Shalom,


Psalm 130:3-4 says this:


 ³If You, Lord, should keep account of and treat [us according to our] sins, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴But there is forgiveness with You [just what man needs], that You may be reverently feared and worshiped.


Hallelujah! For the born again believer in Jesus of Nazareth, there is NO accounting of sin for our eternal life! Jesus already paid the price for ALL sin, for EVERY person, once for ALL time! BUT, only those who accept and receive HIM can appropriate that "ransom" for themselves! I have! Have you? If not, pray this prayer, believing in your heart, and then let us know that you have so we can help you grow in Him!


Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.


Look at this portion of today's devotional from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:


And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, “. . . love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).


NOW, He expects us to walk in that same love toward others, presenting the Good News of the Gospel so that they, too, can be saved! That is one of the first and best ways to show forth our love and appreciation to the LORD for all that HE has done for US! Then it goes on to say this:

This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable— it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.

“The Lord . . . is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish . . .” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.

Let's make it our determined purpose to not allow one day to go by where we don't share the Good News with at least one other person! With all of the avenues available to us in these times, there is NO excuse not to! AMEN! here to inspire you is Hillsong with "Love Of God Can Do". Lyrics below:

He can make a way where there isn’t a way
That’s what the love of God can do
Everything can start new every day
That’s what the love of God can do

The whole world changed when love stepped in
That’s what the love of God can do
Hearts to save and a world to win
That’s what the love of God can do

Chorus:
Love flies higher, walks through fire
Doesn’t change from day to day 
If it’s really love, it just won’t give up
Love will never pass away
(Repeat Verse)

Love is patient, love is kind
If someone else wins, love doesn’t mind
Love believe and love forgives
And God is the start of all of this
(Repeat Verse) 

"Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


During my study and meditation of the Word of God, I LOVE to compare different translations and versions of the Bible. Here is 2 Corinthians 2:11 in a few:

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (KJV)

11 To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. (AMP)

11 In order that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his purposes. (Wuest)


11 so that we will not be taken advantage of by the Adversary — for we are quite aware of his schemes! (CJB)


11 So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. (NLT)


11 After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief — we're not oblivious to his sly ways! (Message)


11 So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (ESV)

Do you get the picture that the devil uses his ONE weapon (the LIE) in many, many different ways! He has schemes, designs, plots, plans, wiles, devices, ways and purposes! BUT, the most important thing for US to note, is that God has provided for us NOT to be ignorant of them! How? First of all by stating very emphatically THIS TRUTH found in John 10:10:

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

So we KNOW that anything that steals, kills and destroys is NOT from God, but from the enemy! We have been given authority over him and all of his ways in and through the Name of Jesus! Amen! So recognize the lie and replace it with the TRUTH of God's Word! Then watch the devil flee from you (James 4:7)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Shout Unto God", which is what we should do right now! HALLELUJAH!!!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


We began 2 Corinthians in The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today. I am sure you are familiar with verse 20, but I want to share it here in a few different versions:

20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (

KJV)

20 For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.  

(AMP)

 20 For however many promises God has made, they all find their “Yes” in connection with him; that is why it is through him that we say the “Amen” when we give glory to God. (

CJB)

20 For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory. (NLT)

The word "yea" or "yes" here is the Greek word "nai". This means: a strong affirmation; yes; verily; assuredly; even so. The "amen" is the Greek word "amen"! This means: firm; trustworthy; surely; of a truth; so it is; so be it; may it be fulfilled. GOD has spoken the "YES"! HE has given US responsibility to speak the "AMEN" to His promises! We build faith in the promises by continually hearing the Word of God on them. Then, when we believe them, we begin to speak them with confidence, just as Jesus did, and then we HAVE them! Then we say: AMEN!!!  Mark 11:23 confirms this!

23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.  (

AMP)

So study, hear, learn, know, and then SPEAK with bold confidence, knowing that HE has already said YES! AMEN! And NO ONE can take it from us! Hallelujah! Here is Hillsong with "What The World Will Never Take":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


I want to share another song with you from "Strength and Beauty in the Presence of The Healer" by Sara Hart Pearsons. This one is called "It Is Finished". Here are the lyrics:

IT IS FINISHED

Grace says, "You are loved"

In response I say, "Thank You, thank You Lord"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

Grace says, "You are healed"

In response I say, "Thank You, I receive"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

I believe because You said it

But I trust because I  know You

It is finished, it is done

You have risen, I have won

It is finished, it is done

Now I'm singing hallelujah

Grace says, "You're redeemed"

In response I say, "Thank you I believe"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

Grace says, "You are cleansed"

In response I say, "Thank you, I forgive"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

grace says, "You are loved"

Grace says, "You are healed"

Graces says, "You're redeemed"

Grace says, "You are clean"

It is finished, it is done

Jesus said it, the work is done

It is finished, it is done

Now I'm singing hallelujah, hallelujah

Here is the song! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


1 Corinthians 15:8-10:

⁸And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one prematurely and born dead [no better than an unperfected fetus among living men]. ⁹For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, who am not fit or deserving to be called an apostle, because I once wronged and pursued and molested the church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence]. ¹⁰But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.

