The Love Of Christ

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes with Jesus. Today’s program is called The Love of Christ. Let’s turn to Rom 8:35-39, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I want to say something; I wasn’t expecting to say this, but don’t think for a minute, if you are serving the Lord with all your heart, if you are obeying Him, you are seeking to follow Him, that those powers and those principalities, and Satan himself, don’t want to cut you off, don’t want to kill you or destroy you. Don’t be deceived. That’s their plan; they want to kill you, they want to destroy you. But they cannot do it, they cannot do it, if you continue in the love of Christ.  Whatever you may suffer for the name of Jesus Christ, if you will remain faithful to Him, even unto death, He has promised you a crown of life! Thank you Lord! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! It is his love wherewith He loved us, in that while we were dead in sins, He came and lived as a man, tempted in every way, yet without sin, and willingly sacrificed Himself on the Cross of Calvary for our sins. Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation, or satisfying agent, for our sins. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing our trespasses unto us. John 3:16-21, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. 2 Cor 5:9-15, I’m going to read from the King James Version. I think it’s better: Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Do we understand that we were all dead in trespasses and sins; we were doomed, without a savior, without hope in the world. But God loved us and sent his Son for us to die for us that we might live. Verse 15, And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. I want to say this: If you will do these things, you will never fail. This is the Word of God that I’m sharing with you. If you will do these things; if you have a willing heart, and you will try, with all your heart, to love the Lord and follow Him, He will uphold you, He will be with you. Believe me. I’ve experienced this. I’ve been following the Lord since 1976. He is faithful! Hallelujah! Eph 2:4-8, But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ; by grace you have been saved, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. It’s not of yourself. God gave his Son for you. He gave his life for you. 

The Lord has made a way for us to continue, and remain in his love. 1 John 2:5, But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  Jesus said, If you love Me, keep my Words. We love Him because He first loved us, and saved us from eternal damnation by the sacrifice of Himself. Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friend. Jesus said, You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Because He loved us so much, and so perfectly, by giving Himself for us, we want to love Him; we want to please Him, and the Father; we want to keep his Words and do what is pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:16-18, By this we know love, because He laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Jesus loved us in deed and in truth. 1 John 4:7-12,   Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Verse 16, And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. It’s not enough to just quote these verses and say how wonderful they are, which they are, but we must do something. In 1 John 5:1-3,  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 

Let’s go to Mat 24:3-14, Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. It is in the love of Christ that we shall endure. As we read in 1 Cor 13, Love endures all things. We are living in the days of Mat 24 and 2 Tim 3. Let’s go there. Verses 1-5, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! These are the days that we are living in. Men are definitely lovers of themselves, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasures, and all these unholy and ungodly things are abounding in the Earth. How shall we endure? It is in the love of Christ that we shall endure. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into this. If we are already in it; if you are already in this, if you will be honest with yourself and say to God the truth about the way you are, if you are this way; if you love yourself, if you love money, if you love your pleasures more than God, be honest with Him. If you are willing to repent, He will receive you; you can repent; you can come to God. He came to save sinners! All of us have been this way. He came to save us and deliver us. 1 John 2:15-17, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. If you love the Lord; if you love the Father, you will want to do his will, and He will help you. He will help you. His commandments are not burdensome. He will help you to keep his Words if you are willing.

How do we keep ourselves in the love of Christ? Let’s turn to Jude 1:20&21,  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. As you continue to build yourself up on your most holy faith, continuing in the Word of God and praying in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit will lead you to overcome evil in your life. He will make intercession for you. He will lead you to forgive people you’ve never forgiven. He will lead you in doing good to others, even to those who hate you. He will lead you in showing mercy that you may receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Heb 3:12-14,   Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called today,  lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. We must understand that we ourselves can separate ourselves from the love of Christ by hardening our hearts, by loving the world, loving ourselves and our pleasures more than God and turning away from Him. Then we will experience the severity of God. Jesus is the judge of all mankind, as well as our Savior, and He has promised that He is going to give unto everyone of us according to our works. Don’t be deceived by all the lies. Stay in the Word of God. Keep yourselves in the love of God, praying in the Holy Spirit, looking unto the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. If we will do that, nothing can separate us from Him, and from his love.

