Threaten

THREATEN

by

Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (December 13, 2015)

“But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus...And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4:17-18, 9:1-2, King James Version [The persecution of the disciples]).

Greetings In The Holy Name Of Christ Jesus,

My sisters and brothers, giving honor to our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, I shudder to think how in an attempt to threaten Christ Jesus how threatened the children of God are, the sons and daughters of God, the brothers and sisters of Christ, yet they are called to follow Christ Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

In prayer we should decide less our emotions hold us captive in afterthought, for the daughters of Eve, the same daughters of Sarai, faced decisions seemingly an afterthought only to find out their decisions ruled the world because it was what was in their hearts that was chosen to decide the course of mankind, for Eve chose to eat of the fruit of good and evil and Eve chose to feed the fruit of good and evil to Adam. Understandably, Sarai decided to give her handmaid, Hagar, an Egyptian woman to Abram to bear him a child in spite of God's promise to give her a child in her old age, in an afterthought, she felt it was best for Abram to go ahead with Hagar in spite of God's promise to give him a child in his old age and so Hagar bore Abram a child named Ishmael who held the blessing of: “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren” (Genesis 16:1-5,12, KJV [Hagar given to Abram]). Do the daughters of God hold the blame for letting Satan in through our faults, our faults, our most grievous faults for the wrong of Sarai was upon Abram (16:5) as the wrong of Eve was upon Adam for him to eat of it 'good and evil' all the days of his life, in sorrow (3:17). Oftentimes, we hardly realize or recognize we are making life changing or life altering decisions, we only feel we are speaking out our emotions not moving mountains in the power of God who walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, accessible to them. God continued to walk with Adam and Eve even after they were cast out for did not their sons, Cain and Abel speak directly to God and prepare an offering to God.

Most importantly, how close are you to God in the power of Christ Jesus to know that the words you speak have the power of God to move mountains? Is this not why it is said out of the mouth is life and death? However, we are called to open our mouths boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19, KJV [Paul's thankfulness to God]). How else will you stand without prayer and supplication in the Spirit (6:18, KJV) for you are threatened? For man threatens true believers to falsely practice the faith of Christ Jesus “with eyeservice as menpleasers, not doing the will of God from the heart”(6:6, KJV). Apostle Paul, the one and the same Saul of Tarsus who persecuted the Jews, now a new creature in Christ---an apostle in prison said, “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (6:9-10, KJV).

Moreover, how many times have you known the consequences of your wrong decisions would weigh you down for a long time placing you on the mercy seat praying to God for relief from the sufferings while in the struggle to overcome as a conqueror in the power and authority of Christ Jesus from God Almighty? There was a woman who planted a seed in her man for she was not married and her man spoke it out, “What is this, 'Have Faith'? All you want is when you ask me for something, for

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me to give it to you?” Firstly, a believer needs to humble himself or herself down to ask God for what