Shalom,
Psalm 90:1-2:
1 LORD, YOU have been our dwelling place and our refuge in all generations [says Moses]. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
I also like the Message Bible for these verses:
1 God, it seems You've been our home forever; 2 long before the mountains were born, Long before You brought earth itself to birth, from "once upon a time" to "kingdom come" - You are God.
Luke 2 tells of the birth of Jesus. I really like the movie "The Nativity". Although there are some things that aren't quite accurate according to the Bible, it gives a very good idea of how things may have happened! Here is a short clip from the movie:
We started reading about Balaam yesterday. Today we see that he is unable to curse Israel, but pronounces God's blessings instead! I like what he said in Numbers 23:19-20:
19 God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good? 20 You see, I have received Hiss command to bless Israel. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse or qualify it.
We should take great confidence in these verses! Why? Because God has already blessed US (Ephesians 1:3), and He will not go back on His Word! We can count on it! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 89:1:
1 I WILL sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.
And here are the Maranatha Kids singing this well-known song!
Psalm 89:13-14:
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, Your right hand is soaring high. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.
THAT is our God! Rejoice in Him in the face of everything that is going on around you!
I love how Luke 1:4 so accurately describes why we NEED to get the Word of God inside of us!
4 [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.
Luke's purpose in writing this Gospel is to get an accurate account of the Truth on record. GOD'S purpose for using Luke to record this Gospel is the same! He wants us to have access to the real TRUTH in the midst of all the false teaching in the world! And the amount of false teaching is growing on a daily basis! All you have to do is type in something that you know is untrue in a search and see how very many sites are dedicated to the lies! Stick with the Word of God on EVERY occasion and you CANNOT fail! AMEN!
Numbers 22:28-29 is hilarious to me!
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times? 29 And Balaam SAID TO THE DONKEY, Because you have ridiculed me and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!
Not only did it not sink in that his donkey just spoke, but Balaam actually carried on a conversation with the donkey! Amazing! Here is a drawing depicting Balaam and his donkey.
Tune in tomorrow for more of this story!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 89:1:
1 I WILL sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.
And here are the Maranatha Kids singing this well-known song!
Psalm 89:13-14:
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, Your right hand is soaring high. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.
THAT is our God! Rejoice in Him in the face of everything that is going on around you!
I love how Luke 1:4 so accurately describes why we NEED to get the Word of God inside of us!
4 [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.
Luke's purpose in writing this Gospel is to get an accurate account of the Truth on record. GOD'S purpose for using Luke to record this Gospel is the same! He wants us to have access to the real TRUTH in the midst of all the false teaching in the world! And the amount of false teaching is growing on a daily basis! All you have to do is type in something that you know is untrue in a search and see how very many sites are dedicated to the lies! Stick with the Word of God on EVERY occasion and you CANNOT fail! AMEN!
Numbers 22:28-29 is hilarious to me!
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times? 29 And Balaam SAID TO THE DONKEY, Because you have ridiculed me and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!
Not only did it not sink in that his donkey just spoke, but Balaam actually carried on a conversation with the donkey! Amazing! Here is a drawing depicting Balaam and his donkey.
Tune in tomorrow for more of this story!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 88 is very special to me since being in Israel last year. The heading for this Psalm says:
A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician; set to chant mournfully. A didactic or reflective poem of Heman the Ezrahite.
I would like to add: Most likely to have been quoted by Jesus of Nazareth while He was being held in the underground pit at the house of Caiaphas. Pastor Bill Novak read this Psalm when we were in the underground pit. Jesus would have been lowered into it from the top by ropes tied around His body and left in total darkness until they were ready for Him. At that time they would have pulled Him up by the ropes to continue the "trial". Read this Psalm again, picturing Jesus being held in total darkness. It will have SO much more meaning to you! Here are some pictures of the pit:
Romans 16:19 says:
19 For while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and innocent and guileless as to what is evil.
I was reminded of a song we used to sing in church. Here is a version of it by Chris Tomlin:
Numbers 20:7-12:
7 And the LORD said to Moses, 8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to give forth its water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink. 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock and Moses said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Moses did NOT do what God had just told him to do! We see here that the LORD said is was because they didn't believe Him. Another reason that this was so inappropriate for Moses to do is because the Old Testament is filled with types and shadows that point TOWARDS the Messiah and God's great plan of Salvation. They had already struck the rock for water once, at God's instructions, in Exodus 17:6. We see this in 1 Corinthians 10:4:
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Once "smitten" (crucified), He did not need to be smitten again! The Old Testament comes alive in the light of our New and Better Covenant, doesn't it! I LOVE the Word of God!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 88 is very special to me since being in Israel last year. The heading for this Psalm says:
A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician; set to chant mournfully. A didactic or reflective poem of Heman the Ezrahite.
I would like to add: Most likely to have been quoted by Jesus of Nazareth while He was being held in the underground pit at the house of Caiaphas. Pastor Bill Novak read this Psalm when we were in the underground pit. Jesus would have been lowered into it from the top by ropes tied around His body and left in total darkness until they were ready for Him. At that time they would have pulled Him up by the ropes to continue the "trial". Read this Psalm again, picturing Jesus being held in total darkness. It will have SO much more meaning to you! Here are some pictures of the pit:
Romans 16:19 says:
19 For while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and innocent and guileless as to what is evil.
I was reminded of a song we used to sing in church. Here is a version of it by Chris Tomlin:
Numbers 20:7-12:
7 And the LORD said to Moses, 8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to give forth its water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink. 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock and Moses said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Moses did NOT do what God had just told him to do! We see here that the LORD said is was because they didn't believe Him. Another reason that this was so inappropriate for Moses to do is because the Old Testament is filled with types and shadows that point TOWARDS the Messiah and God's great plan of Salvation. They had already struck the rock for water once, at God's instructions, in Exodus 17:6. We see this in 1 Corinthians 10:4:
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Once "smitten" (crucified), He did not need to be smitten again! The Old Testament comes alive in the light of our New and Better Covenant, doesn't it! I LOVE the Word of God!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 87:1-2:
1 ON THE holy hill 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 the nations], more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel).
It doesn't matter what any person or nation in the entire world thinks or says, GOD owns Jerusalem! it is HIS city and the city of HIS people! We saw the different gates when we visited Israel last year. We were most interested in the Golden Gate, also known as the Beautiful Gate. Below are two pictures of the gate that stands there now:
This gate was sealed by Suleiman I in 1541 to prevent the Messiah from returning here. Do YOU think that would stop Him? What this picture does not show is the original gate from the Second Temple, which was the Temple there at the time of the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. This gate has been found below ground! The present gate was built over the top of the original! What do YOU think will happen when Messiah Yeshua touches His feet down on the mount of Olives at His Second Coming? My thought is that the accompanying earthquake will destroy the present gate and reveal the original that he will walk through TRIUMPHANTLY! Soon and very soon! AMEN!
Romans 15:4-6 is exactly what we need in order to walk in unity with all believers in Jesus of Nazareth!
4 For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. 5 Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. 6 That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah).
