Testimonies of People Who Have Seen Jesus

Today I would like to share with you some testimonies of people who claim to have seen Jesus in person, whether by dream or by vision or an out of body experience. I may also include one of two that have heard His voice. Here they are:

@isabelpulley9660

1 year ago

We were on a youth trip, and five of us saw Jesus standing next to the Christus statue in the welcome center. He was around six feet tall, wore white robes, and looked incredibly similar to Akiane’s Prince Of Peace painting (pictured left).

 

It was an experience I’ll never forget

Note:  The Christus statue, officially titled Christus Consolator, is a white marble sculpture of Christ by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. The statue depicts Christ with outstretched arms, as if inviting people to come to him.

@shintobinsuk8107

1 year ago

When I was in church during worship (Feb- March 2023), I had seen a king sitting on a throne surrounded by clouds...I felt goosebumps, and I started crying and smiling at the same time remembering his care. My heart got overwhelmed with gratitude.  

@BonnieMunz

3 weeks ago

In 1969, when I was 17 years old, I had just come to believe in Jesus. He came to me. I was alone in church, praying as I stood in front of a wooden cross. I lifted my eyes to see Jesus' feet right there in front of me, on the cross. I looked up to see His wonderful face. He lifted His head to look at me, with the most perfect love flowing from His eyes into mine. His message to me was, "I did this for you."

@LadyoftheLord

1 year ago

In 2019 Jesus saved me by appearing to me in a vision during the day when I was visiting my mom. All he said to me was "I'm coming!" Sternly. That's the first time I felt fear of the Lord, and it changed me forever. 

@michaelcastillo2599

10 months ago

I saw Jesus right before I got diagnosed with childhood cancer when I was 3 years old. He told me everything was going to be okay. 

I relapsed when I was 5 years old. 

[Later,] I was in the hospital when I saw Jesus again sitting on a chair in my room when I was 7 years old. The next day I was cancer free. I’m 35 now.

@StuStevens-rn7rb

1 year ago

On one trip to Heaven God took me on....I was on a path walking in one direction and Jesus approached me from the other direction. All I could do was to focus on His eyes. They were like liquid pools of LOVE, which quickly had me on the ground prostrate before Him in sheer adoration and awe.

@Galilea-2000

9 days ago

When I was 3 years old, I had a dream of Jesus with his cuts and bruises and even the crown of thorns. He told me that he was going to take my mother with him very soon. I cried in his arms and told him I needed her. Then I remember him saying something about me having something in the future. Then we played for a while, and I woke up crying and my mother next to me. I told her my dream and said "I saw a man and he had black marker in both of his hands, Mommy". Now I have type 1 diabetes, but I am so thankful my mom is still with me now, and I am so thankful for her being by my side.

@quintinaabbott8432

4 months ago

I've seen Jesus three times, but the most powerful [time] was in that dream [in which] I was at my church standing on the other side of the door that leads from the sanctuary to the hall and bathroom. While I was standing there, I heard in my spirit "Jesus is Coming!" 

I immediately leaned forward and looked left down the hall towards my pastor's office, and immediately a bright bright light shot out from her office; and all of a sudden Jesus started walking out of her office. He was in his glorified body glowing. 

As He walked out He was looking back talking to someone in the office and as He turned to start walking out the door the front of His body was facing me as I was looking down the hall towards Him. The robe He had on was made out of millions and millions of diamonds. The diamonds were glistening because of the glory that was illuminating from his body. From his chest on up to his face it was glowing like the sun. I then woke up, it was magnificent. I pray I have another encounter with Him.

@waitinginthepipeline

11 months ago

I was driving in London England where I live. I stopped to let a gentleman cross the road. He sort of put his hand up to say thanks without looking at me.

[Then] halfway across [the street], he stops, turns, waves, and looks right at me with a beautiful smile that I felt in my Soul. He looked exactly like the images of Jesus. As I drove away, I thought, "Was that Jesus?" I am now convinced that it was, as even [while] writing this I feel a stirring in my soul. Amen and peace to all.

@cissymckinley3154

1 year ago

I am 61. When I was a child of 10 [years old] or younger, I just kept saying I wanted to see Jesus. I was in my bedroom, my older sister asleep next to me. I looked straight forward and there stood Jesus. But he looked somewhat taller, due to the light coming in through the window, I didn't get a good look at his face. But you could tell he had dark hair, and a mustache with a beard. He wore an eggshell-colored gown with some type of rope around his waist. He was also wearing a long robe (same color as the gown). I just stared at him. I got scared not knowing what to say. I pulled the covers over my head. When I lifted my head up he was gone. This took years before I told anyone. People act like they believe me, but I don't think so. I've told my story A couple of times online, but it didn't go well. I really don't care but , I know this to be my truth.  GOD BLESS ALL.

@joanne_beutler

1 year ago

I saw Jesus 2015 in the sky. Words will never explain what I felt, but I felt things like love, forgiveness, hope and a warmth all around my heart area.

@JacobAllen_Music

1 year ago (edited)

Once my grandma had to go to the hospital, and she wasn't doing well there. A few minutes [later], she had passed. Everybody there got around the hospital bed and started crying. They thought she wouldn't come back. But the next minute, she awoke from the hospital bed and said she met God and she could see everyone crying around the hospital bed, and that Jesus was willing to bring her back to her family.

@cali7150

1 year ago

My physical experience with Jesus was when I was about 7 or 8. He came into my room, placed my head on His lap, and [as He was] caressing my head, I could see [in the spirit] His robe in me, His sandals and His light. I never saw His face, but the love coming out of Him as never ending waves of light. I had the lights off, and was in complete sleep when this happened, [but] awoke in the spirit in an instant. I have never and will never forget. It becomes an imprint in the soul.

