The Dead Praise Not the Lord!

“The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.” – Psalm 115:17-18

Recently I read a book called “A Divine Revelation of Hell” by Mary K. Baxter. I suggest that you read it for free at SpiritLessons.com. It is an eye-opening experience about the pits and depths of Hell. Here is an excerpt for the book in Chapter 4:

In the next pit was the form of another skeleton. I smelled the odor of death even before we arrived. This skeleton looked the same as the others.

I wondered what this soul had done that it should be lost and hopeless, with no future except an eternity in this dreadful place. Hell is for eternity. As I heard the crying of the souls in torment, I cried too.

I listened as a woman spoke to Jesus from the flames of the pit. She was quoting the Word of God. “Dear Lord, what is she doing here?” I asked.

“Listen,” said Jesus.

The woman said, “Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. Jesus is the Light of the World. Come to Jesus, and He will save you.”

When she spoke, many of the lost souls around her listened, some swore and cursed at her. Some told her to stop. Still others said, “Is there really hope?” or “Help us, Jesus.” Great cries of sorrow filled the air.

I didn’t understand what was happening. I did not know why the woman was preaching the gospel here.

The Lord knew my thoughts. He said, “Child, I called this woman at the age of thirty to preach My Word and to be a witness of the gospel. I call different ones for different purposes in My body. But if man or woman, boy or girl doesn’t want My Spirit, I will depart.

“Yes, she did answer My call for many years, and she grew in the knowledge of the Lord. She learned My voice, and she did many good works for Me. She studied the Word of God. She prayed often, and she had many prayers answered. She taught many people the way of holiness. She was faithful in her house.
“The years went by until one day she found out that her husband was having an affair with another woman. And even though he asked for forgiveness, she grew bitter and would not forgive him and try to save her marriage. True, her husband was wrong, and he did commit a very grave sin.

“But this woman knew My Word. She knew to forgive, and she knew that with every temptation there is a way of escape. Her husband asked her to forgive him. She would not. Instead, anger took root. Anger grew inside her. She would not turn it over to Me. She turned more bitter each day and said in her heart, ‘Here I am serving God all the way, and my husband is running around with another woman! ‘Do you think that is right?’ She said to Me.

“I said, ‘No, it is not right. But he came to you and repented and said he would never do that again. “I told her, ‘Daughter, look inside yourself, and see that you have caused this yourself”

“‘Not me, Lord,’ she said, ‘I am the holy one, and he is the sinful one.’ She would not listen to Me. “Time went on, and she wouldn’t pray to Me or read the Bible. She became angry not only at her husband, but also at those around her. She quoted the Scriptures, but she would not forgive him.
“She would not listen to Me. Her heart grew bitter, and great sin entered in. Murder grew in her heart where love had once been. And one day, in her anger, she killed her husband and the other woman. Satan then took her over completely, and she killed herself.”

I looked at that lost soul that had given up Christ and condemned her soul forever to the flames and the pain. I listened as she responded to Jesus. “I will forgive now, Lord,” she said. “Let me out. I will obey You now. See, Lord, I am preaching Your Word now. In an hour demons will come to take me to be tormented even worse. For hours they will torture me. Because I was preaching your Word, my torments are worse. Please, Lord, I beg You to let me out.”
I cried with the woman in the pit and asked the Lord to please keep me from all bitterness of heart. “Don’t let me allow hatred to come into my heart, Lord Jesus,” I said.

I’m sharing this with you, because there are many people who confess to be Christians and do not forgive – themselves or others who have hurt or abuse them in some way.

Just because we’ve been born again doesn’t mean that all of our thinking has been straightened out. That’s why in Romans 12:2 states, “And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The renewing of the mind is one of the biggest challenges that face any Christian, and if you will listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to you from this blog, you can make some real headway in your Christian growth, and learn how to praise God for other people.

Change can take place, if you are willing!

A lot of us have difficulty praising God for others who have done us wrong. We can’t forget the past and move forward. We are stuck in that moment in time, and I’m here to help you to move ahead. Praise the Lord!

I have found that when we encounter people who we might be tempted to look down upon, it is always best to praise God for them. I did not say it will be easy, but it is an act on your will. When we praise God for someone, we are taking the same kind of attitude toward that person that God takes. We are taking an attitude of love. When we praise God for those whom God has placed in our pathway, we are sharing in God’s love.

Please do not be like the woman found in the pit of hell, and find out the truth before it’s too late to forgive. We must be careful never to be guilty of possessing a smug, self-righteous attitude toward others. But we must communicate God’s love to that individual who hurt, offended, or abused us.

To begin this process, give a heart full of loving praise for this person every time you think about them, and before long, you will forgive them, and love them as Christ has loved you. Praise the Lord for everybody. In this way, you’ll not only keep the joy of the Lord in your own heart, but you’ll spread happiness everywhere you go in Jesus Name.

Song: Call on Jesus by Nicole C. Mullen