As we said yesterday, we will not likely all agree on doctrine in this life, but we CAN all agree that JESUS IS LORD! Let's present a united force for the world to see, recognize and understand that they are personal sinners who have already been provided with a personal Saviour - Jesus of Nazareth! God is perfectly capable of taking care of the rest for those who really WANT to know the Truth! Our prayer should be verse 13:
13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
That hope is what 1 Peter 3:15 says will cause people to ask us about HIM!
15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
Be ready!
In Numbers 17 we see God giving the Israelites physical evidence, once and for all, that He had called and appointed Aaron as the first High Priest. Let's be those whom Jesus said are blessed for believing WITHOUT having seen (John 20:29). Believe the WORD! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 87:1-2:
1 ON THE holy hill 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 the nations], more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel).
It doesn't matter what any person or nation in the entire world thinks or says, GOD owns Jerusalem! it is HIS city and the city of HIS people! We saw the different gates when we visited Israel last year. We were most interested in the Golden Gate, also known as the Beautiful Gate. Below are two pictures of the gate that stands there now:
This gate was sealed by Suleiman I in 1541 to prevent the Messiah from returning here. Do YOU think that would stop Him? What this picture does not show is the original gate from the Second Temple, which was the Temple there at the time of the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. This gate has been found below ground! The present gate was built over the top of the original! What do YOU think will happen when Messiah Yeshua touches His feet down on the mount of Olives at His Second Coming? My thought is that the accompanying earthquake will destroy the present gate and reveal the original that he will walk through TRIUMPHANTLY! Soon and very soon! AMEN!
Romans 15:4-6 is exactly what we need in order to walk in unity with all believers in Jesus of Nazareth!
4 For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. 5 Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. 6 That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah).
As we said yesterday, we will not likely all agree on doctrine in this life, but we CAN all agree that JESUS IS LORD! Let's present a united force for the world to see, recognize and understand that they are personal sinners who have already been provided with a personal Saviour - Jesus of Nazareth! God is perfectly capable of taking care of the rest for those who really WANT to know the Truth! Our prayer should be verse 13:
13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
That hope is what 1 Peter 3:15 says will cause people to ask us about HIM!
15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
Be ready!
In Numbers 17 we see God giving the Israelites physical evidence, once and for all, that He had called and appointed Aaron as the first High Priest. Let's be those whom Jesus said are blessed for believing WITHOUT having seen (John 20:29). Believe the WORD! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 86:5:
5 For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.
Our God is "good", the Hebrew word "towb", which means: good, better, best, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, valuable in estimation, appropriate, happy, prosperous, bountiful, cheerful, joyful, gracious, kind, loving, merry, precious, beautiful. He stands READY to forgive! He WANTS to forgive us when we miss it! As always, the choice is ours! Use 1 John 1:9 and confess your mistakes and He WILL forgive! Then move on, getting to know Him more every day! Verse 15 is another encouraging verse about how ready He is to get us back into fellowship with Him!
15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness and truth.
There is no excuse for being out of fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He has made it SO easy! JUST DO IT!
Romans 14 is all about NOT judging other believers. Verse 4:
4 Who are you to pass judgment on an censure another's household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand.
We will never find someone that we agree totally with over everything we find in the Word of God! It won't be until we all see HIM face to face that we will know where we have ALL missed it in our own interpretation of the Truth! In the meantime, celebrate our unity IN HIM, praying for each other! We cannot fail when we do things God's way!
Speaking of doing things God's way, Numbers 15-16 covers yet another time when the Israelites questioned Moses and Aaron, thereby questioning God Who called and anointed them! It has been very interesting to go over these things again in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan this year. It has really helped me to realize how very much we must depend on the Holy Spirit in order to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12)! Do we REALLY think we would have always done differently than they did? How many times do we get side-tracked or distracted from the things of God by our busy lives? And we DO have the Spirit of God living IN us! They DID NOT! Let's realize that we are of all people MOST BLESSED, and get about our Father's business with the freedom and joy that being in fellowship with Him brings! AMEN! Here is Hillsong's "We Will See Him"!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 86:5:
5 For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.
Our God is "good", the Hebrew word "towb", which means: good, better, best, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, valuable in estimation, appropriate, happy, prosperous, bountiful, cheerful, joyful, gracious, kind, loving, merry, precious, beautiful. He stands READY to forgive! He WANTS to forgive us when we miss it! As always, the choice is ours! Use 1 John 1:9 and confess your mistakes and He WILL forgive! Then move on, getting to know Him more every day! Verse 15 is another encouraging verse about how ready He is to get us back into fellowship with Him!
15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness and truth.
There is no excuse for being out of fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He has made it SO easy! JUST DO IT!
Romans 14 is all about NOT judging other believers. Verse 4:
4 Who are you to pass judgment on an censure another's household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand.
We will never find someone that we agree totally with over everything we find in the Word of God! It won't be until we all see HIM face to face that we will know where we have ALL missed it in our own interpretation of the Truth! In the meantime, celebrate our unity IN HIM, praying for each other! We cannot fail when we do things God's way!
Speaking of doing things God's way, Numbers 15-16 covers yet another time when the Israelites questioned Moses and Aaron, thereby questioning God Who called and anointed them! It has been very interesting to go over these things again in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan this year. It has really helped me to realize how very much we must depend on the Holy Spirit in order to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12)! Do we REALLY think we would have always done differently than they did? How many times do we get side-tracked or distracted from the things of God by our busy lives? And we DO have the Spirit of God living IN us! They DID NOT! Let's realize that we are of all people MOST BLESSED, and get about our Father's business with the freedom and joy that being in fellowship with Him brings! AMEN! Here is Hillsong's "We Will See Him"!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 85 takes place when the Israelites were returning from the Babylonian exile. Remember that it was their continued rebellion against the God of the Bible and His instructions, corrections and warnings by way of the prophets that caused them to be removed from the land in the first place. This Psalm is a prayer for restoration. Verse 4 says:
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease [forever].
"Salvation" is the Hebrew word, "yesha", which means: rescue, deliverance, safety, welfare, prosperity, victory. The prayer was that they would be restored to a place of protection, provision and safety in their God. THAT was always provided for them IF they would listen and obey! They wanted His anger to cease, but the choice had always been theirs. It will always be ours, too, even in the new and better Covenant that we have! Verses 8-10:
8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him) -- but let them not turn again to [self-confident] folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land. 10 Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Can you think of where God's mercy, loving-kindness, Truth, righteousness and peace are met together - intimately? In Jesus of Nazareth! He IS all we will ever need! AMEN!
Romans 13:10 says:
10 Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.
Jesus didn't say that the commandments were no longer valid, but that as long as we walked in the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5), we will automatically fulfill the Law! In order to walk in the God kind of Love, we need to know the God of the Love! Spend time in His presence and you will begin to think more like Him, speak more like Him, act more like Him. Then it will be said of you that one who resembles Jesus is among us! AMEN! Verse 11 tells us why it is more important NOW than ever before:
11 Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).