 A New Creation

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is called A New Creation. Let’s turn to 2 Cor 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Let’s turn to 1 Pet 1:1-5, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Verse 13-25, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.  And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and it’s flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 

The Gospel is that God so loved the world that He sent his only beloved Son to come into this world and live as a man; to be tempted in every way as we are, yet He never yielded; He never sinned. That’s why John the Baptist called Him the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. So Jesus, because He never sinned, because He was tempted as a man, He was able to offer Himself on the Cross for our sins. He literally paid the price for our sins. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. Sin is the transgression of the Law; God’s holy Law that He gave. And the Law was given that all the world might become guilty before God. But God gave His Son to deliver us from all our sins; to deliver us from sin. He took away our sins; they were laid on Him on the Cross. He died for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day the Father raised Him from the dead; justified Him from all that sin that was laid on Him; justified us; those of us who will repent of our sins and believe on Him and be baptized into his death. When you’re baptized in water, you’re baptized into his death; you’re buried with Him, and you’re raised with Him in newness of life; you become a new creation in Christ. Jesus Christ comes to dwell in your heart by faith. In Rom 10 it says, If you confess Jesus as your Lord, and believe that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved. In Gal 4 it says, Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba, Father. Jesus Christ comes to dwell in your heart. Jesus Christ comes to dwell in you! If you are born again; born of the Spirit, Jesus Christ is in you; you are in Him. You belong to Him. He purchased you with his own Blood. He sacrificed his life. The Bible says He loved us and He gave Himself for our sins; He washed us from our sins in his own Blood. We belong to Him; we are not our own. We are a new creation in Jesus Christ. 

Then He gave us the Holy Spirit; that we may be led by the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples. Jesus told them before then to wait in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Then you shall be my witnesses. The Bible says in Romans 8, They that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. So what are we? A new creation in Jesus. Jesus Christ is in us. We have repented; we have turned from our sins. His Blood washed away all our past sins. Now we are led by the Holy Spirit. In 1 John it talks about if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. So we are walking in the light with Him; continuing in the light. Jesus said, If you continue in my Word you will be my disciples indeed, you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. So we are continuing in his Word, in the Holy Spirit. In 1 John 2:27 it says, You have no need that any man teach you; but the  anointing, the Holy Spirit that you have received dwells in you and He teaches you all things and is truth and is no lie. So the Holy Spirit teaches you the Word as you continue in the Word; continue reading the Word of God and asking God for understanding, He will reveal it to you by his Spirit and teach it to you. And then He’ll lead you to walk in it, and as you do that, the Word of God is washing you and cleansing you. You’re being cleansed; you’re being sanctified by the Spirit and by the Word of God. You’re becoming a new creation; you are a new creation, but you’re being perfected; you’re being sanctified; you’re being washed, as you continue to yield to the Holy Spirit. You learn to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. Jesus said, If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me every day. This is not religion! This is a new creation in Jesus Christ!; following Him, not man’s religion, not man’s doctrines, not man’s rules and regulations. It’s following Jesus. It’s being led by the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out, Amen! John the Baptist said, I baptize you with water, but there’s one coming after me whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire! And if you read through the Book of Acts: the disciples heard the Gospel, they repented of their sins, they were baptized; their sins were washed away in water; they were baptized for the remission of sins; they were baptized into the death of Jesus; raised with Him in newness of life; and then the Apostles, in many cases, laid hands on them and prayed for them and they received the Holy Spirit; they spoke with other tongues. Sometimes they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and then they were baptized in water. But they received the Holy Spirit and they were led by the Holy Spirit. They that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. 

Let’s turn to Rom 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. You were not saved to walk in the flesh and go to Heaven. That is a lie of the devil. That is a lie of man’s religion. That is false grace that is being taught, and has been taught for many years. The righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us who do not walk according to  the flesh, but according to the Spirit. You were saved to become a new creature in Christ; born again; Jesus Christ dwelling in you; you abiding in Him; you keeping his Words; you being filled with the Holy Spirit and being led by the Holy Spirit to do the will of the Father. Verse 5, For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, do you understand that? If you walk in a carnal mind, if you walk according to your carnal mind you will die. but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God. You see, the Holy Spirit will lead you to fulfil the righteous requirement of the Law. You don’t even need to think about the Law. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to do anything contrary to the Word of God. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. We live to please God. We have come to God. God has saved us. God sacrificed his Son on that Cross to save us. You know what He saved us from? His wrath! His wrath is going to send many people to the Lake of Fire to be tormented day and night forever and ever because they would not repent of their sins; they would not turn to Him and receive his love, and receive the sacrifice of his Son. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Paul said, I’m crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. If you were baptized in water, in faith in Jesus Christ, you’re crucified with Him. You no longer live. He lives in you. You follow Him; every day you take up your cross and you follow Him, and He leads you in his good way, and sometimes it means suffering, suffering. You must suffer for his name’s sake that you may be a partaker of his resurrection. Amen! Thankyou Lord! Thankyou Lord!  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. That’s the resurrection. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

