Truth

2012-02-01T17:41:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

I really enjoyed reading Psalm 32 today, especially verses 8-9:

8 I [the LORD] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.

The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible desires to teach and train you to live this life of Abundance (John 10:10)! He is warning us NOT to be like a brute beast that must be led around physically. Instead, BE the one who is able to be lead by that still small voice of the Spirit of Almighty God INSIDE of you! He goes on to encourage and instruct again in verses 10-11:

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trust in, relies on, and confidently leans on the LORD shall be encompassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Why should we shout for joy? Because we HAVE right standing with Him! Hallelujah! We have the right to stand in His presence as though we have never done anything wrong BECAUSE of the precious blood of Jesus of Nazareth! We didn't have to earn it, and we couldn't even if we wanted to! HE did it all, FOR US! Amen! Now show HIM how much HE means to YOU! Here to assist you in that is Hillsong with "Shout Of The King". Click through to You Tube for the printed lyrics!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-31T22:13:00.005-06:00

Shalom,

The devotional "Heaven Calling" for today says this:

"Precious one, do not question My choice of you for the task at hand. If you weren't ready, I would not have asked you to do it.

Instead of giving in to fear of inadequacy, trust Me. Rely on Me. Lean on Me. And just as I did for Moses, I will help you to accomplish what I have called you to do.

I have been equipping you for this task since the day you were born. All of your life experiences have been in preparation for this moment. Act on it, and I will bless your every effort."

Do you have something that you know God wants you to do, but you have allowed fear to keep you from obedience? Look at Philippians 4:13 again:

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Remember the teabag infusing the water with flavor that we have discussed in a previous post? THAT is how HE infuses your very being with His strength! You CAN do anything and everything that God has called you to do! Amen!

Here is "Faith" by Hillsong. Click through to You Tube for the lyrics!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-30T17:08:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Yesterday Psalm 29 spoke of "the voice of the LORD". Today, in the devotional "Heaven Calling", put out by Zondervan, I read this:

Exodus 3:4 God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "here I am."

MEET ME THERE

To get Moses' attention, I met him in the form of a bush on fire but not consumed by the flames. Once he was listening, our conversation began in earnest.

I've also tried to get your attention, wooing you in wondrous ways. Follow Moses' example: soak it in. Confirm My reaching out to you by reading My Word and entering into conversation with Me. And always, always be on the lookout for Me. I will be courting you in a multitude of ways and a multitude of places.

Will you meet me there?

Make me sensitive to Your presence, Lord, in both the mundane and the incredible.

Are YOU ready to begin a more intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? Then MAKE time in your daily schedule for alone time with HIM! It will become the best and most important part of your day! Here is Hillsong singing "With All I Am":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-29T21:53:00.047-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 29 is all about the voice of the LORD! Verses 3-5 and 7-9:

3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is upon many (great) waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

7 The voice of the LORD splits and flashes forth forked lightning. 8 The voice of the LORD makes the wilderness tremble; the LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9The voice of the LORD makes the hinds bring forth their young, and His voice strips bare the forests, while in His temple everyone is saying, Glory!

This is the voice of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, Who is LORD over all other so-called gods! The heathen nations around Israel worshiped many things, including the "storm god" (baal). This Psalm reminds us that our God IS God! Amen! Where do we fit in this, with our New Covenant? John 10:27-28:

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

What should we do then? Verses 1-2:

1 ASCRIBE TO the LORD, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give to the LORD the glory due His Name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness or in holy array.

We are to tell to the world of His wondrous works AND of His awesome character! He IS love and life and light and every good thing! He IS the very best person we know! Amen! And His promise to us? Verse 11:

11 The LORD will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.

Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Adonai":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-28T14:00:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Matthew 28:18-20:

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

The Amplified SO has this correct here! The Greek word for "teach" in verse 18 of the KJV is "matheeteuoo" and means: to disciple or make a disciple! The Greek word for "power" in verse 18 of the KJV is "exousia" and means: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases, power of rule or government! Jesus is saying that because HE has the authority, and we are IN HIM as believers (one with Him, equal heirs [Romans 8:17]), then WE can go in His power and authority and do these things He is commanding that we do! How are YOU doing with your obedience to these commands? We ALL can, and should, make it more of a priority. It IS His #1 priority! Amen!

Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-27T12:10:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 27:1 says this:

1 THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation -- whom shall I fear or dread? The LORD is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?

"Salvation" here is the Hebrew word "yesha`", meaning: deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity, victory, liberty. In other words, He IS everything you will ever need! If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, then you have THIS Light and THIS Salvation living IN YOU! Get to know Him so that you can walk free from all that this world will throw at you! You are MORE than a conqueror, in Him (Romans 8:37)! The devotional "Heaven Calling" says this for January 27:

When evil surrounds you, look for My good. It is there. In gloomy obscurity, seek My clear light. I am there. In only a matter of time you will emerge from sin-steeped circumstance into a beautiful new chapter of your journey. Wait on Me.

SEE the Light that is IN you, then BE the Light to the world! Amen! Here is "Light Will Shine" by Hillsong United:

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-26T17:44:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Genesis 11: 5-9:

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, they are one people and they have one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city. 9 Therefore the name of it was called Babel -- because there the LORD confounded the language of all the earth; and from that place the LORD scattered them abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Do you see that GOD'S plan is NOT a global plan, EXCEPT for the preaching of the Gospel! He does NOT want a global government UNTIL the millennial reign of Jesus! Until then, all of man's plans are completely contrary to the Word and the Will of God! Why? Because the Gospel is spread supernaturally, through the preaching of the Word and intercessory prayer! BUT, if there is global government, then evil is spread more rapidly on a global level! All things are indeed lining up for the soon return of Jesus for the Church! Do YOU know Him as Lord and personal Savior? If not, please check out our website at the left and find out more! You really WANT to be ready! Amen! If you have already received Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you can make Psalm 26:8 YOUR declaration!

8 LORD, I love the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.

As a born again believer, you ARE the house of God, the temple of the LORD, and His glory lives in YOU! Hallelujah! Spend time being aware of His presence daily. You will be more blessed than you can imagine! Here is Hillsong with "You Are Here":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-25T23:04:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Job 42:5:

5 I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.

Job had previously heard OF the LORD. He knew the LORD only by what others had said about Him. NOW, after hearing the WORD of the LORD, he saw Him with the eyes of his spirit! Have YOU only heard ABOUT the LORD, or do you know Him personally? Paul said that he made it his "determined purpose" to know the Lord (Philippians 3:10 AMP). The only way to know Him is through His Word! Psalm 25:5 says this:

5 Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Pray this every time you study the Word. The Holy Spirit will teach you the Word of God so that you can really come to know the Living Word Himself!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-24T16:38:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today included Matthew 24 and Psalm 24. In Matthew 24:3 the disciples ask Jesus this:

3 While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age?

The rest of the chapter is addressed to the Jewish nation AFTER the "catching away" of the Church! We will NOT be present on the earth at this time! When will we be seen again? Psalm 24:7-10:

7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be lifted up, you age-binding doors, that the King of Glory may come in. 8 Who is the King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; yes, lift them up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of Glory may come in. 10 Who is [He then] this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts, he is the King of Glory. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

The gates are the Eastern Gates of the Old City of Jerusalem! The Beautiful Gates! The current gates, that were sealed by Suleiman I to try to keep the Messiah of Israel from returning, are NOT the real Eastern Gates! The real gates are below these current gates! When Jesus returns and sets His feet on the Mount of Olives, the resulting earthquake will remove the current gates and the real gates will be "lifted up' and He will walk right through! Hallelujah! WE will be WITH HIM! GLORY TO GOD! Here is a picture of the "fake gates" that can be seen now:

Here is a song by Robin Marks called "Days Of Elijah":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-23T16:22:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

I REALLY like this from today's devotional in "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image . . . —2 Corinthians 3:18

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.

I think that this is exactly what happened to the religious leaders that Jesus was speaking to in today's reading in Matthew 23 from The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! These scribes and Pharisees SHOULD have recognized Jesus when He came because they had the easiest access to the Word of God of anyone else! Instead, they were content to look "good" on the outside, while their insides (spirit and soul) resembled dead men! They didn't reflect the life and light of Almighty God! Don't allow the opinions of others matter so much to you that you find yourself caught up in "appearing like" a Christian. Instead, BE a Christian! Spend enough time in His presence that you exude HIS life, speak HIS Word, and do the things that HE would do! You will have HIS results and people will be saved and blessed! Amen! Here is "One Thing" by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-22T14:47:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

At The Spoken Word Church today, Pastor Bill Novak began his second lesson entitled "See" with Psalm 26:3:

3 For Your loving-kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth [faithfully].

If something is "before my eyes", then it is something that I can SEE! What is it that the psalmist was seeing? The "loving-kindness" of the LORD! Do you remember the Hebrew word that is translated "loving-kindness"? It is "checed", which means: kindness; favor; mercy; goodness; faithfulness; steadfast love; grace; devotion. The only way that we, as believers in Jesus of Nazareth, can really walk in the Truth (John 17:17 -Your Word IS Truth!), is to "see", or be aware of, or comprehend, the unconditional love that God has for us! Remember that there is NOTHING that can separate a believer from that Love (Romans 8:39)! Meditate on that TRUTH until it takes over on the inside of you and faith, trust and confidence rise ! THEN we will begin to walk in the fullness of what God has planned for us all along! Amen!

Here is Hillsong with "I Will Run To You":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-21T16:13:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

In Psalm 21 King David is rejoicing in all the LORD has done for Him. Verses 1-7 (AMP):

1 THE KING [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

2 You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

3 For You send blessings of good things to meet him; You set a crown of pure gold on his head.

4 He asked life of You, and You gave it to him — long life forever and evermore.

5 His glory is great because of Your aid; splendor and majesty You bestow upon him.

6 For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence. [Gen 12:2.]

7 For the king trusts, relies on, and is confident in the Lord, and through the mercy and steadfast love of the Most High he will never be moved.

He then says in verse 13:

13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.

Doesn't this sound like David was putting his faith, trust, and confidence in the One, True, Most high, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for every area of his life? You and I should do the same! HE has proven Himself to us over, and over, and over again! We CAN trust Him, at all times! I like this from the "Heaven Calling" devotional for January 21:

"Likewise, trust me in your circumstances. My sky-high perspective trumps your ground-zero view every time. I can see far beyond your obstacles and problems. So hang on to Me as you wait for your reward. It is coming. Believe. Remain faithful. And watch for Me with anticipation."

Here is Hillsong with "Trust In You":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-20T16:19:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Ephesians 1:19-23 (AMP) is one of the prayers that Paul gave us to prayer for ourselves and others.

19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],

21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.

22 And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], [Ps 8:6.]

23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

I LOVE this from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food for Winter" for today concerning this passage:

In every place where the Bible mentions the Name of Jesus, it also refers to His Body, the Church, because the Name was given to Jesus so that the Church might use it.

The ones who need to use His Name are those who have become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; and those who are in contact with men and women in need of deliverance from Satan.

All that Jesus is by inheritance is in that Name! All Jesus has done through conquest is in that Name! And that Name belongs to the Body of Christ: It belongs to you and me! God has made this investment for the Church. The Church has a right to draw upon this deposit for her every need! That Name has within it the fullness of the Godhead.

Confession: I have a right to use the Name of Jesus against the enemy. I have a right to use that Name in prayer. I have a right to use that Name in praise and worship.

If YOU have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, then this is for YOU! You have this right, this authority, and this responsibility! Use it! Amen! Here is "The Lost Are Found" by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-19T17:01:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 18:1-3:

1 I LOVE You fervently and devotedly, O LORD, my Strength. 2 The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

WHO is HE to you? This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself! What we do with Jesus of Nazareth will determine our eternal destiny! Don't "play church"! Really, really KNOW HIM (Philippians 3:10) so you can live a REAL LIFE and not a life of pretending to be what you think others want you to be! I like this from "My Utmost For His Highest"by Oswald Chambers:

Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.

Amen! His IS the ONLY Answer! Hallelujah! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-18T22:13:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

I really like this in today's devotional from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?

Do you remember when Jesus said this to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-4:

1 TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:

2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

This is exactly the same message! Don't make your life busy doing works! Spend time in intimate fellowship with Jesus every day and just simply do what is pleasing to HIM! The reward for that is found in Psalm 37:4 (ESV):

4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

It doesn't get any better than that! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Better Than Life":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-17T22:31:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Continuing with what we looked at yesterday, Psalm 17:15 says this:

15 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

Have you ever awakened in the morning to find yourself praying, praising or thinking about the Lord or His Word? Did you know that you can do that on a consistent basis? Did you know that God does not control that outcome, but we do? What we consistently put IN through our eyes and ears and choose to think about, WILL come out again! Make the decision today to control your atmosphere with the Word of God in some form or other. Go to sleep meditating on the Word, listening to the Word (Audio Bible, Music, Teaching), or praying in the Spirit, and you will find yourself waking up like that! You were created to do so! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Lord Of Lords":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-16T22:36:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 16:7-9:

7 I will bless the LORD, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety.

Once you understand that you, like God, are a triune being (three in one - spirit, soul, and body) (1 Thessalonians 5:23), then you can understand how your heart can instruct you at night, EVEN as you sleep! The heart is the combination of the spirit (made in the image of God, recreated to life at the New Birth) and the soul (mind, emotions, and will). You mind is NOT your brain! You brain is the part of the body that allows expression of the mind while on this earth. Your spirit and soul work together to make decisions that are carried out by your body! Your re-born spirit is ALWAYS in tune with God. Your soul depends on what it is fed by what you see, hear, and choose to think about. When they are in tune, you can grow up in the things of God even as you sleep, especially if you choose to have the Word of God, in some form, going into your eyes and ears consistently! Go to sleep hearing the Word of God and give your soul the assistance it needs to hear HIM. Then don't be surprised when even your dreams are all about the Word! Glory to God! Then you, too, can rejoice in verse 11:

11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Here is Hillsong with "From The Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-15T22:43:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

I want to share this from our Sunday Service! John 8:31-32:

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, if you abide in My Word [hold fast to my teachings and live in accordance with them[, you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

We know that God so loved the entire world that he sent Jesus to pay the price for sin so that we could belong to Him (John 3:16). There is, however, so very much more than that available to us in this life! Being a disciple puts us in position to not only have our needs met and enjoy God's richest and best here on earth, but to affect the eternity of others! Remember that Mary chose the ONE needful thing by sitting at the feet of Jesus! Make the Word of God your top priority in every day and you, too, will know the Truth that will set you free and keep you free! And you will also be able to PROVE to the world that in YOUR life Jesus truly is LORD! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-14T15:36:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

I have been reading "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. Here is the selection for today:

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me’ —Isaiah 6:8

God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”

Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”

Now we know that God DOES "call" people and then "separate" them for the particular and unique ministry that He has for them to do, BUT, He will only separate those who have already answered the "general" call! In other words, don't just sit there waiting for some writing in the sky or spiritual goose bumps! Get out there where you are now and preach the Gospel! BE the "epistle of LIFE" that the people around you need you to be! Live a life of praise, thanksgiving and worship; study and meditation of the Word of God; obedience to the Word; giving; sharing the Gospel; and obeying that still small voice of the Spirit of God within you! THEN He will direct you further as you prove yourself faithful! God's got a plan, and His plans WORK! Amen!

