He opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they return from evil. If they hear and serve Him, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures. But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword and they will die without knowledge. Job 36:10-12.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
Many of you love Me and want to please Me, but most of you are not doing what My Word tells you to do and then you are wondering why your life is not matching up with My promises. There is a way that seems right to a man that ends in death and then there is My way that leads to life. And what path you take is up to you, every moment of every day.
Open your ears to hear instruction, for I the LORD teach you what is for your good and how to have good success and prosper, I instruct you in the way you should go. If you do what I tell you, you will end your days in prosperity and your years in pleasures. Job 36:10-11. You will see good and delight in the life I have given you. Psalm 34:11-18. But if you do not hear and do My Words, it will all end in pain, darkness, and disaster. Isaiah 1:19-20. And it does not mean I do not love you, because I do, and I sent My Son to save you. But if you will not live according to My Word you will end in physical and emotional destruction. Matthew 7:26-27. And I say this even to those who in their hearts believe in Me and love Me, even focus their lives on Me, but if you will not line up your words and actions with My Words and instructions, you will not have a good life in this world though you will be saved for the life to come. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15; Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:11.
What am I talking about? Death and life are in the power of your tongue and what you do with your life will produce a harvest of what you are sowing by your words and actions. If you are pointing the finger in blame at others, are resentful of serving, are speaking maliciously against your siblings, in-laws, parents, friends, spouse, children, co-workers, bosses, teachers, and even your enemies, and I mean grumbling, complaining, gossiping, telling the faults of others, and the like, you will surely come to a bad end. Psalm 50:19-22.
From the beginning I have been telling mankind to keep My Word or it will end in the curse and death. I told Adam, but he disobeyed and it cost him his peace, joy and prosperity. I told Cain, but he disobeyed and it turned him into an angry and aimless wanderer. I warned the people of Noah’s time, but they preferred their wicked thoughts and words to Mine and it cost them their very perverted violent lives. I could go on, but you will see that everyone who turned their heart to walking in My Ways and keeping My Words had an amazing, prosperous, and victorious life filled with the peace of a good conscience and many happy days, even in the face of various trials and persecutions due to the antics of those who refuse to obey My Word. But those who rebelled and disobeyed may have prospered in worldly goods for a time but ended in unhappy, jealous, fear-filled lives of destruction to themselves and others. Look at Herod. I sent him John the Baptist and Jesus but he refused to repent or change, caused the death of John and acquiesced in the death of Jesus, later had James put to death and then tried to have Peter put to death, and he finally died in pride taking acclamation as a “god,” struck down by an angel and eaten by worms. Acts 12:23. He always feared losing his power but he never sought the true power. Love. All he lined up with was the power of darkness and he got the judgment of the ruler of that kingdom.
Now, let us reason together. If you do not like where you are at the moment, if it is not that free and peaceful place in your soul, then let us look at your life. Are you ready to be honest and let the light shine into your inmost parts? That is the only way to be healed.
Jesus told you that if you love Him (and seeing Him you see Me, He is My very Word), you will keep My Words and I will love you and We will come and make our dwelling place in and with you. This is a wonderful way for us to live together and walk together in truth. Then, as I explained to Joshua, you will make your way successful and prosperous by keeping exactly to My Words. For My Words are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. I send My Words to heal you and deliver you from destruction, but you MUST do them to get the benefits.
Now, answer the following:
- Do you rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give constant thanks? This is My Will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
- Do you meditate on My Word day and night, in other words do you keep your thoughts focused on My Word and not on your own emotions about life in general and people in particular? Do you speak it only and not swerve to the right or the left? Do you speak life and not death? Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1; Matthew 12:33-37; Deuteronomy 30:19; Proverbs 18:21.
- Do you grumble and complain about others or just your life in general? Numbers 14:29; Exodus 16:8; Psalm 106:25; John 6:43; 1 Corinthians 10:10 (“Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”); Philippians 2:14-16(“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.”)
- Do you tithe? Malachi 38-12; Matthew 23:23.
- Whatever you do at your work, do you do it with a spirit of excellence and all your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men? Ephesians 6:5-8.
- Do you lie, even what you call little “white” lies? I abhor lying. Do you honor Me by being honest in all you do and say? Psalm 34:13.
- Do you do the one thing necessary, that is, spend time with Me in My Word each day? Luke 10:38-42.
- Do you worry, fret and have fear? Philippians 4:6-8 (“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”)
- Do you hate your brother in your heart and resent him? That to me is murder. Do you have compassion for the poor, the addicted, the homeless, and the naked, even in your own family, or are you judging them unworthy of your loving correction and compassion? Do you turn your back on your own and cast them out to the dogs? Do not judge but do not fail to correct and direct in love. But always be ready to give and serve as I direct. It is unto Me that you give and serve. Whatever you do for the least of your brethren, you do for Me. 1 John 3:15 (“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”); 1 John 3:17-18 (“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”); James 2:15-16 (“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?”); Matthew 7:1-3 (“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”)
I only asked ten questions and I could ask many more, but I think you are getting the idea. Do you pass with flying colors or are you being weighed in the scales and found wanting? I cannot promote you to greater things if you are not faithful to My Word in the small details of each day. All are alive to Me and nothing happens that is not in My sight. Even your innermost thoughts are open before Me. I cannot heal your bones and make you new if you continue in depression and jealousy, for a depressed spirit dries up the bones and jealousy rots the bones, but a cheerful heart is good medicine and brings healing. I tell you not to point the finger at others and speak maliciously—gossip, anger, bitterness, resentment, and the like—and I will make your barren life fruitful and your bones strong.
If you are willing and obey, you are wise for it will lead you into freedom, peace, promotion and prosperity. Like Jacob’s son, Joseph, he never let depression, fear, anxiety, hatred for his brothers, or bitterness enter his bones and destroy his life. He stayed by Me and walked with Me in love and joy and I promoted him beyond all he could ask or imagine. He ended his days in prosperity and pleasure.
Selah.
Take a look at your life. But be encouraged, all you who hope in Me, it is never over for the believer. Moses set out on his kingdom assignment at eighty years old. Just read what I told Job:
“Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, for God is greater than man. Why do you complain against Him that He does not give an account of all His doings? Indeed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds. Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, that He may turn man aside from his conduct, and keep man from pride. He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into Sheol. Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, and with unceasing complaint in his bones; so that his life loathes bread, and his soul favorite food. His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones which were not seen stick out. Then his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to those who bring death. If there is an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand, to remind a man what is right for him, then let Him be gracious to him, and say, “Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom! Let his flesh become fresher than in youth. Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.” Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, that he may see His face with joy, and He may restore His righteousness to man. And he, the redeemed, will sing to men and say, “I have sinned and perverted what is right, and it is not proper for me. He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, and my life shall see the light.” Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; keep silent, and let me speak. Then if you have anything to say, answer Me; speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to Me; keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Job 33:12-33.
Listen to Me. My Words are wisdom to you, righteousness, redemption, and sanctification. And in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19.
I love you. If you did not pass the test questions it is time to let Me change you into the new creation you already are in Christ by the renewing of your mind. Stop behaving like the devil and start talking like Me. Your life will immediately begin the upward climb until you are soaring with the eagles.