Month: May 2021

Backsliding, Lack of knowledge, Unfaithful

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. . .

Inge Schultz

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me, seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Hosea 4:6

In Hosea chapter 4, verse 6 is one of the most quoted scripture verse. It has been used throughout generations as a warning against ignorance. No matter what kind of book you read today, some kind of knowledge is being withheld, only to be exploited at a later date in time. Let’s just say that ignorance is not always bliss as the poet Thomas Gray portrayed in his poem. Even a child must face certain circumstances that is not always pleasant such as having their favorite toy taken away because they did not listen to instruction. What can we learn about what it means to have a lack of knowledge as is stated in Hosea 4:6. How can a lack of knowledge destroy people? I learned that knowledge in this verse means to be able to discern and the Hebrew word is da’at, which is taken from the Hebrew letter dalet, and comes from the Hebrew word “delet,” which means open door. Now we can understand that knowledge is an open door to discern something new, recognize, or notice something we have not known before.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

We read in Proverbs chapter one, verse 7, that to fear the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. It is where knowledge begins because a door is open to a room where one can see something new. Fools despise this kind of wisdom and instruction. The meaning of “fools in this verse is those who are arrogant and live their life without God taking no thought to their eternal well-being. They work for money and live to be happy by what they have possessed. They are proud to be self-sufficient. This attitude is opposite from what the Bible is portraying. Our sufficiency is from God [see 2 Corinthians 3:5]. It is God who can perform supernatural power and to create and give what man needs. Can we believe that He is our provider? Can we be faithful and trust God for all our needs? The fear of the Lord means to have complete reverence and honor to God, for He is merciful and full of love and grace. If you want tranquility in your life, you must have the knowledge of God to know the purpose of man.

Knowing the purpose of man is the beginning of knowing who you are. Let us look at Hosea which means “the Lord saves.” Hosea prophecy is all about unfaithfulness. This is depicted through Hosea’s wife who was a harlot. She went back to her own way of life, but Hosea brought her back with a price. God is telling Hosea about the people willful ignorance to go their own way and eat of harlotry and wine [see Hosea 4:11]. Harlotry means illicit sex and commerce for gain. Harlotry is a spirit among those who have departed from God. Harlotry is an intense desire towards deceit and betrayal for power and gain. They deny knowledge of the truth as revealed in the word of God and have departed from faith in God to faith in something else. It is going back to a former way of life and this is called backsliding.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.

Hosea 14:4

The word backsliding in Hosea 14:4 means to turn back or away. God is calling for a people who have obtained mercy. Mercy is God’s loving kindness towards man. God is calling people to return to Him and be healed. There is forgiveness with God through the cross of Christ. Forgiveness from all sins no matter what a person has done in life. He hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son [see Colossians 1;14]. This is something to rejoice in, our redemption through the blood of Christ. Restoration is on its way towards all people who confess their faults. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit,”[Psalms 51:12] David cried out. May God give us understanding in all things. Help us Lord to remember that “the merciful man doeth good to his own soul, but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh,” [Proverbs 11:16].  Help us God to be a faithful people unto the glory of your Son.  Help us Lord God to be a chosen generation, a people of God who has obtained mercy [1 Peter 2:9-10].

Holy Spirit

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God

Inge Schultz

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30

What does it mean to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God? The Holy Spirit of God is the third person of the Trinity. He is a person who points to Christ and is known as the Comforter [see John 14:26 and 15:26]. The Holy Spirit of God will guide us into all truth and will not glorify himself. He will glorify Christ [see John 16:14]. The Holy Spirit of God is not egotistical, for he will always testify of Christ. As a comforter He is a helper that has come alongside a person to help us in our Christian walk. We are sealed by the Spirit of God unto the day of redemption. This means that we have been delivered by a price that was paid by the blood of Christ. We are no longer a slave sold under sin but have been set free from the power of sin by the blood of Christ. We have been bought and purchased by the blood of Christ. 

The Holy Spirit is himself the seal, which is the finished transaction of ownership. A Christian is a believer of Christ birth, death, and resurrection for the remission of sins. A Christian belongs to God because of the death and resurrection of Christ. A Christian is delivered from being sold under sin through the fall of man. Therefore, a Christian should not be under Satan’s rule of sin, or falsehood. A Christian should be under the rule of God’s love and forgiveness. The apostle Paul is telling us in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 30 that we should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by speaking evil or having malice within our heart. In verse 31 of Ephesians chapter 4, Paul tells us to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, and evil speaking. We are to get rid of every form of malice and be kind and forgiving. As a Christian we are not to be deceived by vain words that have no value such as dirty jokes.

Acting contrary to the love of God grieves the Holy Spirit of God, who has sealed us unto the day of redemption; therefore, we should be careful how we act and ask God to take these desires from us and lay it down at the foot of the cross. Ask God to help you to walk in love as children of light and not darkness. We must recognize that no unclean person or covetous man will have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ [see Ephesians 5:5]. The apostle Paul is warning Christians about their behavior and walk as a child of God. That is why it is so important to having our mind renewed by the word of God which is the Bible. The Bible is the word of God that reveals what God’s will is. The Spirit of God helps us to understand God’s will and helps us to be formed into the image of Christ. Christ in us is the hope of glory every day.

We must remember that when we are contrary to the love of God in our action, there is a struggle of the flesh taking place against the Spirit and vice versa [see Galatians 5:17]. That is why Paul tells us in Galatians 5:24 that those “that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Crucifying the flesh means to lay it down at the feet of Jesus and ask him to change those desire. It is to surrender your will to the will of God and ask him to cleanse your desire to become the desire of Christ. This is when the Holy Spirit comes in as our helper and comforter to assure us that we are the child of God and that through grace we can come to the Father and ask for help. Like David in Psalms 139 we ask God to search our heart and mind to see if there is any wicked way in us so we can be led into the everlasting life and not death. Thank God that we are not alone and that we have a comforter that comes and helps us to walk the way of Christ and to live in the love of God.

Faith, Healing

I Will Heal Thee . . .

Inge Schultz

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Are you in need of a healing? Do you need spiritual, or physical? No manner what type of healing you need, our Lord is ready to heal you. “I am the LORD that healeth thee,” exclaimed in Exodus 15:26, the people of God had a covenant promise of healing. Do we believe that God is willing to heal today? I can remember people praying and saying, “Lord if it is thy will, heal me.” That expression was used a lot and did not get results because those praying did not know the will of God regarding healing. When Jesus died on the cross the stripes, he received was for our benefit to receive healing. Do you know the benefits of the Lord? Read Psalms 103.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Psalms 103:2-3

Have we forgotten the Lord’s benefit of healing for all our diseases? What about the leper in Matthew 8:3 who asked the Lord, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean?” What did Jesus tell him? Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. Jesus said, I Will. Jesus went about healing all manner of sickness and diseases [see Matthew 4:23]. It is His will to heal, and it is for us today. Do you have the faith to believe for healing? What did Jesus’ brother say about healing? In James chapter 5 verses 14 and 15, James asked the question “is any sick among you?” If there was, they were to call the elders of the church to come and pray over the sick and anoint them with oil. In verse 15 of chapter 5 of James is the key to healing. The prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. The prayer of faith will save the sick, so an individual does not necessarily have to have faith to be healed.  Their faith needs to be built up by the preaching of the Gospel.   If a person does not have the faith than the elders are called upon. They have faith and know who they have placed their faith in. It is in Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith [see Hebrews 12:2]. The elders look to Jesus and not the condition of the person for healing of all sickness.

Jesus gave the 12 disciples power to heal the sick, and to cast out unclean spirits [see Matthew 10:1]. It is Jesus who gives the power for healing. This power is known to be the Greek word “dunamis,” which in English means explosive power. Healing is a part of the Gospel of Jesus that was to be preached to all people. Jesus told Philip, one of the disciples that those who believe on him, shall do greater works than what Jesus did at that time, because Jesus himself will be with the Father [see John 14:12]. Remember that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Healing did not end after Jesus’ death; it was a part of the Gospel to free people from the bondage of sickness because of the fall of man. We do not always know why someone is sick or why some are healed, and others are not. Only God knows the reason. One thing is clear in the Bible, it is a lack of faith that many are not healed. In James 5:15, it states that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed any sins, they shall be forgiven. Put your faith in Jesus and call for the elders of the church. It is Jesus will that you be healed.

Want to read more? Download this pdf flyer titled, “The Hem of His Garment.”

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Giving

Give and it shall be given unto you . . .

Inge Schultz

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed and shaken together and running over. Would we not want good measure to be running over in our life? In this verse, it is referencing to measure in return. Jesus is saying that your giving will be measured in return to you. There is blessing in your simple giving to those in need. This is part of the Beatitudes and if you read in verse 30 of Luke chapter 6, Jesus states, “Give to every man that asked of thee.” We may not always think about our state of mind when it comes to giving, or how we feel about it. The attitude of giving without return is one of the key points in this chapter, but Jesus said that your reward shall be great [see verse 35 of Chapter 6]. The Bible tells us that when you give to the poor you are lending to the Lord..

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Proverbs 19:17

Lending to the Lord, wow! When I found this scripture with the promise that it will be paid back, I could not believe it. God’s heart is on the poor and needy who need help and God will bless those who give to the poor. How Proverbs 19:17 lines up with Luke 6:38 was amazing to me, but it brought the point home. I once heard a person say to me in response to not taking a job at a mission that we always have the poor with us. That person said it was in the Bible, and yes it is in Matthew 26:11, but this is in reference to using ointment that was poured upon Jesus as a burial. Jesus said this because his disciples did not understand the good work of the women pouring the perfume upon him. Her focus was on Jesus while the disciples focus was on the money. It all depends upon your heart attitude. Remember, God always looks at the heart of man.

We should not hide our eyes from the poor, for anyone can become poor overnight by disaster. In Proverbs 28:27 is states, “he that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” Some of us need to rethink about those attitudes that would snob those who are of a lower class. I have experienced twice being homeless because of unforeseen incidents that left me homeless, yet I was not forsaken by God who supplied my every need. Whatever you measure will be measured back to you is the same as saying “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It is an attitude of respecting one another. Respecting our fellow human beings is the key to living a peaceful life. God will establish the work of our hands [see Psalms 90:17]. If you are needy and poor, He will be your helper. All you must do is cry out unto God and he will provide.  Repent of any sin and ask God to provide you with the needed help that you need.  You will be surprised as I was when me and my dad were homeless in Seattle.  We walk around Queen Anne looking for apartment vacancy.  My dad knocks on the manager’s door and asks if we could have an apartment.  It was a basement apartment, but it was furnished.  She let us have the apartment with no down payment. I was praying the whole time.  My prayer was answered.

If you are given the opportunity to give, do not withhold your giving. Heed the call in your community at your local food bank, homeless mission, or those in need at your local church. Be a blessing and you will be blessed. Remember that God loves you, so lets share His Love.