COULD IT BE SAID THAT GOD IS HARSH OR SEVERE? 1

4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, TO ALL WHO WERE CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE, whom I [God] HAVE CAUSED TO BE CARRIED AWAY FROM JERUSALEM TO BABYLON:
5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.
6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you."
Jeremiah 29:4-12 (NKJV)

• The time of captivity is a trying time. It also could be called a wilderness experience, in some instances. Whilst some people would call it, the time of test. Whatever the term used, It all means the same.

• There are things God expected you to do at such a time, If you find yourself there—the wilderness or captivity.
• God is always the One monitoring or supervising whatever you, As a Believer, are going through at such a time. Because He was the one who permitted or caused the carrying away to the captivity, in the first place (Jeremiah 29:4).
• No Prophet or Minister, person or whoever, can deliver you at such a time, except God. Your release is in the hand God!
• No prophecy of any Prophet can bring you out of the situation or condition, because it was permitted by God.
• Until you sit down, and God could see that you are broken, your heart is softened, and you are ready to listen and heed His Word.
• Various prophets might surface at such a time, with different prophesies; If you allowed their prophesies to carry you away, from where God says you should be, you would miss God (Jeremiah 29:8,9).
• God is the One monitoring and supervising the person's plight, If any attempt to come out is made, it might not work (Jeremiah 29:16-18).
• If God seems to be hard on you, it does not mean that He is wicked, but does mean that He has a plan for you which He wanted you to fulfil. Thus a training is needed.
• The captivity, or the test, or the wilderness experience, is for your good. GOD wanted to use it to accomplish a purpose in your life (Romans 5:3,4; Hebrews 12:9-11).

• At some people's time of captivity, they could not see the the hand of God in it.

• A Believer who is a true disciple should learn to see God, and whatever He might be saying, in every situation which he or she is passing through (Genesis 45:4-8; 50:20; Romans 8:28).
• Such Believers are not spiritually inclined, they always struggle to come out of the captivity, without knowing the actual thing God is saying—the message God is passing across to them through the predicament or captivity.
• Such a time of captivity, or wilderness, or God's silence in someone's life, used to be a time of hiding. That, If you wanted to make yourself known, you might complicate the problem (Luke 1:80).
• At times when you find yourself in some problems, He wanted your heart, to be softened. He would want you to stop and forget the rat race that ended up in a hole. In other words, He would want you to stop comparing and competing with others, measuring yourself with others (2 Corinthians 10:12).
• That you should stop striving to outdo others, but listen to what God is saying, or teaching you—which He wanted you to know.
• If you can sit down and wait patiently, you would begin to see God and what He is trying to communicate to you. He has plans for you, do not rush (Jeremiah 29:11).
• Relax at the level you are presently, and let God bring the lifting or whatever you are desiring, in His own way: "HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND HE WILL LIFT YOU UP" (James 4:10 NKJV).
• The Blessing of God, His Lifting, does not have sorrow in addition: "THE Blessing of the Lord makes one rich, AND HE ADDS NO SORROW WITH IT" (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV). Thus, your struggling to be free from God's dealings, could be a way of kicking against His Will.

• Essence of captivity.
(i) Captivity could be a result of disobedience, or rebellion, and the refusal to obey God's instructions. Thus, It is meant for corrections.
(ii) When you are heading towards a direction that is wrong. That is, you are trying to do contrary to what is said to be done; captivity might be allowed.
a. When you are stopped, or stuck, and could not continue on the work, you would be able to get or receive light or illumination on what you are being instructed to do—as you are halted.
b. The Captivity is mainly to make the direction clear to you, bring you to a focus, and be on the right lane. It is a means of getting your attention to hear what God is saying to you.
(iii) It also might be that you are lacking in the skills needed for the assignment ahead. That is, the situation or condition could be used as a means of training, developing or sharpening your skills for the work ahead.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.
• The Hold of the enemy, the devil, is completely broken in your life in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and town, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!