A Note To The Image Of God Called Woman (4) - Part 4

A NOTE TO THE IMAGE OF GOD CALLED WOMAN (4) - PART 4

By: Adom Ofori-Asenso 

November 19, 2013.

JEWELRIES (OF ANY KIND INCLUDING WEDDING RINGS) AND MAKE-UP

This note will address the issue of Moses instructing the Israelites to go for articles (jewels; KJV) of gold and articles (jewels; KJV) of silver from the Egyptians during their Exodus (Exodus 12:35; see below). I pray the Holy Spirit grants us full guidance, wisdom and revelation into the Word.

As a matter of fact, Moses did not specifically instruct the Israelites to go for JEWELRIES because as recorded he instructed them to go for articles (NIV) or jewels (KJV) of silver and gold. However, we may give the benefit of the doubt that probably, as part of asking these things from the Egyptians, they may have collected jewelries as well because later on in Exodus chapter 32, we realize the Israelites were putting on jewelries. These articles may also include anything made of silver and gold such as cups, plates, gold/silver bars and anything you can think of being made of silver and gold. What God did for the Israelites as recorded in Exodus 12: 36 (see below), was that He made the Egyptians give freely to the Israelites so that they will gain wealth. This is a great word of encouragement to Christian believers that; when God delivers you from any situation, He makes your enemies honour you. Gold and silver in itself is not evil (Genesis 2:11-12 “11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) and that is why the streets in heaven and mansions are made of gold and other precious stones; it is the use of it in redefining the creation of God which is detestable in the sight of God. At creation, one of the instructions God gave man on his creation including man himself was to take care of them; Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT”. Taking care of God’s creation is work of maintenance and not recreation or redefining. Creating holes in your ear, adding fake hair to your hair (black African hiding your kinky hair and putting on Brazilian hair or hair made of rubber i.e synthetic hair, braiding fake hair to your hair to look long as 20 inches when in actual God gave you 5 inches hair), painting your face, tattooing, hair dyeing etc are all acts of recreation. However, washing your hair, bathing, clothing (which God himself gave man), moisturing your skin, combing your hair, braiding your own hair are all acts of maintenance or caring for God’s creation and presents you as you.

Moses therefore instructed the Israelites to go for these articles not for hanging on their bodies but for wealth and that is why God made the Egyptians give freely to the Israelites so as to increase their wealth (Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but A SINNER’S WEALTH IS STORED UP FOR THE RIGHTEOUS”). Also, these Israelites were a nation which came out of Jacob whom we saw in the previous note (4 part 2) that they got rid of their jewelries and buried them, however, 430 years of living in Egypt (Exodus 12:40) made them go back to what they once got rid (Exodus 32:2 “Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me”). As I explained in the previous note (4 part 2) with Acts 17:30, God overlooked some of these acts UNTIL, the Israelites ended up using these jewelries to make an idol or a smaller god for themselves and God finally exposed to them His displeasure in the wearing of jewelries by instructing them to take them off (Exodus 33:3-6 “3 ‘Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way’. 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on ANY ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘TELL THE ISREALITES, ‘YOU ARE A STIFF-NECKED PEOPLE (*they got rid of their jewelries in Jacob’s household in Genesis 35 in order to purify themselves which pleased God and God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. And here they are going back to the very thing they took off*). If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. NOW TAKE OFF YOUR ORNAMENTS AND I WILL DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH YOU’. 6 So the Israelite STRIPPED OFF THEIR ORNAMENTS AT MOUNT HOREB). At Horeb, God decided He will no longer move with the Israelites; however He (God) will send His angel to go with the Israelites to the promise land because He is a faithful God and will honour His promise He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Later on, God decided He will go with them on one condition that they take off their jewelries (Exodus 33:1-6).