@elizeviktoria

1 year ago

The only reason my dad became saved during the Soviet Union [era], was because Jesus appeared to him in the mirror. My dad KNEW who He was, even though no one had ever told him about Jesus before. He was a hardcore alcoholic, almost drinking himself to death. Jesus said my father's name and asked him "What are you doing with your life?". He repented and became radically saved.

@marthamoloi.hissoldier

1 year ago

The first time I saw Christ was in a dream where satan was trying to harm/intimidate me and my granny, and Christ appeared next to us, stretched out his hand and and blew his breath into the devils face and the devil disappeared. Christ looked at us and smiled. When I woke up in the morning I was led to the scripture 2 Thessalonians 2:8: "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." I will never forget that dream. Christ is real.

In the following video, a woman shares how she died and saw Jesus. Her testimony is in the first 5 minutes of the video:

@Eyeswideopen251

1 year ago (edited)

Amen. He spoke to me once. I had a bad fall from a cliff and broke my neck and lots other bones. I was alone because the only person there had gone several miles away for help. When I lay there, I asked God, "Is this where I  die?" and a voice so clearly said to me, "Don't worry,  everything will be OK." In that instant all pain, fear and worry left me, and soon after I was ok. True story!

@bradross5480

3 weeks ago

Jesus appeared to me in the clouds after my twin brother was murdered. We couldn't find him and I knew he was gone but my father could not bring himself to believe that. Then Jesus appeared and let

me know so graciously that Al was with Him. While He was there, a rush of energy came through me and took all the anger I had for the man that I thought killed him away! Thank you Yeshua and Almighty God!!!

@lalalisa9307

3 weeks ago (edited)

I also had a profound experience. I...bought some anointing oil for a close friend who is dying of cancer. After anointing him later that night, Jesus pulled back the veil, and I saw God‘s light. It was only for a few seconds. All I can describe [it] as is like being inside of a diamond, and as I started to look upwards I realized that I would disintegrate or die because I wasn’t good enough to look, so I turned my head. I remember feeling nothing but peace through my entire being, and I also felt like a younger version of myself. I didn’t feel any wrinkles on my face, and I have been madly in love with God ever since. It’s such an intense love that it overwhelms me, and it sometimes it’s hard for me to take it.

2 weeks ago

I’ve seen Jesus as well. I was in a state of twilight sleep on my couch. Not really asleep but not fully awake. He came to me while I was still grieving my Mom being gone and right before the insanity of 2020. He walked straight up to me and wrapped me up in his arms and without actually speaking told me [said], "It’s going to be ok. Be strong in me." When he let go, I immediately jumped off the couch and my entire being was literally vibrating with joy as I danced around knowing how much He truly loves me, and solidifying my Faith even more! Jesus is for real!

@vaniza0425

8 years ago

Thank You for sharing your testimony! He is Pure! I saw him too, in 2004. When I hit my head on the pavement without a helmet when I was riding a scooter-motorcycle. I never remember falling and hitting my head. 

Instantly I was with Him. He was looking at me. Every time I looked at Him, I fell to my knees. He knew exactly what I was thinking. I saw myself wearing white, but He was lights of gold. He was coming out of the Sun with rays. Each ray beaming said words like this: love, care, kindness, children, innocent, live, laugh, help, all mighty, Alpha and Omega, I am the Son of Man. The rays came out rolling as spirals right to my eyes. I would get up and fall once again. I didn't want to leave. He was light Pure light. Pure Love. 

He told me to look to the left . He said look who is praying for you. I saw my husband praying and crying. He returned me back to earth. I woke up in the hospital with burn marks, and my arms and legs were all burned due to the gasoline of my scooter spilling in my arms and legs [and] burning [them]. I had street marks that pulled my skin off my arms. 

I wasn't hurting about the pain. My pain was in my heart, because I wanted to be with Jesus and his throne was infinite. May the Lord Bless you! He is calling his sheep! 

One more thing the day before the accident I remember praying to the Lord saying I want to be changed. I want to see you. I [sure] did [see Him] alright! It was the most life changing experience in my life. I haven't been the same since. 

@Hiswillbedone2

1 year ago (edited)

I’ve seen the Lord a short time after I became a Christian. I was about junior- high-school age. He stayed with me for a long time. He has a great sense of humor and He made me laugh.

In the following video, a woman tells about her experience seeing Jesus while watching the movie called The Passion of the Christ. 

@ucong79

9 years ago

I had a dream. I was in my bed and woke up where it was really bright. Then I heard a voice saying, "I will help you". I was confused at first, but then a hand reached out at me. Then I woke up in my real bed. Then I realized the hand in front of me was God. This is true. God bless everyone.

@denisegrandma-m7g

3 weeks ago

I was at a very desperate point in my life. I was feeling trapped, unhappy, angry, and just wanted to  leave. I went outside on a day where the sky was blue with clouds. I cried and yelled at the sky. Are

you there? Why is all of this happening to me? I can't take it anymore. Please let me know what to do.

Slowly a large area of clouds opened in the sky forming a circle. Inside the circle was the face of Jesus. I saw it. I was in shock. I turned away, then back again. It was there. I didn't want to blink. I felt relieved, yet was ashamed at the same time. I stood looking up and cried. Then slowly the circle closed.  God is real. Jesus is real.

When you lose someone, or when someone is in serious trouble, who do you turn to?  

@catmat3686

1 year ago

I had a vision when I was 9 or 10 of seeing Jesus and Mary. I saw them as I walked down the dark hallway to my mom’s room. Their faces glowed in the darkness. I can’t remember what they said. 

@MysticMeadowsSanctuary

2 weeks ago

I saw him too in 2003 at a church in Central Phoenix. He handed me the host [communion bread], and the blood in the chalice looked like real blood. When I saw the blood in the chalice, I looked back at him, and he smiled at me. His message to me that day was "Remember me, not that I left, but that I am right here with you". He was no longer the Lamb that had been slain, but [had] the eyes of a Mighty Warrior, but with the most incredible eyes. I'll never forget.