I am going to share with you my "theory" today! Do you remember what a theory is? Brother Kenneth E. Hagin used to say this: "A theory is a supposition based on ignorance of the subject at hand!"  Some things we will NOT know until we see Him face to face and He can explain things to us Himself! That does NOT mean that we cannot think about it, however! We ARE told to meditate the Word of God day and night (Joshua 1:8)!So just look at this as "meditation"! Do you remember what Peter led the other disciples to do in Acts 1? Read Acts 1:15-26 and see that he decided that THEY should pick an apostle to replace Judas. Do you EVER remember reading of a time that JESUS said this? Did Jesus say, "Go to Jerusalem and choose a replacement for Judas"? NO! Peter decided that this person must have been with them the entire three years of the ministry of Jesus on the earth. Did you notice the prayer that they prayed? Verses 23-24:

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, "O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Notice that "they" nominated two men and than asked the Lord to show which of these two that He had chosen! Then they "cast lots". In our day we would say that they threw the dice or chose straws! I venture to say that God had nothing whatsoever to do with this decision! Do you EVER hear Matthias mentioned again? Instead, we see above in 1 Corinthians 15:9 that Paul calls himself one of the apostles. After Jesus Himself chose Paul, do you remember how many years that Paul spent in the presence of the Lord being taught by Him? Look at Galatians 1:11-12:


11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul was taught by the Lord! Now look at Galatians 1:15-18:

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

How long did Paul spend AWAY from everyone?  Three years! I believe that Jesus taught Paul everything that He had taught the other apostles during His earthly ministry! Do you remember when Peter said THIS about Paul's teaching? 2 Peter 3:15-16:


15 And remember, the Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— 16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

The Spirit-filled Peter recognized that the Lord Himself had given that wisdom! The biggest reason that I believe Paul was first able to understand these "hard things" is that he received them first of all from the Lord as a born again, Spirit-filled believer! The other apostles walked with Jesus for three years, but NOT being born again or Spirit-filled! We WILL find out what REALLY happened when we all get to see Him face to face, but it IS fun to "think about it"! Here is Hillsong United with "Everyday" with lyrics below:

What to say, Lord? It's
You who gave me life and I
Can't explain just how
Much You mean to me now
That You have saved me, Lord
I give all that I am to You
That everyday I could
Be a light that shines Your name

Everyday, Lord, I'll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
I might come to know You more
That You would guide me in every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Everyday, Lord, I'll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
I might come to know You more
That You would guide me in every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

It's You I live for, everyday
It's You I live for, everyday
It's You I live for, everyday
It's You I live for, everyday

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul is instructing the church in the proper operation of the utterance gifts of the Spirit in a public setting. He is fully expecting the congregation to be flowing in the gifts! But the verse I want to focus on today is verse 18 (CJB):

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 

The Amplified Bible says this:

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you or all of you put together; 

What was Paul speaking about here? He was referring to his own individual prayer time! It is vitally important that the born again believer in Jesus of Nazareth also receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is the INFILLING of the Spirit, so that they can make use of their heavenly prayer language! Paul says THIS about that in verse 2 (AMP):

2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. 

The purpose for our prayer language is so that we can pray perfectly without our human understanding getting in the way and hindering our prayer! Another wonderful thing that results from our praying in our Holy Spirit given prayer language is found in Isaiah 28:12 (KJV):

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. 12 To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing:

And then this in Jude 12 (AMP):

20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; 

What a wonderful supply the Father has given us in order to grow up in Him and be the mighty force HE expects us to be on this earth! If you are born again and have not yet received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, prayer THIS prayer:


Father, I am Your child. I desire to be filled with Holy Spirit and speak with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives me the utterance. By faith, I receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. As I lift my hands to praise You, I fully expect to speak in my heavenly prayer language. Amen.


