Rodney Howard Browne

Two things have I asked of You [O Lord]; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 Lest I be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9 AMP

These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa and Solomon thought enough of them to include them in his Book of Proverbs. Agur asked God to remove falsehood and lies from him. He made a commitment to God to speak the truth and asked for His help in doing it. He also asked God to give him neither poverty nor riches—only that which he could handle.

When carnal people have all they need, they may become arrogant and deny God, taking the credit for their success for themselves. When carnal people are in a position of lack, they may steal from others to meet their needs, sinning against God and their neighbor. Both of these are very wrong. Some people believe that all their problems will be solved if they just have what they want, and others believe that spirituality and godly character come only from poverty and lack. Both of these beliefs are wrong too. Do not judge yourself by what is or isn’t in your hands. You are not a better person with stuff, or worse without it, and visa versa.

Neither poverty nor riches has the power to make you a better person, they merely reveal what is already in your heart. Being a better person comes from making a heart commitment to God. If you have made a sincere commitment to God, poverty or riches should not have the ability to sway you or change you. If you are sold out for God, poverty will not stop you, and riches will not corrupt you. Your heart attitude determines the outcome of your circumstances. It’s what you have in your heart that counts—not just what you have in your hand! Your sincere commitment to God will protect you from making a mess of your life, no matter what your economic situation.

Agur asked God to give him only that which he could handle without getting a bad attitude or sinning against God. Depending on your mindset, you could look at this request two ways. You could look at Agur as a man who doesn’t want God to give him very much or as a man who is asking God to enlarge him on the inside and make him able to handle all the blessing God can send his way! The fact of the matter is that we always get what we expect to get. If you expect to get only a little, you can have it, but if you want the ability to handle more and you expect God to do a work in your heart in this area, you can have that too.

Look into your own heart and judge yourself. Do you believe that you are not good enough for God’s blessing? Do you think that He wants you to be poor? Do you believe that He loves you? Do you believe that He would really like to bless you? Will you humble yourself and press into the Lord, allowing him to do a work in your heart and life in order to prepare you for all that He has in store for you?

Remember, if you want more ability from God, you must also be prepared for more responsibility. It has everything to do with obedience and faithfulness with the things God has already put in your hands and the commitment to be even more obedient and faithful day by day. Some people want the blessing with no commitment to the will of God on their part. There is a price to pay for the blessing of God on your life. If you will give your heart into God’s hands and ask Him to give you only that which you can handle, then it will be up to you to focus your attention on a heart change, allowing God to enlarge you on the inside so that you can be able to handle more. Make the adjustments, make God the center of your life, and make your stuff just stuff. Remember that God has promised to give you bread to eat (what you need to satisfy you) and seed to sow as well (to be a blessing to others).

Don’t have a poverty mentality—have a blessing mentality! Allow God to set the level of your prosperity. Ask God to give you only what you can handle and only what He wants you to have. If you think you want something, ask God for His opinion on the matter. Ask Him if He wants you to have it at this time. Consult with the Lord on all your purchasing decisions. “Give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me only what I need as I serve You with all my heart!” is the heart cry of a person who loves God with all his/her heart and who wants only what God wants.

You will see that if you will acknowledge God in this area of your life, He will invariably do exceedingly abundantly—superabundantly—far over and above all that you could ask or think—even infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams—according to the power that works in you (Ephesians 3:20).

The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 AMP

Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited? 18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech. 20 These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]. Matthew 15:17-20 AMP

Many people are so particular about what goes into their mouth, and yet they are not at all concerned with what comes out of their mouth. Jesus made it clear that whatever is coming out of your mouth—good or bad—is coming out of the abundance, or the overflow, of your heart. The evil and the unclean things in your life come from within you—your thought life—and that is where it must be dealt with. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 AMP, “I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” If you retain sin in your thoughts, you can’t help but to continue to make wrong decisions and to do wrong things in your life. You need to start from within. If you deal with, and eliminate, sin in your thought life, you will begin to eradicate it from your life.