@narcoholic22

2 weeks ago

I had a dream during one of my lowest points. I was in a narcissistic abusive relationship for years. He gaslighted me for years at that point and I was confused, insecure, depressed, panicked ALL THE TIME

from the psychological trauma. I lost my identity to this person. I was an empty shell of who I used to be. One night I had this dream that I was standing in a room at night. Jesus in a white robe was there. I was not afraid but sad. He stood in front of me. He embraced me with the most loving hug. I felt so loved and warm & safe like never before. I woke up and still felt HIM with me. I have not shaken off the feeling HE gave me. 

I honestly feel as though he really came to me in my desperation that night. I feel undeserving of His love but He made me feel I was loved & special. I never felt insecure about my worth after that dream. Years later I found a painting of Jesus in a white robe hugging a girl with olive skin & brown hair. It

was my dream [depicted] in a painting! It was me! It’s a well known painting, I [later] found out. I bought  it and it hangs in my home to remind me of the night Jesus came to show me I was loved.

@melanied4944

3 weeks ago (edited)

I saw Jesus during emergency surgery after childbirth. Nurses were all around me, as they battled to stop me from bleeding to death. At my head/eye-level he was there. I have never seen eyes like them. They were a clear blue [like] I had never seen before, so beautiful, and he was whispering [that] I was going to be ok. It was him. I felt his warm presence

@braxtonbearden613

7 years ago

When I was nine years old I was in church and I felt this pull in the pit of my heart. At the time I had no clue at all what it was. My mom explained to me it was the Holy Spirit. [but] that day I didn't accept Christ. The next Sunday pulled around, and again I felt that same pull in my heart. It felt almost like a flame, but it didn't hurt. It was a calming flame. 

So that day I walked up to the altar and my pastor at that time laid hands on me. I asked Christ to be a part of my life. I asked him to forgive me of my sins. I told God that I believed in Jesus's resurrection. When I was done praying this flood of joy and this flame filled my whole body.  

@debbiehurley293

2 weeks ago

When I was about 6 years old, I remember going with my mother to a tent revival. We didn't have ac back then, so we slept with our windows up. That night, the moon was full and bright. As I laid in bed looking up at the moon, I saw Jesus. He was beautiful. To this day, I never forgot that night. Another time when I was 20 years old, I was studying the bible prophecies. I was woken up during the night and the room was filled with a bright light. A voice said to me, "No matter where you go or what you do, always keep your eyes on Jesus."

@SKMac5176

3 weeks ago (edited)

When I was 24 years of age, I was struggling mightily with some very deep moral & spiritual issues in my life. After much anguish & prayer, I laid down on my brother's bed, where I continued to pray and ask for guidance from the Lord. Suddenly, as I was looking at the ceiling Jesus' face appeared before me. He had the most Beautiful, Gentle, & kind features I'd ever seen. He said nothing, but reached out and touched my left cheek with overwhelming LOVE in His eyes. I came away much healed, feeling great Peace regarding my upcoming decision.

@carolmartin2503

1 year ago

As I was planning to destroy my life I looked out at the stars and said. "If there's a God, He better let me know because I'm all done."   I rolled over and there was Jesus in my room  on that cross. I knew He did it for me to pay for the many sins I'd done, and I screamed. "NO" [meaning] "Don't do that for me! I'm not worth it!!!" And He said, "I LOVE YOU" and died.  

I now live for Him and know I'll spend eternity with Him in His Home!!! Thank you, Jesus!

@chessc.3407

1 year ago

I saw him in my bedroom. I was wide awake and He didn’t speak to me, but I saw him. Almost like I was watching a movie of his crucifixion as a projection on my room. I have no TV in my room. That night I went on my knees and repented and finally believed and accepted Jesus into my life.

@TheMrshefner

7 years ago

I know you seen him just by the way you described his Love. I had a dream of him one time and I remember his eyes almost glowed a teal like color and the love I felt from him reached into the pit of my stomach and was like a euphoric love that can't be described. Like no drug in this world could put you so high as his love. Literally I can't to this day describe it but it is the most magnificent feeling and I have never felt that feeling sense. It's so pure and amazing.

@carolroblyer3629

7 days ago

I recently met Jesus in a dream. I was in a mild depression, and I went to sleep listening to worship songs. He appeared in my dream and just spent time with me. I got to see His face and experience His personality -- loving, peaceful but also fun. 

Another time I fell asleep crying after being horribly, emotionally bullied. I sensed arms holding me while I slept, and I knew it was Him. 

But the first time I experienced the love of God was years earlier. Feeling like giving up after years of heavy depression, I asked the Lord to take me home, because I was done. Instead He healed me in an instant with a powerful surge of love that overwhelmed me. That's when I knew God was real and that He loved me. There is nothing that can describe that power. It was shocking, like nothing in this world. And felt amazing.

@levelwithme609

1 year ago

Jesus showed up when I was drowning in a reservoir, and when I asked, "IS THIS HOW I'M GONNA DIE?", He wrapped His arms around me and answered, "NO, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU'RE GONNA DIE." He taught me that I can TRUST HIM NO MATTER WHAT instead.

@AiditaRoman-ef2lz

11 months ago

I saw Jesus in a dream, I didn’t believe in him before but he just hugged me and I felt myself filled with unmeasurable love, then he held me at arms length and just looked at me without a word and all I could think was how beautiful he was, more than words can describe so I know exactly what she means! Every time I feel sad I just remember his love and I feel good again! Amen.

@ylvany1

11 months ago

When I was about 10 years old, I had a dream where I was in a major car accident. Immediately I was in the throne room of God and although I couldn't see His face, I KNEW I was standing in the presence of the Most High God! I could sense hundreds of people around me and everyone was in high worship and it was the most beautiful music I'd ever heard; and instantly I fell on my knees in worship! It was the most amazing feeling I've ever experienced, and to this day have yet to experience that level of worship. It was like every cell in my body was vibrating at the highest frequency available and I just KNEW that THIS is what we were created for: to worship the one true God! Everything we search for and get involved with, all trying to fill this void that can ONLY be filled by the living God! That experience has NEVER left me, I mean it feels like it just happened yesterday and that was 35 years ago!