Now open your heart and mouth in praise to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to give you that powerful, personal prayer language. If you have further questions, please check out The Spoken Word Church website at the left and contact us there. We will be happy to help you in your spiritual growth! In the meantime, here is a very old song called "Joy In The Holy Ghost" by Hillsong (lyrics found below):

JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST

I've found a friend, o Such a friend
He made my heart his home
God himself is in me
And I know I'm never alone
I know all my tomorrows will be better than all my hopes
We've got love grace peace and power
And joy in the Holy Ghost.

(We've got love)
My God is never wrong
And He makes time for me
(We've got grace)
It blew apart my chains
And set the sinner free
(We've got peace)
It's like a river and you'll never run it dry
We've got power over fear and death
And hearts filled up with joy.

The Holy Spirit fills me up
And I need him every day
For fire faith and confidence
And knowing what to say
I gave my heart and all I am
To the one who loves most
We've got love grace peace and powerAnd joy in the Holy Ghost.

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Today I want to share a portion from "Morning Moments", a daily devotional by Bob Yandian. The Scripture used is Acts 1:7 (NKJV):


7 And He said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.


When the disciples asked Jesus about his return, he told them it was not given to them to know the times or seasons which were only in the hands of the Father. This should be good news to us. It is useless to spend time trying to figure out what will happen tomorrow, whether Jesus will return or what will happen  in our nation or around the world. Jesus told us to only be concerned about today and live without concern about tomorrow. In other words, we can control what will happen today as we walk in God's Word and follow the Holy Spirit.


I have heard it said, "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday".  Worry is NOT to be a part of the life of a born again believer in Jesus of Nazareth! Instead, we are to sow the seeds of God's Word into our lives today, so that tomorrow we can reap the harvest of God's blessings! Stay in the NOW, stay in the WORD, stay in FAITH, stay in PRAISE and WORSHIP, stay in PRAYER, stay in FELLOWSHIP with HIM and with like-minded believers and you will have a great harvest of good things for tomorrow! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "The Time Has Come":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 123:1-2 says this:


¹ UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven. ² Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.


Why do we lift our eyes to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? Because HE has   the answers to every question, the solution to every problem, the supply for every need, and a NAME that covers all of these! Here is a declaration to one of those! He IS our "Great Physician"! Here with that song is Sara Hart Pearsons. The lyrics are posted below.

GREAT PHYSICIAN

The joy of the Lord is stronger, stronger

The peace from above is higher, is higher

I'm healed by the stripes of Jesus, of Jesus

I'm clean by His blood, it frees us, it keeps us

I will live and will not die

Declare the works of my God

He is my Healer, He is my Jesus

You rise with healing in Your wings

Your will for me is life abundantly

Healed, filled, and free

You're my great Physician

You rise, I'll rise

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


This being the National Day of Prayer, I thought it would be fitting to share some instructions for prayer that we find in the Word of God. First, from today's Bible Reading Plan, Psalm 122:6-8:

⁶Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!

    ⁷May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!

    ⁸For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!

We often mention this, but it is most definitely the will of the One, True, God of the Bible that we prayer unceasingly for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! 2 Timothy 2:1-4 says to pray for those in authority:


1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

We pray for them to be saved; for protection, provision and safety; for their eyes to be open to the Word of God; for the Godly to be promoted and the ungodly to be removed; and for Godly plans to succeed and ungodly plans to fail and come to utter destruction! Then we have James 5:16 instructing us to pray for each other!

16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 

As born again believers, who are indwelt by the Spirit of God and filled with the Spirit of God, our prayers are POWERFUL!!! That means they are FILLED with the power (dunamis) of God, which is "dynamic in its working"! We are also to pray for our enemies! Matthew 5:43-45:

43 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;  [Lev 19:18; Ps 139:21,22.]   44 But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  [Prov 25:21,22.]  45 To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. 

Praying in the Spirit causes us to pray perfect prayer, because it comes Spirit to spirit when WE don't know how to pray (Romans 8:26). 1 Corinthians 14:2:

2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. 

Then we are told in 1 John 5:14-15 how to pray in our known language:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. 

Prayer is vital in the life of a believer in Jesus of Nazareth! make prayer a priority in your life and you will see your own needs being met supernaturally! Ephesians 6:8 promises that! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 121:1-4:


 ¹ I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]--From whence shall my help come? ²My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. ³He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.