People are watching and waiting to see Jesus in YOU! What are you waiting for?
In Numbers 13-14 we see the incident involving the 12 spies sent out to walk through the land that God had already said HE would deliver into their hands. They were to report how rich and wonderful the land was and to tell of the people that GOD would deliver into their hands! Instead, only 2 were WORD men and came back with a GOOD, faith-filled report! The other 10 were AGAIN distracted from the Truth of God's Word by what things looked like to the natural eye. Hadn't the God of the Bible proved Himself already, over and over and over and over again? Now think about YOUR life and what the Word of God has said about YOUR situation. Hasn't He proved Himself to YOU, over and over and over and over again? AMEN! Now rise up as the faith-filled person of God that you are and TAKE THE LAND!
Here is a picture depicting the size of the grapes that they found in the land:
And here is a song by Chris Tomlin called: God Of This City". Remember that OUR God IS God!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 85 takes place when the Israelites were returning from the Babylonian exile. Remember that it was their continued rebellion against the God of the Bible and His instructions, corrections and warnings by way of the prophets that caused them to be removed from the land in the first place. This Psalm is a prayer for restoration. Verse 4 says:
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease [forever].
"Salvation" is the Hebrew word, "yesha", which means: rescue, deliverance, safety, welfare, prosperity, victory. The prayer was that they would be restored to a place of protection, provision and safety in their God. THAT was always provided for them IF they would listen and obey! They wanted His anger to cease, but the choice had always been theirs. It will always be ours, too, even in the new and better Covenant that we have! Verses 8-10:
8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him) -- but let them not turn again to [self-confident] folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land. 10 Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Can you think of where God's mercy, loving-kindness, Truth, righteousness and peace are met together - intimately? In Jesus of Nazareth! He IS all we will ever need! AMEN!
Romans 13:10 says:
10 Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.
Jesus didn't say that the commandments were no longer valid, but that as long as we walked in the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5), we will automatically fulfill the Law! In order to walk in the God kind of Love, we need to know the God of the Love! Spend time in His presence and you will begin to think more like Him, speak more like Him, act more like Him. Then it will be said of you that one who resembles Jesus is among us! AMEN! Verse 11 tells us why it is more important NOW than ever before:
11 Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).
People are watching and waiting to see Jesus in YOU! What are you waiting for?
In Numbers 13-14 we see the incident involving the 12 spies sent out to walk through the land that God had already said HE would deliver into their hands. They were to report how rich and wonderful the land was and to tell of the people that GOD would deliver into their hands! Instead, only 2 were WORD men and came back with a GOOD, faith-filled report! The other 10 were AGAIN distracted from the Truth of God's Word by what things looked like to the natural eye. Hadn't the God of the Bible proved Himself already, over and over and over and over again? Now think about YOUR life and what the Word of God has said about YOUR situation. Hasn't He proved Himself to YOU, over and over and over and over again? AMEN! Now rise up as the faith-filled person of God that you are and TAKE THE LAND!
Here is a picture depicting the size of the grapes that they found in the land:
And here is a song by Chris Tomlin called: God Of This City". Remember that OUR God IS God!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 84:4-5:
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your hose and Your presence; they will be singing Your parises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways of Zion.
That reminds me of a song by Hillsong Live: Blessed:
Romans 12:1-2 is an admonition that we should ALL being taking to heart every day!
1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of god, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
As we have heard many times before, it doesn't say the "removal" of your mind, but the "renewal"! This is the Greek word "anakainoosis", which means: a renewal, a renovation, a complete change for the better. DON'T get caught up thinking like the world thinks! Spend time praying in the Spirit. Then study the Word of God, asking the Holy Spirit to make it real to YOU! Then go and DO what you see in the Word to do! Refuse to believe ANYTHING that is contrary to the Word! You will definitely stand out from the world, but it will be because you think, speak and act like Jesus! THAT will be a very GOOD thing!
Numbers 11 has to be one of my least favorite stories of the 40 years in the wilderness! I am NOT much of a meat eater in the first place, but to think of eating so much quail that it would come out of your nostrils! The Amplified Bible says they would vomit it up! That makes me want to fast right now! Don't allow ANYTHING in this life to take the place of exaltation that belongs to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for all that he has done for YOU! What is food? What are things? What is money, if it comes at the expense of keeping HIM first place in our lives? Paul said it well in 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] to 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].
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 84:4-5:
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your hose and Your presence; they will be singing Your parises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways of Zion.
That reminds me of a song by Hillsong Live: Blessed:
Romans 12:1-2 is an admonition that we should ALL being taking to heart every day!
1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of god, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
As we have heard many times before, it doesn't say the "removal" of your mind, but the "renewal"! This is the Greek word "anakainoosis", which means: a renewal, a renovation, a complete change for the better. DON'T get caught up thinking like the world thinks! Spend time praying in the Spirit. Then study the Word of God, asking the Holy Spirit to make it real to YOU! Then go and DO what you see in the Word to do! Refuse to believe ANYTHING that is contrary to the Word! You will definitely stand out from the world, but it will be because you think, speak and act like Jesus! THAT will be a very GOOD thing!
Numbers 11 has to be one of my least favorite stories of the 40 years in the wilderness! I am NOT much of a meat eater in the first place, but to think of eating so much quail that it would come out of your nostrils! The Amplified Bible says they would vomit it up! That makes me want to fast right now! Don't allow ANYTHING in this life to take the place of exaltation that belongs to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for all that he has done for YOU! What is food? What are things? What is money, if it comes at the expense of keeping HIM first place in our lives? Paul said it well in 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] to 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].
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 83 sounds like it has been ripped from the headlines of our current news! Verses 2-8:
2 For, behold, Your enemies are in tumult, and those who hate You have raised their heads. 3 They lay crafty schemes against Your people and consult together against Your hidden and precious ones. 4 Theuy have said, Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be in remembrance no more. 5 For they have consulted together with one accord and one heart; against you they make a covenant -- 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, 7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre. 8 Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm to them. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
If you are a student of history at all, you know that history continues to repeat itself! Remember that there is NOTHING new under the sun! (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Evil just keeps trying to succeed! The devil actually STILL thinks that he can somehow defeat the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! And he will KEEP trying right up until he is thrown into the Lake of Fire! Aren't YOU glad that you know how THIS story plays out? WE WIN!!! HALLELUJAH! The most important thing is found in verse 18:
18 That they may know that You, Whose Name alone is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth!
Keep telling "HisStory", lest we forget and become complacent!
Romans 11:26-29 reveals God's plan for Israel! Is God finished with them? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
26 And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. 27 And this will be My covenant (My agreement) with them when I shall take away their sins. 28 From the point of view of the Gospel (good news), they [the Jews, at present] are enemies [of God], which is for your advantage and benefit. But from the point of view of God's choice (of election, of divine selection), they are still the beloved (dear to Him) for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and he does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom he sends His call].
Don't ever let anyone tell you that God is finished with Israel, and don't ever let them tell you that it is too late for YOU! God has called YOU and anointed YOU for a specific roll in His Kingdom! Find out His plan for YOUR life and get to it! AMEN! Verse 36:
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).
