Communion With God

Imus Unida Christian Church
Gen. J. Castaneda St., Imus, Cavite

Pre-Encounter Lesson No. 2

Now that you are a child of God and have taken the step of being water baptized, what's next? You know you have a relationship with God as your Father, but do you really know what that means? As a son or daughter of God, you have the awesome privelege of actually getting to commune with Him. It means you get to be a part of what God is doing, to share in His work here on earth. It implies a close, intimate fellowship with the very God of the universe! Pretty mind-boggling, isn't it?

Kung ikaw ay anak ng Diyos, kapag pinaiyak ka ninuman, mananagot sila sa Tatay mo.



God wants to have fellowship with you!

The all-powerful God of the universe desires to have a close, intimate relationship with you. He wants to be involved in all aspects of your life, and He wants you to willingly share your life with Him. He even made you in His image so that He could have fellowship with you (Genesis 5:1b). Because of His great love for you, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in you so that you could always have communion with Him (John 14:16-17).


Many Scriptures tell us how much God longs to have true intimacy with us. You might want to read some of them, such as Exodus 25:22, John 14:20-23, Revelation 3:20, and many more. But the point of all these verses is the fact that our God is so personal and interested in us that He wants to have an ongoing, vibrant relationship with us.


Hindi ba dapat lamang na ibigay mo sa Kanya ang pinakamahalagang oras sa buhay mo, hindi iyong tira-tira lamang na kung minsa'y wala na ngang matira pang oras para sa Kanya na halos ipikit mo na ang mga mata mo sa sobrang pagod sa pagtatrabaho upang kumita ng malaki. Maalala mo pa kayang Siya'y kausapin kapag inaantok ka na?

What is communion with God?

When the Bible talks about having communion with God, it is generally referring to the idea of a partnership. In other words, it is a reciprocal relationship between you and God. You give to Him, and He gives to you. He gives to you, and you give to Him. And so the relationship goes. Communion is not a one-sided relationship. By its very nature, it involves active sharing and give-and-take between the parties involved. It's similar to what goes on in a healthy marriage. Each partner shares his life with the other. Each looks for ways to bless the other, to encourage, and to build up. And in the relationship, love is the motivating factor. You share with one another and partner together because you love each other, not because you "have to". It's not some kind of legalistic relationship, but one based on your love and commitment to each other.

When you have true communion with someone, you are interested in what interests him and vice versa. It's the same in your relationship with God. If you desire communion with Him, you will want to involve yourself in those things that interest Him, and He, in turn, will involve Himself in your life (Matthew 6:33). Look below and see what kinds of things God wants you to be involved with:

• Making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Working in the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:9)
• Praying diligently and persistently (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Supporting the work of the Lord (Malachi 3:10, Galatians 6:6)
• Maintaining a simple, heartfelt relationship with Him (Micah 6:8)

As you involve yourself in your Father's business, He becomes involved in your affairs. Look at some of the things He does for you when you delight yourself in Him:

• Provides for all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
• Rewards you for your sacrifice (Mark 10:29)
• Heals your body (Isaiah 53:4)
• Forgives all your sins (Psalms 103:3)
• Sets you free from the enemy (Luke 4:18-19)
• Protects you (Proverbs 2:8)
• Comforts you (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
• Fights for you (Joshua 23:10-11)
• Helps you in your weakness (Romans 8:26)
• Gives you guidance and wisdom (James 1:5)
• Fills you with peace (Isaiah 26:3)

I have never seen a much better deal than the above. What God basically wants is this: "Deal with my concerns and I'll deal with your concerns." Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything...I repeat, EVERYTHING will be added unto you. Which do you think is more important? ...seeking His kingdom and His righteousness or that which is added unto you? Of course, the first is heavier on the scale...if you do His will, all your concerns... meaning problems, diseases, needs, and even wants will be attended to by no less than God Himself. Isn't that a great deal? You don't have to worry anymore...and everything will fall perfectly into place at the perfect time by the perfect God who created this universe. Is there anything too difficult for Him?

Can I lose my fellowship and communion with God?