 Exodus 33:1-6
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’. 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way’. 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornament. 5 For the LORD had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. NOW TAKE OFF YOUR ORNAMEMTS and I will decide what to do with you.’ 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ORNAMENTS AT MOUNT HORED.
 This is the covenant God made with the Israelites at Mount Horeb (*never to put on jewelries because it is detestable in God’s sight*) which God later gave terms and conditions to this covenant at Moab in Deuteronomy 29:1 “1 These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make in Moab, IN ADDITION TO THE COVENANT HE HAD MADE WITH THEM AT HOREB.” This same covenant, God reminded in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Peter, Timothy. Therefore do not be deceived that this covenant was just one off for the Israelites at that time.  God does not change. God had declared His displeasure in adornment with jewelries and He confirmed that in the New Testament in Peter and Timothy. Do not be deceived that the interpretation of jewelries in 1 Peter 3:3 and 1Timothy 2:9 is MODERATION. The jewelries mentioned in Peter and Timothy are not permissible because God had indicated in previous books in the Bible his displeasure in them and God had clearly instructed no one to put them on. Someone may also say that, if jewelries were bad, why didn’t Jesus warn women about them when He was on earth?  The Bible has made it clear to us that, so many are the things Jesus did that were not recorded; John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written”. Therefore, nothing justifies you to say that Jesus never spoke about jewelries. Many pastors go to the Old Testament and preach TITHES. Why don’t they say TITHES was one off for the Israelites at that time? Yet when it comes to jewelries, they tell you it was just for the Israelites not us even when God made in clear when He renewed that covenant at Moab (*Deuteronomy 29*), that it was for all believers present and yet to come and also reaffirmed it in Peter and Timothy. Deuteronomy 29:14-15 “14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, NOT ONLY WITH YOU 15 WHO ARE STANDING HERE WITH US TODAY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD OUR GOD BUT ALSO WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE TODAY (*the Gentiles including you and I*)

The Israelites tested the righteous jealousy of God (Exodus 20:22-23 “22 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.) and that is why the very first commandment out of the ten reads; Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me”. My friends, please seek divine revelation into scriptures from God to grasp the fact that putting on jewelries is act of creating an idol or god (*with a small ‘g’*). God makes us aware in Isaiah 40:18-20 (see below), that it is idols who are fashioned with silver chains (jewelries) and his image cannot be compared to that. Therefore, a spiritual insight into Exodus 20:22-23 (see above) indicates how God hates mimicking idols alongside His own image He created you to be through the wearing of jewelries. You may also argue that God asked the Israelites to take off their ornaments for only that period because of the Idol they made with them and therefore does not apply to us in the New Testament church. Don’t forget that even before the Golden Calf, Jacob and his household took off their jewelries. Also, after the Golden Calf, God emphasized his displeasure in his people putting on jewelries a second time with the Israelites in Moab and made a covenant to that effect, a third time through Joshua and also through  his prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and also in the new testament through in Timothy and Peter.
Also in Moab, God made the Israelites aware that they have limited revelation of Him (Deuteronomy 29:2-4 “2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. 3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. 4 BUT TO THIS DAY THE LORD HAS NOT GIVEN YOU A MIND THAT UNDERSTANDS OR EYES THAT SEE OR EARS THAT HEAR.) and this emphasizes the point I keep making that, God gradually revealed Himself to humanity over the generations and the new testament church has greater revelation of God than the old testament believers and that is why apostle Paul cautions us in Acts 17:30, that the era where God overlooked certain acts of ignorance was in the past (old testament) but now he calls all men to repent. During the renewal of the Horeb covenant in Moab, God gave terms and conditions to that covenant and that is where God indicated that, when anyone who goes back to putting on jewelries again, hell fire will be the end of that person (Deuteronomy 29:16-20).

