Book of Isaiah, Chapter 38

 Chapter 38

Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery

1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.

7 “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he has promised: 8 Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.

9 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:

10 I said, In the middle of my days

    I must depart;

I am consigned to the gates of Sheol

    for the rest of my years.

11 I said, I shall not see the Lord,

    the Lord in the land of the living;

I shall look on man no more

    among the inhabitants of the world.

12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me

    like a shepherd's tent;

like a weaver I have rolled up my life;

    he cuts me off from the loom;

from day to night you bring me to an end;

13     I calmed myself until morning;

like a lion he breaks all my bones;

    from day to night you bring me to an end.

14 Like a swallow or a crane I chirp;

    I moan like a dove.

My eyes are weary with looking upward.

    O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety!

15 What shall I say? For he has spoken to me,

    and he himself has done it.

I walk slowly all my years

    because of the bitterness of my soul.

16 O Lord, by these things men live,

    and in all these is the life of my spirit.

    Oh restore me to health and make me live!

17 Behold, it was for my welfare

    that I had great bitterness;

but in love you have delivered my life

    from the pit of destruction,

for you have cast all my sins

    behind your back.

18 For Sheol does not thank you;

    death does not praise you;

those who go down to the pit do not hope

    for your faithfulness.

19 The living, the living, he thanks you,

    as I do this day;

the father makes known to the children

    your faithfulness.

20 The Lord will save me,

    and we will play my music on stringed instruments

all the days of our lives,

    at the house of the Lord.

21 Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.” 22 Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?”

Responding to People, Enemies

 Responding to People, Enemies  

Hello, we are talking to "Christians" or directly to children of God. If I was not talking directly to children of God, what I am about to say would be nearly impossible. No. I believe it would be completely impossible. We are talking about how to respond to people.

First? We MUST respond to people first and foremost, as Jesus did, with Love.

Second, we MUST respond to those who throw false allegations towards us, with silence.

Today? Today we are going to talk about how to respond to those who chose to become our enemies. Oh, you have enemies. Jesus told us we would have.

"You will be hated by all for my name’s sake." Luke 21:17

Why?

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name because they do not know him who sent me." John 15:18-21

They hated Jesus so much that they tortured and killed Him in a horrific way. How did He respond to them? He forgave them. He prayed for them. He opened a way to SAVE them. While hanging on that cross, Jesus prayed to the Father and He said this.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

"Yeah, but he is God. Of course, He loved His enemies. I'm not Him. I do not believe that He would really expect me to do something like this. I just try to avoid those that seem to hate me. I just stay away from them. Isn't that good enough? Hey, at least I did not kill them"

Well? Jesus actually told us this.

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48

This is not really new. Look at what God has been telling us in His word for thousands of years.

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22

Paul repeated this in his letter to the Church in Rome

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:19-21

That was a valuable lesson for me to learn. It really was. It is something that is so powerful for you to get, it will change your life if you fully get it. There is NOTHING that you can do to anyone or anything, that is even worthy to be compared with what God can and will do, to your enemies. Complete cities have been destroyed. I have personally seen entire businesses and companies go away after mistreating a couple children of God. The ways that I have personally seen God deal out vengeance? I'm glad I was on the right side.

We are told, on the contrary, to LOVE our enemies.

"if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;"

Jesus took it even farther,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."

WHY? Why would Jesus tell us this? Because we were once enemies of God. WE WERE! We were enemies of God that deserved hellfire and damnation. Jesus loved us. We did everything you can possibly do to Him and He saved us.

We may be the only Jesus that some people will meet on earth. What do they see when they look at us? "I hate that guy. I have done all I can to get him fired. I have gotten him thrown out of where he was living. I did whatever I could to hurt him. He flipped me off. I win. Hahaha!"

Or?

"I hate that guy. I have done all I can to get him fired. I have gotten him thrown out of where he was living. I did whatever I could to hurt him. He never yelled back at me. He actually smiled. He said 'I forgive you.' He said 'Jesus loves you.' I just found out that I was about to lose my job but he went into the boss and saved my job. He left so I could stay working. WHY?! Why would he do that? What is this Jesus stuff all about anyway/"

Now, you are still unemployed. You are still out of the place you were living. You may not even ever know that how you responded to your enemy, turned your enemy into a child of God. You do not have to know. It ain't about you. It is about God. We are to be the very image of the love of God. What is love?