For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. Romans 8:5-6 AMP

Those who are controlled by the unholy desires of the flesh have set their minds on and have pursued those things which gratify the flesh. The carnal (fleshly) mind is hostile to God and His Word and results only in death, but the mind of the Holy Spirit is life and peace. If you want to have life, peace, and blessings, you need to seek those things, and to set your mind on those things, which gratify both the Holy Spirit and your born-again spirit. Start taking control of your thought life by renewing your mind to the Word of God and welcoming the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts). Romans 2:16 AMP

When Judgment Day comes, you will not be judged merely on your words and deeds, but on your thoughts and your attitudes. The things that people can’t see or hear—your thoughts—are seen and heard by God. So it is vital that you begin now to deal with your thoughts and bring them into subjection to the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV says, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” and the Amplified Version says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one).”

The most important war we all wage is not a war with flesh and blood, but a war with our own imaginations. The worst strongholds in people’s lives are not demons from without, but they are arguments, theories, and reasonings; pride, carnality, and deception from within. All rebellious thoughts and imaginations, that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, must be brought down into captivity through obedience. By submitting yourself in obedience to the Lord and His Word; you overthrow and destroy the strongholds that once captured your mind and thought processes and you are released into freedom and peace. Make a choice to think good and pure thoughts and you will walk—here on earth—in the glorious peace that comes only from God Himself!

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 AMP

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. 7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, 8[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].  James 1:5-8 AMP

God says that if we want wisdom, we need to ask Him for wisdom, but we must ask in faith, expecting to receive it from Him. We must not be double-minded and God will liberally and ungrudgingly give us wisdom without reproaching or faultfinding.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.  Psalms 111:10 NIV

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.  Proverbs 1:7 AMP

Anyone, who wants to walk in wisdom, must first revere and worship God, because any wisdom that does not honor God is not really wisdom at all.

Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise. 19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; 20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are.  1 Corinthians 3:18-20 AMP

The world’s wisdom is foolishness with God. They do not recognize or acknowledge God at all. They think they are so smart, but their reasoning is darkened. Because they have rejected God and His word, they have a reprobate mind, and all their choices – no matter how well intentioned - lead them on the path to death.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:13-18 NIV

The world’s wisdom is unspiritual and has its roots in the earth and its source in the devil. The world’s wisdom is full of envy and selfish ambition, but the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure first of all; then humble, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Get the wisdom that comes from heaven, from God’s word.

Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). 8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9 She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness. 12 When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble. 13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.  Proverbs 4:5-13 AMP

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power; 6 For by wise counsel you can wage your war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety.  Proverbs 24:3-6 AMP

My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. 14 So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be thus to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.  Proverbs 24:13-14 AMP

If you submit to God’s wisdom in your life and make His wisdom your goal and your desire, wisdom will bless every aspect of your life. Wisdom will prosper your way and give you a future and a reward. Your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29 AMP

The secret things belong to the Lord, but the things He has revealed to us are ours. Through the truth of God’s Word, His will is revealed to us so that we can walk uprightly before Him and enjoy His promises and benefits.

But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. 10 Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny]. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 AMP

In your wildest imagination, you could not dream up what God has prepared and ordained for you, and yet, He has revealed them to you by His Holy Spirit!

Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly. 13 Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. 14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away. 15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts. 16 But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 AMP

When Moses met with God and received the Ten Commandments, he came down the mountain with the glory of God so strong on his face that he had to wear a veil for the sake of the people. God told Moses that no man could look upon His face and live. These people were not even able to look upon the reflected glory of Almighty God on Moses’ face, because their hearts were grown hard and calloused - they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding. Sin causes you to have a veil over your face when it comes to the truth of the word of God. But whenever a person repents and turns to the Lord, it is as if this veil is stripped off and taken away from you by the Holy Spirit, Who opens God’s word up to you. As you continue, as with an unveiled face, to look and see and understand the word of God and to behold the glory of God as in a mirror, you will continue to be transfigured and transformed into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another!

