage of Scripture is drawing to a close. Did I hear a collective “whew”? Together we have been studying this inseparable link between getting (diligent study), and keeping (doing) the commandments (Scripture – Word of God) and the manifestation of God in our lives. I am going to look at the issue of a coin having two sides today. This of course, when we look for it is all through the Bible. The flip side of obedience is disobedience, there is no middle ground or other category. Obedience to God always brings the blessing (abundance) and disobedience always brings the curse (stealing, killing, and destroying) into our lives. When we declared Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were made alive spiritually and translated into the Kingdom of God instantly. The whole of the goodness (finance, health, and so on) of the Kingdom was before us but did not and does not fall upon us without effort. We must actively possess it. For example, God gave the Israelites the Promised Land.
Genesis 15:18 (KJV)
18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Bold added)
Numbers 32:7 (KJV)
7 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? (Bold added)
Notice that in both of the preceding verses it is past tense yet the Israelites had not stepped foot into the land as of yet. The same is true for us, it as been (past tense) provided, will we choose to possess it? Now, the inhabitants did not just roll over and roll out the red carpet the Israelites had to fight. They had to actively take possession of the land and so will we concerning each and every promise of God.
Joshua 18:3 (KJV)
3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
God is asking you and me the very same question today that He asked through Joshua that day, how long will we be slack (lazy)? Consider the following Scripture.
Isaiah 1:19-20 (KJV)
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
When it comes to obedience to Scripture there are two vital components and they are that we be willing and actually do the Scripture. God is not talking about a reluctant willingness but an eager joyful willingness. He is also looking for immediate obedience. When these criteria are met, we eat the good of the land. The good of the land is for the covenant people of God not the heathen yet that is who is enjoying the good of the land today for the most part due to false teachings. After all, who does the earth belong to and who has preeminent authority in the earth? You and me brother and sister! What is the other side of this coin when we are not willing (with a good attitude) and are disobedient? We are devoured! This is not good, let’s get our attitude, our focus in the right direction which is upon God and His Word (Truth), His ways, without any hint of reluctance. Disobedience and reluctance come from a belief and attitude of distrust of our Heavenly Father. Let’s each one of us examine if we have a willing heart free of reluctance which is rebellion and a failure to believe God really loves us. We must also examine if we are in obedience or doing our own thing. Another aspect of this is whether we are seeking the will of God actively and then doing it when known. Or are we doing our own thing and showing up at Church on Sunday thinking we are the cat’s meow.
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!
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
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