Here is Hillsong with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-13T16:54:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

In Matthew 13 today Jesus was again telling the parable of the sower. Jesus used parables to teach the multitudes, but explained them to His disciples - when they asked! He said this about that in verses 11-17 (AMP):

11 And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13

This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand.

14 In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. 15 For this nation's heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them. [Isa 6:9,10.]16 But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men [men who were upright and in right standing with God] yearned to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

These people had the "power" or the "potential" to hear what the disciples heard, but they chose NOT to follow after Him! Even the disciples didn't fully understand until after they received the Holy Spirit at the New Birth. 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 (AMP) explains why:

14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. 15 But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

Today we see unbelievers who CANNOT understand the Word of God because they are spiritually dead. Once they receive Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, THEN they can begin to understand the Word because the teacher of the Word, the Holy Spirit, will live IN them! Believers who do not understand the Word are those who have just decided NOT to follow on to know the Lord! Which of these are you: the unbeliever who needs to be born again; the unbelieving believer who needs to wake up; or the believing believer who knows, understands and delights in the Word of God? The CHOICE is ours! Make the WISE choice! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-12T16:08:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Psalms 12:1-2:

1 HELP, LORD! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men. 2 To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart [deceitfully] they speak.

The Message Bible says this:

1 Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left; the faithful have vanished from humankind. 2 They all tell lies to each other, flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

It sometimes seems like this right now in our world, doesn't it? If we don't watch ourselves, we can become discouraged by paying MORE attention to the world than we do to God's Word! Verse 6 says this:

6 The words and promises of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

There is the ANSWER! We must spend more time in the Word of God this year than at any previous time! Hiding the Word in our hearts keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11). Hearing the Word over and over again brings faith (Romans 10:17). Meditating on and obeying the Word brings success (Joshua 1:8). make the Word of God your EVERY DAY priority! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Every Day"!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-11T15:56:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 11:3 is very appropriate for our times!

3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the [unyieldingly] righteous do?

The "foundations", the Hebrew word "shathah" (which means: basis, support, purpose) of OUR nation are being "destroyed", the Hebrew word "harac" (which means: to tear down, break down, beat down, pull down, throw down, break away, overthrow) a little almost every single day! Notice that this verse asks: "what can the righteous do"? The righteous are those who have been made the righteousness of Almighty God through the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth! We are the ONLY ones who can affect a change! We must first of all do what 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us to do:

14 If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

The "righteous" are God's people! WE must stand in the gap for our nation ; fast, pray, and seek the leading and the mercy and the deliverance of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. He SAID SO! It doesn't matter what any other person thinks, says, or does! God Himself has promised this in verse 14! So let's do it! Amen! And He said that it would NOT be hard IF we do it HIS way! Matthew 11:28-30:

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy (useful, good, pleasant) and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Did you know that light has no weight? So there is nothing to BE "borne"! God does the work when we are obedient to His Word! Our nation is NOT hopeless as long as their is at least ONE born again believer still here, and there are VERY many! Don't buy the lies, just DO the Word! God will do the rest! Amen! Here is Hillsong with the ANSWER in "Awakening":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-10T15:54:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Today I was very blessed reading The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Job 12:13 says this, and I couldn't agree more!

13 But [only] with [God] are [perfect] wisdom and might; He [alone] has [true] counsel and understanding.

Have you ever looked at the "self-help" books in the library, or searched for information on a subject online? If you have, then you have seen the multitude of things written to try to "help" people with their problems. But it is all for nothing if the people do not know the One, True God or His Word. Why? Because ONLY God has perfect wisdom for us! He IS the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, ALMIGHTY God! If HE doesn't have the answer, then there IS no answer! But He does! Hallelujah! He may speak something to you personally, send you to one of those natural helps, send someone to you, or some completely different way. BUT, if we ask in faith, nothing wavering (James 1:5-6), He WILL give us the answer! Remember, HE wants you to walk in the Blessing of God more than you want to! How are we able to ask in faith? We must know the will of God. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that if we ask ANYTHING that is according to His will, He hears and we have it! His will is revealed in His Word! We know His will concerning healing because we saw it in Matthew today! Matthew 10:8 shows what Jesus instructed His disciples to do when He sent them out. This IS His will!

8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Continue in the Word of God on a daily basis and you, too, will begin to understand His will. Then YOU can pray, KNOWING that your prayers are answered! YES and AMEN! Here is a very old song by Hillsong called "Yes And Amen"! Click through to You Tube for the lyrics if you need them. The video quality is not the best, but the sound is clear!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-09T12:39:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Do you realize that IF you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, the Spirit of Almighty God lives IN you? The very same Spirit Who lived in and operated through Jesus! Romans 8:11 (Message Bible):

11 It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God Who raised Jesus from the dead movies into your life, He'll do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus, bringing you alive to Himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and He does, as surely as He did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With His Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!

The Spirit of God will operate through us, as believers, in the very same way He did through Jesus! Let's be about our Father's business, just like Jesus did, and have the same results! Amen! If you have never received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, please check out our website at the left to find out more! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-08T15:35:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

I want to share two portions of today's devotional from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest". Speaking of Abraham offering Isaac:

This event is a picture of the mistake we make in thinking that the ultimate God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, that is, sacrifice our lives. Not— “Lord, I am ready to go with You . . . to death” (Luke 22:33). But— “I am willing to be identified with Your death so that I may sacrifice my life to God.”

It may seem so committed to say, "Jesus, I am willing to die for you". Peter said the same thing in John 13:37 (AMP):

37 Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.

Jesus didn't ask Peter to die for Him, He asked him to watch and pray (Matthew 26:38-41), but Peter slept! It is MUCH harder to LIVE for Jesus than to die for Him! We have streets of gold, the River of Life, our friends and family and a beautiful Heavenly home waiting for us when we leave this life! Far better, the Bible says (Philippians 1:23)! THAT is the sacrifice He asks us to make! It is much more needful for the lost that we stay and BE the Light! This portion says this:

It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice”— to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.

I hope this blessed your day as it did mine! We are here for God's plans and purposes! To really LIVE according to John 10:10, so that we can lead the world to HIM! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "Life":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-07T16:47:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 7:14-17 always reminds me of the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote! Those shows were such a good example of these verses! Here they are from the Amplified Bible:

14 Behold, [the wicked man] conceives iniquity and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.15 He made a pit and hollowed it out and has fallen into the hole which he made [before the trap was completed]16 His mischief shall fall back in return upon his own head, and his violence come down [with the loose dirt] upon his own scalp17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

I WILL praise Him for Who He is, AND, for what He has done! That includes defeating the enemy for me! He enforces that defeat over, and over, and over again for ME when I stand strong on His Word! Here is another clip from those cartoons that is much better quality than the one I used before! Enjoy and EXPECT! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-06T17:18:00.006-06:00

Shalom,

I have to say that the devotional from the The Spoken Word Church website (link on the left) ministered the most to me today! Here it is:

Recognize That Others Increase Your Worth

Your best qualities will surface in the presence of good people. Treasure any friend who generates energy and enthusiasm toward your dreams or goals.

Go the extra mile to nurture and protect any God given relationship.

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

God did NOT intend for us to "go it alone"! He called each of us to be an active member of a local church body of believers. This should be the place of the most, and best, support. Remember, though, that to HAVE good friends, you must first of all BE one! Amen! Here is a very old Hillsong song called "Friends in High Places":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-05T17:40:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Ephesians 5:18 (CJB) says this:

18 Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — 19 sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; 20 always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

This instruction in the New Testament is God's perfect will for YOU! To drink or not to drink is a personal question that God WILL lead you in, IF you ask Him. Drunkenness is already dealt with right here! God said: DON'T! In The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today we read about Noah. After the flood, he planted a vineyard, made wine, drank wine, and got drunk! HE caused evil to happen to his family because of his choice to get drunk! I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Noah didn't plan to get drunk and shamelessly expose himself, but it happened just the same. The Japanese have an appropriate proverb: "First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man."

As a person who has grown up with several alcoholics in my family, most who never even realized that they were, it WILL cause many aspects of family life to be just like hell on earth! What is the answer? Psalm 119:11:

11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Spend time in God's Word DAILY, pray in the Spirit DAILY, be in fellowship with like-minded believers DAILY, and you will be able to make wise choices that will affect your entire life and the lives of your loved ones. God said so, and he doesn't lie! Amen! Here is "I Give You My Heart" by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-04T18:07:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

I read this in Matthew 4 today:

Matt 4:23-25 (AMP):

23 And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every weakness and infirmity among the people.

24 So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them.

25 And great crowds joined and accompanied Him about, coming from Galilee and Decapolis [the district of the ten cities east of the Sea of Galilee] and Jerusalem and Judea and from the other [the east] side of the Jordan.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Jewish Preacher, went about all of this land - 2000 years ago! Who do YOU think this land belongs to? What did He do? He taught the Word of God (Old Testament) in the synagogues and preached the Gospel, which resulted in people having faith to be healed! Then He healed every type of sickness and disease known to man! He turned no person down and all who came in faith were healed! Guess what? He is the SAME today (Hebrews 13:8)! What do YOU need? Call on Him and He WILL answer (Jeremiah 33:3)! The next step is YOURS! Do it! Here is Hillsong with "Jesus, What A Beautiful Name":

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-03T15:50:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

I read this in The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today -

Matt 3:13-17 (AMP):

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him.
14 But John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?
15 But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him.
17 And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight! [Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1.]

Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15), though He WAS tempted just like we are! His desire was to be obedient to the will of His Father! My thought: Since we KNOW that Jesus never sinned even one time, then what appeared to be sin to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law was a total misunderstanding on their part of the Truth of God's Word! How many times have YOU judged someone for an "apparent" offense? THAT is why we are told: "Judge NOT, that YOU be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). Sound advice, don't you think? Here is a wonderful picture portraying a glorious baptism for our Lord Jesus! I hope you enjoy it!

Shalom in Him!

2012-01-02T22:15:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Those of us who have had the privilege to read through the Bible many times are very familiar with David, son of Jesse, who was the King of Israel. We know of his heroic deeds and of his sins (plural!). We also know that God called Him this in Acts 13:22b:

22b ...I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. KJV

David was not perfect, but He was a man who went all out for God! When he made mistakes he repented (changed his thinking to agree with God) and went hard after God's heart again! God does not want us to try to be perfect. He wants us to go after knowing Him with everything within us! Check out Philippians 3:10 in the Amplified Bible and make it YOUR goal to want that same thing! THAT is going after the heart of God! Amen!

Here is Hillsong with The First And The Last:

Shalom in Him

2012-01-01T20:42:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Happy New Year! I will be starting 2012 with just a thought or a verse to share. Today it will be Genesis 1:26 from the Amplified Bible:

26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. [Ps 104:30; Heb 1:2; 11:3.]

God LOVES you! You are made in His very image! Nothing that you could ever do would cause Him to love you more or less! If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, then you are also a member of God's very own family! Now you are one of His favorites! Spend time today thanking the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for His love and for His provision for your eternal Salvation! If you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior, please visit our website at the left and find out more!

Here is "The Father's Heart" by Hillsong United:

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-31T17:08:00.005-06:00

Shalom,

The last day of the year! This is day 365 of blogging The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Today we have all of Psalm 119. I absolutely LOVE that every verse of Psalm 119 refers in some way to the wonderful Word of God! For a few of the verses you have to search other translations to find it, but searching the Word is a big part of meditation! See if YOU can find the Word in every verse, then pick out your favorites! I have shared mine on a previous blog, but I will share one here. Verse 2:

2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart.

To me, this verse is a very key verse for the entire Bible! First of all, we don't always realize what it means to be "blessed"! This is the Hebrew word "`ashre", which means: the state of prosperity or happiness that comes when a superior bestows his favor (blessing) on one. The Amplified Bible does a great job of describing this when it says "(happy, fortunate, to be envied)"! And just who receives that wonderful fullness of blessing? Those who "keep", the Hebrew word "natsar", which means: to guard, protect, obey, observe; His Word! They also "seek", the Hebrew word "darash", which means: to seek, inquire, require, Him with their whole heart, or all of their being! Why do I like this verse? Because I KNOW that IF I pay attention to and obey the Word of God, and desire with all my heart to know Him and spend time in His presence, THEN I will be, of all people, MOST BLESSED! YOU can be, too! IF! Amen!

Philippians 4:4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

"Rejoice" is the Greek word "chairo", which means: to be cheerful, calmly happy or well-off; to be glad or full of joy. Why should we rejoice? Nehemiah 8:10b:

10b for the joy of the LORD is your strength and stronghold.

We MUST continually remind ourselves of the promises of the Word of God so that we can maintain our joy, which causes us to remain strong and within the stronghold of God's protection, provision, and safety! Do you see that? Do whatever is necessary for YOU to stir up the joy of the Lord that is IN you; and do it every day! You are much stronger than you even realize! Amen!

We finish the year with the last two chapters of the last book of the Old Testament! Whenever we think of Malachi 3-4, we usually think of and speak about the tithe! That is NOT what we are looking at today. First we will look ate Malachi 3:16-18:

16 Then those who feared the LORD talked often one to another; and the LORD listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the LORD and who thought on His Name. 17 And they shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him.

During the approximately 400 years between Malachi and Matthew, we do not have anything recorded that God spoke to the people. But, these verses tell us that HE listens when WE speak! He pays attention to those who pay attention to Him and His Word! It WILL be unto us according to God's Word! It is vitally important that we find out what God says, and then agree with Him! Malachi 4:2 says this:

2 But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.

What a great picture of joy and freedom! It CAN be yours, IF! Be a DOER of the things you see in the Word of God, then you can be a RECEIVER of all the promised blessings! Amen! Let's end 2011 with Hillsong's "This Is Our God";

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-30T22:41:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 31 opens with the admonition to those in positions of authority to stay away from wine and strong drink. Strong drink refers to "intensely alcoholic liquor" according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. What does that mean to YOU? You will NOT find that answer anywhere except in close, intimate conversation with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! The Word of God gives us general guidance, so obey what you DO see. The Spirit of God will give us more specific, personal guidance as we put the Word first place. The rest of this Proverb is usually directed toward women as a gauge for their growth. I prefer this as my gauge, found in Luke 10:42:

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

Martha had complained to Jesus that her sister Mary was not helping her wait on people. What was Mary doing? Sitting at the feet of Jesus hearing the Word of God taught by the greatest Teacher ever! THAT is the way to truly become a Proverbs 31 woman (or man)! Philippians 3 (in the Bible Reading Plan for today) also gives one of the best possible ways to grow up in the things of God. Philippians 3:10-11:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that i may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection and that I may so share HIS sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] top His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

THAT is the way to become the very best YOU that you can possibly become this side of Heaven! GO FOR IT! you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by knowing HIM! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "I Live To Know You More":

We begin Malachi today as we get ready to end this year through the Bible! The people had again slipped back from doing the will of God when Nehemiah was gone. Now Malachi, whose name means "My messenger", was sent to speak of the sins of the people and to call them back to the One, True God! Don't allow yourself to be distracted from following hard after God! Keep the flame of your first love for HIM burning brightly in you! Make it your priority to spend time in praise and worship every day for Who He is, and for all He has done! There is no possibility of backsliding when you do that! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-29T21:25:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 30:2-5 speaks of the boundless difference between the Word of God and the word of man's wisdom:

2 Surely I am too brutish and stupid to be called a man, and I have not the understanding of a man [for all my secular learning is as nothing]. 3I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge or burden of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, and what is His Son's Name, if you know? 5 Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

Secular learning can be very valuable when it is added to the Word of God in our lives! When secular learning is all that we have, we WILL eventually fail! John 17:17:

17 Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

Without the Word of God there is no standard for the Truth! Many modern day textbooks are filled with lies or are missing vital truths because the Word of God is no longer "accepted" as Truth. Make sure that if your children attend a public or private school, you are checking their textbooks so that you can counter any untruth found in them! You MUST be a hands-on parent and there is no shortcut!

