“SERIOUS THOUGHT” by Karen A Roth

“SERIOUS THOUGHT” by Karen A Roth

Nehemiah took God’s Word seriously. Before addressing a situation concerning restoring government in Judah, he records, “After SERIOUS THOUGHT, I rebuked the nobles and rulers…” ~NE 5:7 ‘Serious Thought’ implies that he let his heartfelt thoughts and concerns ascend up before the Throne-Room to know God’s counsel.

He was deeply concerned about any disregard of God’s Law. One example: he didn’t consider ‘keeping the Sabbath holy’ to be just a traditional ritual, but rather, as something God took very seriously. Consequently, Nehemiah aimed to help Israel overcome the problems that caused their present difficulties—NOT keeping the Sabbath holy stemmed from NOT taking God’s Word seriously and was one of the causes for their Babylonian Captivity.

Nehemiah directed the gates to be closed at sunset on Friday. Many venders camped outside the walls, waiting for the Sabbath regulations to end, so they could begin their selling. But Nehemiah ordered them to be driven away from the city—not even to wait outside the walls until the Sabbath ended because they posed too big a temptation for Israel to disregard God’s law. Nehemiah commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves and to guard the gates. He wanted to ensure no one violated the Sabbath.

“KEEPING THE SABBATH”    

What does ‘Keeping the Sabbath’ mean for us? In the Old Testament, truth was taught by the law. The regulations/laws regarding the Sabbath are an example of what the New Testament calls ‘shadows’—pictures or illustrations of something much more significant that God wanted observed. God desires that we understand the deeper truth of what the law represented.

We observe the Sabbath when we fulfill what it portrays—and at the heart of ‘Sabbath’ is “rest.” But we tend to be industrious people under tremendous pressures or ambitions. The Sabbath is a means of instruction, that we may learn to ‘rest’ in every way—affecting us emotionally, physically, mentally, etc.

God supplied manna in the Wilderness to help teach the Israelites to ‘trust’ or ‘rest in His provision.’  The significance of ‘Keeping the Sabbath’ intended to help us develop more ‘trust.’ By keeping the Sabbath rest—we learn to remove unnecessary pressures/worries by ‘trusting’ that “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Jesus said, “…What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”  ~MT 6:30-33 MSG

How does God want you to rest your mind, emotions, and body?

THE SABBATH RE-CREATION

But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. ~IS 40:31

Some Bible Scholars believe there are two ways of keeping the Sabbath. One way is portrayed in the Third Commandment. We are told that God created the whole earth and set mankind in the Garden.  He finished creation in six days and rested on the seventh day because He finished what He intended to create. God taught them to recognize a stopping point each week.

Keeping the Sabbath day holy gave the human body, mind, and emotions needed rest. We exhaust ourselves if we keep working every day without a ‘rest’ day. When we follow God’s laws, our body, mind, and emotions are ‘redeemed.’ He ‘renews’ those who trust/wait/hope in Him.

If we become hopeless, impatient, irritable, complainers—these are symptoms of approaching weariness and forsaking God’s law of rest. We missed the bigger picture of why we are here. God provided a refueling station to reconnect us in every realm. By keeping the Sabbath day holy, we resync or realign to God’s thoughts and plans for us—hearing His heartbeat… seeing His beauty… breathing His peace… obeying His Word…

How can you heighten your experience of ‘entering God’s Rest’—making it an oasis or stopping point to recharge/evaluate/examine your progress towards fulfilling your divine purpose?

REMEMBER GOD’S MIRACULOUS POWER

“Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore, the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” DT 5:15

The second way to ‘keep the Sabbath’ was known as the ‘rest of rejoicing’—setting aside time each week for reciting God’s Mighty Acts. It causes regeneration/revival/rejuvenation. On the Sabbath day the Israelites were to remember what happened to them when they put their trust in God and were delivered from Egyptian Bondage. After celebrating the Passover Meal, the Israelites were permitted to depart from Egypt. But soon the Egyptian army pursued Israel with horses and chariots to destroy them. Israel panicked when they came to the Red Sea. They had no idea of how to cross the Red Sea until Almighty God miraculously opened the waters before them to deliver them all—and destroyed the Egyptian Army.