***********Deuteronomy 29:16-20 with explanation
16 You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt (*the place where the Israelites were influenced by the Egyptians and they went back to idol worship and the putting on of jewelries after they got rid of them and buried them in Genesis 35*) and how we passed through the countries on the way here. 17 You saw among them their detestable images (*putting on jewelries is a detestable image before God because you are fashioning God’s image into the image of idols which God has spoken of in Isaiah 40:18-20*) and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold (*You realize that God made a distinction between detestable images {KJV reads ‘abominations’ which can be traced to Ezekiel 7:20, see above} and idols. So please resist any root of deception from Satan to convince you that God was not talking about putting jewelries on the body but rather God is only against carvings of idols. Remember that after the Israelites made the Golden Calf, the action Moses took (Exodus 32:20) was to burn the Golden calf (idol) whiles the action God took (Exodus 33:4-6) was to instruct them to take of the jewelries (detestable image). This means that, Moses, did not grasp the full displeasure of God towards jewelries until God himself revealed it completely to the Israelites. Because if the problem was just with the Golden Calf, then Moses burning it should have settled it but God was not satisfied with only the burning of the Golden Calf and further instructed the removal of the jewelries*). 18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those countries; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison. 19 When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, ‘I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way’ (*This is what is happening in present day Christianity; when many Christians having heard that it displeases God for women and men to put on jewelries, they reject the message and follow their own way of wearing the jewelries bearing in their own minds that it is a lie that it will take one to hell and they will make heaven at all cost with those jewelries on.*). This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive him; his wrath and zeal will burn against that man. All the curses written in this book will fall upon him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven (*eternal damnation in hell if one does not repent from wearing jewelries*).*****************************************************************

**********************Brief insight on GRACE
Don’t let anyone deceive you with a false interpretation of GRACE by telling you that these punishments stated in Deuteronomy 29:16-28 can never be your portion because it was for those who lived under law and now we live under GRACE. God explains GRACE to us in Titus 2:11-12 “For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (*meaning, the GRACE God has made available in this present age gives us an added responsibility to live Christ-like lives and not to relax as if nothing is at stake*) and Paul cautions this misinterpretation of GRACE in Romans 6:1-2 “1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that GRACE may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer”? Living under the law means that when you sin, you will at all cost face the punishment even when you are sorry. On the other hand, GRACE means that when you sin, the punishment awaiting you does not come upon you instantly. God gives you the opportunity to REPENT of that sin and seek for forgiveness before you reach his seat of judgment where there is no GRACE. The scripture which says MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT has also been manipulated by Satan to lead many astray (James 2:12-13 Speak and act and as those are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom (*GRACE*), because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful (*which means that never conclude that people can never REPENT, CHANGE, or ACCEPT the TRUTH you preach to them. Be merciful by praying for them, that God will open their eyes to know and understand the message you preach. God will not be merciful to you, if you conclude on someone that he/she can never change from any particular sinful act*). Mercy triumphs over judgment!). This scripture defines GRACE, which means that, gone are the days when you sin, you face instant judgment. But in this present age, when you sin, God shows MERCY over JUDGMENT to grant you the opportunity to repent whiles on earth. When you die without REPENTING, Hebrews 10:26 (see below), tells us that, the mercy that triumphs over judgment ceases (*because it only happens whiles you have breath on earth*) and only judgment is left for you to face. Even if God decides to show mercy at the judgment seat (Romans 10:15-16 “15 For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy (*God has shown his mercy to humanity by making salvation and grace available through the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross so that we are saved by faith in Jesus alone. Anything outside faith in Jesus Christ is stepping out of God’s mercy and following your own desire and effort to attain a certain salvation which is not recognized by God and for that matter will not take you to heaven*), that mercy will not be shown for you to enter heaven with the sin that was taking you to hell but rather for you to come back to earth to repent of whatever was taking you to hell and warn others about it and that is the reason we have some of the genuine divine revelations of heaven and hell from people who died and God showed them mercy by giving them a second change. But I tell you my friends; these second chances are very rare and scarcely happen and may even not happen.
Hebrew 10:26-29 “If we deliberately keep on sinning AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, no sacrifice of sin is left (*a true believer of Christ who has professed Christ and been baptized but willfully rejects things the Bible warns against and DOES NOT REPENT of them will have his name erased from the Book of life because he has insulted the Spirit of GRACE {Hebrews 10:29}*)   , 27 BUT ONLY A FEARFUL EXPECTATION OF JUDGMENT AND A RAGING FIRE THAT WILL CONSUME THE ENEMIES OF GOD. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy (*the meaning of living under the law*) on the account of two or three witness. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot (*the meaning of accepting Christ does not mean you can continue living in sin and go unpunished. It means you are accepting the GRACE God offers so that when you commit sins, you can ask for forgiveness and REPENT.  A believer in Christ who feels comfortable in living in sin and bears the mentality that come what may, he will still make it heaven because he has believed in Christ and DOES NOT REPENT, has trampled the Son of God under foot*), who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of GRACE?
******************************************************************************