In Philippians 2 Paul is encouraging the congregation to be a people of unity. Verses 2-4:

2 Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention. 3 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. 4 Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.

No one ever humbled themselves to the extent that Jesus of Nazareth did for us! Verses 9-11:

9 Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the Name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let's allow Jesus to be our "model" for humility and we can't go wrong! Amen!

Nehemiah 12 shows the people returning to praise and worship and singing to the Most High God! But, it only took Nehemiah being gone for everything to fall apart again! I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, once said to a group of new officers, "I want you young men always to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed."

Nehemiah discovered that the fires of devotion had gone out in Jerusalem. His first term as governor lasted for twelve years (5:14), after which he returned to the palace to report to the king (13:6). He was gone perhaps a year; but when he returned to Jerusalem, he discovered that the situation had deteriorated dramatically, for the people were not living up to the vows they had made (chap. 10). Nehemiah immediately began to act decisively to change the situation.

Without spiritual leadership, God's people are prone to stray like sheep. One successful pastor told me, "If we didn't keep our eyes on this work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, it would be invaded and soon fall apart." Moses was away from the people of Israel only a short time, and they became idolaters (Ex 32). Paul would establish a church and leave it in the hands of the elders, only to have trouble begin soon after his departure. Then he would have to write them a letter or pay them a visit to straighten things out. (No wonder Paul exhorted the Ephesian church leaders as he did in Acts 20:28-32!) After Nehemiah was gone from Jerusalem only a short time, he came home to find the people defiled by compromise.

If you compare this chapter with chapter 10, you will see that the people failed to keep several of the promises that they had made to the Lord.

Have YOU neglected your First Love? Do you still spend time daily in praise, thanksgiving and worship? Do you spend time daily in the Word of God; in fellowship with Him; in fellowship with like-minded believers? Not doing these things WILL cause us to slide back into apathy where the things of God are concerned. There are NO rewards for that attitude! Check your heart daily to make sure that you stay on fire for the presence of God and the things of God! you will be so glad you did, and so will those around you! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-28T22:12:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Another verse that so accurately describes our current times is Proverbs 29:2:

2 When the [uncompromisingly] righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.

We have not heard much rejoicing in this nation in the last three years! Groaning, sighing, crying, and very many calls to prayer! I believe that great revival is happening all over this nation and that God's people who know how to pray are praying as never before! We DO have good news in verse 16:

16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall see the fall of the wicked.

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! Stand strong on the Word of God and be consistent in prayer and we WILL see the One, True God deliver this nation again!

Philippians 1:6 is a verse that we should be constantly reminding ourselves of!

6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that he Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

The very moment that you received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, the Spirit of Almighty God came to recreate your dead human spirit into the image of God, and to live IN you forever! He will never leaver you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and He will continue His good work in you! That should give you great confidence that you can absolutely fulfill all that God has called you to do! Here is "No Not By Might" by Robin Marks:

In Nehemiah 10 we see the people of Israel back up their prayers to God with the commitment to obey the Law and to honor the Covenant. Verse 29:

29 Join now, with their brethren, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law which was given to Moses the servant of God and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

Then they acted out this obedience in Nehemiah 11 by choosing people to move in and inhabit the city of Jerusalem again. Verse 2:

2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

I found this interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Now that the walls and gates of Jerusalem were restored, it was important that the Jews inhabit their capital city and make the population grow. For one thing, people were needed to protect the city; for they never knew when the enemy might decide to attack. It may have been safer for the people to live in the small outlying villages that were no threat to the Gentile society, but somebody had to take the risk and move into the big city.

Also, if the people really loved God and their holy city, they would want to live there, if only as a witness to the skeptical Gentiles around them. After all, why rebuild the city if you don't plan to live there? But most of all, God had brought the remnant back home because He had a special job for them to do; and to abandon the restored city was to obstruct the working out of God's will through Israel.

In other words, God needed people — live bodies — in the holy city. The Jews were asked to heed a call not unlike the one Paul wrote in Rom 12:1: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (NKJV).

Never underestimate the importance of simply being physically present in the place where God wants you. You may not be asked to perform some dramatic ministry, but simply being there is a ministry. The men, women, and children who helped to populate the city of Jerusalem were serving God, their nation, and future generations by their step of faith.

We have always said that true prosperity is being where GOD wants you to be, doing what GOD wants you to do! That has not changed and it STILL pleases God! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-27T22:30:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 28:2 is what we are looking for in 2012!

2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

We are believing God to remove the ungodly leaders and promote the godly in very election in 2012 - in the mighty Name of Jesus of Nazareth! AMEN! Verses 4-5:

4 Those who forsake the law [of God and man] praise the wicked, but those who keep the law [of God and man] contend with them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but they who crave and seek the LORD understand it fully.

THAT is the type of leaders we are looking for!

We spoke a little yesterday about dealing with the enemy and standing! Ephesians 6:11-18 describe the armor of God that we are to clothe ourselves with as we take on our warfare against the forces of darkness:

11 Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. [Isa 52:7.]

16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

When we are clothed with God's armor and bearing His weapons, we cannot fail! Here are some encouraging pictures I found concerning this! one for the male men among us, and another for the female men!

In Nehemiah 8-9 the people turned their focus to the Word of God and to blessing and honoring the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! THAT is what is most needed for the United States of America to again be a great and blessed nation! It all begins with God's people praying (2 Chronicles 7:14). Are YOU? Let's DO IT! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-26T21:55:00.004-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 27:12:

12 A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering].

"Prudent" here is the Hebrew word "aruwm", which means: shrewd, sensible, skillful and wise. This person will recognize evil because of their study of the Word of God and turn away from it and avoid it altogether! The "simple" is the Hebrew word "pethiy", which means: silly, foolish. This is the person who doesn't pay enough attention to the Word of God to be able to recognize evil and hide! Verse 22:

22 Even though like grain you should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

"Fool" here is s different Hebrew word that "simple" above. This word is the Hebrew word "`eviyl", which means: to be foolish, one who despised wisdom; who mocked when guilty; who was quarrelsome. This type of foolishness cannot be beaten out of someone! They must choose to WANT to stop being ignorant of the Word; and THEN dig into it AND KNOW IT! Knowledge and understanding of the Word of God is the ONLY "cure" for ignorance and foolishness!

Ephesians 5:1-2:

1 THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

THIS is how believers in Jesus of Nazareth are to appear to the world! Not by using many high-sounding or super-spiritual words but by a life that speaks without talking of love and light and life! Verses 15-17 gives even more insight into what our lives should look like!

15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

The more time that we spend meditating on the Word of God and in fellowship with the Lord, the more we will begin to think, speak and act like Jesus did! Then the things of the world will just lose their appeal and the things of Heaven will draw us closer! Then obeying Colossians 3:2 will not be hard at all! Thank You, Jesus!

In Nehemiah 6-7 he and the people had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. now they needed to restore the gates and strengthen the people to withstand enemy attacks. Sometimes the enemies, both natural and spiritual, attack in devious ways that are hard to combat. This began to happen to Nehemiah. I really liked the way this was covered in the Bible Exposition Commentary, so I'm sharing it here. it is a little long, but very enlightening!

Since Sanballat and his friends had failed miserably in their attempts to stop the people from working, they decided to concentrate their attacks on Nehemiah. If they could eliminate him, or even discredit him, they could mobilize their allies living in Jerusalem (Neh 6:17-18) and take over the city.

The average person doesn't realize the tremendous pressures and testings that people experience day after day in places of leadership. Leaders are often blamed for things they didn't do and criticized for things they tried to do. They are misquoted and misunderstood and rarely given the opportunity to set the record straight. If they act quickly, they are reckless; if they bide their time, they are cowardly or unconcerned. Referring to the pressures of leadership, President Harry Truman wrote in Mr. Citizen, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"

People in places of spiritual leadership not only have the pressures that all leaders face, but they must also battle an infernal enemy who is a master deceiver and a murderer. Satan comes either as a serpent who deceives or a lion who devours (2 Cor 11:3; 1 Peter 5:8), and Christian leaders must be alert and spiritually equipped to oppose him. It behooves God's people to pray earnestly, not only for those in civil authority (1 Tim 2:1-3), but also for those in places of spiritual authority. If Satan can defeat a Christian leader, he can cripple a whole ministry and discredit the cause of Christ.

The enemy's main purpose was to generate fear in the heart of Nehemiah and his workers (Neh 6:9,13-14,19), knowing that fear destroys faith and paralyzes life. Adolph Hitler wrote, "Mental confusion, contradiction of feeling, indecisiveness, panic; these are our weapons." Both Jesus (Luke 13:31-37) and Paul (Acts 21:10-14) had to face the specter of fear, and both overcame it by faith.

Nehemiah didn't listen to the enemy's lies. He and the people completed the wall and hung the gates in only fifty-two days, much to the chagrin of their adversaries (Neh 6:15-16).

Now the time came for Nehemiah and the people to stand! Do YOU have a plan for obeying Ephesians 6:13 and "...having done all to stand - STAND"? This standing is a very actively aggressive word! We are to be dressed for battle against the unseen forces of darkness and, using every God-given weapon available to us, KEEP THE ENEMY OFF OF OUR PROPERTY! Can you do it? Only if you prepare yourself! DO IT!

Here is an older song by Hillsong called "Stepping Out":

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-25T21:45:00.045-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 26:6:

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet [of satisfactory deliver] and drinks the damage.

What exactly is this saying? I have heard it said that you can teach skills to a faithful person, but you cannot cause a skilled person to be faithful. Faithfulness is a choice! Make sure that you are led by the Spirit of God as to who YOU trust; with delivering a message or anything else of importance to you! It is also vital that YOU choose to be a faithful person! Can others count on YOU to: be on time; finish what you start; do what you say; keep confidences; tell the Truth; be consistent; pray every day; be in the Word of God every day; be a tither; be a giver; walk in love; stand in faith? BE FAITHFUL and you will be surrounded with faithful people! God will see to it! Amen!

Ephesians 4 is speaking of the unity that is found in the Body of Christ as the individual members do their individual part with the whole in mind! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Unity is not uniformity. Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace, while uniformity is the result of pressure from without. Paul used the human body as a picture of Christian unity (1 Cor 12), and he adapts the same illustration here in this section (Eph 4:13-16).

Each part of the body is different from the other parts, yet all make up one body and work together.

Many people today attempt to unite Christians in a way that is not biblical. For example, they will say: "We are not interested in doctrines, but in love. Now, let's forget our doctrines and just love one another!" But Paul did not discuss spiritual unity in the first three chapters; he waited until he had laid the doctrinal foundation. While not all Christians agree on some minor matters of Christian doctrine, they all do agree on the foundation truths of the faith. Unity built on anything other than Bible truth is standing on a very shaky foundation.

Ephesians 4 also shows us God's plan for the maturing and unifying of His church! Verses 11-16:

11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave to us] some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. 12 His intention was the perfecting of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), 13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that[ we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things unto Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

We CANNOT mature without being involved in a good local church where we are exposed to all of the various ministry gifts; taught the Word of God boldly, confidently, uncompromisingly, precisely and accurately; and given the opportunity to practice the Word among a church family! THAT is God's plan and it will not work any other way! Here is Hillsong United with "Go", because we really DO want to GO His Way!

Nehemiah 4-5 tells of the on-going work to rebuild the city walls, with much opposition. The people of God were ridiculed and mocked for believing God and beginning the work. Their enemies even plotted to try and stop the building, but Nehemiah encouraged the people. Nehemiah 4:14-15:

14 I looked [them over] and rose up and said to the nobles and officials and the other people, Do not be afraid of the enemy; [earnestly] remember the LORD and imprint Him [on your minds], great and terrible, and [take from Him courage to] fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. 15 And when our enemies heard that their plot was known to us and that God had frustrated their purpose, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord in this same way when you are facing tests and trials and you will be able to stand strong on the Word against every attack of the enemy!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-24T20:55:00.007-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 25:2 has always been one of my favorite verses in Proverbs!

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.

"Glory" is the Hebrew word "kabowd", which means: glory; honor; abundance; riches; splendor; reputation; reverence; wealth; majesty. "When applied to God this word represents a quality corresponding to Him and by which He is recognized" (according to Vine's Expository Dictionary). This means that it is in God's character to hide His "glory" FOR His people to find out! Then it is all of these good things above happening in our lives when we find AND obey what His Word has to say to us! What a wonderful and abundant promise! If you haven't yet started to dig into God's Word - START! If you have - NEVER QUIT! All that we will ever need to be successful in this life can be found in the Word of God and in intimate fellowship with Him! The choice is ours! Choose wisely!

Ephesians 3:14-21 contains another Scriptural prayer that Paul prayed for his followers and I pray for YOU:

14 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 For Whom every family in heaven and earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now unto Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] - 21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

What a powerful prayer! We know from 1 John 5 that when we ask for something in line with God's will (His WORD) then He hears us and we have it! This is most definitely a prayer that God will answer! Amen!

Nehemiah 1-3 covers the beginning of the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem 100 years after the captivity in Babylon had ended. Nehemiah had chosen to stay. OR had he been CHOSEN to stay, for such a time as this? God knows! I believe that to be the case, just like Joseph in Egypt! I found this concerning the character of Nehemiah in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

"The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity." George Bernard Shaw put those words into the mouth of the Rev. Anthony Anderson in the second act of his play The Devil's Disciple. The statement certainly summarizes what Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37); and it rebukes all those who told their arms complacently, smile benignly, and say somewhat sarcastically, "Ask me if I care!"

Nehemiah was the kind of person who cared. He cared about the traditions of the past and the needs of the present. He cared about the hopes for the future. He cared about his heritage, his ancestral city, and the glory of his God.

We will continue with Nehemiah in the next days! In the meantime, think about this:

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-23T23:33:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 24:21-22:

21 My son, [reverently] fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary], 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the punishment and ruin which both [the LORD and the king] will bring upon [the rebellious]?