Closing Words

I hope these testimonies have built your faith and given you a hunger for God.

Attribution notice: The image of Akiane's Prince of Peace painting of Jesus is subject to copyright, used  here per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like The Revelation of Love, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. I also have an entire blog about people's experiences visiting heaven and hell, which is call Eternal Destinations, as well as another blog called Testimonies from Eastern Europe with many amazing testimonies of people who have encountered Jesus, seen angels, and experienced miracles. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Apostasy (False Christianity) Before the Rapture of the Church

Dear Saints,

Those of you who've been following me, Len Lacroix, for a while now know that I preach a true message of righteousness, holiness, and obedience to Christ. But this message is still not accepted by most believers in America. It's viewed as a false gospel by many. You know that I teach that you must be born again and receive the Holy Spirit. I teach that the Lord promised to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16; 11:13; 12:49; 24:49; Ac 1:5,8; 2:4,38; Jn 7:38; 20:22; Eph 5:18).

I've also written many articles on the rapture and the need to be ready for it, and I've tried my best to warn you of the Great Tribulation that is set to begin at any time now. But we are living in the days of the apostate Church, people who have embraced worldliness, disobedience to their parents, idolatry, false doctrine, and rebellion. This is because most churches in America preach the false gospel of Once-Saved-Always-Saved or Eternal Security. They teach that nothing you do, no sin you commit, could ever affect your relationship with the Lord and your eternal destination, once you are truly saved.

Paul warned us this would happen. He said:

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Tim 3:1-5).

Paul  warned that before the Lord comes and His saints are gathered to Him, there must first be an apostasy and rebellion. he said: 

 

"Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." (2 Thes 2:3).

I would like to share with you an excellent, short message that a Mexican preacher, named Francisco, shared, which is a great example of true, gospel preaching that you rarely hear any more these days in America. You can either watch it on his Youtube channel here at this link, or you can watch it inside this blogpost below:

Attribution notice: All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version (NIV1984), copyright Zondervan, used by permission, all rights reserved.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Warning Dream: The Tribulation Follows Rapture, Left-Behind Christians Hunted, How to Prepare for the Rapture, Sins That Will Keep You From Heaven, Drifting Away, Is Obedience Optional?, The Apostasy Parables, Holy Living in a Perverted World, Aim for Perfection, Walking in the Perfect Will of God, The Straight and Narrow Path, Striving to Enter the Kingdom of God, Ask for the Ancient Paths, Living a Life Worthy of the Lord, Separation from the World, The Difference Between a Disciple and a Believer, and Doing What is Right. You can find more of my articles related to Seeking the Lord on the Home page of this blog. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org

The Blessing of Abraham

Dear God seekers,

I would like to show you what the blessing of Abraham is that God gave to him and how it relates to you as a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen 12:1-3)

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Gen 15:5)

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Gen 22:17-18)

Components of the Blessing
Let's look at the six components of the blessing:

1. The promise to bless Abraham

2. The promise that he will have a great name (reputation) 

3. The promise that he would become a great nation (have many descendants)

4. God will bless those who bless him

5. God will curse those who curse him
6. Abraham will be a blessing

Fulfillment of the Blessing
Here are some biblical examples of how the blessing of Abraham is fulfilled:

1. Abraham 

a) Great name: Had a great name and was considered a mighty prince among the people (Gen 23:6)

b) Many descendants: Had many descendants through Jacob and Esau/Edom his grandsons. 

c)   Became extremely wealthy (Gen 13:2)

2. Jacob 

a) Had good relationships with the Canaanites among whom he lived as a stranger

b) Became a nation called Israel that possessed the land of Canaan

c) God blessed Jacob’s unusual breeding practices

d) Laban was blessed through his association with Jacob (Gen 30:27,30)

e) Became exceedingly wealthy shortly after Rachel his wife gave birth to Joseph (Ge 30:43)

3. Joseph 

a) Joseph prospered while in Egypt (Ge 39:2)

b) The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did (Ge 39:3)
c) Joseph found favor in the eyes of his Egyptian master Potiphar, who put him in charge of his entire household and entrusted to his care everything he owned (Ge 39:4)

d) From the time Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything, the Lord blessed his household because of Joseph, and the blessing of the Lord was upon everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field (Ge 39:5)
e) While in prison, the warden put all the prisoners under his authority (Ge 39:21-23)

f) Became ruler of all Egypt (Ge 41:37ff)

g) Saved Egypt, Israel, and other nations from perishing during famine.

4. Judah became a tribe from which the line of David and many kings descended, included the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Solomon son of David became a very wise, wealthy and great king that was sought out by other rulers like the Queen of Sheba. God promised him wisdom, riches, honor, and a long life if he continued in righteousness, and it was fulfilled. (2 Chron 9:13-29).

6. Esther became Queen of Persia (Est 2:18) and all the Jews in the Persian realm were blessed through her, because through her intervention they were not annihilated.

7. Mordecai became a high official of King Xerxes as well, and the same is true of him that all the Jewish people were blessed by him, just as King Xerxes was blessed when Mordecai reported the two, would-be assassins that intended to kill the king.

8. Daniel became ruler of the province of Babylon 

a) The head prefect over all the wise men there. 
b) He remained through the reign of 5 kings

c) Influenced those kings for the glory of God, and they were blessed through him.
d) He wielded tremendous power and influence
e) He served with great honor and distinction

9. The Lord Jesus - The blessing of Abraham is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the “Seed” of Abraham (Galatians 3:16).

10. The apostle Paul brought the gospel to the entire known Roman world of the first century (Rom 15:19), many people came to know Christ through him, many were healed, delivered from demons, and many churches were planted through him. Many people in Israel also received support from the Gentiles during the famine through the collection that Paul took up and the offering he brought to Jerusalem.