Years after, when Moses handed over to Joshua, Joshua renewed the covenant again with the people of Israel in Joshua 24 (*I will encourage you to read the whole chapter*). One peculiar thing with this covenant is that, it is a repetition of what Jacob (Genesis 35:2) told his household over 430 years ago.
JOSHUA// Joshua 24:23 “Now then, said Joshua, ‘throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel”.
JACOB// Genesis 35:2 “So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes”.
Prior to Joshua giving them the instruction in Joshua 24:23 (see above), Joshua tells them in Joshua 24:19-20 “Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the LORD. HE IS A HOLY GOD; HE IS A JEALOUS GOD. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end to you, AFTER HE HAS BEEN GOOD TO YOU.” He told them this because the Israelites, after Jacob had told them to get rid of their foreign gods and jewelries and God stripping them off their ornaments/jewelries at Mount Horeb, they still went back to it and were claiming they were serving God faithfully (Joshua 24:16-18, see below) when they were living in disobedience to God (Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua 24:19-20, Joshua 24:23).

This stiff-necked attitude of the Israelites continued and God spoke about these jewelries again in Ezekiel 7:20 (NIV) “20 They were proud of their beautiful jewelry and used it to make detestable idols and vile (*unpleasant or objectionable*) images (*the putting on of jewelries is an act of creation which changes the image of God which God created you into a vile image of an idol which is detestable in God’s sight*). Therefore, I will turn these into unclean thing for them”. In KJV, Ezekiel 7:20 reads “20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein (*the putting on of jewelries is an act of creation which changes the image of God which God created you into an abominable and detestable image*): therefore have I set it far from them (*that is why God exposed this displeasure of putting on jewelries to the Israelites at Mount Horeb and set it far from them by instructing them to take them off*)”.

Again in Jeremiah 4:30, God mentions both jewelries and make-up.
Jeremiah 4:30 “30 What are you doing, O devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why shade your eyes with paint (*God knows about make-up and He has shown his displeasure with it*)? YOU ADORN YOURSELF IN VAIN (*Adornment with jewelries and make-up are detestable in the sight of God*). Your lovers despise you; they seek your life (*the standard of this world which is the standard of Satan makes you understand that putting jewelries on your body and make-up is what enhances your beauty. Without them, you can be beautiful but not beautiful enough. Having adorned yourself with all these jewelries and make-up and you finally die and end up in hell fire, that is when you will realize those jewelries and make-up which looks so harmless in this world are satan’s deception of causing you to disobey the word of God so that you will end up with him in hell. I pray this does not become your portion and are convicted on this issue quickly before it is too late*).

In addition, Jezebel is the only woman in the Bible who put make-up on her face; 2 Kings 9:30 “30 Then Jeru went to Jezreel. When JEZEBEL heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of the window”. Many years afterwards, Jesus warned the church concerning those who follow in the ways of Jezebel through John in the book of Revelation; Revelation 2:20-22 “20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teachings she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways”. You can also refer to the third note I delivered titled ‘WOMAN! KNOW THAT SATAN HAS SECRETS UPON WHICH HIS DECEPTIONS THRIVE BUT GOD REVEALS THEM TO ALL THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD’ for more explanation on the  Revelation 2 above.