These verses are very appropriate for what is going on in the world right now, even in our own nation! There are people who are calling themselves "revolutionaries" who are nothing more than lazy, bored, spoiled, undisciplined and unholy freeloaders! Notice that these are headed for their just rewards from both the LORD AND the government leaders! If you find yourself messing with this group of people, get away from them just as fast as you can! Make sure that you are spending quality fellowship time EVERY DAY, with like-minded believers, who will encourage your faith, support you in prayer and have a vested interest in your well-being! When your fellowship is centered on the Word of God, then you can expect wise counsel from some of those faithful believers. Make sure that YOU are preparing yourself to be someone else's "wise counselor"! Rewards!

Ephesians 2:12-14:

12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. 14 For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us.

That is Paul speaking to the Gentile believers in Jesus of Nazareth! He IS the ultimate UNITER! There is no real unity apart from Him! With Him, there is no division! He says everyone as equal in and through the blood of Jesus! Thank You, Jesus!

Ezra 9-10 shows Ezra dealing with disobedience among the people again. This time is was men marrying foreign (heathen) wives against specific instructions from the God of the Bible. We need to always keep in mind that the instructions that God give to us are out of His great love FOR us. he wants us to stay in position to walk in the fullness of His Blessing! Make the adjustments that YOU need to make in order to have 2012 be the very best year of your life so far!

Here is Hillsong Chapel with "The Time Has Come":

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-22T21:37:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 23:4-5:

4 Weary not yourself to be rich cease from your own [human] wisdom. 5 Will you set your eyes upon wealth, when [suddenly] it is gone? For riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

The word "weary" here is the Hebrew word "yaga`", which means: to be exhausted; to tire; to toil; to labor; to be weary; to faint. There is no doubt for someone who actually KNOWS the Word of God that God wants us to be prosperous in every area! The emphasis of these verses is to warn us NOT to make being rich our priority! Ephesians 4:28 tells us the motivation for having a job!

28 let the thief steal no more, but let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, SO THAT HE MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE TO THOSE IN NEED.

(Emphasis mine) Now THAT is the proper motivation for working! With that attitude, we will BE the light we are meant to be wherever we work, and our priorities line up with HIS priorities! Blessings ALWAYS come with obedience to the Word of God! Amen! What SHOULD we be focusing on instead of getting rich at all costs? Verse 12 give us the best answer!

12 Apply your mind to instruction and correction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Be like Paul in Philippians 3 and get to know Jesus more every day! You will NEVER be the same! And then verse 23 goes right along with that!

23 Buy the Truth and sell it not; not only that, but also get discernment and judgment, instruction and understanding.

Wise men aren't born wise! It takes time and diligence to to be a student of the Word; but it is time well spent!

Ephesians 1:5-6 reveal God's ultimate plan for us:

5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent] 6 [So that we might be to the praise and the commendation of his glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

So I will pray this prayer for you now! Verses 16- 23:

¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.

¹⁷[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,

¹⁸By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

¹⁹And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

²⁰Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],

²¹Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.

²²And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],^(A)

²³Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

The title for the chapter on Ezra 7-8 in the Bible Exposition Commentary is: The Good Hand Of God. I like this introduction:

But if we had interviewed Ezra and asked him the secret of his successful life, he would have said humbly, "The good hand of the Lord was upon me," a phrase that's found six times in Ezra 7 and 8 (7:6,9,28; 8:18,22,31). Nothing but the blessing of God can explain how an obscure Jewish priest and scholar, born in Babylonian Captivity, could accomplish so much for God and Israel when so much was working against him.

That God's good hand was upon this man doesn't minimize the importance of his personal piety or his great ability as a scholar, nor does it ignore the great help King Artaxerxes gave him. God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His will, but if God's hand isn't at work in us and through us, nothing will be accomplished. It's the principle Jesus taught His disciples, "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NKJV). What did God do for the people of Israel during those difficult days after the Babylonian Captivity?

Read these two chapters through and you will see what God did for His people. How much more will He do for the Church now! Hallelujah! here is Hillsong with "Search My Heart" for without Him, we ARE nothing! Thank You, Jesus, that we are NEVER without YOU!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-22T00:00:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 22:17-19:

Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. 19 So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the LORD, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.

There are no wiser words in all of the world than the precious Word of God found in the Bible! Pay attention to the Holy Spirit Who lives in you as He teaches you what this Word means to you personally! Then make sure that you become a DOER of that Word! Good and Godly results await!

Galatians 6:7-9:

7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

No outward "show" of righteousness or religion has ever pulled any weight with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He has given us His Word so that we can learn of Him; recognize sin and avoid it; build ourselves up in faith; speak His Word and get the same result that Jesus got when He spoke the Word during His ministry on earth! When we sow the seeds of God's Word into our own lives and into the lives of the people we are responsible for, we can fully expect to see the results that His Word promises! Set your face to never, ever, give up or quit and you WILL have a great harvest; here in this life and in the next! Thank You, Jesus!

Esther 9-10 show the total reversal of the predicament that the Jewish people had faced! Now they were the ones with the advantage over those who hated them and they even had the help of the king's people! Esther 9:2-4:

2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on such as sought their hurt; and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them had fallen upon all the peoples. 3 And all the princes of the provinces and the chief rulers and the governors and they who attended to the king's business helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's palace; and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces , for the man Mordecai became more and more powerful.

Mordecai was blessed, honored and elevated in stature in this godless nation because both Mordecai and Esther obeyed the One, True God! The extent of the honor given to Mordecai is revealed in chapter 10. We, who have a better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6), can expect even greater favor as we continue to stand strong and obedient on the Living Word of God! But remember "due season" and refuse to quit! God's timing is ALWAYS perfect! Amen! here is Hillsong with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-20T17:50:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 21:1 says this:

1 THE KING'S heart is in the hand of the LORD, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills.

It is very important for us, as believers who pray, to know this verse, especially if we are dealing with ungodly leaders! Romans 13:1-2 tells us that earthly authority comes from God! When we pray, God can get involved and change their hearts and minds to agree with HIS will in the situation! Now, more than ever before, we NEED to count on this Truth!

I also really like this from verse 5:

5 The thoughts of the [steadily] diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.

This reinforces the Truth that God desires for us to take one step at a time, trusting Him to lead, guide and direct our every move. Remember, HE wants you to prosper, succeed, and do well, even more than you want those things for yourself (3 John 2)! HE gets glory from our success!

In Galatians 5 Paul continues speaking about the True Gospel and exposing the false doctrine of works for salvation. Galatians 5:1 says this:

1 IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our freedom! Don't treat it lightly and take it for granted by thinking that ANY thing we could ever do in the natural is even close to HIS sacrifice! Jesus does NOT want our "works". He wants to see and hear our faith talking! He can work with faith-filled words! Amen! Here is the song "In Your Freedom" by Hillsong:

Just by His very presence the Holy Spirit makes a real change in the lives of the people. Look at verses 22-23:

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring charge].

ALL of these "fruit of the spirit" are already IN you! Don't "try" so hard to get them! We simply must cultivate them so that they are operating in our lives. THAT will really get people to think about their own lives and whether or not they are actually saved! Be on top of your game at all times now! Let's have NO wasted time - buy up every opportunity to spread the Good news!

Esther 7-8 is all about the vengeance of the LORD on the evil Haman! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

God's long-suffering led Haman into thinking he was safe. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl 8:11, NKJV). God's long-suffering today is an opportunity for people to repent (2 Peter 3:9), but our sinful world thinks it means God won't judge sinners at all. "For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thess 5:3, NKJV).

Remember Romans 12:19:

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.

Allow God the time to take care of your enemies while you continue to pray for their salvation! That takes any judgment out of your hands and leaves you clean before God! It also give the enemies more time to repent and get right with God! If they don't, eternity is plenty long enough for the suffering that comes from rejecting HIM!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-19T22:34:00.004-06:00

Shalom,

We know by now that the Proverbs are filled with nuggets of Wisdom that will benefit every person who puts them into practice! Here is a vital one for you in Proverbs 20:19:

19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore associate not with him who talks too freely.

This is such a good Word of warning! Why would we ever think that a person who will so freely gossip about or "bad-mouth" someone else, will only speak highly of us or keep our confidences? A good rule to have for your life is to NOT share anything with someone not qualified to help you! That would definitely include anyone who is not a like-minded believer! This decision will save a lot of hurt and heartache later! Thank You, Jesus, for WISDOM!

Galatians 4:4-7 is the Good News of the Gospel!

4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, 5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons]. 6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father! 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.

We ARE, by His Grace and plan and purpose, HIS sons, and there is nothing in this world that we could ever do to make ourselves "better"! Dare to believe what the Word of God says about who you are and then LIVE IT! Amen!

Esther 5-6 reveals the step-by-step plan that the One, True God used to expose Haman and reward Mordecai! I LOVE God's perfect timing in every situation! It may seem like things are taking too long, but God's timing is ALWAYS the very best timing! We'll see the results tomorrow!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-18T21:54:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 19:20:

20 Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction that you may be wise in the time to come.

It is our responsibility as born again believers to get ourselves to a good local church where they teach the Word of God. Then we need to spend time in the Word daily, studying the Word (2 Timothy 2:15); obeying the Word, praying the Word, and sharing the Word with others. This will make us wiser every day! Soon we will be able to ALWAYS be fed the meat of the Word of God and not have to be spoon-fed the milk of the Word like a newborn baby again! Then when we act on Proverbs 19:23, we will see those results also!

23 The reverent, worshipful fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied; he cannot be visited with [actual] evil.

That is the divine protection, provision, and safety that come from God Himself! Evil may appear in our lives and try to gain access to our lives, but this Word says that we will be protected from lasting effects of evil! Hallelujah!

In Galatians 3 Paul was continuing to speak about the false doctrine of works that had crept into the Church there. Verse 18 sums it up pretty well:

18 For it the inheritance [of the promise depends on observing] the Law [as these false teachers would like you to believe], it no longer [depends] on the promise; however, God gave it to Abraham [as a free gift solely] by virtue of His promise.

Our eternal salvation, though it came at GREAT cost to God Himself, cost us nothing except our decision to receive! How prideful to think that we could possibly add a single thing to the finished work that Jesus accomplished on the cross! Do NOT be trapped into believing something that is contrary to the Word of God! KNOW the Word and you will NOT be easily fooled! God the Holy Spirit, Who lives IN you, will continue to teach you all good things from the Word of God as you continue IN it! Be knowledgeable of the Word, for KNOWING the Word is what will set you free and keep you free (John 8:31-32), as long as you continue in it! Amen! here is Hillsong with "We The Redeemed":

Esther 3-4 deal with Haman and his evil plans to annihilate the Jewish people. In order to understand his hatred for the Jewish people, you have to realize that Haman was most probably a descendant of the Amalekites who were enemies of the Jewish people. He was also a very hate-filled man. I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Everything about Haman is hateful; you can't find one thing about this man worth praising. In fact, everything about Haman, God hated! "These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren" (Prov 6:16-19, NKJV). Keep these seven evil characteristics in mind as you read the Book of Esther, for you will see them depicted in this depraved man.

Mordecai calls on Esther to use her influence to help her people when Haman tricks the king into allowing him to set up the murder of all the Jewish people. The lines we most remember are found in Esther 4:13-14:

13 Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther, Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Don't ever trust in the world to deliver you or protect you! Seek the only real shelter for the born again believer by being ever in the presence of the Almighty Living God! Many of the Jewish people in Germany prior to WWII actually thought that their wealth and riches and education and position in society would protect them from the Nazi aggression. NOT SO! Who knows how many more may have been saved if they had only heeded all of the early warning signs and acted on them! Be wise and pay attention! Move when God says to move, speak when He says speak, act when He says to act, and then stand back and watch the total salvation of your life by the one, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-17T23:48:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 18:1:

1 HE WHO willfully separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.

We are told in Hebrews 10:25 that we are NOT to separate ourselves from other believers and that this is most important as we get closer to the time of His appearing for the Church. The verse above tells us that the person who does separate themselves in this way is not only selfish, but will also come out against Godly Wisdom! Our fellowship with like-minded believers, when we are meditating daily on the Word and spending time in His presence, helps to confirm and solidify the Wisdom and knowledge we are getting from the Word of God. Then they run the risk of becoming verse 2:

2 A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.

Verses 6-7 show us more of the results of being a fool! Then we see in verses 20-21 how very important are the words of our mouth!

20 A man's self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequences of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

When we know that we can have what we say (Mark 11:23), it is imperative that we say ONLY what we really want! Amen!

In Galatians 2 Paul is dealing with the false doctrine that had crept into the Church that was forcing Gentile believers to follow Jewish laws and rituals. He ends with this in verse 21:

21 [Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]

There is nothing that mankind can possibly do to gain eternal salvation on our own merits! Jesus of Nazareth was the only One Who could ever fill that role! As 100% God and 100% PERFECT Man, He was the only One qualified to bridge the gap! To think that anyone would have the audacity to try to add anything to what Jesus has already done! What it really reveals is how very much the devil desires to separate us from fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Trust the Word of God to be the TRUTH, and you will not be so easily tricked by the enemy!

We begin Esther today and I have to say that most contemporary writings and movies concerning this story are untrue. This was NOT romance novel material! In chapter 1 we see the king of Persia becoming so drunk that he calls for his wife to come and parade herself before the men at his banquet as a matter of pride. This was no shining example of manhood! Many scholars believe that Vashti was pregnant at the time because of the timing of the birth of her son. She had many reasons to refuse such a request, but the king was too drunk and filled with pride to understand! I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary concerning the drunkenness:

The best way to avoid drunkenness is not to drink at all. A Japanese proverb warns, "First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man." And King Lemuel's mother taught him, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink" (Prov 31:4, KJV).

Then this concerning his pride:

Vashti was right, and Ahasuerus was wrong; and his anger was only further proof that he was wrong. Anger has a way of blinding our eyes and deadening our hearts to that which is good and noble. The Italian poet Pietro Aletino (1492-1557) wrote to a friend, "Angry men are blind and foolish, for reason at such a time takes flight and, in her absence, wrath plunders all the riches of the intellect, while the judgment remains the prisoner of its own pride." If anybody was a prisoner of pride, it was the exalted king of the Persian Empire!

In chapter 2 we see Esther among the many virgins brought into the king's harem to be prepared to be presented to the king for his enjoyment and for him to choose one to be his new queen. These women were chosen for their looks, fed certain food, prepared with cosmetics and such for 12 months and then presented one by one to the king. Not anywhere is it noted that they conversed with the king or shared interests with him or even spent any time with him other than the night they were brought to him. When Esther spoke to Mordecai about approaching the king for help, he had not even seen her for 30 days! The only REAL love in this story is God's love for His people that was providing for their deliverance. That IS the most important message in all of the Word of God and it is present in every book of the Bible! He loves YOU! Don't ever doubt it!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-16T23:01:00.004-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 17:5:

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent or go unpunished.

