What He Said

“What He Said”

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

PRELUDE: - Growing up in the era I did and most of you did I am sure will remember we got whopping’s. My father being a preacher my brother’s and I always said my father would always preach a sermon when we got one. It didn’t kill us, but it made us what we are today, it made us well adjusted, respectful, disciplined, and all 3 of us are preaching the Word of God today. However, there is a whopping that comes that I do not like to get but it is for my good just as the ones my father would give me when I was coming up the problem is these seem to hurt more. I had to go to my wife on this week and say ok God just whopped me with your words through this message because I had to be the first partaker and God said I am going to start with you first then let you preach it, so He did.

OPENNING: - Acts 2:38 says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. Mark 1:15 says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”.

Repentance is to change your mind, your actions, and your direction to turn from sin, embrace Jesus and a new way of life, to align yourself with God’s will and His Word, to live your life under His sovereign rule and reign.

The Kingdom of God literally is the rule and reign of God in your life presently and on earth in the future where we shall live in perfect peace with Him here where we shall inherit the earth. Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

This has to do with personal sin and salvation, but we must also understand that God is also concerned with and judges the sin of nations as well. How a nation stands, walks, lives, honors, or dishonors Him is judged. This is portrayed through the Bible with Jacob and Esau better known as Israel and Edom. Therefore, as a nation America needs to be aware and take heed to “What he said” and look in the Mirror especially at the book of Obadiah and take heed.

Understand God does not ignore oppression, pride, arrogance, self-sufficiency, rebellion, defiance, wickedness, discord, haughty eyes, hands that shed innocent blood, rather that’s by weapons of destruction or starvation or with the lack of medical supplies, hearts that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, or false witness – Proverbs 6:16-19. These things undermine relationships, promote injustice, disrupt peace, and ultimately set the stage for the time of the Day of the Lord when Righteous Anger meets Divine Judgment!

The book of Obadiah is a mirror reflecting on the consequences of pride, betrayal, and indifference especially on how nations and people treat others during times of trouble. It is a warning that causes us to examine ourselves and make a change based on “What He Said” in the message to Edom because of arrogance, pride, and the mistreatment of others. It emphasizes the importance of love, compassion, understanding, and relationships. Challenging our hearts, minds, pockets, loyalties, trust, voices, and votes to stand tall and united with those who are vulnerable or struggling not only with historical events brought on by asinine childish arrogant racist human tendencies but the ultimate need for God’s grace and justice.

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE: - Obadiah 1:1-21

THE MAN: - Obadiah there is no mention of his lineage, no background about him, there is nothing mentioned about him after the book that bears his name. Obadiah the shortest book in the Old Testament his name means servant or worshiper of the Lord (Yahweh). He doesn’t come on the scene with the grandeur of a parade or with great fan fair nor preaching a message of prosperity and good cheer but he has a condemning warning of judgment because the people failed to so love and support their fellow kinsmen’s.

THE MESSAGE: - It is a message that prophecies against Edom for the atrocities it has done against Israel highlighting the themes of pride, arrogance, hostility, not only what they did but what they did not do. It is a prophetic word not only to Edom concerning Israel but to every nation, empire, government, and person through history because it deals with the dichotomy of distinct nations and their ways of life. Edom represented a way of life that is based upon Pride, Rebellion, and Self- Sufficiency while Israel represents a life based upon Struggle, Faith, and Dependency on God.