On Ignoring God’s Word :: By Terry James

While one is inundated hour after hour, day after day, with the profusion of news from around the world, there is one profoundly important element missing in the reportage.

The troubles, the problems, the carnage, come at us in an avalanche of bad news. At the same time, proposals by governments and by top-flight individuals within the atmospherics of politics and governmental authority promise to solve the deluge of pending catastrophes –promises that never come to fruition.

The element that is left out of the reportage, of the promises, is deafening in its silence. As a matter of fact, this element is the very cause of the pending calamity that hangs above every nation on earth like that Damocles’ Sword of mythology. Except there is nothing mythological about the threat of cataclysm the world –that every nation of Planet Earth—resides under at this present moment.

The threat isn’t from the human dimension or even from the demonic. Here is the threat in a Heavenly Nutshell, without meaning to trivialize its Origin.

“He that rejected me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

These are the Words of the One who is destined to Judge all the world. To ignore His Words is to invite Calamity beyond all imagination. His name, of course, is Jesus Christ, the Lord of all lords and the King of all kings.

Jesus is The Word (John 1:1).

Every Word Given in God’s Love Letter to mankind –the Holy Bible – was first Uttered in the Heaven of Eternity Past. Every Word in this Holy Volume is Truth that is in the far distant Reaches of Eternity Future.

The Author of this Word –of these Words—is the Creator of all that is. It is this Author who literally Holds the very matter that constitutes what He Created in place. Without Him, nothing could exist that exists.

Nothing, that is, except the evil that came with man’s rejection of God’s Order at the time of Eden.

This evil is the Cause for the catastrophe that hangs above Planet Earth. And we who Watch Prophetic stage-setting for Christ’s Judgment must forewarn all who participate in the rebellion first infused into mankind by the great deceiver –the father of lies—Lucifer the fallen –Satan.

Mankind’s ignoring Heaven’s Influence and Governance by not considering God’s Word –the Words of His Son Jesus –is in danger of Eternal Damnation.

That God’s Holy Word is ignored to this extent around the Globe today is in full display, as the following news item reports.

Nearly Half the World Restricts or Bans the Bible, Report Warns

An analysis by the organization Open Doors revealed that the Bible is banned or restricted in 88 of the world’s 195 countries, meaning that nearly half of all nations limit access to the Holy Scriptures. Among the most serious cases is China, where—despite its image of economic openness—state control, direct government intervention, and social surveillance mechanisms continue to persist.

Additionally, Cardinal Joseph Zen has called on the faithful to “return to the catacombs,” warning that in China, religious worship is not only strictly regulated but that there is also a state-authorized form of worship. The prelate discourages attending these official churches and urges believers to practice their faith freely, remaining “faithful to the truth that makes us free.”

[Source: Almost half of the countries in the world ban or restrict the Holy Bible – Gateway Hispanic, Rapture Ready News, November 29, 2025]

While there are some in Congress who occasionally mention God’s Name or who read a snippet from the Bible, it is rare indeed to find any mention of God’s Word in proposals to fix what ails humanity within the U.S. or around the world.

It is particularly disconcerting to note the absence of mention of the Prince of Peace in all the talk of peace going on at present.

My hope is that this president of the United States lends his ear to those, such as Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (who understands Bible prophecy and Foretelling involving Israel) when it comes to trying to come up with a peace plan to resolve the millennia-long conflict between God’s chosen people and the surrounding enemy peoples. But if such an ear is given in the Abraham Accords or other peace talks, we aren’t privy to such inside information.

And it is only a peace plan that does not include Israel giving into a 2-state solution that has a chance of success. It is dividing God’s land (the land given Abraham and his progeny through his son Isaac) that will bring all of the nations of earth to mankind’s final war, God’s Holy Word Foretells (Joel 3:2).

Thinking on the ignoring of God’s Word, there is a serious dearth of putting forth that Word within much of the Christian churches at present. Rarely in the pulpits of America is there a ringing declaration of Truth from Scripture laying out the wickedness of societies and cultures.

There is, however, an overabundance in too many cases of messaging about how to get along with environments surrounding everyday life. i.e., teaching how to not rock the proverbial boat, so as to not disrupt personal and/or church tranquility. –Teaching that ignores the primary Purpose of the church –of Christianity—that without adhering to God’s Word and Acceptance of Jesus Christ in all His Truth, the individual and the world are destined to Eternal destruction.

Jesus Christ will one Eternal Day be the Judge of all who reject His Word. We who name His Holy Name must proclaim Him now, while He Offers Salvation from the sin that Forever separates fallen mankind from the Heavenly Father.

Jesus said: “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…” (John 14:6).