But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost. 4 For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 AMP

The Gospel is not hidden – it is openly proclaimed and revealed – but it is veiled to those who are spiritually lost. Not that God wants it veiled – He is not hiding it from us - He wants it to be openly revealed to all men. It is veiled because the devil - the god of this world’s system - has blinded the unbelievers’ minds, in order that they should not discern the truth, preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. That is why the glory of God shines out of God’s people’s hearts - light shining out of darkness – so that those who need Jesus may be illuminated with the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God, revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. The devil can try to keep people ignorant and blinded to the truth, but once the glory of God is revealed to a sinner and their eyes are opened, there is nothing the devil can do to stop them from receiving the life of God in Jesus Christ! Thank God for the unveiled glory of His word that brings life and liberty to His people!

Now when David and his men came home to Ziklag on the third day, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South (the Negeb) and on Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 And had taken the women and all who were there, both great and small, captive. They killed no one, but carried them off and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the town, and behold, it was burned, and their wives and sons and daughters were taken captive. 4 Then David and the men with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.  1 Samuel 30:1-6 AMP

David went through some very, very hard and difficult things in his life. The only way he made it through these things was by his humility. He put God first place in his life – he respected, honored, and worshiped God, and gave Him the credit, in every situation. He submitted himself to God in everything and he did not try to fight battles in his own strength. When you are in a position of leadership, you are the one who is praised when things go well and you are the one who is blamed when things go wrong. If you want to be a great leader, you cannot afford allow praise to go to your head and to be lifted up in pride when things go well. Neither can you afford to react negatively, toward yourself or others, when things go wrong. In the middle of his intense pain over the loss of his own family and the threats against himself, by his own men, David turned to the Lord. David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He remembered God’s promises to him and he put his trust in the Lord.   

David went to the Lord to ask for direction. The Lord told him to pursue the enemy and that he would surely overtake them and recover all that was taken. David took only 400 men with him, because 200 of them were too exhausted and faint to cross the brook Besor. On the way, his men found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. He had not had food or water for three days so they gave him bread, figs and raisins to eat and water to drink. As it turned out, he was a servant of an Amalekite, who had left him behind because he had fallen ill. He told David that the Amalekites had raided several cities, including Ziklag. David asked the servant to take him down to this band and he did, after making David promise to neither kill him nor deliver him into the hands of his master.

God told David that he would prevail and win the victory, but He never told him that he would meet an Egyptian, who would help him. David’s men could have minded their own business, as they passed him by, ignored his plight, and left him to die, being selfishly focused only on their mission to recover their families and property. They would have missed their opportunity to gain a valuable advantage over a powerful enemy. However, they did what was right in God’s eyes, showed kindness and saved his life. They had no idea that this act of mercy would be the key that would open the door, leading them to their victory. Do not only do what the Holy Spirit tells you personally and specifically to do – do what God generally tells you to do in His Word. A small key – a small action - can lock or unlock a huge door! Don’t be so busy with your own stuff that you miss an opportunity to show mercy and kindness to someone else who needs it. Don’t forget what is most important to the Lord and don’t forget why you are here – to be a giver and not just a taker. Don’t be disobedient to God’s Word and then blame Him for your defeat, when you are the one who missed your opportunity to do the right thing!

And when he had brought David down, behold, the raiders were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 And David smote them from twilight even to the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except 400 youths who rode camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken and rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David recovered all. 20 Also David captured all the flocks and herds [which the enemy had], and the people drove those animals before him and said, This is David’s spoil.  1 Samuel 30:16-20 AMP

God gave David a great victory and restored everyone and everything that was taken, together with the additional spoil from the other tribes and cities that had been raided by the Amalekites. When David arrived back to the brook Besor, where the 200 exhausted men had stopped and waited, some of David’s men who had gone with him, did not want to share any of the recovered goods with those who did not fight. In other words, they were personally taking the credit for the victory. Instead, David spoke to them about being grateful to the Lord, Who was the One Who had saved them, and about sharing equally with those who had stayed behind. In God’s eyes, when you are obedient, everyone counts and every job well done – whether fighting the battle or waiting with the baggage - is worthy of a reward.