Also through the prophet Hosea, God reminds the Isrealites concerning his displeasure with the adornment with jewelries. I will highlight a few verses below and encourage you to the whole of Hosea Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.  

Hosea 2:2
2 Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adulterous look from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts

Hosea 2:8
8 She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold – which they used for Baal.

Hosea 2:13
13 I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with the rings and jewelry and went after her lovers, but me she forgot.  

When you read Hosea 2:14-23, you will realize that among the things God restored to Israel after God rebuked them in Hosea 2:1-13, jewelries were not included and God rather emphasized in verse 17 that “17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked”. Also see Hosea 2:13 above.

God also reminds us about His displeasure in jewelries in Isaiah 30:21-22 “ 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears  will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and gold and your images (*Your very own image created in the image of God*) covered with gold; you will throw them away like menstrual cloth and say to them ‘Away with you!”

This is where we will draw the curtain concerning the Israelites in regards to  jewelries/make-up and I pray that you will hear that voice or conviction as stated in Isaiah 30:21 above that ‘this is the way; walk in it’.
God willing, the will address the remaining bullet points in the subsequent note.

All Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the divine revelation of His Word.

WHILES I TELL YOU THESE THINGS, I AM KEEPING MY OWN SELF IN THE LINE THROUGH THE SUFFICIENT GRACE AND MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST LEST I MYSELF MISS HEAVEN.


BIBLICAL REFERENCES 
Exodus 12:35-36
35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

Isaiah 40:18-20
18 To whom, then, will you compare God? What IMAGE will you compare him to? 19 As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. 20 A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.

Joshua 24:16-18
16 Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our forefathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we travelled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.
Culled from https://www.facebook.com/notes/adom-ofori-asenso/a-note-to-the-image-of-god-called-woman-4-part-4/671434882887282

A Note To The Image Of God Called Woman (4) - Part 3

A NOTE TO THE IMAGE OF GOD CALLED WOMAN (4) - PART 3

By: Adom Ofori-Asenso

November 19, 2013

JEWELRIES (OF ANY KIND INCLUDING WEDDING RINGS) AND MAKE-UP

We continue from where we left off (the insight concerning Rebekah) to the events involving Joseph (Genesis 41:41-42; see below) and Daniel (Daniel 5:29; see below). Some of the scripture references will be given below the text. I will never cease asking the Holy Spirit to take charge of everything I put across and thus my request to Him at this very moment.