"Mocks" is the Hebrew word "la`ag", which means: to have in derision; to scorn; to ridicule. "Reproaches" is the Hebrew word "charaph", which means: to taunt; to blaspheme; to scorn. What this is really saying is that when someone mocks , ridicules, makes fun of the poor, they are actually scorning the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! This is especially true when the poor one being mocked is a born again believer! The Father and I are ONE! Everything you do or say to me, you are also doing or saying to HIM! Then we see that we are NOT supposed to rejoice at the problems and tests and trials of others; not even of our enemies! Our attitude as born again believers is to be LOVE! Pray for and bless those who do good to you AND those who do not! God will get involved and our harvest will be ONLY good! Thank You, Jesus!

Verse 15 sounds like some people we know in politics and the media:

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination [exceedingly disgusting and hateful] to the LORD!

That is the world we are living in right now! They call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). God's Word has never changed, though! It is still TRUTH; the ONLY Truth! Make what YOU believe line up with the Word of God and you can't go wrong! Amen!

Galatians 1:1:

1 PAUL, AN apostle -- [special messenger appointed and commissioned and sent out] not from [any body of] men nor by or through any man, but by and through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and God the father, Who raised Him from among the dead

No person, church board or denomination EVER called ANYONE! The One, True God does the calling, anointing, separating, and sending out of His ministers! Paul was making the point here that his authority to speak to them came from God Himself! I like verse 12:

12 For indeed, I did not receive it (the Gospel) from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ the Messiah).

Paul had spent three years of his life separated from everyone he knew and in presence of the Holy Spirit alone (verses 17-18)! THAT is why some of his letters were hard to understand by some who were not real students of the Word! When we spend enough time in His presence and meditating on His Word, then people will say of us what they said of Paul in verse 24:

24 And they glorified God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place] in me.

Let's make that OUR goal! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "What The Lord Has Done In Me":

Ezra 5-6 is all about the faithfulness of God in order to encourage the people who had returned from captivity as they began to rebuild the temple! I saw this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

"Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God" (Deut 7:9, NKJV). Moses said that to the new generation of Israelites before they entered Canaan, a truth they would need as they faced the enemy and claimed their inheritance. New generations and old generations both need to be reminded that God is faithful.

And this:

The Jewish remnant that returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple was depending on God's faithfulness to see them through. If God wasn't faithful to His covenant and His promises, then there was no hope. But the God who called them would be faithful to help them finish His work (Phil 1:6), as long as they trusted Him and obeyed His Word.

In these chapters, we see how God was faithful to His people in every stage of their work for Him.

This same God is faithful to perform His Word in the lives of believers today who will dare to stand on His Word without wavering, knowing that God's Word IS Truth (John 17:17)! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-15T22:10:00.039-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 16:3:

3 Roll your works upon the LORD [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

There is no possible way to succeed consistently in this life without being a DOER of verse 3! hen we line our life up with God's Word, then we have God's results! Just like in verse 7:

7 When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Continue to be obedient to the Word of God and led by the Spirit of God, and you won't have a care in the world! When tests and trials come you will already be prepared to overcome them IF you are listening to and obeying HIM! Verse 20:

20 He who deals wisely and heeds [God's] Word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the LORD -- happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.

And then one of my favorite Proverbs is verse 33:

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the LORD [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].

There is no such thing as coincidence! God is actively operating in your life at all times. Take the time to really understand this Truth and it will give you great confidence!

Revelation 22 is a revelation of the Heavenly City! Knowing for certain that this is our home when we live this life should motivate us to do all that God has called and anointed us to do here in this life! Verse 12:

12 Behold, I am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit.

And then this last Word from Jesus Himself in verses 16-17:

16 I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and brilliant Morning Star. 17 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! and let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.

What do YOU say? I say, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" Amen!

Zechariah 14:4 speaks of the time when Jesus of Nazareth will come for the second time to the earth!

4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from the east to the west by a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north and half of it toward the south.

He will split the mountain and then walk right into HIS city through the Eastern Gate, or the Golden Gate, and He WILL reign as KING JESUS! Hallelujah! And WE will be coming back WITH Him at this time! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Higher/I believe In You":

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-14T08:00:00.021-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 15:2 is a good gauge to follow when listening to people in the world, especially politicians and the media!

2 The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the [self-confident] fool pours out folly.

If what they are saying lines up with God's Word, then they are wise and speak the Truth. If what they say is contrary to God's Word, then they are fools speaking out folly (foolishness, nonsense)! Don't believe everything you "hear" and "see" from the media! Ask the Holy Spirit to make things clear to you and to reveal God's opinion of things! He will do it! Then you will know for certain which one of these people you are from verse 14:

14 The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge and inquires after and craves it, but the mouth of the [self-confident] fool feeds on folly.

God's Word is Truth, whether or not people want to believe it! What God says is right is right, and what He says is wrong is most definitely wrong! He loves all people, but He despises sin! We have only to look at the Word of God to know how God feels about anything and everything that the world has an opinion on! Verses 31-32:

31 The ear that listens to the reproof [that leads to or gives] life will remain among the wise. 32 he who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.

Choose to line up your thinking with HIS thinking (His Word) and you will be wise and blessed! Verse 33:

33 The reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Choose Wisdom and you will receive blessing and honor!

We read Revelation 21 today. Verse 1:

1 THEN I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea.

We don't know what this will look like, but here is one artist's rendition:

I like this comparison between Genesis and the last two chapters of Revelation from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

God's statements recorded in Rev 21:5-6 aptly summarize these final two chapters: "Behold, I make all things new... It is done!" What began in Genesis is brought to completion in Revelation, as the following summary shows:

Genesis Revelation

Heavens and earth New heavens and

created, 1:1 earth, 21:1

Sun created, 1:16 No need of the sun,
21:23

The night established, No night there,

1:5 22:5

The seas created, 1:10 No more seas, 21:1

The curse announced, No more curse,

3:14-17 22:3

Death enters history, No more death,

3:19 21:4

Man driven from the Man restored to

tree, 3:24 paradise, 22:14

Sorrow and pain begin, No more tears or

3:17 pain, 21:4

God has a most definite plan for this earth and the people who belong to Him and it is a plan for GOOD and not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11)! Blessing ALWAYS come as a result of doing things the God of the Bible's way! Amen!

Zechariah 12:3:

3 In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all who lift it or burden themselves with it shall be sorely wounded. And all the nations of the earth shall come and gather together against it.

We KNOW that this verse is absolutely the Word of Truth because we see it happening on a daily basis! We cannot even begin to imagine the daily life of a person actually living in Israel. But, those who DO know their God will be strong and do exploits! These will bring honor and glory to HIM and lead others to salvation! Be ready for the exploits to begin to happen through YOU! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-13T14:53:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 14:4:

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

Sometimes a pastor or leader or boss is tempted to just do things themselves rather than go to the trouble of taking the time to teach and train and delegate someone else to do it. Not only is this not a wise move for the person in charge, resulting in what the world calls "burnout"; but it also can stop the flow of production for the business or the flow of the Spirit in a service! Things may be "tidier" for a one-man show, but the results will be seriously lacking!

Verses 26-27:

26 In the reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge. 27 Reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

This reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD is an attitude of awareness of, respect for, and attention to His wonderful and awesome presence! Remember, as a born again believer in Jesus of Nazareth, the presence of Almighty God is IN YOU, by His Spirit! Spend time daily being aware of Him, speaking to Him, praising Him, listening to Him and obeying Him! Awesome results await! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Lord of Lords":

Revelation 20 covers the Millennial reign of Jesus as King, the final revolt of satan, and the final judgment for sinners. That is a lot of time to cover in a mere 15 verses! Why so short? Because we have no control over, and are not responsible for, those times! We have been given a mandate to preach the Gospel NOW, in THIS life! Let's be about our Father's business and leave the rest in His very capable hands! He's done alright so far, don't you think?

Zechariah 9-10 is all about JESUS! The Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world! Zechariah 9:9:

9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is [uncompromisingly] just and having salvation [triumphant and victorious], patient, meek, lowly, and riding on a donkey, upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.

You would think that all of the Jewish people who knew the Word of God would have recognized this fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, wouldn't you? Some did, and some did not! I am very thankful that by the grace of God, you and I had the opportunity to accept and receive Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior! let's make sure everyone we know has that same opportunity! Amen! Then we see these things fulfilled in our lifetime, also, concerning Israel in Zechariah 10:9-10:

9 And though I sow them among the nations, yet they shall [earnestly] remember Me in far countries, and with their children they shall live and shall return [to God and the land He gave them]. 10 I will bring them [all Israel] home again from the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria, and I will bring them into the land [on the east and on the west of the Jordan, into] Gilead and Lebanon, and room enough shall not be found for them.

Now, with almost all of the nations of the world trying to force Israel to give up land for the false peace that they promise, we know that the time of HIS appearing is very near! Are YOU ready? have you reached all the people that you would like to? As our partner, Jerry O'Dell always says: "If you can't do all that you would like to, at least do all that you can do!" Amen - so be it in our lives! Hallelujah!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-12T22:13:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 13:1:

1 A WISE son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father's instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.

This is not just referring to boys, but also refers to any child of a father! WE can be wise "sons" of our Father God IF we heed (give attention to) His Word! Verse 9:

9 The light of the [uncompromisingly] righteous [is within him -- it grows brighter and] rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked [furnishes only a derived, temporary light and] shall be put out shortly.

The "light" of the righteous is the presence of the Living God within us by His Spirit! He cannot be put out, but changes us from the inside out and is the source of our joy! The wicked, or unbelievers, do NOT have the Spirit of God living in them, therefore their "lamp" is just the small "candle" of natural life. We need to be constantly sharing the Light of Life with the unbelievers around us by sharing the Good News of the Gospel through every area of our lives! BE the DIFFERENCE for someone today! Amen!

Revelation 19 reveals rejoicing in heaven over the victory of God and the marriage of the Lamb to His bride! Verse 9 says that people are invited to the marriage supper. The Bride is not invited to her own wedding. The Church is the bride! This would be for all the other believers; both Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints! Verse 10b shows us that the entire Word of God revolves around Jesus!

10b Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the Truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].

The rest of Proverbs 13 shows the return of Jesus of Nazareth to the earth for His Second Coming! I am so very thankful that we are going with Him at His APPEARING! How about you?

In Zechariah 7 the people want Zechariah to find out if they are still supposed to fast in the fifth month as they did during the exile. I really like the LORD'S answer in verses 5-6:

5 Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months, even those seventy years you were in exile, was it for me that you fasted, for Me? 6 And when you ate and when you drank, did you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?

We shouldn't have to ask anyone about prayer or fasting or meditating on the Word of God. These decisions should always come from a heart that is determines to worship and honor the One, True God! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Zechariah wasn't condemning traditions as such. He was emphasizing the fact that the true spiritual life can't be turned on and off at our convenience, so that we serve God one minute and forget Him the next. If we feast, we must do it to glorify God (1 Cor 10:31); if we fast, we must do it to honor Him. The Lord must be the center of our lives and the reason for our actions. If we keep a fast (or any other religious tradition) just to please ourselves and win the admiration and approval of others, then God was not pleased and the activity was wasted.

God's final answer was given later (Zech 8:19): all four fasts will one day be turned into feasts! This would take place during the Kingdom Age when Messiah will sit on the throne, judging with justice and truth. (Isaiah saw the same picture; Isa 61:2-3; 65:19.) So, instead of living in the past tense and mourning over calamities, why not live in the future tense and rejoice over what God has promised to do for His people?

I also like this concerning Zechariah 8:

God's people don't live on explanations; they live on promises. Faith and hope are nourished by the promises of God given to us in the Scriptures. That explains why Zechariah dropped the discussion of the traditions and delivered a new message from the Lord. In this message, he focused the people's eyes of faith on the future and shared some wonderful promises to encourage them. Note the repetition of the phrase, "Thus saith the Lord," which is used ten times in this chapter.

Get to know the One, True God through His Word! This includes all of His precious promises and as well as all of His instruction and correction! He only and always desires that you be extremely blessed (John 10:10)!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-11T21:11:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 12 continues with the comparison verses. Verse 21 is one of my favorites!

21 No [actual] evil, misfortune, or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune, and calamity.

The Amplified Bible (above) says that no ACTUAL evil will come upon the righteous (those in right standing with God by the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth)! That means that even if it looks, momentarily, like evil is happening, it will have no lasting effect and cannot stay! We ARE more than conquerors through HIM (Romans 8:37)! I also like verse 25:

25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.

We have all had times when anxiety has tried to get all over us. When those times happen, it is such a tremendous blessing to be surrounded by Bible believing, Word talking, faith talking believers! They will encourage you not to ever give up or quit! make sure that YOU are providing encouraging words to those you come in contact with! There is never a reason to speak negatively when we have the mighty and powerful Word of Almighty God available to encourage ourselves and others! Amen!

Revelation 18 covers the promised destruction of Babylon. God has always been long-suffering, wanting that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9); but there IS an end to the time that He will wait for hardened hearts to change! Verse 2-3:

2 And he shouted with a mighty voice, She is fallen! Mighty Babylon is fallen! She has become a resort and dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every loathsome spirit, an abode for every filthy and detestable bird. 3 For all nations have drunk the wine of her passionate unchastity, and the rulers and leaders of the earth have joined with her in committing fornication (idolatry), and the businessmen of the earth have become rich with the wealth of her excessive luxury and wantonness.

God has always warned His people when judgment is coming. Verses 4-5:

4 I then heard another voice from heaven saying, come out from her, my people, so that you may not share in her sins, neither participate in her plagues. 5 For her iniquities (her crimes and transgressions) are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and [her] crimes [and calls them up for settlement].

So many in the world today want to reject the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. They have no understanding that He IS the only God and the only means of Salvation! Continue to pray for those, all the while having the confidence that God WILL deliver YOU!

In Zechariah 4-6 God assures the people that the Temple would be finished! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

To some of the Jews, the project was but a "small thing" (Zech 4:10) in comparison to Solomon's grand temple, but we must look at God's work through His eyes and not the eyes of the people of the world. Great oaks grow out of small acorns and great harvests from small seeds. When Messiah came to earth. He was but "a shoot...from the stump of Jesse" (Isa 11:1, NIV) and was "despised and rejected of men" (Isa 53:3). The church began with 120 people and today ministers around the world.

Bible history is the record of God using small things. When God wanted to set the plan of salvation in motion. He started with a little baby named Isaac (Gen 21). When He wanted to overthrow Egypt and set His people free, He used a baby's tears (Ex 2:1-10). He used a shepherd boy and a sling to defeat a giant (1 Sam 17) and a little lad's lunch to feed a multitude (John 6). He delivered the Apostle Paul from death by using a basket and a rope (Acts 9:23-25). Never despise the day of small things, for God is glorified in small things and uses them to accomplish great things.