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now, we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Love your neighbor as yourself? Yes. Love each other as Jesus loved us? Yes. Love our enemies? YES! This is what we are called to do. The only way you can do this? Is to have the love of God in you. To have Jesus in you. To BE a child of God. say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 37

 Chapter 37

Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah's Help

1 As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”

5 When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

8 The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. 9 Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “He has set out to fight against you.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?’”

Hezekiah's Prayer for Deliverance

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”

Sennacherib's Fall

21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him:

“‘She despises you, she scorns you—

    the virgin daughter of Zion;

she wags her head behind you—

    the daughter of Jerusalem.

23 “‘Whom have you mocked and reviled?

    Against whom have you raised your voice

and lifted your eyes to the heights?

    Against the Holy One of Israel!

24 By your servants you have mocked the Lord,

    and you have said, With my many chariots

I have gone up the heights of the mountains,

    to the far recesses of Lebanon,

to cut down its tallest cedars,

    its choicest cypresses,

to come to its remotest height,

    its most fruitful forest.

25 I dug wells

    and drank waters,

to dry up with the sole of my foot

    all the streams of Egypt.

26 “‘Have you not heard

    that I determined it long ago?

I planned from days of old

    what now I bring to pass,

that you should make fortified cities

    crash into heaps of ruins,

27 while their inhabitants, shorn of strength,

    are dismayed and confounded,

and have become like plants of the field

    and like tender grass,

like grass on the housetops,

    blighted before it is grown.

28 “‘I know your sitting down

    and your going out and coming in,

    and your raging against me.

29 Because you have raged against me

    and your complacency has come to my ears,

I will put my hook in your nose

    and my bit in your mouth,

and I will turn you back on the way

    by which you came.’

30 “And this shall be the sign for you: this year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that. Then in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

33 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. 34 By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the Lord. 35 For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

36 And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh. 38 And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Responding to People, False Allegations

 Responding to People, False Allegations

Hello, welcome today. We are in the middle of talking to Children of God directly. If you are not a child of God, that's ok. You can become one today if you so chose. We are talking about responding to people. Last time we talked about responding to people first and foremost, with love. Showing the love of Christ that is in us. Being a child of God means that we follow what Jesus told us to.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

How did Jesus love us?

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

So we should be showing this kind of love to others. But how do we respond to those who are difficult people? People that may or may not actually be your enemy. Maybe they are not really your enemy, maybe they do not even truly hate you, we will deal with those types of people next time. But people who out of ignorance, arrogance, jealousy, or for whatever reason, lie about you or falsely accuse you of things. How should you respond? Well, as a child of God, we should respond the way Jesus did. Right?

"Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent." Matthew 26:59-63

Now, why do you think He remained silent? Usually, people's first reaction is to defend themselves and even counterattack the person or people attacking them. Especially if you are innocent. But even if you are not. Why do you think kids lie all the time? Sometimes I truly think I have five kids. Josh. Eli. Maya. I don't know. and I didn't do it. It is human nature.

Jesus did not do this. He remained silent. Why? Because He was innocent. He did not need to prove it to those who were with Him and who witness Him and His life. They should have known better. He did not have to prove Himself to His Father. His Father knows Him.

It would be like someone coming to me and telling me that my son Joshua was harassing girls, stealing money from lockers at school, and eating spaghetti while high in the cafeteria. I would tell them to go pound sand and stop lying about my son. Why? I know him. I know his heart. I know nearly all his friends and female. It is not in his nature to steal. He doesn't do drugs. I saw him puke after taking a sip of alcohol once. And I know he is not eating spaghetti in the cafeteria because he HATES spaghetti. Yeah I know, I do not get that either. But he does.

God said this about Jesus.

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17

And again God said,

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Matthew 17:5

God knows His Son. He knows that the allegations are false. Jesus does not have to do or say anything. Here is some good news for ya. God knows you. Jesus even warned us that people WILL give false accusations and allegations against us. He warned us that they will lie about us and even hate us. Why? Because we are now His.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12

Jesus warned us plainly.

"You will be hated by all for my name’s sake." Luke 21:17

Like I said, we will talk about those that hate us and are our sworn enemies next time. Today we are just talking about responding to those false allegations. What should we do? How should we respond?

