NO EXPIRATION IN HIS PRESENCE

READ: DEUTERENOMY 29:1-6

“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and your shoe is not waxen old upon your foot” (Deuteronomy 29:5).
The seventh type of miracle is a peculiar one. In today’s passage, the children of Israel trekked the wilderness for 40 years yet their clothes did not tear or fade; their shoes did not file out and none of them became sick or feeble, not even their animals. “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes” (Psalm 105:37). When Moses was to die at 120 years old, he still retained the strength of his youth (Deuteronomy 34:7). He was reserved as God’s spare part. Why?
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Have you ever heard of a nation which recorded zero cases of sickness for a period of one month? Never. But it happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness. Over three million Israelites who took part in that 40 years journey did not require the services of a doctor for one day – not even first aid. This is because there is no expiration in His presence. When you are in God’s presence, your weaknesses and sicknesses will be exchanged for His strength and healing. Do you know each moment you stay in God’s presence helps to renew and rejuvenate you? Life is imparted in His presence. The greatest medicine or therapy to stay ever young is to be in His presence and to be a carrier of His presence.
In Exodus 34:29-34, Moses came down from spending 40 days and nights in God’s presence. The glory of God not only made his face to shine but also prevented his body from undergoing the normal aging process. He retained his strength at his death. Besides, the presence of God can equally act on your clothes, shoes, apartment and all your property and give them a longer life span. How often do you stay in His presence? How much of His presence do you carry about daily as you confront each day’s challenges? The presence of God on you will determine whether the animals you meet on the way will be tame or not. It will also determine whether you will be a ‘god’ to the Pharaohs of the earth or not. Any sickness in your body while in His presence insults your God. Reject it! Come into His presence.

Memorize: psalm 105:37 –He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

HARDENING YOUR HEART?

READ: ISAIAH 6:9-12

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)
What you hear is important. How you hear what you hear is equally important. But even more fundamental is if you hear. From the above scripture, we find that so many people are heading for hell because they have never heard of the Saviour. It is even more disturbing that some relatives, friends and acquaintances of born again children of God are equally hell bound. How would they hear the gospel message if nobody tells them? This is why you are called by God. The church-comprising all born again Christians, is God’s voice to the world. He wants to speak through you to the perishing ones. How faithfully have you been carrying His message of salvation to the lost ones around you? You can be sure that everyone you failed to lead to Christ will hate you forever when they are sentenced to the lake of fire. Repent now and go after them.
Today’s reading is a dangerous passage. It shows that God can deafen people’s ears and blind their eyes, so that when they hear or see, it will not make meaning to them until they are consumed. By such a veil they would not be able to see and receive healing and forgiveness. In Romans 1:21-32, some people who initially resisted the truth and persisted in wild and vain thoughts did it to a point that God withdrew from them and they were completely consumed in their error. In Egypt, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh to let Israel go, he refused. He deliberately hardened his heart. He persisted to a point that God gave him more strength to harden up. But when the judgement of plagues began, he tried to beat a retreat considering how his stubbornness had caused so much suffering to the Egyptians; but it was too late. He had been fixed in hardness hence he was destroyed. Do not harden your heart to God. It can lead to destruction. Many people are reaping the consequences of hardening their hearts to God. If you continue to reject His calls, a time will come when He will fix such a fellow at the point of rejection.

MEMORIZE: ROMANS 1:28 –And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave then over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

HONEYMOON OR HELL?

READ: REVELATION 20:11-15

After being wedded to Jesus and the seven year wedding party that follows, we will return to the earth to rule with Him for 1000 years. The first reason for this is to gradually upgrade and prepare to fit into the level of enjoyment awaiting us in heaven throughout eternity. Another reason for our coming to the earth for 1000 years is because our Husband, the Bridegroom loves to spend His honeymoon in the very land where He paid the bride price. So it will be 1000 years of honeymoon! Praise God! That same period, those who are not born again and are dead, will be spending 1000 years in hell getting used to suffering before being finally hurled into the lake of fire.
“And if your hand offends you, cut it off: It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched”. (Mark 9:43). Hell is a terrible place of torment. Every sinner that died since creation is presently burning in hell. Originally, hell was created for the devil and fallen angels, not for human beings. The lake of fire is the final and eternal abode of every sinner. After the Great White Throne Judgement, all sinners in hell and others yet to go there will be finally thrown into the lake of fire.
The punishment in the lake of fire is so intense that human beings cannot go there directly. Hence they have to go to hell first so that they will adjust and step up their level of suffering on an increasing basis until they attain the level when they can stand side by side with the devil and demons in the lake of fire. So while we are getting used to pleasure for 1000 years, sinners who died will be getting used to the fire for the same period. I pray there will be no vacancy for you in the lake of fire. Some years ago, there was a volcanic eruption in Cameroon where liquid fire was oozing out the spot. Can you imagine a sea whose water is fire and people are thrown there to swim forever in that fire? That is just a picture of the eternal home of all who reject Jesus. It is your choice: Whether you want the honeymoon with Jesus or hell.

MEMORIZE: REVELATION 20:6 –Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.