How This All Applies to Us Today
This blessing continues today in the life of every true disciple of Jesus Christ, possessing the faith of Abraham that led him to obey God, since we are descendants of Abraham, the children of promise (Gal 3:7,14, 29; 4:31).

1) The promise to bless us 

a) Blessed spiritually with justification and with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3)

b) Blessed in every area of our temporal and eternal lives

c) “…the land [God promised to Abraham] is the type of the better land; the nation of the spiritual nation, the temporal blessing of the eternal blessing.”

2) The promise that we will have a great name (reputation) 

3) The promise that we would have many descendants, especially spiritual ones

4) God will bless those who bless us

5) God will curse those who curse us 

a) “Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.” (Psa 34:21)

b) Also see Ps 35:1-8, 26

c) “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” (2Th 1:6-7)

6) We will be a blessing to others whom we associate with

a) Not merely a recipient of blessing, but a medium or conduit of blessing to others.

b) Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” So this is not a “bless me” message, but one that clearly has others in mind.

Closing Words
This is the gospel that was announced to Abraham. “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith,” (Gal 3:8-9).

This is what we were redeemed for. “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promised of the Spirit.” (Gal 3:14).

Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Image courtesy of Jan van 't Hoff Dordrecht, copyright 2023 Gospel Images, www.gospelimages.com, used by permission.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: Being Blessable The Afflictions of the Righteous, God Exalts the Humble and Brings Down the Proud, and The "Never" Promises to the Righteous. Also see What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel? You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Peter and the Rooster: A Call to Watch and Pray

We are all familiar with the passage in the gospels where Peter denies Christ despite his emphatic declaration of loyalty and fidelity to Jesus.

"Peter declared, 'Even if all fall away, I will not.' 'Truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.' But Peter insisted emphatically, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And all the others said the same." (Mar 14:30 -31).

Peter and the Rooster

Let's compare and contrast the rooster with Peter, because in doing so we can learn a valuable spiritual lesson. In his article called Why Do Roosters Crow on the website Chicken Scratch, Joseph Hudson writes: 

“As with a vast majority of seemingly-strange animal behavior, one of the primary motivations for roosters to crow is to attract a mate. While our human ears struggle to detect any nuances between calls, scientists have analyzed the crows of distinct roosters and found that each rooster has a slightly different crow.

Thus, many researchers have concluded that the slight changes between each rooster are used as a method of impressing potential mates and out-gunning competing roosters.

The number of changes is extensive. Many roosters like to introduce a warbling effect into the calls as a sign of complexity and health. Further, the length of the song itself will vary between animals. While a rooster’s crow may seem arbitrary to many listeners, they are playing a distinct and repeatable song.

Depending on the rooster, this repetition may occur as often as every two minutes, or as infrequently as every ten. While the studies have not been wholly conclusive, it appears that hens tend to be more quickly attracted to roosters that exhibit longer and more complex songs.

Beyond the complexity of the call, there is also a much simpler variable: volume. One of the key differences in the crows of different roosters is how long they can become. While not always true, a larger rooster can typically produce a higher maximum volume compared to a smaller specimen. Thus, exhibiting a higher volume is a means by which roosters can brag about their size, strength, and health.

This effect is amplified when multiple roosters are within the hearing range of each other. When placed in the vicinity of another rooster, roosters tend to increase the volume of their crowing. This often results in a kind of competition between the males, resulting in a back-and-forth battle with increasing volume each round.

In extreme instances, agitated roosters have been known to damage their lungs or vocal cords in an attempt to out-shine another rooster. They are liable to become so engrossed in outperforming the other, and winning the affection of a mate, that they forget any self-preservation instincts and overwork themselves. While they typically recover from these episodes, the damage can sometimes be permanent.”

Hudson also states in his article:

“Unlike hens, which are primarily communal and docile animals, roosters are fiercely territorial. Thus, marking their territory is one of the primary reasons why a rooster may crow. In any given community, there will be much fewer roosters than hens. Hens often outnumber their male equivalents by over a hundred to one.

Therefore, roosters are allowed to rule a fairly large range of territory. A typical rooster will lay claim to an area of roughly an acre. It considers this range to be its property and will become disturbed if its land is intruded on by another male bird.

Crowing for territorial reasons takes on two forms. A rooster will often seek to remind other birds in the area that a certain portion of land is its territory. This is generally the function of the ‘alarm clock’ morning crowing that roosters are so well known for. When crowing for this reason, a rooster will attempt to find the highest perch possible.

Normally, this will be a tree or fence post. Then, the rooster will project out into its territory. This call normally resembles its mating song, but with even more embellishments added. In fact, territorial marking will often have the secondary effect of attracting a mate.” 

Now consider Peter in the courtyard warming himself among the soldiers with servant girls around. Peter and the soldiers are likened to the roosters and the females are likened to the hens. His protests and denials of being associated with Christ are like the rooster’s crows to mark out its territory. It’s as if Peter is saying, “This is my territory. I do not know Him. I’m not from Galilee.” Just as there is “a kind of competition between the male (roosters), resulting in a back-and-forth battle with increasing volume each round,” likewise, each one of Peter’s denials seemed to increase in intensity like a crescendo. 

Consider how “agitated roosters have been known to damage their lungs or vocal cords in an attempt to out-shine another rooster. They are liable to become so engrossed in outperforming the other, and winning the affection of a mate, that they forget any self-preservation instincts and overwork themselves. While they typically recover from these episodes, the damage can sometimes be permanent.” And consider how Peter became so agitated that he hurt himself spiritually in his attempts to prove he was not Christ’s disciple. 

In Mark's gospel it states:

"While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. 

'You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,' she said. 

But he denied it. 'I don't know or understand what you're talking about,' he said, and went out into the entryway. 

When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, 

'This fellow is one of them.' Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, 

'Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.' 

