️“And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.”
II Kings 17:25
“So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, “So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.””
II Kings 17:26
“Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.””
II Kings 17:27
“Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.”
II Kings 17:28
“They feared the LORD,yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.”II Kings 17:33
It is dangerous for Christians to not know and fear The Lord in this day and age, and amongst the nations.
To fear God means to honour, revere, respect, obey, and love God.
In relation to this scripture God’s chosen nation became very very stubborn, despite the fact that The Lord was very very angry with them.
They were reluctant to fear God despite having a priest within their midst showing them the way to serve and fear God.
The scripture says they feared God, yet they still served other gods.
That is the perfect example of a lukewarm Christian today.
A Christian that is willing to serve God, but unwilling to let go of the many idols within their heart.
And though it is very unlikely that The Lord will send lions to destroy lukewarm Christians because of His divine mercy, and grace through His Son Jesus Christ who like the priest in Bethel has shown us the way to live to please God, and acts as a Mediator constantly interceding on our behalf, God is still a God of judgement, and He Himself promises to spit out the lukewarm from His mouth.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”
I Timothy 2:5
“who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,”
I Timothy 2:6
““I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.”
Revelation 3:15
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Revelation 3:16
It is a privilege and an honour to be able to worship at His throne, worship is also another form of fearing The Lord.
In the days of old God’s chosen nation could not just come into His presence anyhow, they could not enquire nor seek of Him anyhow.
In the days of old the children of God would need a priest, a prophet, or a seer in order to hear from God or even to see His glory.
The process was very long, so you can imagine how chaotic it must have been when the children of God was without a priest.
We are privileged because we have a Friend, and His Name is called Jesus Christ.
JESUS Christ is the Living Word, through Him we can see and know God.
There is no other way.
There are things that we must rid from our hearts in order to please God, and that’s just speaking out from all honesty and Truth.
If we do not fear the Lord then it is impossible for us to see God, because if we fear Him we need to be transparent before Him.
“Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?””
John 14:5
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6
““If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.””
John 14:7
Children of God these people involved themselves in many abominable acts, because they turned to worship false idols.
Let me share with you some if not all of the abominable acts that they committed before God.
“So they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.”
II Kings 17:16
“And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.”
II Kings 17:17
I read this scripture with an open heart, because such things believe it or not are still happening today.
Do you know that there are many Christians who still worship God and false gods at the same time, and they see nothing wrong with it?
Do you know that there are Christians who follow The Word of God, yet practice witchcraft all at the same time?
Believers, we better believe that in this very day and age it is happening.
These things did not just happen in the Old Testament you know, even in the New Testament after Jesus had died to save us all.
“Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.”
Acts 19:26
“So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed,whom all Asia and the world worship.”
Acts 19:27
“Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!””
Acts 19:28
“And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?”
Acts 19:35
Do you know that many Christians are even unaware that they are falsely worshipping idols, even in the church?
I am telling you now that it is an abomination according to the Word of God to worship any and every statue.
It is an abomination to worship anything in the host of heaven, it is an abomination to worship any Saint.
We are called to worship God, and God alone.
I read this scripture with an open heart, because for me it is only by His grace,
but that being said I must search my heart there are things that you and I do that is also abominable before God simply because it is a sin,
and all sin is sin, and sin no matter how big or small it may be can never and will never please God.
These people were stubborn, they were not ready to turn away from sin.
Are you going to tell me that there are things that you have not found difficult to let go of in order to please God?
Please, let’s be honest here.
Pray that you will never be comfortable in sin, because when you become comfortable in sin you will be trapped in iniquity.
Iniquity is dangerous.
Let me explain to you the dangers of iniquity.
“He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.”
Psalms 111:9
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”
Psalms 111:10
David the psalmist, was a man after God’s own heart because he was a man that worshipped God in Spirit and in Truth.
One day, David fell into the sin of lust, this sin led to adultery, coveting, and murder.
That is iniquity.
When one sin leads to the other, when one is so far gone in sin that they do not even realise it.
