Shalom,


Psalm 87:1-3:


1 ON THE holy hills stands the city [of Jerusalem and the temple] God founded. 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion [through which the crowds of pilgrims enter from all nations] more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel). 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah [pause and calmly realize what that means]!


When we visited Israel we were able to go through some of the current gates. There were fewer gates in the time that Jesus was ministering on the earth. The most important gate is the one that is sealed right now! The Eastern Gate or Golden Gate is the one that Jesus will walk through into Jerusalem when He returns to the Earth and sets His feet on the Mount of Olives! The gate was sealed by the Muslims to try and prevent Messiah from returning! Do YOU think that a sealed gate is any problem for the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible Who has already conquered Death and Hell when He defeated satan? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! I believe that the glorious things spoken of the city of God are the prophecies of Messiah's return in triumph! I read an interesting note that said that Abraham was promised a vast natural family: as the sands of the sea (Israel) and also a spiritual family: as the stars of the sky (all believers - the Church)! The Heavenly Jerusalem will hold all who have believed! Hallelujah!


In Luke 8:1 we see the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth summed up in  one verse!


1 SOON AFTERWARD, [Jesus] went on through towns and villages, preaching and bringing the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God.


That is what Jesus did! He went everywhere teaching, preaching and healing! He set people free from the works and workers of darkness and introduced them to the Kingdom of Light and Life and Love! When the people HEARD THE WORD that Jesus brought to them, FAITH rose up in them to be saved (by faith), healed (by faith) and delivered (by faith)! I have heard some people say that if they could only have lived at THAT time when Jesus ministered on earth and walked and talked with Him then, they would have less problem with walking by faith. NO, they would have had MORE problems! We so take for granted the Truth that none of the disciples were born again at this time. They DID NOT have the Holy Spirit living inside of them! That is why they forgot the things that Jesus taught them until later when they WERE saved and filled! We are SO BLESSED to be living at this most exciting time in history, or HIS STORY! There is no excuse for us not to spend every day in the Word of God and in prayer, praise and fellowship with like-minded believers! What distracts YOU form doing so? I'm getting on MINE right now! Let's get busy! AMEN!


In Micah 1-2 we see another prophet that God has sent to warn His people to return to Him or they will take themselves out from His protection! It gives me great confidence when i see this everlasting mercy of the Lord! BUT there will come a time when He has to step aside IF WE CHOOSE disobedience over and over again! He ALWAYS had a promise for them IF they would repent (change their thinking to agree with Him) and turn back to His ways! OURS is 1 John 1:9:


9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Thank You, Jesus!


Shalom in Him!