IS SATAN ATTACKING YOU?

OR COULD IT BE THE RESULT OF YAHWEH’S PROMISED CURSES?

STILL YET, COULD IT SIMPLY BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF MAKING POOR DECISIONS?

“Boy, Satan is really out to get me!” Have you ever heard anyone make that statement? Or maybe “The devil really has it in for me!” Sometimes that is the belief when life events go badly – people attribute all their troubles to Satan. But when things go well, then Yahweh is blessing them. Are those two contrasts really a fact? Can all events be due to either Satan or Yahweh? Or is there more to it than that?

People assume that because they call on Yahweh’s name and keep His Sabbath, that all will go well with them. There should be blessings and not troubles or failures, wealth rather than hard financial times, and good health in place of disease or pain. But it doesn’t seem to work that way. Instead we hear “Why hasn’t Yahweh healed me?” Or “Why doesn’t Yahweh answer my prayers?” And they will quote these following Scriptures, taken from the King James Version of the Bible:

Matthew 7:7-8 7-Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8-For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

But now take a look at these Scriptures.

John 14:13-14 13-And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14-If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Do you know what His name is? Do you use it? Or do you think it doesn’t matter by what name you call Him?

John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.

Did you notice the “if” there? It means that there are conditions! The Greek word translated “abide” is #3306, meno. It means to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy). Do you abide in Him all the time or only turn to Him when you need help or want something? Do His words abide in you? Do you know what He said and taught? If not, how can you abide in His words?

John 7:16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

This promise of Him giving what you ask comes after you fulfill your part – bringing forth fruit. And it is to be fruit that will remain and not perish. What could that be? Could it be referring to the spiritual, and not physical?

Galatians 5:22-23 22-But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23-meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I Corinthians 3:13-14 13-Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14-If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Anything considered a fruit that is physical (assets, money, food, family, a business, etc) can be destroyed by fire. Yahweh is interested in your growth in Him, not in the physical things you can accumulate or build up.

So maybe, in order to have our prayers answered, could there be some criteria that we must meet first? What name do you use? Are you abiding in Yahweh – acknowledging Yahweh, thanking Yahweh, praising Yahweh, and obeying Yahweh – daily?

But suppose you do all those things, and prayer still may not be answered. Why? There can be many reasons, some of them being:

1. What you are asking for may not be in Yahweh’s plan for you.

2. Your timing may not be in line with Yahweh’s timing.

3. Yahweh could be giving you a chance to learn patience.

4. Maybe His answer is simply “No”.

5. There could be a lesson for you to learn.

6. Does your request fit within Yahweh’s will or laws?

7. What is your attitude? Is your request selfish, unrealistic, vindictive, etc?

8. Could it be that Yahweh is trying you, to see if you will remain faithful to Him no matter what?

CHOICES AND DECISIONS

But let’s consider another direction. How much do your choices and decisions affect your requests? Do your actions play any part in Yahweh’s response or lack thereof?

For example, if an individual has smoked cigarettes, used drugs, drank too much alcohol, eaten too much of the wrong things for a long time, etc, it will damage the health. As the years go by and complications, disease or cancer appear, people will cry to Yahweh to be healed, even while they continue doing those things. How often does He jump in and correct all the problems? Or may He allow suffering to go on?

A person can cry out and repent for the damage they have done – and Yahweh will forgive. But in the majority of cases, the consequences continue!

As a personal example, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Before doing anything about it, I was anointed and sought healing from Yahweh. But a second test showed only that the blood sugar count was lower, but still remained too high. For a short time, I was somewhat depressed. Yahweh had not removed the problem, and I knew doctors could not. Physicians can give treatment or medication to help, but only Yahweh can do the healing. I just didn’t want to have to deal with the issue.

Then, in Sabbath services, the speaker said some things that got through to me. He used the example about a smoker not being healed. The lack of healing is not a punishment from Yahweh or Satan – it is simply a consequence of previous actions! I realized then that I would have to live with those consequences and deal with the situation.

The experience has helped me to learn a few things:

1. It provided me with another reason as to why Yahweh may not heal when asked.

2. In all our actions and decisions, we should count the cost first.

3. Whatever the consequences, accept the responsibility and deal with it.

This can apply to all sorts of situations, not just healing. Can you think of any examples in Scripture? There are many more than we can discuss here, but we will look at a few. You may need to read some before or after the verses given to get the context or full story.

I Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

ADAM AND EVE

Genesis 2:16-17 16-And Yahweh Elohim commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: 17-But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.

Genesis 3:6, 23-24 6-And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat. 23-Therefore Yahweh Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24-So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Adam and Eve had specific instructions not to do something and they did it anyway. Yes, it is true that Satan may have been persuasive, but the decision was theirs. They made a choice, carried it out and then had to deal with the consequences. They were evicted from their lovely home where everything was provided for them. They then had to toil for their food, endure suffering and pain and eventually die.

ABRAHAM

Abraham and Sarah had no children. They were elderly and Sarah was past the time of childbearing. Abraham sought Yahweh because, as far as things went, a servant would be his heir.

Genesis 15:4 – And behold, the word of Yahweh came unto him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.

But as time went by, they got tired of waiting on Yahweh’s timing and took matters into their own hands. Sarah gave her maid to Abraham and she bore a son, named Ishmael. Then, after a few more years, Yahweh kept His promise and Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac. Now Abraham had two sons, but one of them was not to be the heir? So what was the consequence? The loss of a son he dearly loved.

Genesis 21:9-12 9-And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne to Abraham, mocking, 10- Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11-And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son. 12-And Elohim said to Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said unto you, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall your seed be called.

JACOB AND ESAU

Esau had been out in the fields and Jacob was cooking. Esau came in tired and hungry, to the point of fainting. He asked for food and Jacob asked for his birthright in return.

Genesis 25:33-34 33-And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he (Esau) swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34-Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Later, at the instigation of his mother, Jacob tricked his father and took the blessing that was intended for the firstborn, Esau. Esau came in and was upset when he learned what had happened.

Genesis 27:36 And he (Esau) said (to Isaac), Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me?

Yes, Jacob took the blessing. But the birthright had been sold by Esau – Jacob did not steal it.

In days to come, though, Jacob would be tricked by Laban and given Leah as a wife rather than the promised Rachel. He also had problems with Laban changing the terms of their business transactions.

Did Satan interfere in these two men and their lives? Or was it due to the decisions, choices and actions carried out by them?

AN UNNAMED MAN

Yahweh gave instructions for His Sabbath to the Children of Israel.

Exodus 16:29-30 29-See, that for Yahweh has given you the sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide you every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30-So the people rested on the seventh day.

Numbers 15:32-36 32-And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33-And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34-And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35-And Yahweh said unto Moses, the man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36-And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died: as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Did Satan attack this man? Or did he face the consequences of his own presumptuous actions?

MOSES AND AARON

When the Children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness, water was sometimes a problem. Yahweh gave instructions on what to do.

Numbers 20:7-8, 11-12 7-And Yahweh spoke unto Moses, saying, 8-Take the rod, and gather you the assembly together, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak you unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their beasts drink. 11-And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12-And Yahweh spoke to Moses, and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

The consequences of their disobedience? Aaron saw his son Eleazar dressed in the priestly garments stripped from him and then he died on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:23-28). Moses repented deeply and appealed to Yahweh to allow him to enter the land, but Yahweh refused (Deuteronomy 3:23-28). He died after looking at the land from atop Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34:1-7).

KORAH

Look at the entire chapter of Numbers 16 to get the full background of what was going on here. Korah, who was a Levite, but not of Aaron’s family, challenged the leadership positions of Moses and Aaron. Korah and his cohorts felt that Moses and Aaron were taking too much on themselves and they wanted “a part of the action”. They didn’t realize who had put those two men in the leadership. So whom were they actually challenging? Yahweh! In the end, what were the consequences for them?

Numbers 16:31-33 31-And it came to pass, as he (Moses) had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them; 32-And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33-They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

Shouldn’t that event have been a warning for people to be careful of what they said against Moses and Aaron? No, because the next day, the people murmured against Moses and Aaron and charged them with killing Yahweh’s people. The consequence? Yahweh sent a plague through the congregation.

Numbers 16:49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

KING DAVID

King David took another man’s wife, and when he learned she was pregnant, he arranged to have her husband die in battle. He coveted, committed adultery and murdered, directly breaking three of Yahweh’s commandments. What were the consequences to be? Yahweh sent the prophet Nathan to explain it to David.