As you continue in Zechariah, remember that everything that happened under the Old Covenant was setting up for the New Covenant, sealed with the blood of Jesus of Nazareth! Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and be prepared to see things in a new light! His Word fits together in such order and divine arrangement! This IS the most exciting time to be alive in the history of the world! make the best use of it! Amen! here is Hillsong United with "No Reason To Hide"

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-10T21:50:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 11:14:

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

"Wise guidance" here is the Hebrew word "tachbulah", which means: direction, guidance, wise counsel, good counsel. We MUST be led and guided by the Spirit of God and the Word of God in order to NOT fall and fail in this life! The second half of this verse isn't speaking about just ANY counselors, but it is referring to the "wise counselors" of the first half! The wisest counselors that I know, after the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit of course, are the 66 books that make up the Bible! Hide the Word of God in your heart daily and you will be well established to stand strong against ALL the wiles of your enemy! Thank You, Jesus! Another verse we need to look into is verse 24-25:

24 There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want. 25 The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered.

This makes absolutely NO SENSE to the world we live in today! Their idea is that in order to have more, we must hide away and store up everything and give nothing away! That is the total opposite of the nature of our Almighty God! We are told to give, and it WILL be given to us (Luke 6:38)! We MUST sow good seed if we want to reap a good harvest! This applies to every area of life, not just finances! See about meeting the needs of others and GOD will see to the meeting of yours! Amen!

In Revelation 17 John begins to describe the victory of Jesus over the "beast", and the false religious system. Again, though this is all very interesting, I would much rather concentrate on what we can do RIGHT NOW to fulfill the plan of God for our lives! By doing our parts NOW, we will ensure that we will take many more with us! Amen!

The theme for the book of Zechariah is God's jealous concern for Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people. In chapter 1 He calls them to repentance (changing your thinking to agree with God), and then encourages them to trust in Him! Zechariah 2:10-11:

10 Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I come, and I will dwell; in the midst of you, says the LORD. 11 And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [His messenger] to you.

We know that we are living in such a time as this verse suggests! The greatest revival that has ever occurred in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ is taking place all over the entire world right at this moment! People everywhere are learning to know, recognize, understand and realize that the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is the ONLY TRUE God! Hallelujah! Soon, and very soon! Come quickly, LORD Jesus! In the meantime, here again is Robin Marks with Days Of Elijah!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-09T21:59:00.046-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 10 begins a new section of the book that continues through chapter 24. Here we have a series of "distichs" (two sentences in one verse). These compare the blessings of doing things God's way with the negative results of going against God's Word. Verse 9:

9 He who walks uprightly walks securely, but he who takes a crooked way shall be found out and punished.

Verse 11:

1 The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Verse 27:

27 The reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD prolongs one's days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.

Verse 30:

30 The [consistently] righteous shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth [eventually].

The book of Proverbs is filled with simple Wisdom that the born again believer can measure their lives by. The unbeliever may try to put these into practice, but they will not be able to consistently do so! As you continue reading these, check how your actions line up with Wisdom. Make adjustments where you need to and you will see increased blessings in every area! Amen!

Revelation 16 covers more of the wrath and judgment of Almighty God on a world that has rejected Him at every turn! Be blessed to know that as a believer in Jesus of Nazareth, you will only see these things from the safety of Heaven! Thank YOU, Lord Jesus!

We begin in Haggai today with chapters 1-2. God's people were instructed to go back and rebuild the Temple. They were putting it off and the LORD had this to say to them in verse 6-7:

6 You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but do not have your fill; you clothed yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it. 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

Then verse 9-10:

9 You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it]. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

When they realized that they were sinning against the One, True God by not building, they began to rebuild the Temple again! The older people who remembered it were sad because this newly rebuilt Temple wasn't even close to being as magnificent as the original one built by Solomon, The LORD encouraged them with this in verses Haggai 2:7-9:

7 And I will shake all nations and the desire and precious things of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.

Everything that we see happening in the world today is following God's divine timetable! Nothing has ever taken HIM by surprise! Trust in Him and stay in close, intimate fellowship with Him and you will be able to clearly hear His voice and be lead, guided and directed by Him into the abundance of LIFE that He desires for you (John 10:10 AMP)! Here is Hillsong Live with "You":

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-08T22:23:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 9:9-11:

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning. 10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD is the beginning (the chief and choice party) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. 11 For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years if your life shall be increased.

Just as in Deuteronomy, when God very clearly pointed out the difference between the Blessing and the Curse, we see the clear difference between pursing Wisdom from God and pursing the empty, foolish and reckless ways of the world! We are faced with another choice! What will YOU choose? Verse 12:

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scorn, you alone will bear it and pay the penalty.

This is simply saying that you and I cannot live on the good choices of other people! We each have choices to make every day to go God's Way or not! I am personally responsible for my choices, and you for yours! Choose WISDOM! Here is Hillsong with "Blessed":

Revelation 15: 4:

4 Who shall not reverence and glorify Your Name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]? For You only are holy. All the nations shall come and pay homage and adoration to You, for Your just judgments (Your righteous sentences and deeds) have been made known and displayed.

There is no other logical choice for Who deserves our praise, adoration and worship than the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! And every person WILL one day bow their knee to HIM! I am glad that I chose to do so on my own! There are tremendous blessings in obeying God and His Word! DO IT!

Ezra 3:12-13:

12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of father's houses, old men who had seen the first house [Solomon's temple], when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, though many shouted aloud for joy. 13 So the people could not distinguish the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far off.

The people had been working together to accomplish the task of rebuilding the temple. When the foundation of the "new" temple was laid there was a very different reaction from the older men who had witnessed the first Temple, which was built by Solomon, and the young men who were just so glad to be home again and free. The older men knew that this Temple could not even be compared to beauty and grandeur of the first one! What they neglected to remember here is that it was their own disobedience to the Word of God that caused the exile to take and the Temple to be destroyed. They needed to repent, first of all, then rejoice that they even made it back! Thank You, Jesus, for restoration of every good thing in MY life! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-08T22:22:00.002-06:00

WEDNESDAY'S POST

Shalom,

Proverbs 8:10-13:

10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 12 I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the LORD [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.

If we say that we really love the LORD, but do not hate what is evil, we lie! This does not mean we hate the people, but we hate the very nature of evil! If you can condone abortion, or even look the other way, you do not truly love the LORD Jesus! It is NOT possible! That does not mean that we won't sin (make a selfish decision to do something our own way instead of God's way), but we WILL regret it if we truly love HIM! The more that we get to know Him, the more we realize that without Him we are nothing! There is no room for pride and arrogance when nothing good about us is of our own doing! We see that the LORD also hates perverted and twisted speech. This isn't necessarily referring to "cussing" as we know it, but it refers to using the Word of God in a way that is contrary to what it actually says. When God says that is it His desire that we prosper and be in health (3 John 2), He hates when people say that it may not be God's will to heal! When Jesus points out very clearly and plainly the difference between His purpose and the devil's (John 10:10 AMP), it is perverted and twisted to wonder if sickness and disease, or natural disasters, are "acts of God". Don't pervert the Word of God to fit YOU theology! Repent (change YOUR thinking to agree with God) and believe God's Word! His Word IS Truth (John 17:17)! Here is Hillsong United with "Search My Heart":

Revelation 14 begins in Heaven with rejoicing over those who were redeemed. It ends with the "harvest" of the evil world's system from the earth. These things may sound poetic and and as a fantasy, but every Word is very real and WILL come to pass! The entire Book of Revelation should inspire us to do all that we can, for as long as we have left here on earth! With every believer in Jesus of Nazareth doing their own individual part, God's will will be done and we will be pleasing to Him as good and faithful servants of God!

In Ezra 1-2 we see King Cyrus moved by the LORD to release the captives and commission the rebuilding to the Temple. I found this interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

"The hero was a big man," wrote Daniel Boorstin; "the celebrity is a big name."

In God's Hall of Heroes are the names of nearly 50,000 Jews who in 538 B.C. left captivity in Babylon for responsibility in Jerusalem. God had called them back home to do a difficult job: to rebuild the temple and the city and restore the Jewish community in their own land. This noble venture involved a four months' journey plus a great deal of faith, courage, and sacrifice; and even after they arrived in the Holy City, life didn't get any easier. But as you read the inspired record, you can see the providential leading of the Lord from start to finish; and "if God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31).

What God has called you to do, He also has equipped you to do, but that does not mean that it will be easy! There will always be opposition from the enemy to carry out God's plan on the earth. Be prepared for diligence, but rest in HIS ability to carry out the work! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-07T11:35:00.004-06:00

TUESDAY'S POST

Shalom,

Proverbs 7:1-3:

1 MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] and treasure them. 2 keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

The Message Bible says this:

1 Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. 2 Do what I say and you'll live well. My teaching is as precious as your eyesight - guard it! 3 Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart.

Do you remember John 15:7 from yesterday's post? Here it is:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you.

THAT is why we are to treasure His Word and hide it in our hearts! What we have in our hearts in abundance is what we will actually be saying with our mouths! Luke 6:45:

45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

So make sure that you are spending time every day meditating on the wonderful Word of God so that it will be in YOUR heart in abundance. Then, when YOU speak, it will be God's Word coming out and you will be seeing God's results! Amen!

Revelation 13 covers more of the Tribulation. It is clear here that the minds of the people left on earth will be blinded to believe lying signs and wonders! I hope that people will continue to be able to call on Jesus as Lord during this time, but we can't really be sure. It is best to make sure that we have done everything God requires of us in order to share the Good News with unbelievers, now, in THIS life! Amen! here is a song from Hillsong Kids called "This Is The Day":

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-05T08:00:00.001-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 6:1-2:

1 MY SON, if you have become security for your neighbor, if you have given your pledge for a stranger or another, 2 You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught by the speech of your mouth.

These two verses are referring to becoming responsible for another person's debt, but we can, and should, pay attention to verse 2 in every area of life. Words are very powerful tools. Hebrews 11:3:

3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's Word, what we see created by what we don't see.

God SPOKE and the world and all that is in it came into being! YOUR words are powerful, too. Matthew 12:37:

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Jesus also said this in Mark 11:23:

23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

And then again in John 15:7:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

The One, True God wants us to know Him and His Word so well that HIS Words will flow from our mouths and change situations and circumstances in our lives and in the lives of those we come in contact with! Words are vital, words are powerful, and God's Word is the final authority! Make HIS Words, YOUR words, and you will have His results!

Revelation 12:5:

5 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.

We have here the Birth and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus! He came for the purpose of dying on the cross to pay the ultimate price for all of mankind. He freely gave His life so that WE might live! Make sure that you are remembering, and telling, the glorious message of the Gospel along with all of your "Merry Christmas" greetings! The eternal lives of those people are at stake! BE the conduit for God's life! Amen!

Lamentations 4-5 tell of the destruction that the prophets had been warning about for a very long time! The people did NOT believe the prophets and therefore made no move to correct what God had instructed them to! These are the results of many years of rebellion. Rebellion against God's Word is costly for us, too. Look back up to Matthew 12:37! And then remember THIS in John 17:17:

17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

Make YOUR words be HIS WORD and you cannot fail! Amen! here is "What The World Will Never Take by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-04T08:00:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 5:22-23:

22 His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked man, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin. 23 He will die for lack of discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray and be lost.

People who say that preaching on the grace and mercy of Almighty God will give others a license to sin, simply do not understand the Word of God! As human beings, we don't need a license to sin, we will ALL sin (making a selfish choice to do something our own way, instead of God's Way)! The only perfectly sinless person Who ever lived is Jesus of Nazareth! The difference for believers is that when WE sin, we have 1 John 1:9 to get us back into fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! The unbeliever has no such recourse! The unbeliever, or wicked man (or woman), MUST BE BORN AGAIN (John 3:3)! If he is not, his sin will continue to lead him along a path that leads to death! Eternal death, which is eternal separation from the God of the Bible, and physical death, which is the death of the body. John 10:10:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I cam that they many have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

A born again believer who continues with unconfessed sin in their life will also open up their earthly life for death to affect it. Remember to hide the Word in your heart so that you might not sin, then confess it when you DO miss it! Stay in fellowship with Almighty God through His Word and the Holy Spirit. He desires that you experience an abundance of HIS LIFE in your life! Amen! Here is a great song from Hillsong United called "The First And The Last":

Revelation 11 introduces the two witnesses. It is interesting to read some of the reasons that people
give to explain their guesses as to who these two witnesses will be. Whatever YOUR idea is, none of us will know for sure until that day! We who have received Jesus of Nazareth as LORD and personal Savior will NOT be here to see! The most important Truth about these two is that they are anointed of God to prophecy about what is coming to the world! During that time they will enjoy God's protection, provision and safety. Once their assignment is finished, they will be killed, so that God can raise them from the dead right before the eyes of the people, and all over television! Then HE will get all glory and many people will turn back to Him! Not all, but many! Thank You, Jesus!

Lamentations 3 has Jeremiah speaking of himself and his own troubles. Then he remembers the Word of God and reminds himself. Verses 21-25:

21 But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: 22 It is because of the LORD's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. 24The LORD is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. 25 The LORD is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's Word].

His "mercy and loving-kindness" is the Hebrew word "checed" which we covered a few posts back. You and I need to so KNOW our God that we can talk ourselves back into joy when tests and trials hit our lives, just like Jeremiah did here! Remember: Our God IS God; and He IS a GOOD GOD! He desires only good for His people - ALWAYS! Stay in the flow of the Spirit of God and you will know ahead of time what the enemy has planned for YOU! Then you can use your mighty weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4) against him! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-03T15:44:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 4:6-8:

6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). 8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

The instructions can't get much clearer than that! We NEED Wisdom in order to function with any kind of success at all in this life! Skillful and Godly Wisdom; NOT the so-called wisdom that the world provides! Verse 18 is one of the results of walking in the Wisdom of God:

18 But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].

Then we have the very familiar promises in verses 20-23:

20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Most people in the world do not understand the importance of words! The worlds were "framed" by the WORD that Jesus spoke! Hebrews 11:3:

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

YOUR words will also "frame" your life! Proverbs 18:20:

20 A man's self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].

Make sure that YOU are feeding daily on the Word of God so that when it comes time for you to speak into your own life, you will be speaking God's Word, and getting God's results! Amen!

Revelation 10:7:

7 But that when the days come when the trumpet call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded, then God's mystery (His secret design, His hidden purpose), as He had announced the glad tidings to His servants the prophets should be fulfilled (accomplished, completed).

Everything that God has ever spoken WILL come to pass, but in HIS perfect time! We can trust Him with and in every area of our lives. No one loves you like Jesus does! Operate in the perfect peace that spending time in His presence will bring and look forward excitedly to the fulfillment of all these things! For the Church of Jesus Christ, it will be the Rapture, or catching away, of the Church! Soon and VERY soon! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

We begin in Lamentations today. These were "laments" (passionate expressions of grief) written by the prophet Jeremiah over the fate of Israel and Judah; Jerusalem and the Temple. I found this interesting note comparing Jeremiah and Jesus in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Jeremiah and Jesus

When Jesus asked His disciples who people said He was, among their answers was "Jeremiah" (Matt 16:13-14). The ministries of both Jeremiah and Jesus were rejected by the people and both men wept over the city of Jerusalem because they knew that destruction was coming. Both were hated without cause (Lam 3:52; John 15:25; Ps 69:4) and both were ridiculed by the leaders (Lam 3:14; Ps 69:12). Jeremiah was rejected by his family (Jer 11:18-23) and Jesus by His family (John 7:1-8). Both Jeremiah and Jesus emphasized a "heart religion" and not just ritual, and both taught by means of visual images and used common objects and activities to instruct the people. The Jewish leaders rejected the messages of both Jeremiah and Jesus, and the prophet ended up in Egypt and Jesus on a Roman cross. In their day, both were considered miserable failures, but history has proved that both were right.