With everything going on right now, both in this country and around the world, the ANSWER is found above! We MUST look to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for the answer to every question and the solution to every problem! He MUST become our "safe refuge" and our "hiding place"! Israel, also, will come to a time when the entire world will be against them and their ONLY help will be HIM! When will THAT be? In GOD'S time! We do know that it will NOT be while the Church of Jesus Christ is still on the earth! How do we know that? Because we ARE a "holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9), and this "nation" supports Israel fully and completely! When WE are taken out of the earth, THEN God will allow the timetable to proceed. Until then, make sure that you are taking the call very seriously to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! Amen! So let's turn our eyes back on Him and worship Him with this song by Hillsong called "I Will Exalt You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Joshua 13-14 reveals some of the original division of the land of Israel by the God of the Bible! Every idea for the borders of Israel that any person has ever come up with is absolutely wrong unless it lines up with those of the God of the Bible! Here again is a picture of what the nation of Israel is SUPPOSED to look like!

Don't be found agreeing with the world when you should be found agreeing with the God of the Bible! He WILL see to it that Israel is fully restored, but it will be in HIS timeline! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of the Israel and the city of Jerusalem! In Joshua 14 we see Caleb coming with this declaration to Joshua in verses 7-10:

   ⁷Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land. And I brought him a report as it was in my heart. ⁸But my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. ⁹And Moses swore on that day, Surely the land on which your feet have walked shall be an inheritance to you and your children always, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God. ¹⁰And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.

Caleb had spent 45 years serving the LORD and assisting Joshua! Now Caleb is 85 years old. Do you think he is going to ask to retire so he can "rest" for the rest of his life? NO Look at verses 11-15:

  ¹¹Yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in. ¹²So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. ¹³Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. ¹⁴So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁵The name of Hebron before was Kiriath-arba [city of Arba]. This Arba was the greatest of the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.

Not only did Caleb not with to retire, he said that he would continue to fight to drive out the giants from his land! How could Caleb have the same strength and vitality that he had experienced as a 40 year old? Look again at the end of verse 8:


8b yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.


There we have the key to Caleb's strength! It is also the key to OUR having that same kind of strength! Remember Isaiah 40:31?

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Now THAT is an Old Covenant promise, and WE have a better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6)! Shouldn't we be expecting even better health and more strength? Let's stop expecting our bodies to react like the rest of the world and spend time actively waiting on the LORD! Then we can EXPECT even better things than Caleb! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "You Are My Strength":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Today we read the last 88 verses of Psalm 119 and again I didn't get past the first 2 verses before being so blessed by the Word! Verses 89-90:

⁸⁹Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. ⁹⁰Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.

Our God has proven Himself faithful to His people at all times and in every situation! Where failure happens, it is NEVER God who has failed! "Settled" in verse 89 is the Hebrew word "natsab", which means: to stand; to be fixed; to be established; to be determined. GOD'S Word is forever fixed, established and determined for fulfillment! He said this in Isaiah 55:11:

11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 

AMP

His Word WILL accomplish what He planned for it to accomplish, but ONLY in the lives of those who choose to believe it, receive it, and obey it! Seek the LORD daily through praise, prayer, fellowship and study and mediation of His Word. You will then be in a position to be a DOER of the Word, with wonderful, God-ordained results! AMEN! Here are some pictures I really like!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


We read the first 88 verses of Psalm 119 in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today. The very best verse, and one that should be all the motivation we need to desire to know Him more, is verse 2:


  ²Blessed (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. AMP


The Amplified Bible is very accurate with this verse. The word "blessed" here is the Hebrew word "`ashre", which means: blessed, happy; connotes the state of prosperity or happiness that comes when a superior bestows his favor (blessing) on one. If we DO the last part of verse 2, then we will enjoy the first part! be a DOER of all that you see in the Word of God to do, and you will have the results promised in that Word! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 118 has 4 verses that contain the phrase "His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever". The KJV says simply "mercy". This is the Hebrew word "checed", which means: kindness; goodness; faithfulness; loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; devotion. I like this from Vine's Expository Dictionary:

In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: "strength," "steadfastness," and "love." Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness.

There is such a fullness of the nature of God's love for us contained in that word! That is why the command in verse 29 is this:


  ²⁹O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.


So be a DOER of that Word today! Give praise, thanksgiving and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, for He deserves it! Amen! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "The Shout Of The King":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the entire Bible! It is also one of the needful things for the people of God to be doing! 


 ¹O PRAISE the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people!

    ²For His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and faithfulness of the Lord endure forever. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

We looked at the sacrifice of praise yesterday. The great thing about making THAT sacrifice to God is that once you begin, it is no longer a sacrifice at all! As we spend time daily in His presence, we should be falling so in love with Him that His praises just flow from us! THAT is the lifestyle that greatly pleases the God Who made us to have a free will! It shows the world, and the devil,  the choice that we have made! "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15)! Amen! Here s song I have used before, but it so fitting for today! Hillsong United with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 116:12 presents a question that we should be answering daily!