Numbers tells of the silver trumpets and when they are to be blown. These aren't shofars (ram's horns) but silver trumpets made out of hammered silver. Here are two pictures I found:
I tried to find a video of someone playing them, but there were none. Instead, I have Phil Driscoll playing his trumpet!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 83 sounds like it has been ripped from the headlines of our current news! Verses 2-8:
2 For, behold, Your enemies are in tumult, and those who hate You have raised their heads. 3 They lay crafty schemes against Your people and consult together against Your hidden and precious ones. 4 Theuy have said, Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be in remembrance no more. 5 For they have consulted together with one accord and one heart; against you they make a covenant -- 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, 7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre. 8 Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm to them. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
If you are a student of history at all, you know that history continues to repeat itself! Remember that there is NOTHING new under the sun! (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Evil just keeps trying to succeed! The devil actually STILL thinks that he can somehow defeat the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! And he will KEEP trying right up until he is thrown into the Lake of Fire! Aren't YOU glad that you know how THIS story plays out? WE WIN!!! HALLELUJAH! The most important thing is found in verse 18:
18 That they may know that You, Whose Name alone is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth!
Keep telling "HisStory", lest we forget and become complacent!
Romans 11:26-29 reveals God's plan for Israel! Is God finished with them? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
26 And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. 27 And this will be My covenant (My agreement) with them when I shall take away their sins. 28 From the point of view of the Gospel (good news), they [the Jews, at present] are enemies [of God], which is for your advantage and benefit. But from the point of view of God's choice (of election, of divine selection), they are still the beloved (dear to Him) for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and he does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom he sends His call].
Don't ever let anyone tell you that God is finished with Israel, and don't ever let them tell you that it is too late for YOU! God has called YOU and anointed YOU for a specific roll in His Kingdom! Find out His plan for YOUR life and get to it! AMEN! Verse 36:
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).
Numbers tells of the silver trumpets and when they are to be blown. These aren't shofars (ram's horns) but silver trumpets made out of hammered silver. Here are two pictures I found:
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 82 is a pretty clear picture of our world today! We need to understand that THIS life is actually preparation for the next! We are all given the opportunity to fulfill the call that God has placed on our lives. What we do with the gifts, talents and anointing that God has given us will determine not only our rewards at the Reward Seat, but our responsibilities in the next life! Remember that "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). God sees everything that is being done on the earth right now. He knows who the "unjust judges" are, and He WILL reward them appropriately! Verse 5:
5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.
It LOOKS like things are falling apart all around us, and it's true! BUT, God is and always has been in control of the times. He has a plan and it WILL come to pass! Find out what YOUR part is in God's Master Plan and be about doing it! The rewards are great and even THIS life will be better for it! AMEN!
There are many people that I have met in my life that I can say Romans 10:2 is true of:
2 I bear them witness that the have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.
Many, many "good" people want to do the right thing, but they do not understand God's Word concerning salvation. Verses 3-4:
3 For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.
The key , of course, is found in verses 9-10:
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the Truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
The Gospel MUST be preached so that people have the opportunity to choose life, but verse 18 tells us this:
18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.
Also, remember that we read in Romans 1:20:
20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
THEY are without excuse if they don't receive Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and personal Saviour. WE are without excuse if we have no rewards in Heaven because we DID NOT go about our Father's business! Let's buy up EVERY opportunity! AMEN!
If you only get one thing out of Numbers, it should be that our God is a God of order, precision, and TRUTH! He has left nothing to "chance" but has orchestrated our Salvation from BEFORE creation! That should give you great confidence in the Word and His protection, provision and safety for YOUR life!
Here is a fun kid's song I thought you might like! "This Is My Father's World" by the Go Gish Guys:
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 82 is a pretty clear picture of our world today! We need to understand that THIS life is actually preparation for the next! We are all given the opportunity to fulfill the call that God has placed on our lives. What we do with the gifts, talents and anointing that God has given us will determine not only our rewards at the Reward Seat, but our responsibilities in the next life! Remember that "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). God sees everything that is being done on the earth right now. He knows who the "unjust judges" are, and He WILL reward them appropriately! Verse 5:
5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.
It LOOKS like things are falling apart all around us, and it's true! BUT, God is and always has been in control of the times. He has a plan and it WILL come to pass! Find out what YOUR part is in God's Master Plan and be about doing it! The rewards are great and even THIS life will be better for it! AMEN!
There are many people that I have met in my life that I can say Romans 10:2 is true of:
2 I bear them witness that the have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.
Many, many "good" people want to do the right thing, but they do not understand God's Word concerning salvation. Verses 3-4:
3 For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.
The key , of course, is found in verses 9-10:
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the Truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
The Gospel MUST be preached so that people have the opportunity to choose life, but verse 18 tells us this:
18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.
Also, remember that we read in Romans 1:20:
20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
THEY are without excuse if they don't receive Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and personal Saviour. WE are without excuse if we have no rewards in Heaven because we DID NOT go about our Father's business! Let's buy up EVERY opportunity! AMEN!
If you only get one thing out of Numbers, it should be that our God is a God of order, precision, and TRUTH! He has left nothing to "chance" but has orchestrated our Salvation from BEFORE creation! That should give you great confidence in the Word and His protection, provision and safety for YOUR life!
Here is a fun kid's song I thought you might like! "This Is My Father's World" by the Go Gish Guys:
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 81:1-4:
1 SING ALOUD to God our Strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song, sound the timbrel, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4 For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
Sounds like a noisy time, doesn't it? I get the impression that God LOVES noise when it is used to praise Him! "Sing aloud" is the Hebrew word "ranan", which means: to cry out; to shout for joy; to give a ringing cry in joy, exultation and praise. "Shout for joy" or "Make a joyful noise" (KJV) is the Hebrew word "ruwa", which means:to split the ears with sound; to shout for joy; to shout a war-cry; to shout in triumph; to shout in applause. Verse 2-3 speak of singing, especially psalms and accompanied by music from many musical instruments. Verse 4 tells us that this was REQUIRED of Israel! Remember that He IS the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)! If anything, we should praise more and louder than they did because we have a better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6)!
Let yourself "Break Free" and really praise and worship the one, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! You will never really get to know HIM until you do! Here is a song that may help!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 81:1-4:
1 SING ALOUD to God our Strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song, sound the timbrel, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4 For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
Sounds like a noisy time, doesn't it? I get the impression that God LOVES noise when it is used to praise Him! "Sing aloud" is the Hebrew word "ranan", which means: to cry out; to shout for joy; to give a ringing cry in joy, exultation and praise. "Shout for joy" or "Make a joyful noise" (KJV) is the Hebrew word "ruwa", which means:to split the ears with sound; to shout for joy; to shout a war-cry; to shout in triumph; to shout in applause. Verse 2-3 speak of singing, especially psalms and accompanied by music from many musical instruments. Verse 4 tells us that this was REQUIRED of Israel! Remember that He IS the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)! If anything, we should praise more and louder than they did because we have a better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6)!