He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, 'I don't know this man you're talking about.'

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.' And he broke down and wept."(Mar 14:66-72)

You can clearly see the crescendo of denial that reaches its climax when Peter even called down curses on himself and swore to them that he didn't know the Lord. Like a rooster, who becomes engrossed in outperforming the others, Peter was so caught up in not wanting to be seen before them as a follower of Christ, that he forgot any self-preservation instincts and overworked himself to the point of doing permanent damage to his spirit that could only be healed by the Lord.

Consider how the rooster that night had only crowed once by the time Peter had already denied the Lord three times. Roosters typically crow once every two minutes or as infrequently as every ten minutes. Therefore, the time between the rooster’s two crows that night would have been between two and ten minutes. During that short space of time, Peter had already denied the Lord three times, just as the Lord said he would do. As if Peter was in some sort of competition, he outgunned the crow and got out three vehement denials of Christ in that short space of time before the rooster even had a chance to get out a second crow.

In Matthew, Luke, and John’s gospels, they record the Lord saying, “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.” That would have a different meaning than if He had said, "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." Roosters start to crow two hours before the onset of light. This is called anticipatory predawn crowing. Therefore if the Lord had said that Peter would disown him three times before the rooster crows today, that would indicate the imminence of Peter's denial of the Lord, which would even occur a couple of hours before dawn; whereas the statement that he would deny the Lord three times before the rooster crowed twice connotes the quickness with which he would deny the Lord three times in such a very short time span. 

But whether the Lord said the rooster would crow today or the rooster would crow twice, the analogy between Peter’s denials and the rooster’s crow is still valid. And besides, since Peter likely influenced the writing of Mark’s gospel, it is likely that Mark’s record of what Jesus said about the rooster crowing twice is more accurate than the others, since this was spoken directly by Jesus to Peter. He would probably have a better recollection of it than anyone else, since it involved him personally and had such a big impact on his life.

Either way you look at it, essentially the rooster’s crow is coming from its animal nature and not from anything spiritual. In the same way, Peter’s denials came from the baser instincts of his sinful human nature. It shows that no matter how emphatically Peter boasted about his loyalty and faithfulness to Christ, he was still capable of committing such a damnable sin as disowning the Lord whom he loved. If Peter, who loved the Lord so much and was such a passionate follower of Christ, could do this, how much more the rest of us who follow Jesus!

This was no small thing to disown the Lord. For Jesus had warned, “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Mat 10:33). This indicates that one who disowns Christ after having known the Lord cannot be saved unless he repents and asks forgiveness before he dies. Peter certainly repented and was reinstated by Jesus after his resurrection from the dead.

Watch and Pray!
The one thing that could have kept Peter from denying Christ in the first place was prayer. The Lord had told him to watch and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane lest he fall into temptation. He said, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mat 26:41). Peter’s spirit was willing to follow the Lord to prison and even to death, but his flesh was weak. Since he didn’t take the time to pray, his spirit remained weak, and when presented with a strong temptation, he fell into it.

The same goes for all of us who follow the Lord as His disciples. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Because of the sinful nature, we are capable of committing damnable sins that can keep us from heaven. That’s why we must be careful to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation.

On the other hand, Jesus is our perfect example. He always took the time to pray every day, often very early while it was still dark, and even late at night, or throughout the night. And He did so especially on that fateful night, as the disciples slept, yet He prayed intensely all the way through to victory in the garden, surrendering His will to the will of the Father. And when He was confronted with all the temptations that night brought to Him, including His arrest and mock trial before the high priest, He didn't falter a bit. He remained faithful to the Heavenly Father all throughout that ordeal, even as Peter in contrast to Him was outside disowning Him. He was tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin (Heb 4:15). May we all follow in His steps (1 Pet 2:21) by imitating Him and obeying His command to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation.

Attribution: All Scripture taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Excerpts from Why Do Roosters Crow by Joseph Hudson taken from Chicken Scratch website, used for educational and commentary purposes only per the Fair Use Act. Image of Peter Denies Christ also used per the Fair Use Act.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: Sins That Will Keep You From Heaven, Sins of Ignorance,  Sins of Omission, Ask for the Ancient Paths, The False Gospel of Eternal Security, and Seeking Him in the Wee Hours of the Night. You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Christian Perfection

John Wesley

One of my favorite preachers from modern Church history is John Wesley, an English minister who served the Lord during the eighteenth century. He is so well-known that there is no need for much of an introduction. I've been enjoying a book that contains excerpts from his personal journals, which I highly recommend. It is called The Heart of John Wesley's Journal by Percy Livingstone Parker and John Wesley.

Wesley was highly criticized by many people for his message on Christian perfection, and he met with much opposition over it. In fact, he was often verbally and physically assaulted by various mobs and individuals, when he attempted to preach anywhere. In one of his journal entries, he explained what he actually taught about perfection and wondered how anyone, Christian or not, could have any problem with his doctrine if they understood what he meant by it.

Here is how Wesley explained it:

"By Christian perfection, I mean (1) loving God with all our heart. Do you object to this? I mean (2) a heart and life all devoted to God. Do you desire less? I mean (3) regaining the whole image of God. What objection to this? I mean (4) having all the mind that was in Christ. Is this going too far? I mean (5) walking uniformly as Christ walked. And this surely no Christian will object to. If anyone means anything more or anything else by perfection, I have no Concern with it. But if this is wrong, yet what need of this heat about it, this violence, I had almost said, fury of opposition, carried so far as even not to lay out anything with this man, or that woman, who professes it?"

To summarize his five points, they were as follows:

Loving God with All Our Heart
Perfection means loving God with all our heart. Jesus said that this is the greatest commandment: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."(Mat 22:37-38). As Wesley asked, "Do you object to this?"