Not to get into politics that deep here but President George W Bush was constantly under attack by those who hated him. He was constantly criticized by those on the right for not defending himself. He said something to the effect that he felt it was beneath the Office of the President to do so. He also said that it would not matter what he said, the haters were going to hate him no matter what and those that support him know better. Wise words.

Jesus said this.

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name because they do not know him who sent me." John 15:18-21

They hated Him first. We are not greater than Him. Why would you think they would NOT lie about us? Why would they NOT hate us? Of course, they will. Why? " Because they do not know him who sent me." They do not know God. 

Remember when Jesus was talking to the religious folks and holier than thou folks of His time?

"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:43-47

Notice this little difference that some may miss here. Jesus did not say, "Why do you spread lies about me?" He said, "Which one of you convicts me of sin?" He said, Who can prove all the things you claim about me? Because no one can.

We are told to live our lives for God. Be the light of the world.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

If people get to know you, and they get to know your character, your actions show them your heart, then they will know. If they hear some lie people start spreading about you, you will not need to convince them. They already know better. Defend yourself against someone that hates you and is trying to hurt you? They will never hear you. Never accept you. Never apologize. Your Father in Heaven? He knows you and your heart. Jesus told us that when this happens, we should what?

"Rejoice and be glad"

Rejoice and be glad? Yes. Why?

"They persecuted the prophets who were before you."

We are in Good Company. And

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."

Think about this also, more on this next time, but, if you are not doing the will of God? If you are not doing the words of Jesus? If you are not trying to share the Word of God? They will not hate you. They would accept you as one of their own. But if they are attacking you. Lying about you. Hating on you, for no other reason than Jesus? You are doing it right. You are producing fruit. You may not even know you are but you are.

Do not waste your time defending yourself against false allegations. It is a waste of time. Your silence may even become more powerful than anything you can say or do. In the end? The only one you need to be concerned with how they feel about you is GOD.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 36

 Chapter 36

Sennacherib Invades Judah

1 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. 3 And there came out to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.

4 And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 5 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”? 8 Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 9 How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’”

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”

21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.” 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Responding to People, Love

 "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Welcome, today. Today I am going to be speaking directly to children of God, AKA "Christians." "Saved Peoples." People that have heard the Gospel and have accepted Jesus's sacrifice. People that have been saved from death itself and adopted into the family of God.

Now if that is not you, today, and the next few times we get together, may seem a little strange. Maybe extreme? Maybe even a bit offensive. Maybe you will not understand it completely, because you are without the most important ingredient to understanding it. The Spirit of the Living God. But it is my hope, that even if this describes you, that you will make that choice and become a new creature. A new child of God.

How did Jesus operate here on earth? He loved first. Forgave second. Saved third. I will say that again. He loved first. Forgave second. Saved third. Most of you know John 3:16-18

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

We have come to learn this aspect of Jesus's love for us.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"God so loved the world" He laid down His Godhood and came to earth as one of us, and He loved us so, that He allowed us, His own creation, to strip Him, beat Him, humiliate Him, and hang Him from a cross, while we were sinners in the middle of our sin.

It would be like me, creating an Ant Farm in my backyard. They kept dying and being horrible little Ants and they would attack and torment anyone I sent into my backyard. So I come up with a plan. I will let them kill ME and in turn, I will not wipe them all out. So I go out back, strip my clothes off, and lay down and allow them to kill me. Knowing at any time I could simply swipe a hand or foot and wipe them all out. Remember, we did not kill Jesus.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11

And here?

"For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."John 10:17-18

Jesus could have stopped it at any time. Remember what He said to Peter when they came to arrest Jesus in the garden? 

"Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Matthew 26:53-54

Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love created all things. Love saved all this from utter and total destruction. We are told that we need to have this same love as Jesus had for us.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

And in 1 John 3:16, we read this.

"By this, we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

What does this mean? Are we being told to lay down our lives for someone we claim to love? Yes. If the situation arises and I have to decide to give my life to save my child? Wife? Family member? YES, I will do that. Why? Because I DO love them.

However, let's start by loving people in general. Do you know how easy it is to take an average everyday situation and turn it into a moment? Seriously. We go through our daily lives on autopilot more than you may think. You have a routine. Nothing wrong with routines. Well, not completely. But if you are not careful, you can get lost in that routine.