Let yourself "Break Free" and really praise and worship the one, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! You will never really get to know HIM until you do! Here is a song that may help!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Shalom,
Romans 8 is so full of the promises of God that we could spend days on it and never get to another book! We will look at a few this time! Verses 1-2:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Our acceptance of what Jesus provided for us with His death, burial and resurrection, causes this law of the Spirit of Life to be active in us! I like the Message Bible:
1 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. 2 A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
As believers we should not lead sense-ruled lives! We really no longer have the right to do so! Remember 1 Corinthians 6:20 (Amplified):
20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then honor God and bring glory to him in your body.
Then we have this promise in Romans 8:11:
11 And if the Spirit of him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
The Message Bible says:
11 It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God Who raised Jesus from the dead moves 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!
AMEN! There are so many more promises to look at just in this one chapter, but we will finish with this one in verses 37-39:
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt ( I am sure) that neither death not life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now THAT is powerful! We HAVE the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible living in us. Fear and doubt should have NO PLACE! AMEN!
Here's another older song some of you will remember!
Shalom in Him!
Romans 8 is so full of the promises of God that we could spend days on it and never get to another book! We will look at a few this time! Verses 1-2:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Our acceptance of what Jesus provided for us with His death, burial and resurrection, causes this law of the Spirit of Life to be active in us! I like the Message Bible:
1 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. 2 A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
As believers we should not lead sense-ruled lives! We really no longer have the right to do so! Remember 1 Corinthians 6:20 (Amplified):
20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then honor God and bring glory to him in your body.
Then we have this promise in Romans 8:11:
11 And if the Spirit of him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
The Message Bible says:
11 It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God Who raised Jesus from the dead moves 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!
AMEN! There are so many more promises to look at just in this one chapter, but we will finish with this one in verses 37-39:
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt ( I am sure) that neither death not life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now THAT is powerful! We HAVE the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible living in us. Fear and doubt should have NO PLACE! AMEN!
Here's another older song some of you will remember!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 79:8 is one of the reasons I love Word Studies so much! The KJV says:
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
The word "prevent" is the Hebrew word "qadam", which means: to meet, to confront, to go before, be before. That is a lot different than our usual perception of the word! The Amplified Bible says:
8 O do not [earnestly] remember against us the iniquities and guilt of our forefathers! Let Your compassion and tender mercy speedily come to meet us, for we are brought very low.
That is just one small example of why meditation in the Word is so very important!
Romans 7 addresses the Law in terms of the New Birth. Verses 9-10:
9 Once I was alive, but quite apart from and unconscious of the Law. But when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died (was sentenced by the Law to death). 10 And the very legal ordinance which was designed and intended to bring life actually proved [to mean to me] death.
Is that saying that the Law was bad? NO! Verses 11-12:
11 For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me. 12 The Law therefore is holy, and [each] commandment is holy and just and good.
The Law was needful to show what was RIGHT in the sight of God, so that we could recognize that we WERE NOT! Thank You, LORD, for exposing sin so that we can recognize it and receive the free Gift of our eternal Salvation through Jesus of Nazareth and His completed work from the Cross to His Resurrection! Hallelujah!
We begin Numbers today! I know that many believers do NOT like reading in Leviticus and Numbers because it SEEMS to be so tedious! BUT, actually, it is such a testimony to the love, care, precision and completeness of our wonderful God! He does NOTHING in a hit or miss, hodgepodge sort of way! EVERYTHING God has ever done has fit entirely into His plans and purposes! Meditate through Numbers with an expectation of learning something new every day and you will be blessed amazingly! I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Numbers 1
The second month of the second year, thirteen months after the Exodus, Israel had to start preparing for battle. If Genesis is the book of beginnings and Exodus the book of redemption, then Numbers is the book of warfare. The Jews were in enemy territory, marching toward the land God would help them conquer, and they had to organize for confrontation and conflict. The phrase "able to go forth to war" is used fourteen times in this chapter. If God were to number the believers in the church today according to their ability to wage spiritual warfare, we wonder how big the army would be.
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004).
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 79:8 is one of the reasons I love Word Studies so much! The KJV says:
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
The word "prevent" is the Hebrew word "qadam", which means: to meet, to confront, to go before, be before. That is a lot different than our usual perception of the word! The Amplified Bible says:
8 O do not [earnestly] remember against us the iniquities and guilt of our forefathers! Let Your compassion and tender mercy speedily come to meet us, for we are brought very low.
That is just one small example of why meditation in the Word is so very important!
Romans 7 addresses the Law in terms of the New Birth. Verses 9-10:
9 Once I was alive, but quite apart from and unconscious of the Law. But when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died (was sentenced by the Law to death). 10 And the very legal ordinance which was designed and intended to bring life actually proved [to mean to me] death.
Is that saying that the Law was bad? NO! Verses 11-12:
11 For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me. 12 The Law therefore is holy, and [each] commandment is holy and just and good.
The Law was needful to show what was RIGHT in the sight of God, so that we could recognize that we WERE NOT! Thank You, LORD, for exposing sin so that we can recognize it and receive the free Gift of our eternal Salvation through Jesus of Nazareth and His completed work from the Cross to His Resurrection! Hallelujah!
We begin Numbers today! I know that many believers do NOT like reading in Leviticus and Numbers because it SEEMS to be so tedious! BUT, actually, it is such a testimony to the love, care, precision and completeness of our wonderful God! He does NOTHING in a hit or miss, hodgepodge sort of way! EVERYTHING God has ever done has fit entirely into His plans and purposes! Meditate through Numbers with an expectation of learning something new every day and you will be blessed amazingly! I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Numbers 1
The second month of the second year, thirteen months after the Exodus, Israel had to start preparing for battle. If Genesis is the book of beginnings and Exodus the book of redemption, then Numbers is the book of warfare. The Jews were in enemy territory, marching toward the land God would help them conquer, and they had to organize for confrontation and conflict. The phrase "able to go forth to war" is used fourteen times in this chapter. If God were to number the believers in the church today according to their ability to wage spiritual warfare, we wonder how big the army would be.
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004).
I have never heard Numbers referred to as the Book of Warfare before, but it makes ABSOLUTE sense to me now! That's what serious Bible Study will do for you! Enjoy this fun little blast from the past! Ken Blount singing "I'm In The Lord's Army"!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 78 says this in the title:
A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Asaph.
Didactic means: Intended for instruction, teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson. Asaph's purpose in writing this was to remind the people of all of the instructions they had been given, how they had fallen into sin and rebellion, and what God's response had been. Over and over God did miraculous things for them, then, at the first sign of trouble, they would turn away from Him again! When the result of their disobedience brought them to their knees, they would call on Him again! Very revealing are verses 35-37:
35 And they [earnestly] remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouths and lied to Him with their tongues. 37 For their hearts were not right or sincere with Him, neither were they faithful and steadfast to His covenant.
They just couldn't keep themselves from falling into sin again and again and again! But God's response to them is very revealing also! Verses 38-39:
38 But He, full of [merciful] compassion, forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not; yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up all His wrath and indignation. 39 For He [earnestly] remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that goes and does not return.
