Understanding God’s grace, mercy and favour.

Jude 1 vs. 5-7:

Most people are familiar with a side of God that portrays Him as merciful, compassionate, loving, kind, forgiving, gracious, and slow to anger. But there is really the other side of God. Compassionate as He is, God could also close his ears to the cries and tribulations of rebellious children.

Good as He is, God at times allows evil to befall those that have hardened their minds to His instructions and commandments. Peaceful as He is, God could be violent and fearsome, and in fact He is a Warrior. The Holy Bible in Jude 1vs 5 describes God as a Destroyer. May we not experience the destructive side of God.

The Bible records various sets of people who had experienced, and were plagued with woes as a result of their disobedience.

“I must remind you–and you know it well–that even though the Lord rescued the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, he later destroyed every one of those who did not remain faithful. And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment.

 And don’t forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil’ – Living Bible.

As seen from the above passage, though the Israelites were God chosen people, yet, He destroyed all of them for their rebellion and disobedience -sparing only two people, Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephuneh (See Numbers 13 and 14). The passage also reveals that some angels (including Satan) have lost their place in heaven because of disobedience and rebellion against the wish of God. God has also ‘reserved’ them in everlasting chains in darkness unto the day of Judgment.

The third category of people that God decided to destroy are the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who indulged in fornication and go after what the Bible calls “strange flesh” and “unnatural relationships”. Genesis 19 vs. 24: ‘Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground’.

The offence of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was sexual perversion and orgies including homosexuality. In creating man and woman, God had wanted a legal conjugal relationship between a couple of opposite sex, not a male and a male, or female or female. Genesis 2 vs. 4 states: ” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh“.

The Book of Jude 1 vs.7 states that the destruction that befell Sodom and Gomorrah was an ‘example’ of the fate that awaits all those that go after ‘strange flesh’ and indulge in ‘unnatural relationships’. ‘Strange flesh’ meaning all forms of sexual relationships out of legal marriage, and ‘unnatural relationships’ meaning such practices between the same sex, rather than between opposite sex as ordained by God.

In order not to experience the other side of God, either here on earth or on Judgment day, we have to cultivate an attitude of Holiness, righteousness and obedience to the word and commandments of God. The other side of God connotes destruction, and we must flee from all appearances of evil to avoid this.

Rev 21 – 8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Are you in a sinful state that qualifies you to experience the other side of God? Flee from destruction today… all you need to do is to come unto Jesus Christ, the Redeemer in genuine repentance, and dedicate the rest of your life to serving Him and doing His will.

· “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
· For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13.
· “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” -Romans 10:9

Do you want to be reconciled with God, through Jesus the Lord and Saviour? Then say this simple prayer:

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory. I genuinely repent from all my sins and pledge to go and sin no more. I accept your plan to reconcile mankind to you through Jesus Christ, who you sent in your name.

I believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and died on the Cross to pay the penalty for my sins and redeem me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I pray that His blood washes my sins away. I invite the Holy Spirit to rule my Life. I am born again in Jesus name.

Prophetic Declarations

I am an obedient child of the Most high. I will fear him and obey his commandments. As I do so, I will walk in his covenant blessings. I know God is loving, but fearsome. I will experience only the compassionate side of God. I know God is merciful, but a Warrior.

I will experience only the gracious side of God. I will not experience God’s anger as I walk in Holiness and righteousness. I am not a candidate for God’s judgment on the disobedient, I declare myself as a candidate for God’s blessings on the obedient.

Prayers
1. Spirit of stubbornness in my life, be crucified by the blood of Jesus.
2. I refuse to be a disobedient child of God.
3. You spirit of Goat in my life, I cast you out in Jesus name.
4. You rebellious spirit of witchcraft in my life, bow to the word of God.
5. O Lord, give me the spirit of Obedience.

If you want more information on how you can build a new life with God, visit Save the World at http://www.christonline.info or send an email to: info@christonline.info

Babatope Babalobi

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