17 THEN Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “THIS IS WHAT THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN'S ARMIES, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, SAYS: ‘IF YOU SURRENDER TO THE BABYLONIAN OFFICERS, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL LIVE, AND THE CITY WILL NOT BE BURNED DOWN.
18 BUT IF YOU REFUSE TO SURRENDER, YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE! This city will be handed over to the Babylonians, and they will burn it to the ground.’ ”
19 “BUT I AM AFRAID TO SURRENDER,” THE KING SAID, “for the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!”
20 JEREMIAH REPLIED, “YOU WON'T BE HANDED OVER TO THEM IF YOU CHOOSE TO OBEY THE LORD. YOUR LIFE WILL BE SPARED, AND ALL WILL GO WELL FOR YOU."
Jeremiah 38:17-20 (NLT)
• An average believer wants to prove to the people outside the church that he or she is strong, that being born-again does not mean being stupid.
- Thus a believer want to fight for their right, and want to be assertive when talking, that people might not look down on them. Especially If the believer is a person of means or substance. But that is not Jesus' teaching.
- Believers are likened to sheep. The significance of this is, sheep are vulnerable, liable or open to attacks; they cannot defend themselves, they rely and depend on the shepherd, And the LORD Jesus is our Shepherd: "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT" (Psalm 23:1 NKJV).
- Believers dependents should be on Christ Jesus, God, for whatever they need; protection, provision, sustenance, vengeance, and whatever.
- There are other animals; lions and other ferocious ones that can sustain or defend or fight for themselves, but sheep could not; Thus they need the Care of the shepherd—Jesus Christ.
- God does not want the believers to live independently of Him! He wants us to look up to Him for every help, whatever the need might be.
- Even what you know to do, God still wants you to Acknowledge Him and not lean or depend on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5,6).
• Some people, believers, see what is being taught in this piece as a weakness or stupidity; but It is the Word of God.
- You can only have Rest when you live in line with the Word of God, the Bible. IT is when you do or live the Word that God can intervene, or be involved, or be interested in the matters of your life (James 1:22,25).
- Some women want to get back at their husbands when they offended them, by nagging and fighting, and make the atmosphere of their homes not conducive; when the Bible actually says they should approach such situations differently: "A WISE WOMAN BUILDS HER HOME, BUT A FOOLISH WOMAN TEARS IT DOWN WITH HER OWN HANDS" (Proverbs 14:1 NLT).
4 THESE OLDER WOMEN MUST TRAIN THE YOUNGER WOMEN TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS AND THEIR CHILDREN,
5 TO LIVE WISELY AND BE PURE, TO WORK IN THEIR HOMES, TO DO GOOD, AND TO BE SUBMISSIVE TO THEIR HUSBANDS. THEN THEY WILL NOT BRING SHAME ON THE WORD OF GOD."
Titus 2:4–5 (NLT)
- Apostle Peter says through submission a woman can bring her husband to repentance:
1 IN THE SAME WAY, YOU WIVES SHOULD YIELD TO YOUR HUSBANDS. THEN, IF SOME HUSBANDS DO NOT OBEY GOD'S TEACHING, THEY WILL BE PERSUADED TO BELIEVE WITHOUT ANYONE'S SAYING A WORD TO THEM. THEY WILL BE PERSUADED BY THE WAY THEIR WIVES LIVE. 2 YOUR HUSBANDS WILL SEE THE PURE LIVES YOU LIVE WITH YOUR RESPECT FOR GOD" (1 Peter 3:1–2 — New Century Version). - But an average woman today wants to fight the husband If she believed that she is being hurt or mistreated. A woman said If her husband says one word, she would say two. If the man is done talking, she would still be talking; gabbling or ranting. That is lack of submission!
- If it was difficult for you to obey the written Word of God that teaches Submission; then you are indirectly telling God not to be involved in the matters of your life: home, businesses, career or whatever.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever is not of God in your body that is working against your wellness and good health, is cursed and uprooted totally in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- The hold is broken in your life today and it will never be built again in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!