Lamentations 1 is his lament over the nation's disgrace. Lamentations 2 is his lament over the city's destruction. As you read these, try to put yourself in the position of the prophet and imagine the depth of his feeling. Then think about the times when your Pastor has warned YOU about changes that we all need to make in our lives in order to be pleasing to God and to walk in success and prosperity in every area. How did YOU respond? Your Pastor's heart is not different than the heart of Jeremiah or Jesus! He has been given the responsibility over you. Don't ever take that lightly - God doesn't! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-02T23:10:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Proverbs 3:1-2:

1 MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

Remember that your heart is the combination of your born again spirit and your needing-to-be-renewed-everyday soul! Your spirit ALWAYS wants to obey the Word of God, but your soul (consisting of your mind, emotions, and will) makes the choices! We need to constantly renew our minds with the Word of God so that we can begin to think properly, which will cause us to speak properly and act properly! What is the result of that? Verse 2 above: days that are productive and filled with blessing and success; and many years of a very fulfilled life! THAT sounds like my Father God, don't you think? Then I really like verses 13-14:

13 Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences], 14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold.

How important is this "skillful and godly Wisdom"? Verse 19:

19 The LORD by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.

YES, this same Wisdom is available to us by the presence of the Spirit of the Living God inside of us, and by the Word of God that we hide in our hearts! Go hard after the presence of the LORD, and go hard after His Word!

Revelation 9 continues with the judgments on a world that has rejected Jesus! Verses 7-10 describe locusts that resemble horses equipped for battle that cause great pain to the people. I have seen some pretty odd looking drawings from people trying to depict these "creatures", but one thing that could be a very real possibility is this:

Possible? Definitely, but we won't know until the time comes, and we won't be here then! Thank You, Jesus! The judgments continue, but it doesn't look as though they will have much affect on the hearts of the unbelievers. Look at verses 20-21:

20 And the rest of humanity who were not killed by these plagues even then did not repent of [the worship of] the works of their [own] hands, so as to cease paying homage to the demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which can neither w=see nor hear nor move. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their practice of magic (sorceries) or their sexual vice or their thefts.

Even after everything that they have seen, they still continue to harden their hearts and refuse HIM! Don't ever take for granted that people will have another chance after the Rapture of the church to receive Jesus as LORD and Savior. They may have, but the strong delusion to believe a lie will be even stronger then! Don't hesitate to preach the Good News NOW, while their is still time! Their eternity is as stake!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-01T22:40:00.059-06:00

Shalom,

Do you remember Proverbs 1:7 from yesterday? Just look at the post below as a reminder. Now read Proverbs 2:1-5:

1 MY SON, if you will receive My Words and treasure up My commandments within you, 2 Making your ear attentive to skillful land godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

Many people try to find Scriptures in the Bible to stand on without realizing that it must be a lifestyle of fellowship with the One, True God (by the Spirit of God), along with meditation on the Word of God, in order to operate in the faith of God! We have the POTENTIAL for Wisdom and understanding, but it takes a diligence that I have not found very many people willing to apply! God's Word IS Truth, and it WILL work for those who understand how to work it! Growth in the things of God happens progressively, just like natural growth. Begin where you are at right now, and determine to not let a day go by that you don't learn something new about HIM! You will be blessed beyond measure! GUARANTEED!

Revelation 7 ended with praise to God for those who were saved out of the Tribulation. Revelation 8 begins with the opening of the seventh seal and one half hour of silence. The seven angels were given seven trumpets, but before the blowing of these trumpets, another angel offers up much incense along with the prayers of the saints. Everyone who has a saving faith in Jesus of Nazareth is a saint! Your prayers are vital to the plan of God in the earth! These prayers were offered up BEFORE the next step, which is God's judgment being poured out on the earth! Verse 6:

6 Then the seven angels who held the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

Four of the seven judgments are covered in this chapter and the rest in the next. This is NOT fantasy or allegory. It most definitely WILL take place on the earth! It is very sobering to read this and know that perhaps some of the people you are acquainted with will have to experience this. Let's make sure that IF they do, it will NOT be because we neglected to share the Gospel of God's saving grace with them! We should be more determined than ever that the enemy not win any! Amen! Here are some pictures I found that may be of interest to you!

We read Jeremiah 40-42 today. We see that Jeremiah was granted his freedom by Nebuzaradan, but he chose to stay in Jerusalem and minister to the people left there. The most important choice that you and I can make each day is to be where God wants us to be, doing what God wants us to do! It doesn't make any difference what is going on in the world, God will always provide for those who do things His way! As we continue reading through the Old Testament, we can learn so much about the effect of disobedience on our lives! We also see the ultimate effect of obedience! Obedience ALWAYS brings blessings, though not always immediate! Be determined that you will never quit or give up and you WILL reap God's richest and best (Galatians 6:9)!

Shalom in Him!

2011-12-01T11:49:00.004-06:00

WEDNESDAY'S POST

Shalom,

We begin again in proverbs today. If you have EVER read the Book of Proverbs, you know that the major theme of this book is "wisdom"! The words "wise" and "wisdom" appear 125 times or more. I found this interesting and helpful from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

To the ancient Jew, wisdom was much more than simply good advice or successful planning. I like Dr. Roy Zuck's definition: "Wisdom means being skillful and successful in one's relationships and responsibilities ... observing and following the Creator's principles of order in the moral universe." In that definition you find most of the important elements of biblical wisdom, the kind of wisdom we can learn from the book of Proverbs.

Biblical wisdom begins with a right relationship with the Lord. The wise person believes that there is a God, that He is the Creator and Ruler of all things, and that He has put within His creation a divine order that, if obeyed, leads ultimately to success. Wise people also assert that there is a moral law operating in this world, a principle of divine justice which makes sure that eventually the wicked are judged and the righteous are rewarded. Biblical wisdom has little if any relationship to a person's IQ or education, because it is a matter of moral and spiritual understanding. It has to do with character and values; it means looking at the world through the grid of God's truth.

Proverbs 1:7:

7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

The fear of the Lord is a reverence and respect for Who He is! The only way to continue to operate in the reverential fear of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is to continue daily in His Word and in fellowship with Him. Make this your lifestyle and Wisdom will flow from YOU! Verse 33:

33 But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil!

Here is a wonderful worship song by Hillsong called "Lord Of Lords":

Revelation 7 shows 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel being sealed by Almighty God for protection as they minister during the Tribulation. Notice that in this Joseph is named as a whole tribe and Levi has a part in this! God has a definite plan and purpose for everything that He has ever done, and it is always motivated by His great love for mankind! We then see the multitude that come to believe in Jesus during the Tribulation worshiping Almighty God at His throne! They had to endure much to get to this time. This is all future, so those whom you love still have time to receive HIM now! Make sure that you are buying up every opportunity to preach the Gospel to them! They may not like it now, but they will be forever thankful that they made it and escaped the tribulation!

We read both Jeremiah 39 and Jeremiah 52 today. These chapters both show God's Word fulfilled concerning the fall of Jerusalem. The city was plundered and destroyed and God's people taken captive. This would not have happened if even one of the kings of the Jewish people had obeyed God's Word! Continue to pray for the United States of America so that we can have ungodly leaders replaced with godly ones, and that ungodly plans will fail and come to utter destruction! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-30T15:56:00.002-06:00

TUESDAY'S POST

Shalom,

Psalm 150 closes out the book of Psalms with the highest praise! Praise is mentioned 13 times and we are commanded to praise Him! We are told to praise Him everywhere, with every type of praise, for everything He's done and for all that He is! Every time "praise" is mentioned, it is the Hebrew word "halal", which means: to be of clear sound; to shine; to make a show; to boast; to rave; to celebrate; to be clamorously foolish; to stultify (to cause to appear foolish); to act like a madman. This also involves shouting and jubilation! Do you get the very energetic and noisy picture here? Have you done this lately? Remember, it IS a command! Verse 6:

6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

In Revelation 6 we see the first of the seals broken. This is the time that the antichrist will be revealed. The rider on this white horse is NOT Jesus THE Christ, but the one who will pose as the Him! The truly sad thing about this is that the very people who should have recognized the REAL Christ when He came, will also be fooled into believing that this impersonator, liar, murderer, thief, evil one actually is the One they have been waiting for! Verse 2:

2 And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.

This "crown" is a victor's crown, but it is NOT the crown the King of kings will wear! HIS is the diadem, which is the Kingly crown and only the True Son of God will wear that crown! We will not be on earth for these happenings, but it is interesting to study!

In Jeremiah 37-38 we see King Zedekiah seek the counsel of Jeremiah 4 different times and all 4 times he rejected the Word! He even allowed Jeremiah to be beaten and imprisoned because he was too weak willed to stand up to anyone. It seems that sometimes God will allow weak and terrible men to rule a land in order to wake the people up to what is right and Godly! Does that sound at all familiar to you? We need to continue to be DOERS of 2 Chronicles 7:14 so that God Himself can heal OUR land! AMEN!

Let this song from Hillsong get inside you today and cause you to rise up and BE all that the One, True God has planned for you to be! It is called "Rise":

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-28T22:18:00.004-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 149:3-4:

3 Let them praise His Name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre! 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.

We are to praise Him in any and every way! Use every gift and talent you have to bring glory to His Name! Why? Because it pleases Him! There is something else interesting about the word "pleasure" in verse 4. It is the Hebrew word "ratsah", which means: to be pleased with; to approve; AND to satisfy a debt! We owe Him a very great debt and this is one way that we can repay Him! Then verses 6-9 say this:

6 let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands, 7 To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples, 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron. 9 To execute upon them the judgment written. he [the LORD] is the honor of all His saints. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

Warfare is another part of our responsibilities as believers. Look at this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Worship and warfare go together, as the book of Revelation makes very clear. Satan has always wanted to be worshiped (Isa 14:12-15), and he is willing to pay for it (Matt 4:8-11). Satan is constantly at work enticing the world to worship him (Rev 13), for he does not mind if people are "religious" so long as they leave out Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel. In recent years, some denominations have eliminated the "militant songs" from their hymnals and their worship, and this is disappointing. Whether we like it or not, the church is an army, this world is a battlefield, and there is a struggle going on for the souls of lost sinners (Matt 16:17-18; Eph 6:10 ff; 2 Tim 2:3-4; 2 Cor 10:3-5). Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), is also the Conquering Warrior (45:3-7; Rev 19:11-21), and like the workers in Nehemiah's day, we must have both tools for building and swords for battling (Neh 4:17-18). Our weapons are prayer, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12), and hymns of praise to the Lord. Worship is warfare, for we are singing soldiers! Did not our Lord sing before He went out to the cross to do battle against the devil? (See Matt 26:30; John 12:31-32; and Col 2:13-15.)

So let's fight the good fight of faith, all the while praising the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for Who He is and for all that He has done! Amen! Join Hillsong with "Everything That Has Breath":

Revelation 5 speaks of a time that we have heard about, but have yet to see. That is the time when ALL beings will bow their knee to Jesus of Nazareth! Verse 11-13:

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, 12 Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing! 13 And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of the departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!

Every knee WILL bow, and every tongue WILL say that JESUS IS LORD! Make YOUR choice to say it begin NOW! Amen!

Jeremiah 21 and 34 both speak of the judgment of Israel and Judah. This judgment came to them as a result of their continued disobedience to God's Word! There is one section from the Bible Exposition Commentary that explains this concerning the church of today!

The message to the nation was clear. If the command of a mere man, Jonadab, was respected and obeyed by his family for over two centuries, why didn't the people of Israel and Judah obey the command of Almighty God — a command that the prophets had repeated over and over again? If a family tradition was preserved with such dedication, why was the very Law of God treated with such disrespect? Obeying Jonadab's words had only a limited and temporal significance, but disobeying God's Word had eternal consequences!

How often God's people are put to shame by the devotion and discipline of people who don't even know the Lord but who are intensely loyal to their family, their religion, or their personal pursuits. Even people who want nothing to do with the Word of God can be loyal to traditions and man-made codes. If Christians were putting into their spiritual walk the kind of discipline that athletes put into their chosen sport, the church would he pulsating with revival life.

Can YOU get THAT picture of how the church will look when we all make loving and obeying HIM the first priority in our lives? Then let's get back to our first love and please Him again!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-27T22:01:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

In Psalm 148 we see that the Heavens praise the LORD (verses 1-6); the Earth praises the LORD (verses 7-13); and the people praise the LORD (verse 14)! Look at verses 11-12:

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth! 12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children!

THAT doesn't leave anyone out! What are they supposed to do, and why? Verses 13-14:

13 Let them praise and exalt the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven! 14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

AMEN!

Revelation 4 is all about the throne of God! It is mentioned 14 times in this chapter alone! When we realize that the One, True God IS the very center of all that is, then we will be more inclined to give Him His proper place in our own lives! Verse 11:

11 Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.

"Worthy" is the Greek word "axios", which means: deserving, comparable, or suitable; due reward; of one who has merited something. He most definitely IS "worthy"!

Jeremiah 32-33 are speaking about the restoration of the nation and the land of Israel after the exile. Jeremiah 32:17:

17 Alas, LORD God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You --

And verse 27:

27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?

NOTHING is too difficult for our GOD! Amen! Here is an old song being sung by children: "Ah Lord God":

Then Jeremiah 33:3:

3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).

Is there something that you need to know? ASK HIM! Then LISTEN and OBEY!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-26T21:36:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 147:1:

1 PRAISE THE LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate.

This Psalm was most likely written for the celebration, during the time of Nehemiah, of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the return of the exiles from Babylon. I liked this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:

One of the unique characteristics of this psalm is the large number of present participles in it — "building, healing, binding, counting, lifting up," and so on — all of which speak of the constant and dynamic working of the Lord for His people.

Our God is CONSTANTLY working on our behalf when we get in position to receive the Blessing (Zechariah 4:10)! This Psalm gives three reasons why we should be praising the LORD!

His people have been restored (verses 1-6).
The land of Israel has been refreshed (verses 7-11).
The Word of God has been revealed (verses 12-20).

Each section begins with a new command to praise HIM! Let's DO IT!

Revelation 3 continues with the messages to the churches. I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary, also:

We are still listening to what the Holy Spirit has to say to the churches; for these messages from Christ belong to our day as well as to the first century. Churches are people, and human nature has not changed. So, as we continue our study, we must not look on these letters as ancient relics. On the contrary, they are mirrors in which we see ourselves!