Joseph and Daniel were put on these jewelries because THEY WENT INTO THE SERVICE OF EARTHLY KINGS and that was an act of tradition (*way of life*) pertaining to these nations (*Egypt and Babylon*) which did not revere the Lord God Almighty. One question I asked the Holy Spirit was: why is it that Daniel in the first chapter verse 8 resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, however he accepted to be worn the gold chain. I asked this because Joseph lived before the time God finally stripped off jewelries from the Israelites at mount Horeb; but with Daniel he lived after that incident. And if he made such strong resolution in chapter one, what prevented him from making the same resolution with the gold chain which was hanged around his neck. This is the divine revelation I obtained concerning this question. I was directed to chapter 9 and in verse 1- 4; “1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom- 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to LORD my God and confessed”  and verse 20; “20 While I was speaking and praying, CONFESSING MY SIN AND THE SIN OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill”. And finally to the scripture; Hebrews 12:2 “ LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Now let me share the divine understanding I received. After the time Daniel wore the gold chain came the time he went on sackcloth and ashes confessing his own sin and the sin of his people. As part of his prayer in Chapter 9 verses 4 to 19 (*I besiege you to make time and read*) Daniel says WE have sinned and done wrong, WE have been wicked and have rebelled, WE have turned away from your commands and laws (verse 5), WE have not listened to your servants the prophets (verse 6), Lord, you are righteous, but this day WE are covered with shame – the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our UNFAITHFULNESS to you. Daniel was highly esteemed by God (Daniel 9:23) because he lived a life of constant consecration with God. As seen above (Daniel 9:4-19), he (Daniel) admitted he had sinned before God and has also been unfaithful though he did not indicate the specifics. 
So it MAY BE that he later regretted even putting on the golden chain which was the custom of the Babylonians. Daniel was also a child of God who habitually prayed three times in a day (Daniel 6:13) which was an advantage to him to undergo consistent consecration before God. Also, nobody knows the prayers Daniel even said at his death and the sins he confessed before he died. That is why in Hebrew 12:2 (see above), God tells us through the Apostle Paul to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus ALONE; thus follow the example of Jesus alone. You may say your church leader who is very sanctimonious has never been convicted of jewelries, make-up, women putting on trouser and weave-on so what I am telling you is nothing new and empty words. But who knows the prayers he/she will say in his/her heart at the point of his/her death. May be at the brink of death, God in His mercies will cause him/her to remember a message like this someone might have shared with him/her which he/she might have rejected. And the terror and fear of death at that moment will probably make him/her accept the message once rejected and seek forgiveness from God and secured his/her place in heaven because he/she may also think: what if what these people too are saying is the TRUTH? And at that point too jewelries, make-up, women wearing trousers will not matter anymore and giving them up will be very easy. Such slim chances may not come your way. Somebody who is your role model may repent of something without you knowing. Daniel may not have held that position which made him wear the gold chain forever; therefore, at a point he may have taken them off. However, you looking to Daniel and putting a chain around your neck is by YOUR OWN WILL because for Daniel, he did not put them on himself by his own will; it was at the King’s command. Do you realize you’ve even missed the point by comparing yourself to Daniel and Joseph to justify your wearing of chains and other jewelries? Therefore, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus ONLY. Apostle Paul reaffirmed this in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, AS I FOLLOW CHRIST.” Meaning, if he (Apostle Paul) ceases to follow Christ, no one should copy his example and praise be to God that our dear apostle Paul kept the faith till the end.


Now let us compare Joseph and Daniel to how the Almighty God instates His kings on the earth. We will cast our minds to King David and King Solomon whom God made both of them kings over Israel at their appointed times. When God appoints an earthly king into his service, HE ANIONTS WITH OIL and the king wears a royal robe (*2 Samuel 6:14 “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might”). No jewelries; chains or rings is used by God to make one an earthly king. It is only nations WHICH DID NOT BELONG TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD (*eg EGYPT and BABYLON*) who made kings with rings and chains and that is why Joseph and Daniel ended up putting them on. In 1 Samuel 16: 12b-13 “12b Then the LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’ 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and ANOINTED HIM in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah” and in 2 Samuel 5:3 “3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they ANOINTED DAVID KING OVER ISRAEL.”  
The same happened to Solomon in 1 Kings 1:39 “39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and ANIONTED SOLOMON”. Even King Saul was also anointed with oil; 1 Samuel 10:1 “1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?”. Do you see the difference? God makes Kings by anointing with oil not with ring or chain BUT nations who do not know God made kings with rings and chains WITHOUT anointing with oil. When people put on chains and jewelries, they take after the image of idols and not God. God created man in his own image and did not even create holes in the ears because He did not want anything hanged on them. Typically, men do not wear earrings nor do they change their God given hair by perming or putting on fake hair or recreate their looks with make-up; however men are handsome as they are created without having to make any modifications. In the same way God made women to maintain their natural God given image. It is not earring that tells the difference between man and woman. God by his divine wisdom made the distinction between men and women at creation. Don’t try to tell God that you are wiser than Him to distinguish between male and female with earrings.  In Isaiah 40:18-20, God makes us aware that chains and jewelries mimic the image of idols and not Him. Isaiah 40:18-20 “18 To whom, then, will you compare God? What IMAGE will you compare him to? 19 As for an IDOL, a craftman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold AND FASHIONS SILVER CHAINS FOR IT (*This I have seen with my naked eyes in London. It’s in Africa people hide their idols. Not the case in London. You go to restaurants and huge idols are displayed. And one thing I noticed was common with them was chains of jewelries hanged all round their necks and ears*) 20 A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood (*that is why not all jewelries are made of silver and gold; yet they all serve the same purpose*) that will not rot. He looks for skilled craftman to set up an idol that will not topple”. Therefore, do not compare your image to an idol but to the Almighty God who created you in His own image. You were not made by an earthly craftman but by God in His own image; therefore repent from your acts of recreation. Perming is an act of recreation (changing kinky hair to whiteman’s straight hair). Make-up is an act of recreation (making your lips red, pink, violet when they are actually black, brown, or blush). Bleaching and toning (satan’s deception of bleaching) are acts of recreation (changing your black complexion to look like an afro American complexion). Do not let HYDROQUINONE containing creams such as BioClaire, Clear Essence, Peu Claire, Forever Claire among all the other claires take you to hell fire. It may surprise you but God mentions bleaching and toning in the Bible; Jeremiah 13:23a “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots?”