They are not props. You wake up. Get dressed and leave your house. Maybe you walk by the park and see an old person sitting there. You keep going. That person is not a prop. You go on but they are there because they are homeless, or just lost the love of their life. Perhaps they find comfort in feeding the pigeons or they are reflecting on their life. Maybe they needed help? You go into the coffee shop and a girl takes your order for a Grande, Carmel, spinning Mocha Frap. AKA overpriced coffee. You give her your ten bucks and move on. She is not a prop. If you glanced at her name tag, her name is Susie. She is a single Mom working two jobs to try to support herself and her two children.

You arrive at work and you do the best you can, to get ahead, to get that bonus, whatever. Billy just got laid off. WOW! There is an opportunity to get his job. Billy is not a prop. He just lost his job of 20 years, and now has no idea how he is going to support himself and his family. Not too many places like to hire older folks. He is scared. You move on.

You finish your day and you head home. You stop at the grocery and see a lady sitting in the front holding a sign. "Hungry. Anything will help." Smile and walk by. You think to yourself, maybe on the way out. She is not a prop. She is an Angel waiting to see how you would respond.

Wait!?! What? An Angel? Now that is a bit too far. Really?

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2

Think of all the things that could have been different in this one day. Talk to the old person on the bench. Show them love, kindness, and concern. Listen to their story if they want to share. You have no idea how much of a difference you could make in that person's life. Perhaps they need to hear the gospel for today may be their last on this earth. Look at the nametag. Use her name. "How is your day going Susie?" Watch her body language. Listen to what she tells you. Show her love, kindness, and concern. Maybe instead of buying that $10.00 cup of coffee, maybe give it to her. Maybe give her a bigger tip? Maybe just a smile and a hug? You become one half of a moment and not just a number. Billy? Have compassion for him. Show him love, kindness, and concern. Tell him you will help him in the future as a reference or just share Romans 8:28, or Matthew 6:31-34. The Lady outside the Grocery? Talk to her. Show her love, kindness, and concern. You do not have cash? Ask if you can buy something for her while you are there. Share the Gospel? Give her a hug?

We are surrounded by people on a daily basis. Some we know, some we do not. Some we like? Some we do not. Some that like us. Some that do not. In all these situations, all these people, are opportunities to show love. We should be responding to people the same way Jesus responded to people. Love. Here is a footnote for ya. A lot of the time? It will cost you nothing but a little bit of your time. Oh, you do not have time? How much time do you waste on TV? Hobbies? Doing things, uh, less beneficial? You have more time than you think. You may have to work on it. But you really do have more time than you think.

You are a child of God. Peter tells us that we need to always be ready to share the Truth.

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15

How should we respond to people? Love. What about those that use us? Those that abuse us? What about those that treat us horribly? That is what we will be talking about next time. The short answer is Love. Forgiveness? Yes. This is what we are called to do.

Now if I was not talking directly to you. Now is the time to correct that. Now is the time. Today is the day. I have your adoption papers right here {Holding up the Bible} Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 35

 Chapter 35

The Ransomed Shall Return

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

2 it shall blossom abundantly

    and rejoice with joy and singing.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They shall see the glory of the Lord,

    the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands,

    and make firm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,

    “Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

    will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

    He will come and save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

    and streams in the desert;

7 the burning sand shall become a pool,

    and the thirsty ground springs of water;

in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,

    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there,

    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it.

    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;

    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

9 No lion shall be there,

    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there,

    but the redeemed shall walk there.

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return

    and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

    they shall obtain gladness and joy,

    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

While it is Called Today

 Tomorrow is never guaranteed 

Dorothy was 66 years old, or thereabout when she kissed her children and grandchildren good night. She talked about the fact there was school the next day and talked about dinner plans for after school and work. She checked on her disabled husband and made sure he was settling in for the night. She went and sat in her favorite chair to watch a little TV and have some much-needed "me time." She most likely fell asleep.

I say most likely because no one really knows for sure. What we do know is that her husband called for her and she stood up and dropped to the ground. Dead. Doctors say she had a major heart attack and her heart basically exploded. They estimate that she was dead before she hit the floor.

I was woken up at 2 ish if I remember correctly, with my mother telling me, Grandma died. I was very young but I remember thinking, I know. Somehow I just knew. But that was the last time my Grandma tucked me in. The last time I would ever stand in the kitchen and watch her can jams and cook, well, everything. All those plans and conversations about tomorrow are now null-and-void.