   ¹²What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for all His bountiful dealings?]


What can I do TODAY that will communicate my eternal gratitude and thankfulness for all that HE has done for me? What would be pleasing to HIM? Look at verse 16:


¹⁷I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.


Hebrews 13:15 says this:


15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.  


THAT is the sacrifice that HE is pleased with! Use very manner of praise and worship on a daily basis in order to keep HIM as the priority in your life! Here is a song by Don Moen called "A Sacrifice of Praise":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


1 Corinthians 3:1-2:

3 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready,



Why were they still only able to be fed the milk of the Word, or simple, basic teaching? Because they had NOT continued on in the Word of God so that they could grow up! Joshua 1:8 promises this:


   ⁸This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.


So, either those immature believers in Corinth were not meditating on the Word, or they weren't obeying the Word they did hear. Either action will result in immaturity! What kind of Spiritual food are YOU able to digest? Does the teaching seem to always go over your head? We must realize that pastors and teachers do not understand the Word because they are ministers, but because they chose to spend time learning it! There is an anointing to minster the Word of God, but there is NOT an anointing to live it! Make the determined purpose today that YOU are going to know the Word of God more each day than you did the day before. If you do that, and put into practice what you learn, then you will NEVER be one who can only handle the milk! Bring on the meat! Amen! Here is Hillsong United with "Unending Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Look at Psalm 114 from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan:


 ¹WHEN ISRAEL came forth out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

    ²Judah became [God's] sanctuary (the Holy Place of His habitation), and Israel His dominion.

    ³The [Red] Sea looked and fled; the Jordan [River] was turned back.

    ⁴The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs.

    ⁵What ails you, O [Red] Sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?

    ⁶You mountains, that you skip like rams, and you little hills, like lambs?

    ⁷Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,

    ⁸Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

When did the Red Sea look and flea? When did the Jordan River turn back? It was when Judah became God's sanctuary and Israel His dominion! Do you know what THAT means for the New Covenant believers? NOW, the Spirit and Presence of Almighty God lives in US! WE are His present sanctuary! The Kingdom and Dominion of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible has come to live on earth within each and every born again believer in Jesus of Nazareth! THAT is why we "can do ALL things through Christ Who infuses us with inner strength" (Philippians 4:13 AMP)! There are NO impossibilities when the God of the Bible lives in you (Matthew 19:26)! Meditate on that TRUTH until it becomes so real to you that you will not even entertain a thought of doubt! Then continue to mediate on the TRUTH every day, to stay in that place of quiet confidence in who you are IN HIM! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "All Things Are Possible":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


After hearing in Church on Friday night, and then again yesterday, that we are to be led and directed by the Spirit as smoothly and naturally as our legs hear from our brain how to walk, I found today's devotional in God Calling to be amazingly similar! Here is a portion:

April 23 - Too Much Talk

Guidance you are bound to have as you live more and more with Me. It follows without doubt.

But these times are not times when you ask to be shown and led, they are times of feeling and realizing My Presence. Does the branch continually ask the Vine to supply it with sap, to show it in what direction to grow? No, that comes naturally from the very union with the Vine, and I said, "I am the true vine, ye are the branches."

From the branches hang the choice grapes, giving joy and nourishment to all, but no branch could think that the fruit, the grapes, were of its shaping and making. No! the grapes are the fruit of the Vine, the Parent-Plant.  The work of the branch is to provide a channel for the life-flow.

So, My children, union with Me is the one great overwhelming necessity. All else follows so naturally, and union with Me may be the result of just consciousness of My Presence.

Spending time being AWARE of His presence IN US will cause us to be able to flow with Him as easily as breathing! it takes diligence, but remember that HE does the work! Amen! Then it ends with this:


When man ceased to commune with his God simply and naturally, he took refuge in words—words.  Babel resulted.  Then God wanted to do away with man from the earth.  Rely less on words.  Always remember that speech is of the senses.  So make it your servant, never your Master.


That is another reason that we are told to be swift to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19)! He wants our speaking to be with power, and that only happens as we speak His Words the same way He would! We have an amazing gift in the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and many of us do not spend nearly enough time getting to know HIM! It is time well spent, so let's make it our determined purpose to do so! Amen! This should help! Hillsong Live with "Love Like Fire"!

Shalom in Him!