Israel did not and could not deliver themselves from Egypt—they had to trust God to make it happen. They rested, meditated, reflected, and rejoiced in God’s ability to work BEYOND their limitations. Israel obeyed everything God spoke for them to do to reach the Red Sea—but only their ‘trust’ in God allowed them to participate in the miraculous Red Sea crossing. Each Sabbath they were to remember/REJOICE in the testimony of God’s Divine Deliverance. God reminded them that in their ‘rest of rejoicing’ they sang the song of Moses for their deliverance—Miriam and the women sang and danced. ~ EX 15

How do you experience the ‘rest of rejoicing’…entering His Rest/Presence beyond the veil? What is your testimony of God’s Divine Deliverance?

TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY

Likewise, David sang the songs of God’s Mighty Hand and Outstretched Arm in Israel’s history. As a lad, he sang the songs of God’s deliverance to King Saul to remove the distressing spirit that often-troubled Saul.

David took God’s Word very seriously. God testified of him, saying, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My Own Heart, who will do all My Will.”

 Every Word God spoke was significant and deeply affected David. His psalms reflect his ‘Serious Thought’ in his feelings and intentions. Sometimes he was distressed or grieved, but he always responded with a genuine concern to follow the commands of God.

BELIEVED EVERY WORD

“Great favor is upon you, for you have believed every word spoken to you from the Lord.” ~LK 1:45 TPT

The angel Gabriel didn’t just appear in a vision to Mary—he walked through the door and talked to her, saying, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Gabriel’s greeting reveals his euphoric pleasure to be the Messenger of great news. He knows his ‘decree’ will release the anointing that creates a ‘strategic opportune time’ for Mary.

But “Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. But the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name Him Jesus…the Son of God.” LK 1 TPT

The angel Gabriel’s spoke of a Holy moment—Almighty God overshadowing His creation to plant His Seed in the womb of Mary. It had never happened before … and would launch a Move of God to change History.

A WONDERFUL GIFT

With ‘Serious Thought’ and childlike innocence, Mary asked how this can be since she’s still a virgin. Gabriel explained how God would accomplish such an impossibility, “the power of the Highest will overshadow you…the Holy One who is to be born will be the Son of God.” But he also spoke a Word-of-Knowledge about her barren Aunt Elizabeth being six months pregnant. When Mary visits her aunt, it will also confirm that everything spoken to her by the angel is truly happening.

Mary responded, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As His servant, I accept whatever He has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.”  She BELIEVED EVERY WORD the angel spoke and immediately traveled to visit her Aunt Elizabeth. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth prophesied: “Blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment (a completion of the prophecy/verification of the prediction) of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

If we believe/trust the Word God speaks to us—then we too receive the same Wonderful Gift of the Holy Seed of His Presence. The evidence that God truly planted His Seed in us can be heard in our ability to ‘pray in tongues.’ Every time we ‘pray in tongues,’ it recharges our godly spiritual connection.

Do you give ‘Serious Thought’ to the Word of God? When He speaks to you, are you quick to obey?

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD?

Moses sang of God’s chosen people, saying, “Whom You have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of His inheritance. In the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established.” EX 15:17

God is ‘Awakening His Spiritual Tabernacle in the Earth.’ How do you manifest/reveal God’s spiritual tabernacle or resting place?

When God’s Holy Seed is planted in us—the whole Tabernacle of God RESTS upon us. Everything we need is there for us. We stop trying to save ourselves and ‘trust’ His Mighty Hand and Outstretched Arm to save us. When we take ‘Serious Thought’ and obey God’s Word, our obedience positions us to participate in the releasing of God’s miraculous power in the Earth.

After taking ‘Serious Thought’ of everything God spoke to you—how have you made yourself ready for the greatest move of God in History? 

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Karen Roth is the wife of Dr. Roger Roth Sr., and a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. They are the set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin; and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”

      Any questions or comments please contact them at rogerandkaren@live.com