Betray Not!

Dear people of God, there are may incidents in the Bible, where we see own people betraying one another for elevating themselves and thereby fulfilling their selfish desires.

For example, we see Abimelech, who killed his own 70 brothers in order to become a ruler over Israel.

We see Delilah betraying Samson to help her own people.

Needless to say, one of our Lord's own disciples, betrayed Him and handed Him over with a kiss.

Lets read from the Scriptures about these three instances:

Abimelech:
'' Judges 9:1-5 Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Schechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, '' Ask all the citizens of Shechem , ''Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you , or just one man?'' Remember, I am your flesh and blood.'' When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, '' He is our brother .'' They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith , and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers.
He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal.''

Delilah:
'' Judges 16:5,6 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, ' See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can over power him so we may tie him up and subdue him . Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver. So Delilah said to Samson, '' Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.''

Judas Iscariot:

''Matthew 26 : 14,15 Then one of the Twelve-the one called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests and asked, '' What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?'' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.''

Dear God's people, from these three instances we could easily discern that, betrayal and money go hand in hand.

Thirty silver coins bought Judas Iscariot to betray the Son of Man.
Seventy silver shekels and kingship in case of Abimelech.
Eleven hundred silver shekels bought Delilah to betray Samson.

Dear precious children of God, as we are meditating on these Scriptures, let us introspect ourselves in the mirror of the Word..

Are we being lured by money to betray our own people ?

Are we being forced by our situations to betray those close to us ?

Are we entangled in selfishness that is leading us to do evil in the eyes of the Lord by breaking the trust of those who are living at peace with us ?

Driven by our evil desires, sometimes our mind leads us astray, and prompts us to betray our own people.

We might think that no one would come to know, and that no one could make out our intentions and people will not even doubt us. And at times, we even swear falsely in the name of God to hide our mistakes before people.

But dear child of God, let's read what the Word of God says about this :

''Proverbs 15 : 11 Death and destruction lie open before the Lord - how much more the hearts of men !''

If death and destruction are open before our Lord, how much more our hearts and minds ?

God is pretty well aware of every thought that rises in our mind and our heart.

It could be your colleagues, or neighbors, or your own family members, do not think of breaking their trust in you.

Let not your hearts lure you for any dishonest gain and lead you to sin in the eyes of the Lord.


''Proverbs 16 : 6 Through the fear of the Lord, a man avoids evil.''

Let the fear of God guide your actions, but not love of money, or fame or pleasure.

''Proverbs 15 :26 The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.''

Let purity reign your thoughts.

Do not plot against your neighbor, in order to reach your selfish goals.

Practise thinking clean and good for everyone around you.
Do not let your emotions take control of your thoughts.

Even if any vile thoughts arise due to any disappointments or ill treatments you perhaps went through, cut them off at the tender stage itself, do not let them grow.

Our God is Jehovah-Jireh. A God who provides.

And He provides exceedingly, more than we can ever imagine.
We need to learn to keep our hope in the unfailing love of our God who can meet all our needs.

Whatever we have been deprived because of people, our God is able to provide them, more than we can accommodate.

But we should not turn to crooked ways of betraying people to satisfy our needs.

'' Proverbs 26: 27 If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him ''

In eagerness to accomplish selfish goals, if someone digs a pit, he himself will fall into it. And if he rolls a stone it will be rolled back on him.

''Psalm 35:10 You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.''

As we read above, God avenges on behalf of the helpless and the poor. He will rescue them from those who are too strong for them and who try to rob them.

If our neighbor is keeping his trust in us and relying on us, and if we try to take advantage of any of his trust, and try to deceive him, remember that the Maker is watching us and He will rescue him from every trap that we try to lay for him.

'' Zechariah 5:3, 4 This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.The Lord Almighty declares, ' I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timbers and its stones.' ''

Dear people of God, therefore be very careful in dealing your matters, and in your relationships with your neighbors ( neighbor could be your siblings, parents, relatives, daughters and sons, colleagues....), and your relationship with God.

Remember that nothing can be hidden from God.

If we try to deceive people in secret and swear in the name of God to falsely prove ourselves innocent, then this Scripture in Zechariah is a warning for us, where it says that a curse is sent out into all of those houses who swear falsely in His name and who is a thief.

And that they will be banished from the earth.

It will even destroy the timbers and stones of that house. Until then it will not leave that house.

Dear ones, we are a property of the Most High God.

He bought us with a very very high price.

He shed His own blood to provide us redemption from such evil.

Isn't it vile if we swear falsely in the same HOLY NAME, in order to hide our actions of betrayal and lies ?

Will God remain silent?

And do you think we will be successful in accomplishing our goals through such evil methods?

If you think you are someone who had betrayed your own, or anyone living at peace with you, if you think you have sworn falsely in the Name of God to hide your actions, or to falsely prove yourself innocent, then this is the time you confess before God and cleanse yourself, so that the curse that is doomed to come for such behaviour may be broken in the name of Jesus.

If you neglect, then remember that the curse that we attract for such behaviour will not leave our house until it totally banishes us.

'' Psalm 119 : 5,6 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.''

Let us steadfastly hold on to the commands of God and obey His decrees.

And let not anything under the sun steal away our purity that we need to practise in our thoughts and actions. We need to have clean intentions towards our neighbors. Being purchased by His precious blood, we cannot afford to betray anyone, irrespective of whether they are our friends or foes. As far as we are concerned, we need to live up to the commands of our Lord. And walk blamelessly before Him.

''Isaiah 53: 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows ...''

'' Isaiah 53 : 6 We all like sheep have gone astray each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of all.''

Dear child of God, if this message is convicting you, then hide yourself behind Jesus.

He is a ever loving God. And He will surely forgive you.

If you have done any such kind of evil in the eyes of the Lord, he will surely cleanse you and make you a whole new being, if you confess earnestly.

If you come under the protection covering of the blood of Jesus, you don't have to bear any curse, neither you will have to face any humiliation as a consequence of your actions.

Jesus has paid the price in your place. And He will protect all your bones. Not a single string of your hairs will be burned. But you need to humbly confess and seek forgivenss and wash yourself in the blood of Jesus.

Kneel down right away and ask the Lord to forgive you and lift you up, and cleanse the lips that swore falsely in His name and cleanse the hands that betrayed people. Lest it becomes too late and the devil starts bringing in the destruction due to the curse.

Let us not become another Delilah, another Judas Iscariot or another Abimelech, who betrayed their own.

But let us light up our paths with the commands and decrees of our Lord and Saviour, keeping our hope in the unfailing love of God.

Let us show the love of God, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

'' Proverbs 5:21 For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.''

All our ways are in full view of the Lord and He examines all our paths. He wants us to show His godliness in all we do.

Our God takes interest even in our smallest of affairs.
Therefore, let us decide this hour, to please our Lord by abiding by His precepts in every single matter of our lives.

Lets Pray..

Father, forgive everyone who has sworn falsely in Your Name, Lord grant them grace to confess their mistakes, and if anyone has betrayed their neighbor, this hour I plead for your mercy upon them, and ask for forgiveness.

Lord cleanse them from every wickedness that led them to sin against you.

And grant them a new heart that is filled with your purity and gentleness, and your love.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

God Bless You.