As you continue to study these messages, allow the Spirit of God to reveal anything in your personal life that is need of change or adjustment. He desires that we ALL walk in close, personal, intimate fellowship with HIM! Verses 19-22:

19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. 20 behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. 21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on his throne. 22 he who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, the you ARE and over-comer ( 1 John 4:4)! Let's LOOK like one! Amen!

In Jeremiah 30-31 the prophet received the message from the LORD while he was sleeping. The message is of the return of the exiles from Babylon, and also of the return of the scattered people of Israel in our time. Since 1948 the Jewish people have been returning to the land that God Himself gave to them so very many years ago! In the eyes of Almighty God, this land, and much more than they have right now, has ALWAYS belonged to Him and His people! Jeremiah 31:35-37:

35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day and the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, Who stirs up the sea's roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar -- the LORD of hosts is His Name: 36 If these ordinances [of fixed order] depart from before me, says the LORD, then the posterity of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me throughout the ages. 37 Thus says the LORD: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD.

Israel belongs to the One, True God of the Bible and He will NEVER forsake them completely! Hallelujah! Make sure that YOU are on the right side of THAT situation! Amen! This is a map of God's original plan for the land!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-25T20:11:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

The last five Psalms are known as the "Hallelujah Psalms" and they are all about praising the LORD! Psalm 146:1-2:

1 PRAISE THE LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 While I live will I praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have any being.

Anytime and all the time is the RIGHT time to praise the LORD! AMEN! Verse 10:

The LORD shall reign forever, even Your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)

Here is "Forever Reign" by Hillsong:

Revelation 2 begins the messages to the seven churches. They are also messages to us as individuals! Verses 4-5a:

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. 5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord],

Our "first love" is, of course, Jesus of Nazareth. When you love someone, you make their priorities your own. We know that the #1 priority of our Lord Jesus is that "none should perish" (2 Peter 3:9)! We will KNOW that our love for HIM is strong when we are desiring, above all else, that the people we come in contact with, and those all over the world, be born again. What does YOUR "first love" gauge look like? Make the needed adjustments. Remember what our wonderful partner, Jerry O'Dell, has said: "When we want what God wants, for the same reason He wants it, we cannot fail!" And then we have this admonition in verse 29:

29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, then you HAVE ears that are CAPABLE of hearing! LISTEN and DO! Amen!

Jeremiah 50-51 foretell the fall of Babylon. God protected His people while they were in exile in Babylon. The kings of Babylon saw the results of the blessing of the Lord on those of His people who refused to serve any other God. They had the opportunity to repent and serve the One, True God, but they refused! Now they would receive the just rewards of there acts against HIM and His people! The nations of the world would do well to read these judgments and realize that the One, True God is STILL watching over, protecting and avenging HIS people ISRAEL! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! You WILL be blessed! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-24T23:04:00.003-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 145 is the last of the Psalms of David and the only one that is called "A Psalm Of Praise". We see in this Psalm many wonderful attributes of God that give us the answer to why we praise Him. We also see when we are to praise Him! Verse 2 especially covers how often and for how long:

2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your Name forever and ever.

We should never let a day go by without some time spent in praise and worship to the One, True God! Verse 6:

6 Men shall speak of the might of your tremendous and terrible acts, and I will declare Your greatness.

This reminds me very much of Psalm 103:7 where it says that God made known His ways to Moses, but only His acts to the other Israelites. The world can see the things that God does (in and through believers!), but only the fully committed believer can know HIM! I am with Paul in Philippians 3:10 when he says that his "determined purpose" is to KNOW HIM! How about you? Verse 17 shows us some of the nature of our God!

17 The LORD is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.

He is "rigidly righteous", which reveals His nature of "justice". He is also, and at the same time, "gracious and merciful"! That is what took Jesus to the cross! His merciful nature laid down His own life to pay the price demanded by His just nature! What a powerful concept that is! Meditating on that Truth alone will completely change your life! Then we end with verse 21:

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy Name forever and ever.

AMEN! GLORY TO GOD!

We begin today in the Book of Revelation. "Revelation" is the Greek word "apokalupsis", which means: disclosure; appearing; manifestation; uncovering; revealing. Notice that this is the "revealing" of Jesus Christ! In verse 11a He reveals Who He is:

11a Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

Then we see Jesus reveal His appearance in verses 13-16:

13 And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire. 15 His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand he held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.

This is the our Resurrected Lord Jesus! This is how He appears in heaven and WE SHALL SEE HIM! Glory to God! Verse 7 says this:

7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be] Amen (so be it).

Here is Robin Marks with Days Of Elijah:

In Jeremiah 28 we see the prophet dealing with the false prophet Hananiah. The people were believing the message of false hope that the captivity was ending rather than heeding the REAL Word of the Lord that came through Jeremiah. Verses 15-17:

15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Listen now, Hananiah, The LORD has not sent you, but you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have uttered and taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died [two months late4r], the same year, in the seventh month.

Make sure that YOU check out the teaching you hear with the Word of God for yourself so that you are not led off into error by anyone! Jeremiah 29 includes letters that Jeremiah sent to different groups of people. He was encouraging them to not give up during this time of exile because God had a plan for them! Verses 10-11:

10 For thus says the LORD, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the LORD, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you a hope in your final outcome.

He also has good and Godly plans for YOU! Spend time in His presence, getting to know Him, and He will reveal His good plans to you, too! Thank You Jesus!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-23T19:42:00.002-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 144 is a Psalm of David and is about the one, True, Most high, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. We can look at it in three parts, according to the Bible Exposition Commentary:

The Loving God Who Cares For Us Personally (verses 1-4).
The Mighty God Who Delivers Us Victoriously (verses 5-11).
The Gracious God Who Blesses Us Abundantly (verses 12-15).

My favorite verse in the first section is verse 1:

1 BLESSED BE the LORD, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight

Remember that our warfare is NOT against people, but against the works and workers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The One, True God is the only One Who can properly teach to fight this kind of fight because we cannot win with natural weapons, but with Spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:4)! Be a good student of the Word and you will be victorious in every area of your life! My favorite verse in the next section is verse 10:

10 You are He Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David His servant from the hurtful sword [of evil].

"Salvation" is the Hebrew word "teshuw`ah", which means: rescue; deliverance; help; safety; victory. WE are now the "kings" that that are being spoken of in here (Revelation 1:6; 5:10) and we can count on HIM to deliverer us! My favorite verse in the last section is verse 15:

15 Happy and blessed are the people who are in such a case; yes, happy (blessed, fortunate, prosperous, to be envied) are the people whose God is the LORD!

We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED to have Jesus of Nazareth as our LORD and personal Savior! This is THE most exciting time to be alive on this earth! Revival is sweeping the planet and we have the opportunity to be right in the middle of what God is doing! Spend some time in His presence today so that you can be sure that YOU are in the very center of His will for YOU! There is NO better place to be on earth! Amen! Here is Psalm 144 put to song by Ian White:

We finish the Gospel of John today with chapter 21. I LOVE Peter! He may have made a lot of mistakes (his "blooper reel" would be a fun one!), but he had heart! I would rather deal with someone who was a little overly aggressive than to try to get someone going who was too laid back! Here in verse 7 Peter puts ON his coat to jump in the water and swim to Jesus! Then he had to go back into the water to help with the great catch of fish! Then in verses 15-17 Jesus restores Peter to fellowship with Himself after the three-time denial. Then verse 25:

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should all be recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.

We should not be concerned about, or consumed with, finding out what all of those other "things" are. We have enough to do to keep us busy with getting to know Him through all that has already been revealed! Let's be a DOER of the Word we know, all the while learning more. Our faith will grow and God will be well-pleased with us, just as He was with Jesus! Hallelujah!

2 Chronicles 36:16:

16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God and despising His Words and scoffing at His Prophets till the wrath of the LORD rose against His people, till there was no remedy or healing.

Don't be discouraged or angry when people despise you for the message of the Gospel! Realize that God will NOT put up with it forever, so pray for them - they NEED it! Jeremiah 27 gives more warning to the people. I especially like verse 5:

5 I have made the earth, the men, and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I give it to whomever it seems right and suitable to Me.

That is all that anyone ever needs to know about who exactly is supposed to be living in Israel! God decides, and HE has already spoken concerning this matter in His Word! Let's let God BE God! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-22T23:02:00.000-06:00

Shalom,

Psalm 143:5-6:

5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I ponder the work of Your hands. 6 I spread forth my hands to You; my soul thirsts after You like a thirsty land [for water]. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

This is another good example to follow when you are faced with tests and trials. Remember all of the times that God and His Word have come through for you in the past. Meditate on those past victories so that you can maintain great confidence in Him. Your grateful and thankful attitude for all that He has done should bring you to a place where you desire His presence more than anything else! In HIS presence, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)! Here is Hillsong with "For All You've Done":

John 20 is all about the Resurrected Jesus appearing to His disciples. I really like verse 31:

31 But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His Name [through Who He is].

God gave us His Word so that we could KNOW Him! The Word of God is where we find the Way to LIFE (John 14:6)! Make sure that spending time in the Word of God is YOUR #1 priority!

Jeremiah 48-49 includes God's judgment on the nations of:

Moab
Ammon
Edom
Syria
Kedar
Hazor
Elam

The Word that God gave to His prophets was to warn the nations so that they could repent. Those that did not will experience certain judgment! All of the nations of the world are without excuse because they had the opportunity to repent (change their thinking to agree with God)! They will also answer to God for the way that they treated the nation of Israel. Keep praying for YOUR nation, that they will support Israel and be her true friend! Any other choice is very dangerous!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-22T17:14:00.000-06:00

MONDAY'S POST

Shalom,

Psalm 142:5-7:

5 I cried to You, O LORD; I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my loud cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my life out of prison, that i may confess, praise, and give thanks to Your Name; the righteous will surround me and crown themselves because of me, for You will deal bountifully with me.

This is the last of the Palms of David that come from the time when he was fleeing from Saul. he begins by crying out in complaint to the LORD, but ended with the verses above! He confessed, declared, and proclaimed what the LORD would do for him, and then proceeded to spend time in praise and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Follow David as he follows the Word of God!

John 19 covers the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. I have shared these before, but I feel that it is important to cover this again. Jesus was beaten and mocked. They dressed Him in a "royal" robe and then in put a "crown" of thorns on his head. These were not the little sharp thorns that we see on a rose. These were huge! Here is a picture of the thorns that probably were used. Don't they look fierce?

Then Jesus was taken to Golgotha, or the "place of the skull", and it actually looks like that! Here is a picture:

This was very close to a garden that contained the new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, where the body of Jesus was taken. Tomorrow's chapter is VERY exciting!

Jeremiah 46-47 continue with judgments to the nations. Jeremiah 46 deals with Egypt. Jeremiah 47 deals with judgment for Philistia. If you ever deal with someone who doubts the Word of God, take them through the judgments of the nations and the fulfillment of them! The Word of God has never been proven WRONG! Everything historical that has been uncovered has PROVEN the Word of God to be TRUE! Thank You, Jesus!

Shalom in Him!

2011-11-21T17:02:00.006-06:00

SUNDAY'S POST

Shalom,

Psalm 141 is another "Psalm of David" that was written when he faced trouble. I found this breakdown of the verses interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary. This reveals David's choices on how to respond to each situation:

"I will seek the LORD'S help." -- (verses 1-2)
"I will keep myself from sin." -- (verses 3-4)
"I will gladly accept counsel." -- (verse 5)
"I will let God judge my enemies." -- (verses 6-7)
"I will keep going by faith." -- (verses 8-10)

If we follow David's example here in dealing with our own tests, trials, and problems, then we will be in position for VICTORY, every time!

One of the most exciting things I have learned about the God of the Bible is that He is extremely organized and very precise! I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary concerning the Gardens in the Bible:

The Kidron Valley is located east of Jerusalem, between the city wall and the Mount of Olives; and the Garden of Gethsemane is on the western slope of Olivet. Jesus often went to this Garden with His disciples, no doubt to rest, meditate, and pray (Luke 22:39). Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims attending the Passover, and Jesus would want to get away from the crowded city to a private place. He knew that Judas would come for Him there, and He was ready.

Human history began in a Garden (Gen 2:8 ff), and the first sin of man was committed in that Garden. The first Adam disobeyed God and was cast out of the Garden, but the Last Adam (1 Cor 15:45) was obedient as He went into the Garden of Gethsemane. In a Garden, the first Adam brought sin and death to mankind; but Jesus, by His obedience, brought righteousness and life to all who will trust Him. He was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil 2:8).

History will one day end in another garden, the heavenly city that John describes in Rev 21 and 22. In that garden, there will be no more death and no more curse. The river of the water of life will flow ceaselessly and the tree of life will produce bountiful fruit. Eden was the Garden of disobedience and sin; Gethsemane was the Garden of obedience and submission; and heaven shall be the eternal garden of delight and satisfaction, to the glory of God.

The name Gethsemane means "oil press." Even today there are ancient olive trees in Gethsemane, though certainly not the ones that were there in Jesus' day. The olives would be picked and put into the press for their oil. What a picture of suffering! So our Lord would go through the "oil press" and the "winepress" (Isa 63:3) and taste our judgment for us.

Though the info concerning the olive press above is very true, not so the info about the olive trees! On out trip to Israel last year we were able to see some olive trees that were over 2000 years old! They were probably there when Jesus and His disciples spent time in the garden. We also saw an olive tree that was over 3000 years old! That was most definitely there when Jesus was there, and was possibly there during the reign of Solomon! It was amazing to see them! Here is a picture:

These ancient olive trees regenerate from the inside out (sort of like a born again believer)! The new sapling grows inside of the old tree and bears fruit! Doesn't THAT sound like our God? Amen! I like verse 6:

6 When Jesus said to them, I am He, they went backwards (drew back, lurched backward) and fell to the ground.

There WILL come a day when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that JESUS IS LORD! Here they fell backward because of the power of His words, something which involved no choice on their part! THAT day will be the same! Some will bow willingly, because they have already been doing so! Others WILL bow, but NOT because they choose to! They will have no choice in the matter! The time for choosing is NOW! Today is the day of Salvation! JESUS is MY Lord! Amen!

We read Jeremiah 45 and 25 today. Remember that the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan covers the Bible chronologically (in the order in which events happened). These two chapters actually took place in the same time period! Jeremiah 45 looks at Baruch, the faithful assistant to Jeremiah. Baruch had a brother who was on the king's official staff and could have found a position for Baruch there. Baruch chose to be obedient to the One, True God and assist Jeremiah. He became discouraged, so the LORD encouraged him! We all face tests and trials that bring the strong urge to give up and quit. DON'T DO IT! Allow the Word of God to encourage you and the Spirit of God to lead, guide, and direct you THROUGH these times and you will emerge from them far stronger than you were before! After all, a crisis cannot "make a person", it simply reveals what a person is made of! What are YOU made of? Jeremiah is someone who never quit, even though the people did not typically respond well to his messages of warning from God! He just continued to be faithful to HIS calling and God always rewards obedience! BE OBEDIENT and BE BLESSED!!! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!