I love that Leviticus 26-27 today cover the same thing! God was telling them what would happen if they didn't obey His instructions. We know they didn't. We also now know that He was true to His Word and everything He said would happen, DID happen! That gives us encouragement to trust Him and His Word for us today!
Romans also talks about habitually falling into sin. The ANSWER is found in Romans 6:23:
23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.
Don't think for a moment that YOU wouldn't have fallen into sin just like the Israelites! Just be continually thankful that you now belong to God's family and have the Spirit of God living IN you! Go to 1 John 1:9 the moment you sin so you can get right back in fellowship with Him! We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED! AMEN!
One of the results of Israel's continued rebellion against the LORD and his Word was that they would be removed from the land and dispersed throughout the earth. We know that this DID happen! But we also know that Leviticus 26:44-45 is true, for we have seen it with our very eyes in these days!
44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn and cast them away, neither will I despise and abhor them to destroy them utterly and to break My covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will for their sake [earnestly] remember the covenant with their forefathers whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.
Don't ever let anyone tell you that God is done with Israel and that the Church has replaced them. NEVER! We, the Church of Jesus Christ, have OUR place in God's eternal plan, and so does the nation of Israel! The instruction still stands to bless Israel, with the promise of being blessed ourselves! Those who curse Israel will also reap their just rewards, and it won't be pretty!
Father, we pray for the peace and prosperity, protection, provision and safety for the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem - in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth! AMEN! Here is a picture of GOD'S city!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 78 says this in the title:
A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Asaph.
Didactic means: Intended for instruction, teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson. Asaph's purpose in writing this was to remind the people of all of the instructions they had been given, how they had fallen into sin and rebellion, and what God's response had been. Over and over God did miraculous things for them, then, at the first sign of trouble, they would turn away from Him again! When the result of their disobedience brought them to their knees, they would call on Him again! Very revealing are verses 35-37:
35 And they [earnestly] remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouths and lied to Him with their tongues. 37 For their hearts were not right or sincere with Him, neither were they faithful and steadfast to His covenant.
They just couldn't keep themselves from falling into sin again and again and again! But God's response to them is very revealing also! Verses 38-39:
38 But He, full of [merciful] compassion, forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not; yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up all His wrath and indignation. 39 For He [earnestly] remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that goes and does not return.
I love that Leviticus 26-27 today cover the same thing! God was telling them what would happen if they didn't obey His instructions. We know they didn't. We also now know that He was true to His Word and everything He said would happen, DID happen! That gives us encouragement to trust Him and His Word for us today!
Romans also talks about habitually falling into sin. The ANSWER is found in Romans 6:23:
23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.
Don't think for a moment that YOU wouldn't have fallen into sin just like the Israelites! Just be continually thankful that you now belong to God's family and have the Spirit of God living IN you! Go to 1 John 1:9 the moment you sin so you can get right back in fellowship with Him! We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED! AMEN!
One of the results of Israel's continued rebellion against the LORD and his Word was that they would be removed from the land and dispersed throughout the earth. We know that this DID happen! But we also know that Leviticus 26:44-45 is true, for we have seen it with our very eyes in these days!
44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn and cast them away, neither will I despise and abhor them to destroy them utterly and to break My covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will for their sake [earnestly] remember the covenant with their forefathers whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.
Don't ever let anyone tell you that God is done with Israel and that the Church has replaced them. NEVER! We, the Church of Jesus Christ, have OUR place in God's eternal plan, and so does the nation of Israel! The instruction still stands to bless Israel, with the promise of being blessed ourselves! Those who curse Israel will also reap their just rewards, and it won't be pretty!
Father, we pray for the peace and prosperity, protection, provision and safety for the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem - in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth! AMEN! Here is a picture of GOD'S city!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, March 18, 2011
1 Kings 8:56)Has God
Shalom,
Psalm 77:1:
1 I WILL cry to God with my voice, even to God with my voice, and He will give ear and hearken to me.
We all know that tests, trials and temptations WILL come! There is no stopping them from coming. What we do WHEN they come will determine our deliverance! Doing what Asaph did in verse 1 is the perfect way to start! He went on to do verses 5-6:
5 I consider the days of old, the years of bygone times [of prosperity]. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; with my heart I meditate and my spirit searches diligently.
He remembered past victories, just like David did! He remembered songs of praise and worship. He meditated on the Word of God and then he searched for the answers God would bring. In the process of encouraging himself, Asaph asked himself 6 questions concerning the LORD.
- Will the LORD cast off forever? -- NO! (Lamentations 3:31-33)
- Will He be favorable no more? -- NO! (Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 60:10)
- Has His mercy ceased forever? -- NO! (Jeremiah 31:3)
- Have His promises ended for all time? -- NO! (1 Kings 8:56)
- Has he forgotten to be gracious? -- NO! (Isaiah 49:14-18)
- Has He in anger shut up His compassion? -- NO! (Lamentation 3:22-24)
12 I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in holiness, separated from the world!]. Who is a great God like our God? 14 You are the God Who does wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the peoples. 15 You have with Your [mighty] arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
NOW Asaph (AND you and me, IF we do this!) was in a position to stand in faith, fully expecting to see the salvation of God! THAT is how faith is supposed to operate! AMEN!
Romans 5 continues in this subject of faith and encouragement by reminding us that Christ died for us when we were still sinners. How much more will He do to deliver us now that we belong to Him! Verse 10:
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His [resurrection] life.
Remember that you now have the Spirit of Almighty God living in you and you CAN DO all things through HIM! (Philippians 4:13 - Amplified).
In Leviticus 24 the LORD instructed Moses about the oil that was to be used in the lamps of the golden lampstand. Verse 1-2:
1 AND THE LORD said to Moses, 2 Command the Israelites that they bring to you pure oil from beaten olives for the light [of the golden lampstand] to cause a lamp to burn continually.
When we were in Israel we saw the new lampstand, or Menorrah, that has been made to use in the Third Temple. Here is a picture:
We also saw an ancient olive crush and an olive press. Here are the pictures of those:
This is an ancient olive crush. There would be a beam of some sort put through the holes here and either people or animals would turn the wheel, crushing the olives into a pulp.
Then the pulp would be put here with the weight of the stones on it to remove the oil. The purest oil came after much pressing.
If at all possible, visit Israel! Your life and perception of the Word of God will never be the same!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Shalom,
The introduction to Psalm 76 says this:
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song.
"On stringed instruments" is the Hebrew word "negiynah" or "negiynath" and it means: instrumental music; a stringed instrument; a poem set to music; an epigram. An epigram is any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed. A short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought. Some examples of epigrams:
1 God is well-known in Judah;
in Israel, he's a household name.
2 He keeps a house in Salem,
his own suite of rooms in Zion.
3 That's where, using arrows for kindling,
he made a bonfire of weapons of war.
4 Oh, how bright you shine!
Outshining their huge piles of loot!
5 The warriors were plundered
and left there impotent.