A Heart And Life All Devoted To God
Perfection means having a heart and life fully devoted to God. Hanani the seer said in Scripture, "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." (2 Chr 16:9a)

Jesus said, "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions." (Luk 14:33, NASB)

And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." (Luk 9:23-24, NASB)

The apostle Paul said, "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." (1Co 7:35)

As Wesley asked, "Do you desire less?"

Regaining The Whole Image Of God
Perfection means having the whole image of God in you restored. God originally created man in His own image. Scripture says, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Gen 1:27). But sin marred the image of God. Yet when any man comes to Christ, the Lord begins to restore the image of God in him. It's true that old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). However, there is an ongoing process of transformation that each follower of Christ goes through. Paul said, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2Co 3:18).

As Wesley asked, "What objection [do you have] to this?"

Having All The Mind That Was In Christ

Perfection means having all the mind that was in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, "For, 'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." (1Co 2:16).  

He also wrote: 

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Php 2:5-11).

Pray that God will give you the mind, the emotions, the attitude, and the humility of Christ. As Wesley asked, "Is this going too far?"

Walking Uniformly As Christ Walked
Perfection is walking consistently as Jesus walked. The apostle John wrote: "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." (1Jn 2:6)

The apostle Peter was in agreement with this when he wrote: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. 'He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.' " (1Pe 2:21-22).

Who can find anything wrong with teaching that we should walk as Jesus walked and follow in His steps? As Wesley said, "Surely no Christian will object to this."

See my article Following in His Steps.

Closing Words

Our Lord has taught us to "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mat 5:48). Obviously he would not command us to do something that was impossible for us. We know that apart from Christ we can do nothing (Jn 15:5), but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). For with God all things are possible (Mt 19:26).

Having learned from Wesley himself what he meant by Christian perfection, and then having discovered the solid Scriptural basis for it, I (like him) really don't see how anyone could disagree with this teaching. It's straight out of the Bible. If anyone means anything more or anything else by perfection than what has been explained in this post, I have no concern with it.

Wesley was honest to admit with the apostle Paul that he had not yet attained to perfection (Phil 3:12). But he used to say that we should not simply expect to attain to perfection only once we have died and gone to heaven, but we should live our lives expecting to be made perfect by the Lord at any hour. Indeed, this is a wonderful thought for all those who -- like Wesley -- are aiming for perfection and desire to attain to it in this lifetime. I hope you will take such a view as well.

Attribution notice: Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Other Scriptures where noted are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright The Lockman Foundation, used by permission. Quote from Wesley's journal taken from The Heart of John Wesley's Journal by Percy Livingstone Parker, (Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2008), 379-380.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: Aim for Perfection, Following in His Steps, Walking in the Perfect Will of God, Called to be Blameless, The Four Tallest Homes in Heaven, The Cost of Discipleship, The Obedience of Faith, Ask for the Ancient Paths, Holy Living in a Perverted World, and Sins That Will Keep You From Heaven. You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Sin of Sodom

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, John Martin, 1852

Do you know what the sin of Sodom was? There was more to it than what you think. I'm going to show you from Scripture what the Lord said their sin was. The context of this was the Lord's words through the prophet Ezekiel to unfaithful Jerusalem in Ezekiel 16. He said:

"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it." (Eze 16:49-50)

Based on this passage of Scripture, here are the sins of Sodom:

Pride and Arrogance 
The first sin that the Lord mentioned was arrogance, which is also translated as "pride" in the King James Version (KJV). It means "making or having the disposition to make exorbitant claims of rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance; haughty; conceited." Not only was Sodom guilty of this sin, but also Jerusalem at the time of her exile in the days of Ezekiel. Later on, even the Church of Laodicea was guilty of this sin. The Lord told them: "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.'" (Rev 3:17, NIV). I believe as many others do that we live in the Laodicean age of the Church, when the Church is lukewarm like that first-century church in Asia was. The Lord's message is still the same.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:15-22, NIV)

The key words are "be earnest and repent."

Gluttony
The second sin of Sodom, according to the Lord was abundant food ("fullness of bread", KJV). This word means "gluttony, which is excess in eating; extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food." Jesus warned us sternly about this sin, when He said, "Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry." (Lk 6:25a, NIV).

The key words are "woe to you." The majority of Americans and other people living in the West are well fed, so let's take heed to the Lord's words.

Idleness
The third sin of Sodom, according to the Lord was careless ease ("idleness", KJV). The English expression "careless ease" comes from two Hebrew words, shâqaṭ and shalvâh. Here are the Strong's definitions of these words:

shâqaṭ - shaw-kat' - to repose (usually figuratively): - appease, idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet (-ness), (be at, be in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still.

shalvâh - shal-vaw' - security (genuine or false): - abundance, peace (-ably), prosperity, quietness.

When these two words are used together, they refer to idleness, in other words they mean taking it easy in a place of plenty. It refers to relaxing and reposing, because of the sense of peace we feel, whether genuine or false, on account of our prosperity. The test of poverty is difficult, but the test of prosperity is much worse, because we can be lulled into a false sense of security. We can become complacent and feel we have no need of God. We can also become ensnared by the material things of this world, too. The proverb says:

"...give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." (Pr 30:9, NIV).

Let's beware of careless ease, because idleness is the devil's workshop. Also see House of Idleness.

Ignoring the Poor and Needy
The fourth sin of Sodom, according to the Lord was that she did not help the poor and needy. Jesus warned about this sin, too, when He spoke about how He will judge the goats when He sits on His glorious throne:

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Mat 25:41-46).

Jesus will tell these people to depart from him into eternal fire. He said they are cursed and will go away to eternal punishment, because of what they didn't do for the least of these. Among the things they didn't do for Him was their failure to satisfy His hunger and thirst, their failure to clothe His nakedness, and their failure to help Him when He was sick or in prison. The key words are whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Jesus.

As the proverb says, "Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered." (Pr 21:13, NIV). Ignoring those in need is essentially a lack of love for one's neighbor, just as the priest and Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37), who passed by the wounded man on the street and did not help him. They did not love their neighbor as themselves, but the Samaritan who stopped and helped the hurt man did have mercy on his neighbor, and that is what pleases the Lord.