2 Samuel 12:10-14 10-Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house; because you have displeased me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11-Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them unto your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12-For you did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13-And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Yahweh. And Nathan said unto David, Yahweh has also put away your sins; you shall not die. 14-Howbeit, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of Yahweh to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto you shall surely die.

David acknowledged his sin. He fasted and prayed for the child, but the consequences still stood.

Continuing with the idea of whether or not things can be blamed on Satan, sometimes people quickly jump to this story. It appears in two places, but is worded differently in them.

2 Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against David, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

I Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.

Does this mean David had no choice in the matter? No. Joab tried to talk him out of it. He had a chance to change his mind, but he refused to.

The words “moved” in 2 Samuel and “provoked” in I Chronicles are the same Hebrew word, #5496, soot. It means to prick, to stimulate, to seduce; to entice, to allure, to instigate, to incite.

Now if someone entices or seduces or incites you to do something, do you have a choice in the matter? Of course you do. You don’t have to do what another is leading you toward. “Just say no.” The same is true of David. After it was done, David realized he had sinned and acknowledged it. He knew he was guilty. He knew he was responsible – not Satan, and not Yahweh. Then he had to face the consequences.

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

Rather than print two long chapters, Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, we will let the reader look at these in their own Bibles. In Leviticus 26:1-13 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14, there are promises of the ways Yahweh would bless the Children of Israel IF His people would obey His voice. Then the remainder of those chapters outline the consequences they could expect to face if the did not obey. If they had to endure those curses listed, would that be due to Satan attacking them? No, it would be their fault – for disobedience. They were warned. And yes, through the years, they disobeyed – and faced these consequences.

GOOD CONSEQUENCES?

Now let’s change the viewpoint. In all the pages of Scripture, are there any examples of consequences being good?

ABRAHAM

Genesis 22:9-13, 15-18 9-And they (Abraham and Isaac) came to the place which Elohim had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10-And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11-And the angel of Yahweh called to him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, here I am. 12-And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for now I know that you fear Elohim, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me. 13-And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 15-And the angel of Yahweh called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, 16-And said, By myself have I sworn says Yahweh, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: 17-That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18-and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.

Abraham was prepared to carry out a command of Yahweh that seems totally unthinkable to us. Some have said that they would not have done this and would not even have gone as far as Abraham did. But then they would not have received the consequence – the blessing – that Abraham did. He was willing to obey because of the deep trust he had in Yahweh.

JOSEPH

Things looked bad for Joseph. His brothers had sold him into slavery in Egypt. His boss’s wife brought false charges against him and he landed in prison for two years. After interpreting a dream for Pharaoh, he was released and promoted and was second only to Pharaoh in the whole land. Because Yahweh revealed things to him, Joseph led the people in storing grain for seven years of famine. His story is found in Genesis 37-47.

The consequence of him being sold into slavery? An opportunity to save all his family as well as the entire Egyptian nation from starvation. And how did he see the situation?

Genesis 45:4-7 4-And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5-Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for Elohim did send me before you to preserve life. 6-For these two years has the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest, 7-And Elohim sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Imagine that! Sometimes what seems like a drastic situation to us can be setting the stage for Yahweh to do a great work in the future!

RAHAB

Rahab lived in the city of Jericho and knew the Children of Israel were coming. The city had heard news of what had happened to other cities that had already been taken. Rahab took in the two spies Joshua had sent to look things over. She could have been charged with treason for what she did, but she hid them from the king’s men. She had a purpose and made her request.

Joshua 2:11-14 11-And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your Elohim, he is Elohim in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12-Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by Yahweh, since I have showed you kindness, that you will also show kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: 13-And that you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. 14-And the men answered her, Our life for yours; if you utter not this our business, and it shall be, when Yahweh has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.

She acknowledged Yahweh. She followed their instructions. And what were the consequences of her faith?

Joshua 6:23-25 23-And the young men that were spies went in and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brothers, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24-And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Yahweh. 25-Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwells in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

HANNAH

Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Each year they went to Shiloh to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh. Peninnah had several children and continually provoked Hannah because Hannah was barren. One night at Shiloh, Hannah prayed and made a vow to Yahweh.

I Samuel 1:11, 19-20 11-And she vowed a vow, and said, O Yahweh of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give unto your handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall be no razor come upon his head. 19-…Yahweh remembered her. 20-Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, because I have asked him of Yahweh.