This is the one Statement by the Lord Jesus that must not be ignored. For to do such will bring the ultimate calamity down in the form of God’s Judgment and Wrath –either upon the individual or the nation that does the ignoring.

Here again is how to obey rather than ignore God’s Call, through His Son’s Sacrifice on the cross at Calvary for Redemption.

“That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

 

 

 

 

The Entire Story of the Bible is about Jesus, Part 7 :: By Sean Gooding

Genesis 37:12-28

12 “Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ So, he said to him, “Here I am.”

14 Then he said to him, ‘Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.’ So, he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, ‘What are you seeking?’ 16 So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.” 17 And the man said, ‘They have departed from here, for I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.” So, Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. 18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, “Some wild beast has devoured him.” We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, ‘Let us not kill him.’ 22 And Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him’—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. 23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.

26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.”

We are now several years past when Jacob had his own encounter with Jesus, and he is back in Canaan and has his entire family there. He has lost Rachel; she died giving birth to Benjamin, his 12th son (Genesis 36:16-19). And now he is surrounded by his sons and daughter Dinah. They are shepherds, and sheep is their business. Joseph, his first son from Rachel, is his ‘pride and joy,’ and life is good as long as Joseph is good. This favoritism builds a divide between the ten older sons and Joseph. It would seem that Joseph and Jacob are unaware of the hatred that the ten have for their younger brother. Jacob sends him to check up on them as they tend the flock, and they kidnap him and sell him into Egypt. This begins a thirteen-year journey where God uses Joseph to rescue his family from death by famine.

Well, Pastor Sean, where is the Jesus picture? Where is Jesus? There are two men in the scripture about whom no sin is recorded; one is Joshua, and we will get to him in the book of Joshua and his encounters with Jesus. The other one we will explore today; Joseph is that other one.

There are no sins recorded as being committed by Joseph. Of course, he did sin; he is a man, and Romans 3:10 tells us that there is none righteous like Jesus, no, not one. However, God chose not to record any sinful failures of Joseph’s. Joseph is an Old Testament Christ type. He is betrayed by his own people. We just read that he is sold into Egypt for 20 shekels of silver; there is a rescuing of the nation (in the form of feeding them and caring for them), and there is a repentance towards the one they betrayed, like we will see the nation do with Jesus when He returns. There is a resurrection of sorts in that Jacob thought that Joseph was dead (Genesis 37:31-35), and when he sees him, it is like he receives him from the dead.

In addition to the ‘coat of many colors’ that his father gives him, the real source of the hatred between Joseph and his brothers is the dreams that God sent him. These are recorded for us in Genesis 37:1-10. In these dreams, his family is seen bowing to him, and when he tells the dreams to them, there is a hatred that arises in them towards him. Jesus was hated by His own people, hated by the very brothers that He was raised with (John 7:1-5), and as far as we know in regard to His brothers, only two of them come to belief in Him as the Messiah, James and Jude.

In the story, Joseph is the beloved son, and he is betrayed and sold for money. He ends up in Egypt, and there he lives and honorable life, yet he is falsely accused, convicted and imprisoned as an innocent man. He is able to prophesy and tells the future to the king’s baker and cup-bearer (Genesis 40:12-23). He also predicts that they would leave Egypt and that they should take his bones with them (Genesis 50: 24-26).

The story of Joseph is one of the most amazing stories of the Bible. One of betrayal, despair, hatred and jealousy. It has chapters of despair and long periods of waiting on God to act and rescue. There is restoration, forgiveness, and realization of God’s superintendence of His plan, even when we can’t see the future. There is a central theme that runs through the story of Joseph, and we find it written in Genesis 39:3,

“And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.” Also in verse 21, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Also in verse 23, “The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” The Lord made all that Joseph did to be good, all those around him could see it, God gave him wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams, and God blessed him over and over again.

If God be for you, no one can really be against you. This is the lesson to be learned, and even our seemingly horrible situations can be made into victories if we are willing to wait on God and put Him first.

Joseph never stopped trusting God (Genesis 40:8), “So Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God?’” He did not give up trusting and holding on to God.

Jesus cried out to God in the garden, on the cross, and throughout His journey here on Earth. God has given Him a name above every name, and at His name every knee shall bow.

God will take us through the dark times of life and hold us, giving us favor with those around us as He performs His plan and His will. Even when our own people hate us and betray us, we can grow in grace and come to the conclusion that Joseph did in Genesis 50:19-20. Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

And we can bless and care for our enemies; see Jesus going to get Saul of Tarshish, His sworn enemy, and redeeming him. Jesus in the Old Testament, Joseph a beautiful picture of Christ.

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
70 Victoria Street, Elora, Ontario