Haughtiness
The fifth sin of Sodom, according to the Lord was that they were haughty. That word comes from the Hebrew word gâbahh (gaw-bah').  It means to soar, that is, be lofty; figuratively to be haughty: exalt, be haughty, be high or higher, lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height. Haughty means proud and disdainful; having a high opinion of one's self, with some contempt for others; lofty and arrogant. Haughty comes from haught (Fr., haut), which means high, elevated. As the proverb says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Pr 16:18, NIV). Beware of a proud and haughty spirit. God opposes or resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

Detestable things
The sixth sin of Sodom, according to the Lord was that they did detestable or abominable things before Him. Most of us are aware of the story of how the Lord sent two angels to see if what they had done was as bad as the outcry against them. We know how the two angels stayed at Lot's house, and what the wicked men of Sodom said to Lot when they came looking for the angels. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." (Gen 19:5). The Lord calls this an abomination or a detestable thing.

"'Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." (Lev 18:22)

"'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants." (Lev 18:24-25)

"And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 'Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people." (Lev 18:28-29)

"'If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable..." (Lev 20:13a)

The apostle Paul wrote about these things in his epistle to the Romans:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them...Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another...God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done....Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Rom 1:18-19, 24, 26b-28, 32, NIV).

This is not a phobia toward any one particular type of person, nor is it a bias against any one group of people. The apostle said the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness. That applies to any and all people who do so, not just certain people.

Consequences of Suppressing the Truth
I want to warn you that there are many serious and unpleasant consequences for those who suppress the truth (Rom 1:18) and do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God (Rom 1:28), especially the fact that God gives them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. Paul wrote:

"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy." (Rom 1:28-31)

It affects every area of their lives, just as the Lord said through the prophet Ezekiel about Sodom and Jerusalem. Paul said that they have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. The list Paul gave here is very similar to the one Ezekiel gave as outlined in this post. There is the same arrogance and boasting, the same absence of love and mercy, and the same detestable things. There is also the same greed, which is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.

A Rich Man in Hell

The Lord told us about a certain rich man who lived in luxury every day. He was dressed in purple and fine linen. At his gate a beggar named Lazarus was laid to beg. But the rich man ignored the beggar and when he died, he ended up in hell, but the beggar was at peace and rest. Here is the true story that Jesus told:

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luk 16:19-31).

Hell is real, people! Don't go to that place. Repent now while there is still a chance. Take heed to the warnings in the Scriptures. The rich man was in agony in that place of torment. There is no way out of hell. That rich man is still there in torment to this day and has never had a single drop of water since then. His wish was that someone like Lazarus would be sent from the dead to warn his brothers, who were still alive on earth. However, Abraham refused that request, saying that if his brothers would not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they would not listen even if someone rises from the dead.

In fact, a man named Lazarus was raised from the dead, although not the same Lazarus. This man was the brother of Mary and Martha, and Jesus raised him from the dead after he was in the grave for four days. But the enemies of Christ wanted to kill Lazarus after that, so it obviously didn't make any difference to them, since they would not listen to the Scriptures. Likewise, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day, after they crucified Him on the cross, that didn't get them to repent either. Instead they paid the Roman soldiers that guarded His tomb to lie and say that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole His body from the tomb.

There are in fact many people who have died and experienced hell. I have written about many of them on my Eternal Destinations blog. One of those people I wrote about, who died and went to hell, is Michael Sambo. He has been to my home and eaten a Thanksgiving meal with me and my family. So a man who rose from the dead has in fact come to my home, which is an honor and a privilege. But if I don't listen to the Word of God and take heed to its warnings, then even if a man like that visits my home and warns me about what he saw in hell, it will make no difference.

God's Love for the Sinner
Dear friend, no matter what sins you have committed, I want you to know that Jesus Christ loves you and is seeking you. He came to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). That goes for all of us, no matter who we are or what we've done. A moment ago in this post, I quoted the passage about the rich man in hell from Luke 16, but you have to read the full context of that passage, which is immediately preceded by Luke 15, where the Lord spoke about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. In each case, there was an intense searching or longing to find that which was lost and bring it home. That's the heart of God for the lost sinner. He hates your sin, but He loves you and wants you to come back to Him. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).

Putting it All Together

The Lord warned Jerusalem through the prophet Ezekiel that they had become worse than their sister Sodom. If that is possible for Jerusalem, it is certainly possible today for anyone -- even a church --  to become like this. And we know that even this has already happened, so let this be a wake up call to all of us. Let's take heed to this warning and repent of these sins of Sodom, if we have participated in them: pride and arrogance, a haughty spirit, idleness, gluttony, ignoring the poor and needy, and doing detestable things before the Lord.

Attribution notice: Most Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Scripture quotations taken from the NASB copyright Lockman Foundation, used by permission. The Destruction of Sodom painting is oil on canvas by John Martin 1852, and it is in the public domain.

Author's note: I recommend my article called The Law of Christ, which explains why the teachings of Jesus Christ must be our foundation, and that the teachings of the apostles and prophets must be understood on that basis alone. I also recommend the Sins That Will Keep You from Heaven, The Top Ten Things Jesus Taught, Abominations in the Sight of God, Pope Frances Supports Homosexuality, The Peace and Love I've Come to Know, What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel?, and Sin and Consequence.You may find the Main Directory for the Seeking the Lord blog here.  You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Michael Thomas Sambo's Revelation of Heaven and Hell	Revelation of Hell to Seven Colombian Youths	Angelica Zambrano Hell and Heaven
Godly Attire and Adornment -- Seven Divine Revelations	Only the Holy -- Three Shocking Testimonies	Angelica Zambrano Second Visit to Hell
Walking in the Perfect Will of God	Ibrahim's Experience in Hell	Holy Living in a Perverted World

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.