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], 4 So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].  Romans 8:1-4 AMP

There is NO condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus – who have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. You are washed totally clean from ALL sin, iniquity, and transgression. Your sin is not just covered by the blood of Jesus – it has been washed away – as far as the east is from the west. You are acquitted, you are forgiven – God holds nothing against you. 

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]  John 3:17-18 AMP

Without Jesus in your heart, you are already judged guilty and will go straight to hell if you die. Jesus was not born into this world in order to judge, to reject, to condemn, or to pass sentence on you. The Father sent Jesus into the world to save you from eternal damnation. The moment you believe in your heart that Jesus died and rose from the dead for you, personally, and confess with your mouth that He is YOUR Lord and Savior, you are acquitted of ALL wrongdoing by the courts of heaven. Your sentence of death passes from you to Jesus. In fact, He carried you, and your sin, in Him, when He died and rose again. This forgiveness becomes manifest in your life the moment you believe that His word is true for you.

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP

God does not just forgive your sins when you accept Jesus as your Lord - He actually transforms your nature! He takes your inner man; your spirit man; your heart; the real you, who will live forever; and makes it totally brand new! The person you were no longer exists. On the outside, you look mostly the same – except for the twinkle in your eye and the smile on your face. You are still basically the same person, but a much nicer person. Its not that you are never going to think a bad thought again, or say a bad word again, or do a wrong thing again, but now you are more sensitive to your own conscience and to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, Who lives in you.

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].  1 John 1:9 AMP

When you make a mistake or a wrong choice, you don’t have to live with the condemnation of that mistake or choice hanging over you for the rest of your life. You can come to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to wash it totally away! If you want to be forgiven, you must first, completely and sincerely, humble your heart before the Lord and commit yourself into His hands. Bring your sin to the Father; tell Him exactly what you did (He already knows, but you need to admit it); tell Him it was wrong and that you have no excuse; ask Him to forgive you and wash you clean. This is what He is waiting and longing for you to do!

Sin breaks off fellowship and separates you from the Lord, but repentance restores you once more, as if nothing had happened. What you need to do next is to receive that forgiveness by faith, allowing your Heavenly Father to cleanse and purify you and make you whole again. Humble yourself, make an offering of yourself to the Lord as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), allow His Holy Spirit to do a work in your life, and ask Him to repair the damage done by the sin and to protect you in the future, so that you never allow that sin to have its way in you ever again.    

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 AMP

The Bible tells us that if God hears our prayers that He also answers them. How can you have confidence that He will hear your prayers and therefore answer them?  

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but one Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. 16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].  Hebrews 4:15-16 AMP

Only the righteous can come into God’s presence to ask for help and be heard. If you are washed in the blood of Jesus and if He is your High Priest, you can have confidence to come into God’s presence to ask boldly for what you need. The guilty are not bold to come into God’s presence, but God expects the righteous to be bold! Boldness is a manifestation of faith – faith in God’s grace and His promises - and God always honors faith.

You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.  James 4:2-3 AMP

If you want an answer, you need to first ask. If you don’t ask God for what you need, how can He give it to you? Also, if you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives, with the intention of satisfying your carnal desires, then God will not answer you then either.   

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.  Psalms 66:18 AMP

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.  Isaiah 59:1-2 AMP

God is not powerless or unwilling to help you, neither is He deaf so that He cannot hear, but if you are disobedient and if you sin willfully, then He will not hear your prayers, because your sin has separated you from Him and His presence.

What man is he who desires life and longs for many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it! 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles. 18 The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.  Psalms 34:12-18 AMP

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, but the eyes of the Lord see the uncompromisingly righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous are those who have humbly received the grace of God and who know that they are made righteous only by the grace and mercy of God. They work daily to keep their heart right with God. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord pays attention to them, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.