And now there's nothing to them,
nothing to show for their swagger and threats.
6 Your sudden roar, God of Jacob,
knocked the wind out of horse and rider.
7 Fierce you are, and fearsome!
Who can stand up to your rising anger?
8 From heaven you thunder judgment;
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Shalom in Him!
The introduction to Psalm 76 says this:
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song.
"On stringed instruments" is the Hebrew word "negiynah" or "negiynath" and it means: instrumental music; a stringed instrument; a poem set to music; an epigram. An epigram is any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed. A short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought. Some examples of epigrams:
- "Thinking is often claimed but seldom proven" - T. Merrill
- "In peace sons bury their fathers, but in war fathers bury their sons" - Croesus
- "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details" - Albert Einstein
- "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts" - Albert Einstein
- "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
- "Plough deep while sluggards sleep" - Benjamin Franklin
- "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows" - Helen Keller
- "I may disagree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it" - Voltaire
- "The past is history, the future a mystery, and now is a gift. That's why we call it the present" - Anonymous
1 God is well-known in Judah;
in Israel, he's a household name.
2 He keeps a house in Salem,
his own suite of rooms in Zion.
3 That's where, using arrows for kindling,
he made a bonfire of weapons of war.
4 Oh, how bright you shine!
Outshining their huge piles of loot!
5 The warriors were plundered
and left there impotent.
And now there's nothing to them,
nothing to show for their swagger and threats.
6 Your sudden roar, God of Jacob,
knocked the wind out of horse and rider.
7 Fierce you are, and fearsome!
Who can stand up to your rising anger?
8 From heaven you thunder judgment;
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Don't you just LOVE learning something new about the Word of God? I do!
In the King James Version of the Bible, Romans 4:19-20 says:
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
This makes it sound like Abraham was so strong in faith that he didn't even notice his own body. Let's see what the Amplified Bible says:
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. 20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God
Do you notice the vital difference? The word "not" is not in the original text. The translators thought that they were helping the Word make more sense by saying that Abraham didn't even think about his own body. That is not even realistic! We all know how very loudly our bodies can speak! What Abraham DID do was deny his body the authority! No matter WHAT his body was telling him, or Sarah's, He chose God's Word above all else! The symptoms and negative situations will always show up. Denying them is not faith. Recognizing them for what they are and then refusing to give them place is faith and WILL produce, if we don't give up and quit! AMEN!
Here is an old song from Hillsong called Faith:
The lyrics are below:
I'm reaching for the prize.
I'm giving everything.
I give my life for this.
It's what I live for.
Nothing will keep me from.
All that you have for me.
You hold my head up high.
I live for you.
Greater is He that's living in me
Than he that is in the world.
Faith...I can move the mountain.
I can do all things through Christ, I know,
Faith...Standing and believing.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
I'm giving everything.
I give my life for this.
It's what I live for.
Nothing will keep me from.
All that you have for me.
You hold my head up high.
I live for you.
Greater is He that's living in me
Than he that is in the world.
Faith...I can move the mountain.
I can do all things through Christ, I know,
Faith...Standing and believing.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 75:2-3:
2 When the proper time has come [for executing My judgments], I will judge uprightly [says the LORD]. 3 When the earth totters, and all the inhabitants of it, it is I Who will poise and keep steady its pillars. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
"When the earth totters...". Have you heard what happened when the latest earthquake hit Japan? Quoting Joel Rosenberg's Blog:
JAPAN: The situation in Japan is horrific and deteriorating. With multiple nuclear reactors in various stages of meltdown, Japan is bracing for a potential radiation catastrophe. Meanwhile, news reports say thousands of people are still missing after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, “millions short of power and water” and “fear [is] everywhere.” The quake, one of the worst in recorded history, “shifted Japan coast about 13 feet” and “knocked the Earth 6.5 inches off its axis,”
And he also had this concerning other recent history in the headlines:
LAST WEEK: Deadly earthquake hits China’s southwest
LAST MONTH: Earthquake in New Zealand kills at least 75, hundreds still trapped under debris in Christchurch
FLASHBACK — FEBRUARY 2010: Multiple catastrophic earthquakes, war rumors echo “last days” prophecies
FLASHBACK — JANUARY 2010: Bible says Israel, world to face major earthquakes in “last days,” but experts say Israel not prepared
FLASHBACK — JANUARY 2010: Haiti earthquake, catastrophe of Biblical proportions
FLASHBACK — OCTOBER 2009: The earth is groaning (South Pacific tsunami)
Do you realize how very near is the Appearing of Jesus of Nazareth! The Word of God tells us that when these things BEGIN to come to pass, LOOK UP! Your REDEMPTION is drawing near! Buy up EVERY opportunity to tell as many people as you can about the HOPE that is within you!
In Romans 3:20 we find the purpose for the Law that was given to Moses:
20 For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin.
The purpose of the Law, which no man, only Jesus, could keep, is to show us that we are personal sinners. Personal sinners NEED a personal Saviour. Do we know One? JESUS! AMEN! If you have never received Jesus of Nazareth as LORD and personal Saviour, click on the link below and find out how to do so:
http://www.thespokenwordchurch.org/index.php/salvation
Spend some time looking around the rest of the site and you will see other tools for your spiritual growth! Service times are listed there and if you are NOT in our area, contact us to find out where you can find a good church in your area! You NEED a local church in order to grow up in the things of God. THAT is how the Sovereign God ordained it!
Leviticus reveals more of God's commands that reveal sin. Remember that Jesus said that He did NOT come into the world to do away with the Law, but to FULFILL it (Matthew 5:17)! The world can come up with all of the thoughts and ideas they want, but their thoughts and ideas DO NOT change God's Word! Leviticus 20:13 says:
13 If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable); they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 18:22 says:
22 You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Romans 1:27 says:
27 And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for on another - men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution.
It doesn't make any difference how many states vote to allow same-sex marriages, God DOES NOT! There is nothing wrong with men loving men or women loving women. David's heart was "knit" with Jonathan's! It is when the choice is made to get involved in a sexual manner that sin enters in! Do you see how the world has perverted God's Word! Stick to God's Word and you cannot fail! Listen to this song by Mercy Me called "Word of God Speak":
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 75:2-3:
2 When the proper time has come [for executing My judgments], I will judge uprightly [says the LORD]. 3 When the earth totters, and all the inhabitants of it, it is I Who will poise and keep steady its pillars. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
"When the earth totters...". Have you heard what happened when the latest earthquake hit Japan? Quoting Joel Rosenberg's Blog:
JAPAN: The situation in Japan is horrific and deteriorating. With multiple nuclear reactors in various stages of meltdown, Japan is bracing for a potential radiation catastrophe. Meanwhile, news reports say thousands of people are still missing after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, “millions short of power and water” and “fear [is] everywhere.” The quake, one of the worst in recorded history, “shifted Japan coast about 13 feet” and “knocked the Earth 6.5 inches off its axis,”
And he also had this concerning other recent history in the headlines:
Do you realize how very near is the Appearing of Jesus of Nazareth! The Word of God tells us that when these things BEGIN to come to pass, LOOK UP! Your REDEMPTION is drawing near! Buy up EVERY opportunity to tell as many people as you can about the HOPE that is within you!
