By: Shone’ M. Bagley, Sr.
From the point of view of jealousy…
As a people, we can look around in our communities and we see the problems. We see the poverty, and we see the issues that concern family growth and we wonder who is to blame. For those in the flesh, they blame the Blacks or the Whites, they blame the rich and the poor, and they blame everyone except themselves. For the spiritual ones we blame everyone without realizing that we are mixed up in it just as deep as those who do not believe in Jesus.
When we talk about jealousy, we are talking about a desire for something or someone that they have and you want. Smaller churches want bigger churches, poor people want to be rich, and it doesn’t matter if you’re spiritual or not. Because when we talk about jealousy, we talk about one’s desire.
Deuteronomy 5:9 (KJV) 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me
Imagine if you will, God standing in front of you as Adam was when God breathed into his nostrils. His eyes opening up come into focus and seeing the Holy God, our Father for the first time (Gen.2:7) as this paints a picture of how God wants us, facing Him. When we look at things that have nothing to do with serving God, is when we turn our backs to God, causing us as a people to be cursed.
Not only do we turn our back but also within that action is what is called “bowing” down or “falling” down. To bow down to something or someone else is basically taking your eyes off of what you should be looking at, God… and placing them on something or someone else.
Matthew 4:8-9 ( KJV ) 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
In that action of turning away from God, God’s jealousy will bring iniquity (wickedness) upon ourselves to the 3rd and 4th generation. Therefore, when we look in our communities, we look in our homes, and we look at the news, all we really are seeing is wickedness or the iniquity that God has placed upon us as a people because we have made him jealous.
We have allowed programs on our TV to display steal, kill, and destroy. We allow our culture to be diluted with the filth of Satan. From our government who is allowing the legalizing of prostitution and same-sex marriages while applying laws that could arrest any preacher if they offend someone, regardless if it is the word of God. All of this while preachers sit back in comfort and our people fall deeper into hell instead of carrying their cross. They tell you to blame the government or history when it comes to the Blacks and Whites but they never tell you that the reason that our neighborhoods or our families are “cursed”. God is jealous because we, as a people, lack the desire in the following God’s Word.
Why are we a slave? The answer, we do not know who we are! You do not know who you are individually or as a people. You look around and see other people in other lifestyles and desire those things from the very one who intends to steal, kill, and destroy you. Then when you reach it, get to it, you give thanks to God. The question is, do you even know God’s Commandments? I dare you to write down God’s Ten Commandments off the top of your head…
If you don’t even know God’s Commandments, then how can you know God’s will? If you don’t even know His will, who are you asking from? Who are you receiving your desires from?
Now I know that some of you are shaking your head while whispering, “I know who I am.” I say, you do not know who you are because as a people we are still enslaved and we are still in this generational curse; all we have to do is look around. Individually, if you have left your people behind, then you still do not know who you are because you live in a world of make-believe and pretend that our people’s struggles don’t exist. My point being, God did not just save you! What are you doing with your money? Are you helping our people build a future for themselves and their children?
So, who are you? Whom do you serve? Why are we as a people still slaves?
If the government goes away, as if it really came for us, and war hits today, will our churches be in a position to take care of our people? If not, then what are we doing with all these churches on each corner of our old streets? We need to tear them down because they are powerless. If within Jesus name is power, then go out and use that power to heal our people… or go away wolves in sheep clothing.
What are the people going to do? God placed us in charge of our people and you don’t have the guts to carry your cross, and teach our people to stand on their own as God intended all of us to do… to have dominion. The liberation of our people is what we need, not just some “go along to get along” type preachers. Their actions show they don’t care for the poor but only the money and for those who chose to follow. God will be the judge, I’m just a messenger.
Go to www.shonebagley.com to hear my message about Jealousy.