Another thing I would draw our attention to is 1 Kings 10:14-29 (*I besiege you to make time and read*) where the Bible talks about King Solomon’s splendor. Almost everything in his palace was mentioned as being made of gold but no mention of chains or rings. Even the gifts he received from people who visited him were mentioned as articles (KJV reads: vessels) of gold and silver. If he was indeed wearing chain or ring to show his status as a king, it would have been indicated in the mention of his splendor; yet there was no mention of such.


Apart from kings, God also instates priests and fashions them in a peculiar way. The whole of Exodus 28 (43 verses; *please make time and read*) talks about the Priestly apparel. In verses 4 and 5, God is specific on the apparel and the materials they ought to use respectively. Although gold was used, the gold was not fashioned as chains or rings to be worn by the priests; however, the gold was used as part of the apparel itself. Exodus 28:4-5 “These are the garments they are to make: A BREASTPIECE, AN EPHOD, A ROBE, A WOVEN TUNIC, A TURBAN and A SASH (*Did God mention chains or rings to be worn by the priests?*). They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.” So why do some men of God these days hang big chains around their neck with a big cross attached to it with all manner of special ring(s) on their fingers as a sign of their priestly office. I tell you, these acts are not scriptural and do not please God and rather imitate how idols are fashioned (Isaiah 40:18-20; see above). As far as I am informed many demonic priests who come as pastors in daylight have charms in the form of chains and special rings to do all manner of counterfeit miracles. If I were you, I will start asking questions and thinking twice. Do you now realize that kings and priests ordained by God do not put on jewelries in the form of chains or rings to indicate status; however, kings in pagan nations (*as seen in Egypt and Babylon above*) and idols (Isaiah 40:18-20; see above) on the contrary are fashioned with jewelries of chains and rings.


Finally, I would like us to have a look at the Great High Priest and the King of Kings who is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In Daniel 10:4-6, Daniel had a vision of a man which is very similar to the vision John in the book of Revelation also had concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the description Daniel gives; Daniel 10:4-6 “4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of finest gold around his waist. 6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of multitude”. John also describes his vision of the one like a son of man in Revelation 1:12-16 as “12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone ‘like the son of man’, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” What I want to put across is that, as Daniel and John gave their account of their vision of the man they saw, he was not fashioned with jewelries and the gold mentioned was used as part of the apparel as a belt in Daniel’s account and as a sash in John’s account.


Later on in Revelation 19: 11-21 (*Please make time and read*), John saw a vision of Jesus as the Rider on the white horse with His names; KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (verse 16).  In verses 11-14, the vision of Jesus is without jewelries of chains and rings except his head which had many crowns. As believers, the Bible promises us of being crowned in heaven if we make it there. Therefore, we look forward to wearing a crown in heaven and thus not suprising that John saw a vision of our Lord Jesus Christ with a crown. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I KEPT THE FAITH. 8 Now there in store for me A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUNESS, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – AND NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO HAVE LONGED FOR HIS APPEARING.” James 1:12 “ Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive THE CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised those who love him.”
 