So what does the devil tell you? You won’t die. You won’t die; you’re under grace. You’re saved. You can live in the flesh and go to Heaven. Jesus took care of everything. That’s not what the scripture says. The scripture says, If you live according to the flesh you will die. And if you look in Galatians 5, it talks about the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh. If any of those works of the flesh are continuing in your life, and you’re not even interested in repenting, you are living according to the flesh, and you will die, eternally. Jesus said, in Matthew 7, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Not everyone who comes to Me and says, Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but they that do the will of my Father. How do we do the will of the Father? We take up our cross every day. We lay down our own wills. We yield to the Spirit of God. We are a new creation in Christ. Jesus Christ is in us. He’s leading us by the Spirit to do the will of the Father, and we follow Him. We hear his voice. We follow Him. Amen! And He leads us in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake to purify us and cleanse us, to perfect us, to sanctify us. He’s creating a holy people; sanctified by the Word of God, by the Holy Spirit, Amen! Washed in the Blood of the Lamb white as snow! Amen! Holiness, without which no man will see the Lord. Peter said, Be you holy as He is holy. None of these things that I am talking about are impossible. What makes it hard is when we don’t want to yield to God. We want to do what we want to do. That’s what’s hard. And so we have to lay ourselves down. We have to be honest with God and say, Lord, I don’t want to do this! You know I’m stubborn. You know I want to do what I want to do. But I see that that’s not right; that I’m going to perish if I won’t surrender my life to you; and come to Him. Surrender everything to Him. Yield to Him. He loves you! He proved it. He gave Himself for you on that Cross! That Cross; that took place 2,000 years ago! That’s not a religious fairy tale. Jesus came here and loved you and gave Himself for you. Turn to Him now with all your heart, and become a new creation in Christ, and let Him lead you by his Spirit to do the will of the Father. And for the things that you have done in obedience to God you will receive eternal rewards! God loves you. God bless you.

 When The Hedge Comes Down

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is called When The Hedge Comes Down. Let’s turn to Job 1:1-22,  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did regularly. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? So Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face! And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; and a messenger came to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you! While he was still speaking, another also came and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you! While he was still speaking, another also came and said, The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you! While he was still speaking, another also came and said, Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you! Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Of course we know, after this, that Satan came again and the Lord gave him permission to strike his body, and he struck him with sore boils from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, yet He did not allow him to take his life. And so Job suffered greatly, and his three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, and each one came from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. And Job had a long conversation with his three friends. Why did God let this happen to Job? We find out in Chapter 32, verse 1. So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.  Job 33:8&9, Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. Verse 12, Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. So we see clearly that Job was righteous in his own eyes. KJV, Behold, in this you are not just; I will answer you, that God is greater than man. Do we understand this, after all that has been happening here in America and around the world since September 11, 2001?; That God is greater than man, or do we still trust in our own way, saying how great and proud we are? Job 38:1-7, Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 40:1-14,  Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord and said: Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like his? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, bind their faces in hidden darkness. Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you. 

God always has a purpose in letting His hedge of protection to come down; with a person, with a family, with a city, or with a nation. There is a purpose. It is founded in his love. In his judgement He remembers his mercy, as it is written in Habakkuk 3:2, O Lord, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O Lord-, revive your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. And if we will humble ourselves, as it is written in 2 Chron 7:14, we will receive his correction. his purpose is not to destroy us, but to correct us, that He might bless us in the days to come. God has prepared great judgements which are prophesied in his Word, which are coming forth even now in our lifetime. He has prepared great salvation for us all in the gift of his Son Jesus Christ, who suffered for our sins on the Cross at Calvary; that we might be saved from our sins, and changed into his image from faith to faith and glory to glory; that we might some day enter into his glorious Kingdom to dwell with Him forever. He has also prepared his wrath for the day of wrath which will come upon and destroy all those who reject the great gift of his Son who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. It is not his will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. If we will repent and turn to Him with all our hearts, He will forgive us and cleanse us and change us, and give unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

Why did God let the hedge come down on Job? It was because of his self righteousness. God dealt with him in a very severe way, and he was brought to true repentance. Then the Lord blessed him twice as much as before: Job 42:10-17,  And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days. 

Why did God let the hedge come down on America on September 11, 2001? He had a purpose, founded in his love, to deal with our pride and our wickedness. And, as many have testified that were there that day in New York City, He had mercy on many people and saved many people’s lives. Yet the pain and the loss and the anguish is still there in many hearts. Many hearts and lives have been changed; many have been corrected and brought to repentance, but many have returned to their pride and rebellion against God and have not been changed. What about our nation? How have we changed? Did we turn back to God after 911?, or have we continued on as a nation in our wicked, corrupt ways. Many other judgements have come since 2001. Have we listened? Have we changed?  We must understand that, according to the Words of the Prophets and our Lord Jesus Christ, there is much more shaking yet to come in the Earth. Do we understand this; that God is greater than man? 

Why did God let the hedge down in 2020 with the CoronaVirus  pandemic? Never in the history of the world has the whole world been forced to stay in their houses. When the plague began the Father told me, I put this plague in the Earth, and I am watching my people to see if they will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways. In 2 Chron 13&14, God said, that if we will do so, then He will hear from Heaven and He will heal our land. This is the answer people! We must humble ourselves when the hedge comes down, and turn to God with all our hearts. If we will do that, we will find grace in his sight, and He will have mercy in the midst of his judgement. Turn to Him Church! Turn to Him America! Consider the times we are living in, and understand the days that are coming, according to the Words of Jesus and the Prophets. God has promised that before Jesus returns He is going to shake all things, that only those things that cannot be shaken will remain: all creatures, all the hills and mountains, all the seas, all the towers and great buildings, and all the economies, and all the great men of the Earth, and all nations. The only thing that will not be shaken is the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all those who are truly trusting in Him, and walking with Him in obedience to his Word. Let’s turn to Mat 7:24-27, Jesus said, Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Let’s turn to Heb 12:22-29, But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, YET ONCE MORE I SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO HEAVEN. 

Now this, YET ONCE MORE, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. 

Why did God let the hedge down in my life? Several years ago, while I was working in remodeling, I had a shop with a garage door and two padlocks. One day I pulled up to the shop and the door was down and both locks were missing. Not only that, but over $2,000 worth of tools and equipment were missing.  God truly let the hedge down that day, and it shook me very much. I was shaken, but He had a purpose. I was going in a wrong direction spiritually and I was already getting in bondage. Through that experience I was brought to repentance and deliverance from that bondage and in the midst of it God had great mercy on me. My landlord was also a contractor and he loaned me whatever tools I needed to keep on going in my work until I could replace them. The last tool was a chop saw which I replaced a year later. A friend of mine sold me a compressor and a table saw for $60. I was shaken. I was greatly shaken, but it was for my good. 

 Labor Of Love

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. I want to thank the Lord for giving me this program. Well over a year ago He gave me this program, and He’s been faithful to me every week to give me a program; to give me words to share with you. So these words are from the Lord: I do not spend time trying to think up something to say. I spend time seeking the Lord for what He would have me say. Today’s program is called Labor Of Love. Let’s turn to 2Thess 3:6-16,  But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. Let’s turn to 1 Thess 4:9-12, But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. Let’s go to Col 3:23-25, And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. Verse 17, And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Verse 22, Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. Eph 4:28,  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. There are different ways to steal. 

Paul and the Apostles labored so as not to be a burden to others. They set the example. God will give you good work to do and bless you in your work as you do it with all your heart unto Him; as you give in obedience to Him. In Genesis, chapter 3, God told Adam, In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken, for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. God ordained in the beginning that we must labor in order to eat. People that labor to find a way to eat without laboring are against the ways of God. They end up in witchcraft, manipulating others to provide for them, or in thefts. In the beginning God put Adam in the Garden and commanded him to dress it; to care for it and to keep it; cultivate it.  Gen 2:15, Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. In 2 Thess:3 we read, if any would not work, neither should he eat.