The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.  Psalms 145:17-19 AMP

When you reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord and when you call upon Him sincerely and in truth, He will hear your cry and will save you and fulfill not only your needs, but also your desires.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”  John 21:15-19 NKJV

After the resurrection Jesus had a conversation with Peter in which He asked him if he loved Him. To understand exactly what Jesus meant and why Peter became upset at the question, you must look back to the words in the original language, Greek. In English, we have one word: love. In Greek there are more words: phileo and agape are two of them and they have different meanings. The Amplified Bible renders it this way: phileo is a deep, instinctive, personal affection for someone, as for a close friend, and agape is a reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father. Phileo is a human love, but agape comes directly from the Father.

Two times Jesus asked Peter if he loved (agape) Him (with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father), but Peter replied with a different word. He told Jesus that he loved (phileo) Him (with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend). Then Jesus changed His question and asked if Peter loved (phileo) Him (with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend) and Peter told Him, “You know I love (phileo) You (with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend).”

Phileo is a friendship type of love based on the characters of the two people involved – the higher the character, the higher the quality of the friendship. This love is dependant on the person being loved. You can have this love for a friend or a family member. Husbands and wives can love each other many different ways, including as friends. Agape is the God-kind of love. The quality of agape is not based on the person being loved, but on the person doing the loving. It is a love that chooses to love in spite of the other person, not because of them. Agape love sees other people as valuable and precious whether they are or not. Jesus loved us – He saw us as so valuable and precious – that He was prepared to sacrifice His life for us even though we were dirty, rotten sinners!

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:8-11 AMP

The essence of agape love is that God loved us first. We were totally incapable of loving Him appropriately until He first loved us, died for us, resurrected us to new life and placed His love in our hearts. Romans 5:5 AMP says that God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. We can only love God or anyone else with agape love when we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The more of His Spirit we have in our lives, the more love will be poured out in our hearts.

Peter was upset at these three questions that Jesus asked, because he really did not know how to love Jesus with agape love before he was born again and filled with the Spirit, but on the day of Pentecost all that changed! When the Holy Spirit fell on Peter, he was radically changed. Instantly, he stepped into his calling and began his ministry. With the love of God and the boldness of the Holy Spirit in his heart, he went forth to feed Jesus’ sheep and His lambs. God’s love has been shed abroad in our hearts. Let us love Him enough – with a reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion - to love others, as He wants us to, and let us love Him enough to go ahead and fulfill the call of God on our lives!

Revelation 2:12-17 NIV

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

13 I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives.

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.

15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Pergamum was situated in Teuthrania in Mysia, in the Caicus Valley, about fifty-five miles north-east of Smyrna. It was in a district watered by three rivers, one of which flowed into the sea. The original city was built on a lofty hill, which afterward became the citadel as houses sprang up around its base.

It was a great political and religious center. Eumenes II (B.C. 197-159) extended Pergamum and embellished it with many great buildings, including a fantastic library with 200,000 volumes, which was second only to Alexandria. The kingdom of Pergamum became a Roman province 130 BC. All the main roads of Western Asia converged there. Pliny called it “by far the most illustrious city of Asia.”

Pergamum was celebrated for the manufacture of ointments, pottery, tapestries, and also parchment, which derives its name (charta Pergamena) from the city. The great glory of the city was the Nicephorium, a grove of great beauty containing an assemblage of temples - belonging to Zeus, Athena, and Dionysos - rivaling Ephesus. Next to this was the celebrated and much-frequented grove and temple of AEsculapius (or Asklepios), the god of healing, with a university for medical study. AEsculapius was also called the god of Pergamum, worshipped in the form of a living serpent, kept and fed in the temple. On the coins struck by the town, he often appears with a rod encircled by a serpent.

The city has been described as a sort of cross between a pagan cathedral-city, a university-town, and a royal residence. It was enlarged and improved during a succession of years by several wealthy kings.