So David, prayed and repented and in psalm 51 we see the transparency of David, He asks God to blot out his iniquities.
David’s prayer moves God, but he allows the baby that he had with the lady he committed adultery with to die.
And even though God forgives David, his bloodline is also affected by his sins. David faces many trials but God never hands him over to death.
We notice though that his own son Absalom, which David seems to love is after his own life.
And Solomon, the most wisest and richest man to have ever lived is affected by this same sin of his father, lust.
Solomon is famously known for having many wives, an addiction that destroyed his countenance.
Iniquity is not something to be played around with, pray to God to help you because His grace is sufficient enough.
Even if you are so far gone in sin, The Lord is more able than able to deliver you out from it but that is only if you are willing to let go.
I gave you an example of a great man of God, that was a king but he was also human like you and I.😊
I am a firm believer that in order for us to fear God we must be transparent before Him.
“Also the children of Israel secretly did against the LORD their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city.”
II Kings 17:9
Secrecy, and hypocrisy the greatest ways for Christians to be trapped by satan.
It is also the easiest ways for Christians to be blinded by satan.
Do you know that the more we try to hide our sins from God the more we build a wall around our hearts,
and by doing so we make it difficult for God’s love, grace, and mercy to penetrate through.
Children of God this nation chosen by God built high places, and towers of sin and they chose to dwell in it.
Isn’t it amazing how God created us, yet He gave us free will.
On so many occasions God grew angry and frustrated with His people,
and out of His anger for their choice to disobey Him He would simply destroy, cast them out of His presence,
or wipe them out.
But how long could God keep on doing this?
Because the stubbornness of the people was ongoing, and that is why He sent His redeemer to come and restore what was lost.
Believers, unfortunately up until this day we are still stubborn, but it is really only by His grace, and through the redemption of the Blood of Jesus Christ that God has not sent lions to destroy some of us.
Followers of Christ, I am just keeping it real.
Oh God have mercy, forgive us and help us to obediently walk in Your ways.🙏
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”
Matthew 6:9
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11
“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12
“And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:13❤️🙏
“If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?”
Psalms 130:3
“But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.”
Psalms 130:4
King of kings, Majesty.God of heaven living in me.Gentle Savior, closest Friend.Strong Deliverer, beginning and end.All within me falls at Your throne.Your Majesty,
I can but bow.I lay my all, before You now.In royal robes, I don’t deserve.I live to serve Your Majesty.️❤🙌
“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.”
Zechariah 3:1
“And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?””
Zechariah 3:2
“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.”
Zechariah 3:3
“Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.””
Zechariah 3:4
“And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.”
Zechariah 3:5
“Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying,”
Zechariah 3:6
““Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.”
Zechariah 3:7
Thank God that we can boldly stand before His throne of Grace, because of The price that Jesus paid, because we have been redeemed by The Blood of The Lamb we are NOT guilty, but we have been set FREE from the bondage of the accuser,
and through Jesus Christ we are no longer condemned!
Hallelujah!
By His stripesWe are healed,Bu His nail pierced Hands we’re free.By His BloodWe’re washed clean,Now we have the victory.The power of sin is broken,
Jesus over came it all!He has won our freedom,JESUS has won it all!Hallelujah!You have won the victory.Hallelujah!You have won it all for me!Death could not hold You down.
You are the risen King.Seated in Majesty.You are the risen King!❤🙌️🙏
Thank God that we have the power to rebuke the devourer!
We are overcomers!
Every high thing must come down!Every stronghold shall be broken.You wear the Victors crown.You have overcome, You have overcome!🔥🙌️🙏
Before Thy mercy seat, O Lord,Behold, Thy servants stand,To ask the knowledge of Thy word,The guidance of Thy Hand.
William H. Bathurst
The Lord our God will lead the way.
Deuteronomy 1:30
DaFruits 
Great post, more Grace and God bless you for sharing.👏🏽🎤❤️
Aww thank you MOG, God bless you 🙂 ❤