Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces
Jeremiah 23:29
 
Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3:9
When we look at the word "rebellious" we often associate it with someone that doesn't know God. The Lord has changed my perspective recently on the meaning of "rebellious".

When I look at the word "rebellious" I think of a child that is acting out. Not only do I think of a "child" I think of a "child" that has been taught right from wrong. This "child"  does well most of the time, acknowledging the things that he or she has been taught. Sometimes, however, this "child" acts out by not heeding the parent's instruction and fails to apply the instruction to his or her life.

An example of this is the story of Sarah and Hagar. 

Hagar,  is  Abram and Sarai's  hand-maid or slave. She is an Egyptian so not only is she a slave but, she is in a foreign land. As I am thinking about her situation I can imagine how home-sick she must be. How alone she must feel! How alone she thought she was.

Abram and Sarai have been promised a child by God. Sarai is becoming impatient and "rebellious" because she wants  a child so bad and she has lost faith in what God has told her.  She tells Abram to take Hagar and to conceive a child with her. When Hagar conceives she despises Sarai for what she has done. Sarai blame's Abram for what has happened and at this point I think Abram probably "throws his hands up" and tells Sarai to do with Hagar as she wishes.

Sarai deals with Hagar badly. She mistreats her! How can someone who had no fault in the circumstance be done so wrong?  I believe Sarai was jealous that Hagar could provide a child for her husband. She knows that she was wrong for not listening to God. He had promised Sarai a child but, because she had taken matters into her own hands the situation had gotten out of control.
They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
Revelation 9:10
When God give me this scripture in Revelation I had no clue what I was looking up. I just knew that Revelation's is about end times so what could this scripture possibly have to do with Hagar and Sarai.  Let me show you a little about what God gave me with this scripture. 

"Tail's like scorpions" represented to me someone's mouth or tongue.  "The sting of those tails" represented the hurtful words that come out of the mouth of someone who is angry and bitter.  The word's themselves  have the power to hurt men for five months.

Have you ever said something that you wish you could take back? Maybe, in the middle of a disagreement or maybe you let the fleshly side of you be mean and hateful?  

There is death and life in the tongue and we should be very careful what we speak to others.  Not only do we cause bitterness from our words and actions but, we then take two steps back. We have to repent for the wrongs that we have done and set things right with God and the person we have mis-treated.

Hagar fled her mistress because of how she was treated. She fled into the wilderness and when she came upon a stream an "Angel of the Lord" found her in her despair.  He ask her "Where did you come from and Where are you going?"  Hagar  answered the question about where she had came from " I'm fleeing from my mistress Sarai."  However, she never answered where she was going. Most of the time when people flea from hurtful situations they do not have a destination.  They just feel the need to get away from whatever is causing the hurt.

First, the angel tells Hagar "Go back and submit to Sarai".  Why would he tell her to go back to where she was being treated harshly?  One, she was in the wilderness with no where else to go and for her to receive enough nourishment for her and her unborn child she had to go back to where she was. It might not of been the most comfortable thing to do but, in the long run it would pay off.

Have you ever asked God that question before? Why must I do this Lord? I don't like it. I'm not comfortable. Sometimes, to get where we are going things aren't always comfortable. God sees the things ahead of you while you see in the current circumstance. Keep that in mind the next time things get uncomfortable to you!

Next, the angel told her that  "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count." He also said; " You are with child. You will name him Ishmael for the Lord has heard your misery."

The LORD  had heard her misery! Praise God! Even though her circumstance was horrible to her, God was with her. She was not alone! If you feel today that you are alone that no one hears you. I want you to know that God does. You may not can see past the circumstance your in but God sees you in your circumstance and he will walk with you through your trial. He will hold your hand and He will celebrate with you when you come out VICTORIUS! He is not only your God in the Bad times but He is God in the Good times too!

The Lord had given Hagar a new purpose in life. To care for this new life Ishmael that is growing inside of her! The well in the area that the "Angel of Lord" visited Hagar is named Beer Lahai Roi  after what Hagar said to the Angel  "You are the God who sees me" for she said "For I now see the one who sees me."

Hagar obeys and goes back to her mistress.  She gives birth to her son Ishmael. God had given her purpose in life to raise her child. Not just that but, she knew that her child had an important destiny and this also gave her purpose and courage to be obedient to God.

Despite returning to Sarai there was constant rivalry between the two women. I'm sure you can imagine the un-kind words shared between the two.

Fourteen years later God fulfills the promise in Sarai and she gave birth to a son named  Isaac. The rivalry and jealousy grew even more. Sarai wanted Isaac to be the heir of Abram. Eventually this turned into a huge confrontation and Sarai tells  Abram to cast Hagar and her son Ishmael out. Ishmael didn't help by mocking her son Isaac.