Pergamum was the first city in Asia (A.D. 29) with a temple for the worship of Augustus (Octavius Caesar). Hence, in the Apocalypse, Pergamum is a very center of emperor-worship “where Satan dwells.” The Nicolaitans also flourished here as in Ephesus and Thyatira. Like Ephesus, this city is called temple-sweeper (neookoros) for the gods. All forms of pagan ungodliness prevailed openly in this city.

In Numbers, chapters 22 through 24, Balak tried to get Balaam to curse the Israelites, but all he could do is bless them because God would not allow him to curse them. He knew what was right and wrong, and yet he chose to ignore his conscience, oppose God’s will, and do what was wrong.

He could not curse Israel or do anything to destroy them from the outside, so he tried to do it from the inside - he encouraged the daughters of Midian and Moab into sexual relationships with the Israelite men. In this way, the introduced the worship of Baal of Peor into the Israelite camp and brought a curse upon Israel (Numbers 31:16). The sins of Balaam were idol worship, including eating foods offered to idols, and sexual immorality.

The Church in Pergamum remained faithful to the name of Jesus Christ, even though they suffered persecution and were surrounded by extreme ungodliness on every side. However, they had been a little too tolerant of those among them who clung to vile and immoral, ungodly beliefs and practices. This was unacceptable to the Lord and He calls on them to repent or else He would deal with them using His two-edged sword – the sword of the word - bringing judgment upon them. 

“To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.”  Jesus is the Manna – the Bread from heaven – hidden from all, and unappreciated by all, except those who embrace Him. He is the life and sustenance of those who love Him and love His Word. He is all we need!

I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”  The white stone was regarded as a token of favor, prosperity, victory or success everywhere. It represents your allegiance. The white stone also represents heaven and the presence of God.

In some cultures, it was the prize the victor received for winning the competition. As such, it would denote that the Christian, to whom it was given, would meet with the favor of the Redeemer and would have a token of his approval. In eternity, the favor and approval of man counts for nothing, but the favor and approval of Almighty God means everything!

Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be separation between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind.  John 9:39 AMP

For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.

7 To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,

8 And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God's] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.  1 Peter 2:6-8 AMP

Jesus is Who He is. When Moses asked God what His Name was so that he could tell Pharaoh Who had sent him, God told him to tell them that the Name of the One Who had sent him was “I am that I am!” Jesus is the Son of God. He was with God in the beginning. He was there when the earth was created. He knows Who He is and He is not shy or ashamed of it. He is equal with God.

If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father. It is no secret that He was born into the body of a man through the womb of a virgin. He walked and lived as a man and died as a man to cut an unbreakable covenant between God and man. He was raised from the dead after He defeated the enemy, and He lives now, seated on the right hand of the Father.

Those who believe on Him will live forever in His presence. Those who do not will die without Him and spend eternity in torment in hell. He cannot be both a chief Cornerstone AND a rock of offense – He is either one or the other. However, in the hearts of men, He is different things to different people.

Jesus is always the same – but whatever you believe about Him – that is what He will be to you. In other words, He is to you whatever you make of Him. If you choose to believe Him, your eyes will be opened to see the truth, but if you reject Him, you are destined to walk in darkness and confusion. You will be living in darkness and believing a lie.

For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies are the men (members) of his own house.  Micah 7:6 AMP

Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and  confess [that I am abiding in] him.

33 But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.

34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law—

36 And a man’s foes will be they of his own household.

37 He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me;

38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.

39 Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]  Matthew 10:32-39 AMP

There is a separation between those who accept and love the Father and Jesus, His Son, Whom He sent to pay the price for you and for me. Even within families, there is a separation. On earth, family relationships are the strongest bonds that we have. However, the only thing that matters in eternity is who we chose to serve here on earth. If we compromise what we believe to please our family and to make life more comfortable for ourselves, we may lose our own life and burn in hell forever, but if we choose to serve Jesus over the objections and even persecution, rejection and emotional blackmail of family and friends – the people we care about – we will find the higher life and live with Jesus in eternity.