01/07/2022 - MEANS THAT GOD USES

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For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”  Haggai 1:11

As Israel continued to err, without making amends, the Lord brought drought upon the land. God’s dream was to make His people an example to the nations. However, since the Israelites didn’t understand God’s will and insisted in having a king, in order to be similar to other nations, they were answered, even though they went against the Lord (1 Samuel 8:4-9). Since Joshua´s death, they had proved that they had nothing good, for they always needed God to raise up someone to guide them (Judges 2:16-20).

Then the Most High caused the Promised Land to experience drought. The inhabitants saw the consequences of the drought everywhere. This should not be, because the soil was fertile – it flowed with milk and honey. However, since the people were not yet circumcised in heart – they kept wickedness inside – they stopped submitting to God, yielding to the flesh (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 2:29). The only way to bring them back to their senses was in times of need, but as soon as they got better, they went back to their errors.

During periods of estrangement from God, the Israelites saw that the land did not produce as expected. However, they came to fear the gods of others, which were nothing but demons. The secret is to walk with the Most High, keeping His commandments, so that His favor will be continually upon your life. Without this fear of God, bad things will happen to you. Whoever forsakes the Lord embraces death (1 John 5:12)!

With sin, the earth faced bad weather and curses. This affected families, food, animals, and work. Many people could not even perceive the goodness of God, and this made life boring, sad and disappointing. Nothing is worse than seeing death come to your home and rob you of your child in the vigor of your days, either by suicide or due to an incurable disease. But still, many do not bend before the Truth.

The saved need to prosper and live well, enjoying the good and the best. However, it is necessary to let people see that the reason for this success is faith in Jesus. Today, those who are used by the devil set an example of the same quality as the children of Israel did in their days. Because of this, the lost feel no desire to convert and continue under the hellish oppression. Now, we will be held accountable for the love of God that we never demonstrated (John 14:21,23).

Our land is rich, with no curse on it. When people see that the Gospel is the best land, they will seek the Lord. He must always be in our midst. Jesus spoke of this: For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). We are the living letter written with the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:2,3). What have people been reading in your life? Act!

To reject the blessing provided by Jesus is great stupidity. Those who do so ignore that they are welcoming the curse upon themselves and their family: As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; as he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him (Psalm 109:17).  Believe and live!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares