#2 WHY ARE THE HEAVENS BRASS AND THE EARTH IRON?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Deut. 28:23
Psa. 107:15,16, 17
Deut.28:23, And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth under thee shall be iron.
Psalms 107:15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16. For He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
WHY ARE THE HEAVENS BRASS? DEAF, UNYIELDING, BRAZEN, LITTLE REWARD, UNFRUITFUL, COLD.
Have you ever prayed and felt like God didn’t hear a word you said?
Your emotions can play spiritual games in your head?
David says: "God is here and everywhere I have been God is there."
In a few chapters, David said, "Where are you God, why have You deserted me?"
The difference was not God, the difference was David’s emotions.
YoYo Christianity is not good.
We need to honestly evaluate:
"Why am I here?"
"How can I get back to where God wants me?" (refer to previous part on evaluation)
Heaven never closes, but we can fall from where God wants us; and thus have the effect of the appearance that God is some distance away. But, remember, you decide the distance at which you follow God.
Brass heavens are not God’s creation. Brass heavens / iron earth are man’s creation.
AND THE EARTH IRON? INFLEXIBLE, RIGID, FIRM, UNWILLING, SLAVISH, HARD, INSENSITIVE, IMMOVABLE.
Then there are times or seasons in which we walk, that we feel so alone, even in a crowd?
There are seasons when there is no joy at work?
There are seasons when your calling can become a burden?
There are times that your friends just don’t understand what you are experiencing?
There are seasons you feel like your "help mate" is cold, and the grass looks greener?
There are times that sleep and rest elude you?
You go through long seasons where it seems nobody cares and appreciates you at all?
This is all lies from the enemy.
God loves you. You never walk alone.
Your church, family, and friends love you.
They just fail to communicate this like they should.
While there are curses throwing dark shadows, God has a promise, previously mentioned.
The Holy Spirit is the ever present help in a time of trouble and HE will comfort and guide us to the Rock that is higher than we could ever reach.
Let’s do a quick review:
WHAT ARE THE OUTWARD SIGNS?
Often we cannot see spiritual problems with our eyes.
Often a friend may see we are experiencing a cold season, but they don’t know what to do.
Job’s friends cared, but they enlarged the hurt.
In a brass heaven and iron earth time frame, don’t look to people for the answers. Look beyond.
Here are some physical signs that could be triggers to brass heavens and the iron earth.
(All from Deut. 28)
1. vs.13, head vs tail; when we have authority problems and always seem behind and left out.
2. vs. 16, city / field; there is no contentment and joy any where we go.
3. vs 17, basket / store; when there is never enough to go around.
4. vs 18, fruit--body, spiritual; you seem barren and dry and empty.
5. vs 19, coming/going; you move from place to place and never find any answers or contentment.
6. vs 25, run 7 ways; you never address or correct any habits, you develop a run away spirit. This grows into a quitting spirit.
7. vs 27, no healing; you stay sore, weary, tired, weakened, under attack. 8. vs 28, madness /anger; this spirit of anger grows rapidly today. Our minds have no rest, we have fits, out of control, bad moods, and loose tongues.
9. vs 29, not prospering; little success, chasing rainbows, little growth / increase, failure to thrive.
10. vs 29, oppression; to be weighed down, spirit of heaviness, burdened in spirit and mind.
11. bondage again; (Romans 8:15; Gal. 4:9)
12. in want; (Psalms 23:1)
13. unfaithfulness; (1 Cor. 4:2)
14. powerlessness; (2 Tim.3:5)
15. discouragement on every hand; (Num. 32:9)
16. fault finding, disappointment in all;( Phil. 4:7--8)
17. spirit of complaining/ unthankful (2 Tim. 3:2)
We must identify the external signs of spiritual problems.
Painting the pump will not purify the water.
There is a big difference in white washing and washing white.
Let us search and see if we appear to be fighting brass heavens and the iron earth. If so let us correct our problems and open the windows of heaven.
WHY DOES THE EARTH SEEM AS IRON AND THE HEAVEN AS BRASS?
WHY DOESN’T GOD HEAR? Let us learn as we evaluate our daily walk, where we fall short and correct the problems.
#1. WRONG MOTIVES.
(James 4:3; James 5:16)
God knows man’s heart. Often we pray for the easiest road, not the best road. We can be spiritually greedy and selfish. Is the reason to pray for healing just to be pain free? Or is it greater works and testimony? There is a spirit that grows, that prays for more toys and not tools. Many desire the spiritual gifts, but have little to do with the fruit of the Spirit? Search your motives well. To open heaven we need the proper motives. Don’t try to bribe God.
#2. SIN IN THE CAMP. (PSA. 66:18; HOSEA 5:6; JOB 7:20)
How sad is the story of Achan? Achan cost a temporary defeat and a loss of innocent life. Sin destroys nations. Sin is contagious. Sin has tolerance built into it -- sin is never satisfied, a little more? Sin takes you farther than you planned on going! Sin keeps you longer than you planned on staying! Sin cost you more than you planned on paying! Ask Samson about the cost of playing with sin? Sin creates brass heavens and an iron earth.
#3. NO COMPASSION.
( PROV. 21:3, MAT. 25:43; MAT. 5:7)
1 John 3:17, warns about closing our bowels of compassion. We must do more than say -- "BE THOU WARMED AND FED." The world has sympathy, we need love and compassion back in the church. No compassion and love closes the windows of heaven.
#4. DIVISION IN THE HOME.