She had made a vow to Yahweh. Did she keep it?

I Samuel 1:24-28 24-And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25-And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26-And she said, Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying unto Yahweh. 27-For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him; 28-Therefore also I have lent him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he shall be lent to Yahweh. And he worshipped Yahweh there.

She received the child she prayed for -- and then she gave him up. Were there other consequences? Blessings?

I Samuel 2:21 And Yahweh visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Yahweh.

JOB

If anyone could have blamed all their misfortunes on Satan, it would have been Job. Who did he blame? Anyone? How did it start? Did Satan simply attack because he chose to do so?

Job 1:6-12 6-Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came also among them. 7-And Yahweh said unto Satan, From where do you come? Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8-And Yahweh said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears Elohim, and eschews evil? 9-Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, Does Job fear Elohim for nothing? 10-Have you not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11-But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. 12-And Yahweh said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

So Satan struck. He destroyed Job’s children, his servants, and all his animals. What was Job’s reaction?

Job 1:20-22 20-Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. 21-And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh. 22-In all this Job sinned not, nor charged Elohim foolishly.

He did not accuse Satan either. So Satan returned to Yahweh and sought to expand his attack, specifically upon Job’s body. Yahweh gave him permission, but Satan could not take Job’s life. He caused Job to be covered with boils all over his body. His wife told him to curse Elohim and die. Did he?

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of Elohim, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

After enduring days of pain and suffering and listening to friends arguing with him, Yahweh finally stepped in. And Job’s consequence?

Job 42:12-13 12-So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13-He had also seven sons and three daughters.

SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were young captives in Babylon. They were in positions of being counselors to the king. Then King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge golden image made and ordered everyone to fall down and worship the image. These three young men did not. The king threatened them with being thrown into the fiery furnace. Knowing the consequence of disobedience, they made their choice.

Daniel 3:16-18 16-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. 17-If it be so, our Eloahh (El/Elohim in Aramaic) whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King. 18-But if not, be it known unto you, O King, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.

Nebuchadnezzar was enraged and had the fire increased seven fold. Then the three were thrown into the furnace and notice what the king saw.

Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the son of EL.

The king called them forth from the fire. Now note the outcome and the consequences.

Daniel 3:27-30 27-And the princes, governor, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28-Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, Blessed be the Eloahh of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve or worship any god, except their own Eloahh. 29-Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the Eloahh of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other El that can deliver after this sort. 30-Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

DANIEL

Daniel was also a captive in Babylon along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He had risen higher in power till the king’s other presidents and princes became jealous and sought something against him. But they found no error or fault in him. By this time, kings had come and gone and now Darius was the ruler over Babylon. The jealous men plotted and convinced King Darius to issue a decree. The decree stated that for thirty days, anyone making a petition to any god or man except the king should be thrown in a den of lions. They were waiting to see what Daniel would do.

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Eloahh, as he did aforetime.

Of course those who had plotted were quick to accuse and remind the king what the decree had said. Though the king was distraught, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. The king spent a very bad night and the next morning rushed to see if Daniel were safe. And the consequences?

Daniel 6:21-28 21-Then said Daniel unto the king, O King, live forever. 22-My Eloahh has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before you, O King, have I done no hurt. 23-Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his Eloahh. 24-And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, and their children, and their lives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 25-Then King Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26-I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble, and fear before the Eloahh of Daniel: for he is the living Eloahh, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27-He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28-So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

THE FUTURE?

What about the future for those who choose to obey His voice?

Revelation 14:1-5 1-And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2-And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3-And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4-These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto Yahweh and to the Lamb. 5-In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of Yahweh.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be my son.

Wow! How’s that for consequences? Many people would love to have this reality of eternal life. But are they prepared to carry out the decisions and actions that will be necessary to achieve it? Or will they choose their own way and face the consequence of the lake of fire?

What about you? What consequences will you face? Are you willing to take that chance? And that responsibility? Or will you continue to make excuses for your problems, blaming them all on Satan?

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Copyright ©2010

Congregation of YHWH, Irving, TX.
224 North Story Road  Suite #138

Irving, Texas 75061

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 170309

Dallas, Texas 75217-0309

Telephone: 1-800-867-0150

http://www.thecongregationofyhwh.org/ updated 05-24-18