She had no idea that that was her last few moments on earth. She just did what she always did. Then she was gone. My neighbor's husband was working out in his field. He never made it back. On 9/11 over three thousand people got up and did their morning routines and were gone forever shortly after 9 am.

Jesus tells us this.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

The word of God warns us of this as well.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Not even close. Whenever I say something like that, people just assume I am talking about the "End Times." Or "The Day of the Lord." Well?

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." Matthew 24:36

It could very well be today. It could be tomorrow. It could be another hundred years from now. But I can pretty much assure you that your "end times," or the day you leave this earth, will be within the next hundred years.

So why are you waiting? What are you waiting for? Yes,

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

But He never promises tomorrow. As a matter of fact, He tells us that all we know will actually come to an end one day. If you want a little preview, look at the past year. 2020 was like no other. No one would have thought that the world would shut down. It did. No one would have ever thought that the Government would tell people to stay home. No work, no school. Nothing. But they did. One day God tells us that all this will come to an end.

We read things like this in His Word.

"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear his voice," Hebrews 3:7

This is why we read encouraging words like this.

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:12-13

We do not have the assurance of there even being a tomorrow. Today is the day. Look at what Joshua tries to teach us.

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Today is the day. Now is the time. You must decide. Think about this. Ever quit your job? Or remember your last day of school for the year, or ever? There was a bit of freedom in those moments. How do you think you would live the last day of your time on earth if you knew it was? It very well maybe. Not to be morbid or anything. Just stating a fact. What are you putting off? Remember the story Jesus told us about the rich man and his barns? He was teaching us about storing up treasures for ourselves on this earth and the foolishness behind it. But look what He says here.

"But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’" Luke 12:20

We do not know. We have no idea. Oh, sometimes we can get a concept that the time is close. Old age, sickness, ETC. But we truly never know. If you have never given yourself to God, if you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour, PLEASE, stop hesitating. Stop putting it off. The evening is drawing near, and tomorrow is not guaranteed. While it is called "Today" make the most important decision you will ever make. Accept Jesus. Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13


Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 34

 Chapter 34

Judgment on the Nations

1 Draw near, O nations, to hear,

    and give attention, O peoples!

Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;

    the world, and all that comes from it.

2 For the Lord is enraged against all the nations,

    and furious against all their host;

    he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter.

3 Their slain shall be cast out,

    and the stench of their corpses shall rise;

    the mountains shall flow with their blood.

4 All the host of heaven shall rot away,

    and the skies roll up like a scroll.

All their host shall fall,

    as leaves fall from the vine,

    like leaves falling from the fig tree.

5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens;

    behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom,

    upon the people I have devoted to destruction.

6 The Lord has a sword; it is sated with blood;

    it is gorged with fat,

    with the blood of lambs and goats,

    with the fat of the kidneys of rams.

For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah,

    a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

7 Wild oxen shall fall with them,

    and young steers with the mighty bulls.

Their land shall drink its fill of blood,

    and their soil shall be gorged with fat.

8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance,

    a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

9 And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch,

    and her soil into sulfur;

    her land shall become burning pitch.

10 Night and day it shall not be quenched;

    its smoke shall go up forever.

From generation to generation it shall lie waste;

    none shall pass through it forever and ever.

11 But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it,

    the owl and the raven shall dwell in it.

He shall stretch the line of confusion[d] over it,

    and the plumb line of emptiness.

12 Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a kingdom,

    and all its princes shall be nothing.

13 Thorns shall grow over its strongholds,

    nettles and thistles in its fortresses.

It shall be the haunt of jackals,

    an abode for ostriches.

14 And wild animals shall meet with hyenas;

    the wild goat shall cry to his fellow;

indeed, there the night bird settles

    and finds for herself a resting place.

15 There the owl nests and lays

    and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow;

indeed, there the hawks are gathered,

    each one with her mate.

16 Seek and read from the book of the Lord:

    Not one of these shall be missing;

    none shall be without her mate.

For the mouth of the Lord has commanded,

    and his Spirit has gathered them.

17 He has cast the lot for them;

    his hand has portioned it out to them with the line;

they shall possess it forever;

    from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.