In Romans 3:20 we find the purpose for the Law that was given to Moses:
20 For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin.
The purpose of the Law, which no man, only Jesus, could keep, is to show us that we are personal sinners. Personal sinners NEED a personal Saviour. Do we know One? JESUS! AMEN! If you have never received Jesus of Nazareth as LORD and personal Saviour, click on the link below and find out how to do so:
http://www.thespokenwordchurch.org/index.php/salvation
Spend some time looking around the rest of the site and you will see other tools for your spiritual growth! Service times are listed there and if you are NOT in our area, contact us to find out where you can find a good church in your area! You NEED a local church in order to grow up in the things of God. THAT is how the Sovereign God ordained it!
Leviticus reveals more of God's commands that reveal sin. Remember that Jesus said that He did NOT come into the world to do away with the Law, but to FULFILL it (Matthew 5:17)! The world can come up with all of the thoughts and ideas they want, but their thoughts and ideas DO NOT change God's Word! Leviticus 20:13 says:
13 If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable); they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 18:22 says:
22 You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Romans 1:27 says:
27 And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for on another - men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution.
It doesn't make any difference how many states vote to allow same-sex marriages, God DOES NOT! There is nothing wrong with men loving men or women loving women. David's heart was "knit" with Jonathan's! It is when the choice is made to get involved in a sexual manner that sin enters in! Do you see how the world has perverted God's Word! Stick to God's Word and you cannot fail! Listen to this song by Mercy Me called "Word of God Speak":
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 74 was written at the time of the destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians. It was a devastating time for the people of Israel, especially those who still served the LORD. Even though the prophets had been warning the people of this very thing for many years, they were shocked and horrified when it actually came to pass. The psalmist starts out by relaying to God all that is happening at the hands of the enemy, then begins to encourage himself in the LORD by speaking about the wonderful works of God! "Go thou and do likewise!" Speak the Word of God back to Him. He is waiting for you to do so!
With so much prophesied in the Word of God, we still see people taking so much for granted today! End time events are playing out right before our eyes! This is the most Scripturally significant time to be alive on earth since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth! Events all over the world are playing out EXACTLY as the Word of God says that they will! Time is running out to delight our LORD by adding to the Kingdom of God! Be about our Father's business and be instrumental in changing the eternal destinies of the people YOU come in contact with!
Romans 2:28-29:
28 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.
Did you realize that when YOU received Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Saviour, you also became a Jew? Not a natural Jew, but a supernatural one! Under the Old (Abrahamic) Covenant, physical circumcision was a sign that a person had accepted God's terms! Our circumcision cannot be seen with the natural eye. The "sign" of our acceptance of God's terms is the Holy Spirit Who recreated our spirits and lives in us as a continual Witness that we belong to God! Remember that the Old Covenant had many types and shadows that pointed toward the New Covenant that WE are living under. That should make YOUR study and meditation of the Word of God much more fruitful!
Leviticus 18:1-5:
1 AND THE LORD said to Moses, 2 Say to the Israelites, I Am the LORD God. 3 You shall not do as was done in the land of Egypt in which you dwelt, nor shall you do as is done in the land of Canaan to which I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes. 4 You shall do My ordinances and keep My statutes and walk in them. I Am the LORD your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. I Am the LORD.
God was establishing the Truth with His people that He had ordained them to be separated from the world! Why? Because He wanted to bless them and protect them and bring the Redeemer of all mankind through them! If we will look at the commands in the Word of God with THAT in mind, nothing His Word commands us to do will be that difficult to put into practice! THEY were the ones preparing for the Messiah to come. WE are the ones representing HIM here on earth! I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
We live in a sex-saturated society. It smiles at monogamous marriages, encourages abortion as a means of birth control, promotes and endorses kinky sex as a means of entertainment, claims that moral absolutes don't exist, and really believes that people can violate moral standards and escape the consequences. Fulton J. Sheen was right when he said, "The Victorians pretended sex did not exist; the moderns pretend that nothing else exists."
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 74 was written at the time of the destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians. It was a devastating time for the people of Israel, especially those who still served the LORD. Even though the prophets had been warning the people of this very thing for many years, they were shocked and horrified when it actually came to pass. The psalmist starts out by relaying to God all that is happening at the hands of the enemy, then begins to encourage himself in the LORD by speaking about the wonderful works of God! "Go thou and do likewise!" Speak the Word of God back to Him. He is waiting for you to do so!
With so much prophesied in the Word of God, we still see people taking so much for granted today! End time events are playing out right before our eyes! This is the most Scripturally significant time to be alive on earth since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth! Events all over the world are playing out EXACTLY as the Word of God says that they will! Time is running out to delight our LORD by adding to the Kingdom of God! Be about our Father's business and be instrumental in changing the eternal destinies of the people YOU come in contact with!
Romans 2:28-29:
28 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.
Did you realize that when YOU received Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Saviour, you also became a Jew? Not a natural Jew, but a supernatural one! Under the Old (Abrahamic) Covenant, physical circumcision was a sign that a person had accepted God's terms! Our circumcision cannot be seen with the natural eye. The "sign" of our acceptance of God's terms is the Holy Spirit Who recreated our spirits and lives in us as a continual Witness that we belong to God! Remember that the Old Covenant had many types and shadows that pointed toward the New Covenant that WE are living under. That should make YOUR study and meditation of the Word of God much more fruitful!
Leviticus 18:1-5:
1 AND THE LORD said to Moses, 2 Say to the Israelites, I Am the LORD God. 3 You shall not do as was done in the land of Egypt in which you dwelt, nor shall you do as is done in the land of Canaan to which I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes. 4 You shall do My ordinances and keep My statutes and walk in them. I Am the LORD your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. I Am the LORD.
God was establishing the Truth with His people that He had ordained them to be separated from the world! Why? Because He wanted to bless them and protect them and bring the Redeemer of all mankind through them! If we will look at the commands in the Word of God with THAT in mind, nothing His Word commands us to do will be that difficult to put into practice! THEY were the ones preparing for the Messiah to come. WE are the ones representing HIM here on earth! I read this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
We live in a sex-saturated society. It smiles at monogamous marriages, encourages abortion as a means of birth control, promotes and endorses kinky sex as a means of entertainment, claims that moral absolutes don't exist, and really believes that people can violate moral standards and escape the consequences. Fulton J. Sheen was right when he said, "The Victorians pretended sex did not exist; the moderns pretend that nothing else exists."
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 . All rights reserved.)
Even in Christian circles there is way too much emphasis put on discussing sexual subjects as preparation for marriage. The MOST important thing to be in complete agreement on when considering marriage is whether or not both people love the Lord their God with their ENTIRE being! If He is not first place NOTHING else will be as it should. If He IS, then He is fully capable of leading and guiding the couple in EVERY area of life! That will require a continual fellowship with Him day by day. Why would you want anything else?
Shalom in Him!
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