In the same book of Revelation, John saw in his vision in Chapter 17, the woman upon the beast who was known as MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT; THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (verse 5). Her description is given as fashioned with gold, precious stones and pearls; Revelation 17:4 “4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was GLITTERING WITH GOLD, PRECIOUS STONES AND PEARLS. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries”. Therefore, I urge you to discern for yourselves if it pleases our Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride (the church) to deck herself with all manner of jewelries? 


This is where I will end. But I pray that as you meditate on everything I have shared with you under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He; the Spirit of TRUTH (Holy Spirit), will increase your understanding and grant you more revelation into the Word. God willing, we will continue with Moses (*In my previous note I mistakenly typed God instead of Moses; so kindly bear this correction*) instructing the Israelites to go for articles (jewels; KJV) of gold and articles (jewels; KJV) of silver from the Egyptians during their Exodus (Exodus 12:35), 



All Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the divine revelation of His Word.

WHILES I TELL YOU THESE THINGS, I AM KEEPING MY OWN SELF IN THE LINE THROUGH THE SUFFICIENT GRACE AND MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST LEST I MYSELF MISS HEAVEN.


SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Genesis 41:41-42

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

Daniel 5:29

Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
Culled from https://www.facebook.com/notes/adom-ofori-asenso/a-note-to-the-image-of-god-called-woman-4-part-3/670928616271242

 

Woman! You Are Just Being STUBBORN!

Woman! You Are Just Being STUBBORN!

Yesterday 14^th November, 2013, a lady friend of ours paid us a short visit. I encouraged about the danger associated with the use of jewelries and other worldly things. My wife has been preaching to her before now but, she is not really convinced yet so that she can stop these things.

So, she told me to be praying to God for her, so that she will one day stop these things. I told her that, the things of God is not for procrastination. The bible says that, “why it is called today, harden not your heart when you hear His voice”. I told her to make all effort and amend her ways because nobody knows when he/she will die. After this short conversation, she left for her house.

Therefore, in my dream last night, I saw her come to meet me, to tell me her own dream, while I was in dream myself. She said that “SHE FIND HERSELF THAT SHE DIDN’T MAKE HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THE THINGS I TOLD HER YESTERDAY”. Although I didn’t utter any word to her in the dream, but I called her on phone this morning to ask her welfare. When the exchange of pleasantries was concluded, I asked her if she had a dream last night and she said yes, but she can’t remember the dream.

I then shared with her the dream she came to share with me in my dream. And the first thing she told me is “God forbid. I will make heaven”. I told her yes, we will make heaven by the grace of God. I however told her that, to me, this is God using herself to speak to her. Like as I said before, she is not yet convince about the sin involved in the use of jewelries and other worldly attires but I told her they are all idols.

This friend of mine will definitely see this post as she is my friend on Facebook and again, I had already spoken to her over these things that, nobody will ever enter heaven like this, which will automatically make her to know that I am speaking concerning her.

Dear friend and child of God, please avoid HELL FIRE by all means possible. Nobody with defilement in his or her body will ever enter heaven, irrespective of the position you be holding in the church. Stop the use of idols now. Be holy, spotless and blameless before Jesus Christ, otherwise, all your work, efforts, sacrifices, commitment, giving, services as a Christian will be in vain when Jesus will declare to you on your judgment day saying “DEPART FROM ME, YE CURSED, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS” Matthew 25:41. May this never be your portion in Jesus name. Amen.

Please, cry unto Jesus for mercy now and it shall be well with your soul. God bless you.

READ THESE PASSAGES AND PONDER OVER IT IN YOUR HEART.

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

2 Chronicles 30:8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

Psalms 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Ephesians 5: 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

PROVERBS 29:1 HE, THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED HARDENETH HIS NECK, SHALL SUDDENLY BE DESTROYED, AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.

Proverbs 6:12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Ezekiel 3:27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

Matthew 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear; 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear; 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God; 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death; 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it; 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.