In the beginning, God created man to have unbroken, intimate communion with Him. Man, however, through his disobedience in the Garden of Eden, forfeited his right to communion with God. But our gracious God provided a way for that communion to be restored when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. You are born into God's kingdom when you decide to follow Jesus, but you will not be able to sustain your new life in Him unless you learn how to have communion with Him. This is why it is so important to know what things can destroy your communion. A few are listed below:

• Willfully continuing in sin - None of us is perfect, and we will all do something wrong from time to time. But the Holy Spirit will convict you of sin, and when He does, it is your responsibility as a child of God to respond. Quickly confess your wrongdoing, turn from it, and believe that you have received the Father's forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Then go on joyfully serving your God. However, if you willfully refuse to repent or if you make a conscious choice to continue in sin, you will break your fellowship with the Lord.
• Harboring unforgiveness - A refusal to forgive those who have hurt you can also hinder your ability to have communion with God. The Scriptures are clear in commanding us to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:21-22; Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness is a decision you make to release someone who has sinned against you. It is not based on emotion, but rather is a conscious decision of your will to extend to others the same forgiveness that God extended to you. Refusing to forgive will lead to bitterness and destruction in your life, as well as cutting off your fellowship with God.
• Being overly involved in the affairs of the world - Although you have to live in this world, you are not to be part of it (John 17:6). As a Christian, you must guard your heart and the things that pull at you for attention. If you spend all your time in worldly pursuits and pleasures, seeking only to entertain yourself and others, you will soon notice a distance between you and God. Your mind and heart will become dull to the things of God, and you won't be aware of His presence in your life. If you find that God seems far away and you can't hear His voice, check yourself and see if maybe you have let yourself become too involved in earthly pleasures.

It is much like a cellphone na malabo na ang signal...ni hindi mo na marinig ang kausap mo sa kabilang linya...ibig sabihin lang may balakid sa inyong dalawa ng Diyos. Ayusin mo muna ito para maibalik ang magandang koneksyon mo sa Diyos...dahil kung wala Siya hindi ka magtatagumpay sa anumang layunin mo sa buhay...nguni't kapag konektado ka sa Diyos, parang kuryente yan na walang patid ang pagbibigay ng lakas at biyaya para sa iyo.

What can I do to maintain communion with God?

There are many things you can do to make sure you keep the channel open between yourself and God. Just a few of them are listed below:

• Meditate on God and all He has done - Psalm 63:6, 143:5
• Make prayer a regular part of your life - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Cultivate an attitude of gratitude - Philippians 4:4
• Maintain fellowship with other believers - Hebrews 10:25
• Participate in the Lord's Supper - 1 Corinthians 10:16

Communion with God is the greatest privelege of the believer. As you grow in your ability to spend time with Him, you will find yourself craving communion with Him more and more. You will move beyond a narrow, legalistic view of God into a knowledge of Him as Father and Friend. You will be forever changed from "glory to glory" as you revel in the awesome presence of a loving Heavenly Father who longs to have communion with you. So make a commitment today to learn how to draw near to God in that secret place where sweet communion awaits.

The Greatest Gift

1 Corinthians 13 (New King James Version)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Eric Liddell, a former gold medal champion at the Olympic games, who spent the last 20 years of his life as a missionary teacher and rural pastor, paraphrased 1 Corinthians 13:6-8 as follows: "Love is never glad when others go wrong. Love finds no pleasure in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. Love is always slow to expose, it knows how to be silent. Love is always eager to believe the best about a person. Love is full of hope, full of patient endurance; love never fails."

A daughter was having problems with her dad because he wouldn't want to wear his hearing aid, thus he couldn't hear a word she was saying. He is alredy 83 years old, with cataract on both eyes, problem with incontinence, acid-reflux and other ailments. "If only he wears his hearing aid, there wouldn't be much of a problem taking care of him", she said in her mind while accompanying him to a bank where he transacts his pension every month. As if in response to her, a woman wearing a yellow t-shirt passed by her side and the printed bold and black letters at the back of the t-shirt talked loudly to the daughter, "If you listen with your heart, you can hear the deaf speaking." It was odd, she read it over and over again...thinking there was a mistake. But the message was true and deep...sooo deep it would make you think twice. The old man has difficulty in hearing, it is impolite to raise your voice so he could hear you... the proper thing to do is go near to the right ear that is still working and talk normally on that ear...simple solution! You have to love the person to be able to communicate with him easily. If you use your compassion and your heart in talking to him, he would hear you and there would be no misunderstanding whatsoever. Love conquers all even the hard of hearing.

Application of Lesson No. 1

Set a specific time for devotion...it is best to start very early in the morning when your mind is fresh and ready to receive a message from God. Close your eyes and ears that you may focus on God who has been waiting for you to talk to Him. Praise Him for all the blessings you received and the blessings to come. Sing a joyful song for Him from the heart. He will be glad to hear you sing.

