Friday's Bible Reading Plan:
Psalm 71 is again a Psalm calling out to God for deliverance, protection, provision and safety! What is the first thing that YOU do when faced with tests, trials and attacks? These Psalms are our example of WHO to turn to FIRST OF ALL! Our Pastor at The Spoken Word Church has always instructed us NOT to share these things with someone who is not qualified to help us! I know of some people you like to share everything with as many people as possible. Sharing a need with someone who does not know the Word of God, nor understand our Covenant of Blessing will NOT be able to pray according to the Word of God. "Just any old prayer" will NOT do the job! 1 John 5:14-15 tells how to pray prayers that get answered:
14And 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. 15And 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.
Find out what God's Word has to say about your particular situation, then pray that WORD back to HIM. He LOVES when we remind Him of His Word! Not because He forgets (He does not!) but because it reveals our faith, trust and confidence in HIM! AMEN! Psalm 71:7-8:
7I am as a wonder and surprise to many, but You are my strong refuge. 8My mouth shall be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the day.
Then YOU will have people wondering how your life is so blessed and you can tell them the ANSWER! His Name is JESUS!
Hebrews 5 is declaring the High Priestly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. He was appointed by God the Father as both High Priest and King. Not a High Priest like Aaron, who offered the blood of animals according to the Law of the Old Covenant. He is a High Priest FOREVER of the New Covenant and operated from Heaven! The knowledge of the Word of God is "progressive revelation". That means that what we are able to understand depends on the foundation we have already laid of knowledge of God's Word. That's is what Hebrews 5:11-14a is referring to:
11Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight]. 12For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14But solid food is for full-grown men,
We must be spending daily time in the Word of God to be able to grow up beyond the "milk stage". If you find yourself getting lost when people are talking about the Word or wondering what everyone else is excited about in a service where the Word is being taught, DON'T get discouraged and give up! Just get back into the Word on a daily basis and the Holy Spirit (your indwelling Teacher) will begin to bring understanding to you again. It won't take long, if you're diligent about it, but you MUST begin! The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is a good place to start, along with the Daily Devotional. They can both be found on the Spoken Word Church website link at the left of this blog. Remember, also, that it is not just reading, but meditating (thinking about, speaking about, asking questions and sharing with other like-minded believers) that will cause the Word to come alive to you!
Isaiah 55:11 is a powerful promise for those who know and love the Word of God!
11So 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.
The word "void" is the Hebrew word, "reyqam", which means: in empty condition, in vain, without effect. God's Word WILL NOT return back to Him having had no effect! But (actually but rather) His Word "shall accomplish", the Hebrew word, "`asah", which means: to do, to work, to make, to produce, that which is pleasing to God and "it shall prosper", the Hebrew word, "tsalach", which means: to advance, to prosper, to make progress, to succeed, to to be profitable, whereto He sent it! God's Word is forever working in the Earth today! It will affect MY life when I agree with his Word and mix MY faith (trust and confidence) with it! Stand fast on the Word of God! His Word will NEVER fail! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