(1 PETER 3:7; AMOS 3:3; MAT. 18:19)
One of the quickest ways to release demonic activity is fighting and fussing, demanding your way or the highway, and a spirit of arguing and debating. Peter warns us of hindered prayers. Today the home and the church have become battle grounds and strife grows. This is not pleasing to our Father. Bury your ax, and not in their head. For Christ sake forgive... Eph. 4:32, be kind and tenderhearted. Is this the hill that you want to die on?
#5. UNFAITHFULNESS.
( JAMES 1:66-7; 1 COR. 4:2; REV. 2:10)
Today Sunday School is optional. Church’s are blessed if they have 50% attendance in S.S. Our kids will pay dearly for the lack of the learning and reacting in S.S. Church attendance is not optional if the Bible is true, Heb. 10:25??? What excuse will merit eternal values? Be faithful.
Many program leaders are unfaithful to support other programs. Unfaithfulness can breed brass heavens and iron earth.
#6. DOUBT AND UNBELIEF.
(MAT. 13:58; MARK 9:24)
Doubt takes many avenues. Today many churches worship worship and praise praise. We seek entertainment and TV personalities to tickle the ears. Doubt is why hell grows daily. Thinking we have plenty of time is a type of doubt. Even Jesus could not do many mighty miracles because of their doubt and unbelief. Lord, I believe --- help my unbelief.
#7. APATHY, I DON’T CARE, NO FEAR.
( PROV. 1:28; REV. 3:16; 2 KINGS 13:19)
We get excited about ball games, but we worship at church lacking feeling and emotions. Indifference and confusion hinder. Lukewarmness is very dangerous. The person that needs your love the most deserves it the least. The stream has many dams hindering the flow of God. We need a healthy fear of God and keeping His commandments--- or we will face a brass heaven and iron earth.
#8. BITTERNESS AND UNFORGIVENESS.
(MAT. 5:23-24; MAT. 6:14)
I am a people person. I travel many miles, the greatest obstacle in the church to day is how a bitter spirit grows within the camp. Cliques, small exclusive groups, gather in the corners and look for God. We hide the root of bitterness (Heb. 12:12--15) deep in the ground. A man that loves not, is as a murderer? How can we love God, when we can’t love each other? Petty, greedy personalities push the simple, and division thrives. If you ever desire forgiveness, you better make an offering of forgiveness. Leave the gift on the altar. We must deal with bitterness. People disappoint people, get out of the vomit and head home.
#9. STUBBORNNESS AND REBELLION.
(1 SAM.15:22; PSA. 32:9; PSA. 78:8; ACTS 7:51)
Unyielding, rebelliousness closes heaven. Why be mulish? Difficult to handle? Deaf to reason? Why refuse to see the other side? Why not open communication lines? We need no more pigheads! Do you demand your way, or the highway? Do you oppose authority? Do you resist change? Are you part of every mutiny? Do you like the taste of blood?
#10. DISOBEDIENCE AND LACK OF SUBMISSION.
(DEUT. 1:45; 1 SAM. 15:22)
Do you tell God, or can He tell you? I want a divorce no matter the cost? Do you search for trophies and applause of others? Where is the humble, meek servant that will do the little things? Your house is clean, while there are cobwebs at God’s house? Who will love cleaning the commodes at church? Submission is a dirty word in the enemy’s dictionary. We come as a little child. Be quick to see the need and respond in love.
We have established God has given you a promise. The enemy would love to keep you from receiving God’s promise, but you hold that key. The spiritual problem of brass heavens and the iron earth are up to you, and this is established by your daily choices.
The heavens are never brass. God welcomes you to pray and study His Word. Psalms 107:20 He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
The heavens may appear to be deaf at times but this is deceit.
21 long days, 21 hard days, 21 cold days, but God had a plan...
Daniel 10:12 says, the very first day Daniel prayed God heard his prayer and sent the answer.
There was a battle in the heavens. The answer finally arrived. But for 21 days, Daniel thought, there was brass heavens.
The victory finally came. Daniel 10: 18- 20, the angel strengthened Daniel. The angel prepared Daniel ... the angel had a word from God ---
"Daniel, fear not --- peace be unto you --- Be strong --- be strong!"
Our conclusion will be drawn from Psalms 107:15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 16. For He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
We don’t have to face brass and iron! God loves you. God cares. Jesus breaks every fetter. Learn to wait on the Lord. Learn to cast your cares on HIM, HE will sustain you. God is not a million miles from you...
Hebrews 7:19, suggest our HOPE, if focused properly can bring us closer to God. That is why the enemy wants you to lose hope. When we have no hope and live in despair, the enemy can help paint a picture of a cold God, way out there some where. This is a lie.
You decide the closeness you walk to God. If the heavens appear as brass and the earth hard, you have listened to the lies of the enemy.
Correct the problem and COME. The Spirit bids --- "COME!"
Don’t give up! Dream again! Keep praying! Stand on the Word! Praise God!
James 4:8 DRAW NIGH TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH UNTO YOU.
CLEANSE YOUR HANDS! PURIFY YOUR HEARTS!
REMEMBER WHAT WE CAN I DO TO SOFTEN THE IRON EARTH AND THE BRASS HEAVENS?
1. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
2. ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND GOD AS THE SOLUTION.
3. CONFESS.
4. REPENT.
5. CORRECT AND CHANGE.
COME UNTO ME,
ALL THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, --- lead me home.
Don’t let you emotions play games with your FAITH.
Hang on, press on, dream on, in a few more days we will be at HOME with HIM.
You are learning to wlak by faith, and not by sight.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
PASS IT ON?