Now, let me take you to a tour of the Gospel of John starting with Chapter 1:

John 1 (New King James Version)
John 1
The Eternal Word 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Meditate on the above verses. Who was being referred here as the Eternal Word? Have you ever wondered why the exact date of the birth of Jesus was not mentioned in the whole Bible? It is because He has no beginning, no one created Him...He was co-Creator with Father God...He was with Father God in the beginning and He was God. We were made through Him and for Him. In Him was life...we, Christians, were all dead to sin...and now have a new life because of Him. He was the light of men...He guides us like a lighthouse in the middle of the sea...without His guiding Word in the Bible, we will all lose our way to destruction. People who are righteous draw near to the Light that shines brightly in the darkness of this world...but evil men would not want the light because their deeds would be exposed and they, being dead to sin, did not comprehend nor understand what the Word teaches...and they remain in darkness.

John’s Witness: The True Light 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John the Baptist was sent to this world to bear witness to the Light, the True Light...Jesus, that all might believe in Him. Jesus was the true Light which guides every man being born here in this world. He was in the world as a man but the Spirit inside Him was God...but the world did not know Him as God. Even His own sisters and brothers thru Mary did not believe that He was God and did not receive Him as God. To the apostles and those who received and believed in Him, He gave the right to become children of God. To those who do not believe in Jesus as God, they reject the Word of God, and those who reject the Word of God, rejects the Father who sent Him. But those who received Jesus, were born again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. It is God who calls us to become His children through the teachings of the Jesus in the Bible. When you become more and more interested in the Word of God...that means God is already calling you to become His child, a newborn man with the Holy Spirit in him...and if you are already His child, the evil one cannot touch you.

The Word Becomes Flesh 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Jesus, the Word, came into this world as a son of Mary...in the flesh but inside his body was God, the only Son begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus, in the flesh, was the Son of Mary but Jesus, the God, was the only Son begotten of the Father. He, as God, existed before Mary was created so Mary cannot be called the Mother of God...the mother of the Son of man, Jesus, yes! ...but not the mother of God. The ten commandments were given to Moses for all the Israelites, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The Israelites were under the law of Moses...anyone who violated one of these laws would be under the wrath of God...as a consequence or curse for committing a sin against God...but we are under the grace and truth through Jesus Christ. Grace is free...given to all who believe in the Son as Saviour and Lord...humbling themselves, accepting they are sinners and asking forgiveness for all their sins, small and great, washing them all and purifying their hearts by the most precious blood of Jesus that poured out on the cross of Calvary. No one has seen the Father, not a soul...but only the Son Jesus who came out from the Father's bosom and was with the Father in the beginning of this world. To know Jesus and to love Him is to know the Father who sent Him.

A Voice in the Wilderness 19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

When asked about our faith, do we deny what we believe in? ...or we just keep silent afraid that others wouldn't accept us because of our faith. When John was asked by the priests and Levites, he confessed and did not deny his faith but told them he was not the Christ. He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness to make straight the way of the Lord. I am also a voice trying to lay down the foundation, others will build on it, but God will give life and make it grow from a miniature seed to a full grown tree that would give shade and fruits that others may live. John baptized with water but Jesus whom they did not know came after him, preferred or much better than him, whose sandal strap he was not worthy to loose. John was a humble man and knew who Jesus was and prepared the way for Him.

The Lamb of God 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

John saw Jesus and he knew and declared that He was the Lamb of God who could take away the sin of the world. He proclaimed to them all that Jesus existed before he was born. John did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to all Israelites. John came baptizing with water and he bore witness saying he saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Jesus. God the Father, who sent John baptizing with water, revealed to him that upon whom the Spirit descended and remained on Him, He was the One who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. John further testified that Jesus was the Son of God. This is a definitive testimony from John, the Baptist, of the existence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

The First Disciples 35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

When you seek Jesus with all your heart, you will find Him...and He will let you see who He really is. He might even change your name...because there is power in a name. What you are often called will become a reality later on.

Philip and Nathanael 43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe?

You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Jesus knew Nathanael personally...He knows you and me, He knows our names, what we do, where we go everyday...and what is in our hearts. His promise is something greater than the eyes can see...something that has never entered our minds.

Scripture Verse to Memorize:

John1

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Message from God for me today:

I was made through and for Jesus and without him I have no 'life' in me. His light shines thru me. All that I say and do should reflect Jesus that is in me.

Promise of God for my life:

If I abide in His Word, He will show me greater things than the eyes can see... that has never entered my mind.