Abram did so but, with great hesitation. Something that I found amazing was that when he was sending them away he provided a gift of life (bread, water). This was to say that even though he wasn't there Hagar and her son were still under His protection! I know God had a hand in this area as well.

Hagar sets out into the desert with her son and I'm sure she is frightened but, I also believe she stepped out in faith. Eventually, the water runs out and her son is dying of thirst. She turns from her child and starts crying to the Lord and He hears them both!

"He is always there, Always listening!"  He opens her eyes to something she didn't see before "A WELL" I believe this was a well of great mercy and grace!  God not only provides instruction and discipline but he also provides encouragement and nourishment to us daily!
PRAISE the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendant will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious and full of compassion and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends;  He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies. He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor. The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalms 112
In conclusion, I want you to realize that sometimes we will hear hurtful things from the people around us. We will sometimes flea from them into our own wilderness "depression". We will feel resentment towards them for hurting us with the negative things they say but, I want you to take into consideration ALL of these scriptures.  God is telling you "Their words and wickedness will pass away." He is telling you " Do not be dismayed at their looks". He is telling you to LOOK to him because His words are tender and sweet to the soul.  The wicked will pass away and be no more but, the righteous will live on forever with Him. 

I think about this story and I think about how God can cause your "enemies" to bless you. Sarai was a good woman at heart but, because of her rebellion against what God had told her it caused a rift in a relationship. However, I see how God turned it into a blessing for Hagar because, not only was she given her freedom from slavery. She was blessed with a child that would have descendents of many! He made her fruitful for her obedience to him. He provided a purpose for her and healing balm to the sting of Sarai's actions and words! He can do the same for you. 

Regardless of your situation. I want you to remember that God is there. Abide in his commandments. Seek after Him with ALL of your heart! He will conquer and lift you above those that speak negatively against you as long as you look to him. I know this because, no matter what comes against Truth, Truth always prevails! Be kind to those that hurt you and you can see a person transformed by God's love which is the ultimate healing balm to all! Look to God because He comforts the weary! He will quicken you in your situation and give you purpose for living even through the darkest of times!

I feel like this message was meant for someone in a really dark time and He is telling you to LOOK UP! I'm here! Reach out for me! I will lift you up! Don't give up and don't look at what the world says to you or about you! I say your wonderful and perfectly made! I will let my light shine into the darkness through you! Let me in! I WILL HELP YOU! Cry out  for me! I WILL hear you! I can provide a healing balm for whatever is  hurting you right now!

I hope this helped you! I know it has opened my eyes a lot! I'm going to close with a prayer and if you need prayer or need anything there is a comment box below. If you don't want anyone to know who you are you don't have to post under your name.  God knows what you need.

Father,
 I come to you humbly right now! My heart is crying out to you for someone that is hurting! Please hear my cry for them! Send them comfort! Send them your love and build a hedge of protection around them to keep whatever is hurting them away! Father I know that you know all things! I know that you know how to fix it and how to make things better so I pray that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father hear me tonight and please send your blessed assurance their way. I love you Father! I'm so thankful that you walk beside me and I give you the Glory!
In Jesus Name I Pray
Amen and Amen
Thank you for your time. God bless you!
Sincerely,
Sarah

Scripture references from NKJV Spirit-Filled Life Bible
 
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept* of men:

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of that framed it, He had no understanding?

Isaiah 29:11-16

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
29:9-16
The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for lamentation and wonder. The learned men, through prejudice, said that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is lip-labour only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they worship the God of Israel according to their own devices. Numbers are only formal in worship. And their religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings of mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God, so severely blamed. And  as those that quarrel with God, so those that think to conceal themselves from him, in effect charge him with folly. But all their perverse conduct shall be entirely done away.

  • Prudent : believing but not being truly committed.
  • Understanding: discernment
  • Precepts: commandment, statues

Reading these scripture, the King Nebuchadnezzar comes to mind. God had shown himself to Nebuchadnezzar in various situations. When Nebuchadnezzar had the dream of his mind being made like that of an animal and he called for interpretation of the dream from his wise men and magicians, none could interpret his dream. The things that are of God cannot be interpreted by anything of this world.  Nebuchadnezzar was forced to call upon one of God's people, Daniel, to interpret the dream.

When Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire for not worshiping the golden statue, God saved them. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are a perfect example of someone that is not moved by man's precept of what God wants. The only way we will know what God wants is to read His word and be a person after God's own heart.


Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and day unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make you a covenant with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is moldy: And these skins of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are torn: and these our garments, and our shoes have become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their provisions, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

Joshua 9: 11-12


Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
But when they had once said, We are come from a far country, they were led to say it, made of skins, and their clothes: one lie brings on another, and that a third, and so on. The way of that sin is especially down-hill.

The "Elders" led them to tell lies. My heart is grieved because so many people fail to pick up the Word of God and confirm what someone say to them with it. God said that there would be many wolves in sheep's clothing. So many are not teaching the FULL Word of God. When you pick up the bible and you say, "I believe this but I don't believe that." You are denying Christ and if this is happening with a leader of the church, this is very dangerous because, he is not only hindering and hurting himself. He is hindering and hurting his flock. There are so many "MAN" made rules. Just like in Jesus time He said that He had not come to take away from the Law but to fulfill it. The people in His time were adding man-made rules to what God had meant for instruction. I believe this caused confusion and it caused division and it caused MANY to be lead to hell. The Word of God was meant to be a simple interpretation. God is not the author of confusion. His Yoke is easy and His burden is light. So many try to make the burden more heavy and the yoke hard. God's Word is simple and it shouldn't be taken away from and it shouldn't be added to with man-made rules

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2: 9-17
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother.
I don't know if any of you have ever experience this but, whenever I am sharing the Word of God with someone on a personal level. "Witnessing" to them about Jesus. My Spirit can always tell when they reject it. I feel grieved for them because I don't understand WHY they reject Christ? WHY is it so hard to love Jesus when  He loves us so much! I know a lot of people probably think I am dramatic or take things to a higher level but; IT IS DRAMATIC! Christ paid the price for us but, so many reject Him! We make other things of less importance like; money, fame, clothes, jewelry, and various other things more important than God! by doing so we make these things a God in our life! Do you realize that?  

When Nebuchadnezzar decided that he was greater than God and did not need God: he said these words;"Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?" The thing I want you to consider is God gave Nebuchadnezzar a warning through his dream. He also gave him a year to turn from his wickedness. Nebuchadnezzar did not heed that warning and so he was brought to his knees with  a mind of a wild animal! I do feel like this is a year of preparation for us. This country has gone so far from God's word! You see it in all the news channels, in the way the people of this country act!  The people of this country are fulfilling scripture;
for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not?
There are people starving for God's Word but there are hardly any working to give it to them and when they do give it to them it's the watered down version
The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few
Why not speak as Jesus spoke?! He didn't sugar coat anything and we shouldn't either  The scripture said;
To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.
If we don't tell people the truth of God's Word then the salt loses it savour! QUIT watering down the truth! DON'T take from the Word of God by not believing ALL of the bible. I'm here to tell you that if you don't believe every word on those pages! YOU ARE NOT a believer of Christ! You are believing MAN'S precepts and standards and the ways of MAN shall perish! The WORD of GOD will stand forever!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
2:12-17 
A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glory of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for a Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in every place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. They reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the gospel is a savour of life unto life: as it quickened them at first when they were dead in trespasses and sins, so it makes them more lively, and will end in eternal life. Observe the awful impression this matter made upon the apostle, and should also make upon us. The work is great, and of ourselves we have no strength at all; all our sufficiency is of God. But what we do in religion, unless it is done in sincerity, as in the sight of God, is not of God, does not come from him, and will not reach to him. May we carefully watch ourselves  in this matter; and seek the testimony of our consciences,  under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that as of sincerity, so speak we in Christ and of Christ.

If your are wondering what happened to Nebuchadnezzar once he repented.....
The text says immediately the king lifted his eyes to heaven and his sanity was restored.  bible-truth.org
So, I am asking you today are living by man's precepts or by God's precepts? Are you denying self or denying Christ? Is the things, the objects, the images, in your life GOD to you or is Our Heavenly Father GOD to you? The wonderful thing about Christ is that He not only brings conviction He also brings forgiveness when we ask for it! Let God restore what is His. If you have read this message you feel that the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction I want you to say this prayer with me.
Heavenly Father,
 I ask that you forgive me for not putting you first in my life. That you help me deny the things that have risen above you in my life. To set those things down and to pick you up; because Father I can't do this without you. Father, you know my heart and you know that I am sincere. Please, help me to see things through a new light today. Help me Father, Over my life. You are my Father, My Yahweh! I love you over all things and I pray that you will help me be a light to others. I humbly pray this..
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Go with God my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Sincerely, Sarah

P.S. If you have left me a comment and I have not responded I will be doing that later on. I have been terribly sick with some sort of virus going around. I love you so much!

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary in Blue.
Scripture reference from bible.cc
Definitions in Green and referenced from bibletools.com


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