The first thing that God did with me, when I got saved in 1976, was put me to work. Up until that time I had had part time jobs here and there, but I never was able to keep a steady job. I was too interested in my own pleasures. But after I got saved, God put me to work. It was the first thing He did. He started me working in construction in Estes Park, CO. And God blessed me in my work. When I started, with this particular man, a contractor in Estes Park, I decided that I really liked the work, but I had no idea how to do carpentry work. And, so, on the way home one night from work I prayed and I asked God to give me the gift of carpentry. I had one son, and another one on the way, and I asked Him to do that so I could support my family. That’s how I prayed. And you know what, God answered me, and He blessed me, and He began to teach me and give me understanding how to do it; how to do carpentry and construction. He blessed me and He was with me in my work for over 40 years. He blessed me with many good jobs and good customers. The labor that I did, with all my heart, striving for excellence, was a blessing to them, as well as to me, and to those to whom I gave out of my earnings. 

Let’s turn to Acts 20:32-35, So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. In the parable of the talents Jesus said to the man who had 10 talents, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. Do you think it might take some work, even in a glorified body, to rule over 10 cities? God has work for us to do, and it is glorious, but first we must be found faithful in the smaller tasks that He has given us. Matt 25:24-30, Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. 

But his lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Bible says that if you won’t provide for your own household, you are worse than an infidel, or unbeliever, and you have denied the faith. Are you faithful on your job? Don’t complain and murmur and speak wickedly about your employer or your coworkers, but, rather, be thankful for them, love them, and do good, and serve them, and God will bless you, and you will overcome. Let’s turn to 1 Pet 2:11-25, Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 

For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 

Jesus said, If you have not been found faithful in that which is another man’s, who will give you that which is your own. Are you faithful with money? Can you manage $500.00 and not waste it on your desires? Jesus said, If you have not been found faithful with the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? So the Bible says labor with your hands, doing that which is good, that you may have to give to those that are in need. It is a great blessing to have work given to you by God, and to do it with all your heart, faithfully unto Him. I’m reminded of the beautiful picture in the Book of Ruth: when Boaz, a man of strength and wealth, a righteous man, is coming in the morning by his fields, and he calls out to the workers in the field, The Lord be with you!, and they answered him, The Lord bless you! I always picture it as a beautiful sunny morning, with the sun reflecting on the dew of the grass; just a beautiful picture. Ruth was there that day and she labored faithfully in Boaz’s field, and she obeyed his instructions. She also obeyed her mother in law, Naomi, and she soon became Boaz’s wife, and the great grandmother of King David!  It all came through faithful labor and obedience and the blessing of the Lord that was upon Boaz for his faithfulness and labor and kindness to those who worked for him. So rejoice to do the work that God wants you to do, even if it’s not something you want to do. Humble yourself and be faithful in that work, and the time will come when the Lord will bless you with something better. Meanwhile, as you do that job He has given you faithfully, He will bless you in that work. God may want you to quit being a scammer and a schemer and to go clean toilets for a while. If you will humble yourself and obey Him and do it with all your heart unto Him, He will bless you in it, and through it, and He will change you; you will become a more humble and gracious person, and more of a blessing to others. He will send people into your workplace to talk to them about Jesus and His love for them. If we will be faithful and obedient with what He gives us, there is no telling what God might do in our lives.  In 1 Cor 2:9, it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

The most important thing about this is love. Let your work be a labor of love, for God, for the people you are working for,  and for your family, as you labor to provide for them. Let yourself become a servant to your Lord, to your boss, to your coworkers, to your loved ones, and to the poor and needy. If you are laboring out of self love, only for yourself; manipulating and oppressing others just to get your money and power and fame, it is all in vain and you are cursed; you are not blessed and you are not a blessing. But there is still hope, if you will consider what I am saying and humble yourself before the Living God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy, and turn from your wicked ways, and do the work that He wants you to do with all your heart unto Him. Stop using all your wisdom and strength to manipulate people and work the system so you don’t have to labor, and you can live off of other people’s labors. Start seeking God for the work He would have you do, and for His wisdom and love to work through you to be a great blessing to others, so that someday you can greet those who are working for you or with you saying, The Lord be with You! And they will answer, The Lord bless you! And you and they will be truly blessed.