Personal Application:

This is rather hard to do especially if you are experiencing trials but if you do it faithfully you will be triumphant and victorious. Immerse in the Word every morning of your life to guide and light your path so you won't stumble and fall. Never lose hope...may magandang bukas pa at sisikat din ang araw sa buhay mo. Don't just read the verses in the Bible, meditate on them, write them in your hearts, chew each word if you must, obey the teachings and make them part of your life, and eventually you will see the sun shining through again after a storm. Be careful to observe all the statutes and judgments so that promises and blessings will come true in your life. (Read Deuteronomy 11)

The Power of the Scriptures

Imus Unida Christian Church

Pre-Encounter Lesson No. 1:



The Power of the Scriptures



"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).



We should love the Word of God and follow its instructions in the same way as the captain of a ship would adhere to his compass. The Bible is a great treasure as it contains the answer to all our needs. Read what Moses instructed his people in Deuteronomy 28:1,2:



"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God."



What is the Bible?



The word Bible comes from the Greek terms 'biblios' and 'biblion' (in the diminutive form) both of which mean 'book'. It is the word of God revealed by the Holy Spirit to men to be written. When Matthew quoted from the Old Testament, he often mentioned that the Lord has spoken through the prophets (Matt 1:22; 2:5). In the same way, the Apostle Peter also mentioned that the prophecies given in Scripture had their origin in God (2 Pet 1:20-21). But it must be noted that even though the Bible is revealed by God to men to be written, God did not override the personalities of the authors. All of them wrote in the manner dictated by their own individual personality.



Importance of the Bible



Apart from having power to transform lives, the Bible also stands out because:



A. It is God's Word and the revelation of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)



B. It contains the divine laws. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)



C. Its content, in 66 books, summarizes the work of about 40 writers from different periods.



Things That Make the Bible Unique:



A. The Bible is the revelation of God to mankind. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2:19-20)



B. It refers to the salvation of mankind. (John 6:32-33; 20:31)



C. It refers to the truth. (1 John 2:21; John 17:17)



D. Jesus is the central character. (John 14:8-9)

How to Draw Near to the Word of God

A. Listen carefully to the voice of God on a daily basis. (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

B. Listen/Read it with a right attitude. (Acts 17:11)

C. Meditate on it (undertake detailed study). (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2)

D. Apply it. (Matthew 7:24-27)

E. Communicate it and confess it. (Romans 10:10)

How to Study the Word of God

A. Choose an appropriate place.

B. Make studying a habit.

C. Keep a devotional notebook in which you write in it everyday:

• Message from God for me today
• The promise of God for my life
• The command to obey
• Personal application
• Scripture verse to memorize

Benefits of drawing near to the Word of God - 1 Timothy 3:16

A. It teaches (doctrine).

B. It convicts (make us aware of our pitfalls).

C. It corrects (leads us to the right path).

D. It instructs (shapes our character).

How do I obtain that power in my life?

Set apart 15-30 minutes (or more) a day to the following:

A. 5-10 minutes to speak to God

B. 5-10 minutes to read the Bible, starting with the Gospel of John and finishing with Revelation

C. 5-10 minutes to meditate on what you have read

If we discover the secret of living in communion with God, we will find 'heaven's treasures'.

Application

Determine to maintain real relationship with God through regular Bible study.

Determine to read through a set number of chapters every day and memorize the texts God uses to speak to you directly. Start with the Gospel of John.

Curses on Disobedience

Luke 13 (New King James Version)

6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

The clock is ticking...God is watching over the trees of the field. If His tree does not bear fruit, what do you think He will do to that tree? If a human being does not do the purpose for which he was created, what will God do to him?

1 Timothy 6:9 (New King James Version)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

The focus of many is to be rich, to acquire more wealth, properties, jewelries, cars, houses and lots in exclusive subdivisions, top of the line computer gadgets, luxuries in life...what will happen if a man dies in the process of acquiring all these without taking into consideration the status of his own soul? What is 100 years of this lifetime in exchange for eternity? Are you foolish enough to fall into a trap of accumulating wealth on this earth while losing your soul in the process?

What are the penalties or curses for disobedience to God?

Deuteronomy 28 (New King James Version)

15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. 17 “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 19 “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20 “The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22 The LORD will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. 24 The LORD will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. 25 “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away. 27 The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. 29 And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.30 “You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be violently taken away from before you, and shall not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to rescue them. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand. 33 A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually. 34 So you shall be driven mad because of the sight which your eyes see. 35 The LORD will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe boils which cannot be healed, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. 36 “The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the LORD will drive you. 38 “You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. 41 You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity. 42 Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land. 43 “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. 47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. 52 “They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you. 53 You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you. 54 The sensitive and very refined man among you will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind, 55 so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter, 57 her placenta which comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. 58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. 64 “Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65 And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see. 68 “And the LORD will take you back to Egypt in ships, by the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’ And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.”

Shouldn't it be much better to submit to God and follow His will on earth than to suffer any of these curses?

Blessings of Obedience

Deuteronomy 7 (New King James Version)

12 “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. 13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. 15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. 16 Also you shall destroy all the peoples whom the LORD your God delivers over to you; your eye shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you. 17 “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’— 18 you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the LORD your God brought you out. So shall the LORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21 You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. 22 And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. 24 And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.





Healing takes place when a person is obedient to God. He is not afflicted with a terrible disease because God takes good care of the son who serves Him well. The Lord even supplies his every need and, at times, suprises him with those that he wants. He is like a good Father to an obedient son who bears fruit in good season...but cuts off His ties with a disobedient person.





Malachi 3 (New King James Version)

17 “ They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “ On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.





Partial obedience is disobedience to God. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul spared King Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them when God commanded him thru Samuel to go and attack the sinners, the Amalekites, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey, fight against them until they are consumed. Saul did his mission and utterly destroyed the Amelekites but brought back their king, Agag. He and his men also took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord in Gilgal, as he claimed was their purpose. But to God, obedience is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the smell of burnt offerings of fat rams. His rebellion is as the sin of withcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because he has rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected him from being king.





Review the ten commandments given to Moses for the people of Israel and the first three commandments are all about reverence and worship of one true God. As written in Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Making a carved image in the form of anything and worshipping it will provoke Him to anger. The one thing that God hated the most is idol worship. It is an abomination...detestable, loathsome, disgusting and provokes His extreme anger because idol worship is worshipping a mere creature rather than the Omnipotent, Almighty, All-Powerful Creator, meaning a grave insult to a Holy God.





How do you worship and pray to God? Who do you pray to? Matthew 6:6 pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Pray to your Father and not to a picture or a stone or a carved wooden image. They have ears but could not hear you. They cannot even move that you have to carry them in a procession. How can they grant what you wish and pray for?





Psalms 115 (New King James Version)

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.





Acts 17 (New King James Version)

29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.





Deuteronomy 5 (New King James Version)

7 ‘You shall have no other gods before Me. 8 ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 11 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

If you want to get healed, you strictly follow your doctor's advice...why not follow your God's commandments. He created you so He knows every part of your body. He can make them well if He wants to. The first thing you should do is talk to Him...heart to heart...ask forgiveness for all your sins and request Him to help you obey His every command and, eventually, everything else will follow...blessing after blessing, grace and forgiveness, deep inner joy, peace of mind, and healing, both spiritually and physically.



Psalms 95 (New King James Version)

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. We should kneel to the Lord and not to any picture claiming to resemble Him because no one has ever seen Him except His son, Jesus. Pray to Him in Spirit for He is Spirit.





Ephesians 6 (New King James Version)

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—





Romans 1 (New King James Version)

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.





1 Peter 4 (New King James Version)

3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

This message is not in any way meant to offend or hurt anyone but to reveal the truth to everyone so that all will be saved as is the perfect will of God, our loving Father. I pray that your hearts and minds be open to accept the Word of God as the true doctrine of salvation. Amen.

Those who fear God need not fear death

2 Timothy 4:6 (King James Version)
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.


Philippians 1:23 (New International Version)
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;


Departure is a nautical term that suggests dying...severing ties with this world and getting to a better place where there is no more pain, sorrow, or suffering, completing the purpose for which we were made. For Christians, it is a time for joy and excitement and a hearty "Bon Voyage!"


Psalm 23:4 (New International Version)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.


John 14:1-3 (New International Version)
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.


It is like traveling to a distant land where you have never been before...there is excitement but at the same time fear of the unknown. No need for worrying because Jesus assured us that He is going there ahead to prepare a place for us and will come back and take us with Him so we may be where He is.


2 Peter 3:13 (New International Version)
But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.


10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.


11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.


The destruction of the existing earth will no longer be by flood but by fire... along with the sky above us which is the first heaven. We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the second coming of Christ who will bring us to a new heaven and a new earth.


1 Corinthians 2:9 (The New King James Version)
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."


Galatians 6:9 (The New King James Version)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.


All we need to do is to continue living a good life, doing the will of the Father here on earth, doing good to all, especially to those who are in of the household of faith and we shall reap the reward that God has in store for us. We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ. For our citizenship is not here on earth but in heaven. We are here to learn and just passing through in our journey to heaven.


Revelations 3:5 (The New King James Version)
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."


Revelation 21 (New King James Version)
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 14:13 (New King James Version) "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

This is the description of the New Jerusalem from Revelation 21:18 And the construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.