Shalom,
Psalm 91:16 is one of the rewards for staying in the "secret place" of God's presence! Remember that this is the place of God's protection, provision, and safety. This is where we are aware of His presence IN us! Jesus lived in His "secret place" continually! This was not the physical spot He would go to to pray, but the spot within Himself where He could communicate with God the Father. Verse 16:
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.
We understand long and life, but the word "satisfy" means more than we think! It is the Hebrew word "saba`", which means: to be sated, to be fulfilled, to be surfeited, to have in excess, to enrich. Sated means to satisfy to excess. Surfeited means an excessive amount. We cannot even imagine having such a fullness of life, but this is God's will for us here on this earth! As if that isn't enough, He also promises to show us HIS "salvation"! This is the Hebrew word "yeshuw`ah", which means: deliverance, welfare, victory, aid, prosperity, health, preservation from threatened or impending danger and suffering. We would fear nothing that could ever happen in this world and on this earth IF we would find our secret place of the Lord's presence, and LIVE there! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Salvation Is Here":
Luke 12:51 would be a real eye-opener to people if they understood what Jesus was saying! Verse 51:
51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;
The word "peace" here is the Greek word "eireenee", which means: a state of national tranquility; exemption from the rage and havoc of war; peace between individuals (harmony, concord). Jesus did NOT come for this purpose! He came to bring peace between God and man by offering Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for our sin! He did it! It is finished! What have YOU done with this most precious gift?
2 Chronicles 33 reveals more of the kings that "did evil in the sight of the LORD", while 2 Chronicles 34 shows us king Josiah, who "did right in the sight of the LORD". The results of each attitude is so very clear and plain that even a child should be able to understand! It is ALWAYS better to do things God's way! It doesn't really cost to serve God, it pays tremendous rewards, for us AND our children!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 90:9-10:
9 For all our days [out here in this wilderness, says Moses] pass away in Your wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told [for we adults know we are doomed to die soon, without reaching Canaan]. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten (seventy years) -- of even, if by reason of strength, fourscore years (eighty years); yet is their pride [in additional years] only labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away.
Many people have quoted the years in verse 10 to say that this is the life-span that God has decided for us. That is simply not true! This psalm is speaking of those who rejected the good report of Joshua and Caleb, AND the promise of the One, True God to deliver them, and refuse to go up and take the land! There are many promises in the Word of God concerning long life as a blessing for obedience! Find out what GOD has to say and then stand on it! Don't take the word of another person for anything. Check it out in the Word of God for yourself! You will be amazed and very blessed at all of the great promises (2 Peter 1:4) that are available to you! Verse 12 is a very wise prayer!
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.
"Number" here is the Hebrew word "manah", which means: to count, to assign, to appoint, to prepare. We are to make full use of each day so that we can fulfill God's plan for our lives! Prepare your schedule wisely, appoint, or schedule, things to do so that you don't forget to do them. Pray this prayer and expect God to lead you in how to schedule your day to get the most benefit, for your life AND for the Church! This is one of the ways of reaping a long and prosperous life (Proverbs 3:1-2).
Luke 11:1:
1 THEN HE (Jesus) was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, [just] as John taught his disciples.
If there was only one thing that the disciples knew for certain about Jesus the Nazarene, it was that He was most definitely a man of prayer! He was ALWAYS going off to pray. When they asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He could only teach them according to the Old Covenant because the new was not in force yet. He gave them NOT a specific prayer to pray, but a format to use when they approached God in prayer. They were to come first of all with praise, thanksgiving and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Then they were to make sure that their hearts were submitted to HIS will. They were to make their requests for needs; to give, ask for, and receive forgiveness for sin and wrongdoing, and then to have faith, trust and confidence that God would lead them in a good and right way! We can use that as our check list for prayer also. Jesus then proceeded to encourage them to persevere in prayer, not quitting or giving up. He also gave them some instructions that are the very key to New Covenant prayer, and they would have to remember this after His resurrection. Verse 13:
13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
Born again believers have the Holy Spirit living in us, but Jesus says here to ask for the Holy Spirit. We get born again by asking Jesus to be our Lord and personal Savior. He sends the Holy Spirit to make our spirits new! Then, AFTER we are born again, WE ask for the Holy Spirit! This is the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the anointing "with with power from on high" that we will see in Luke 24:49. In Acts 1:8 we see this:
8 But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus was speaking in both of these instances to born again believers! They were to EXPECT to receive more than they had already received! They did, and you can, too! Check out The Spoken Word Church website on the left of this blog and find out how! Contact us if you have any further questions! Here is "We The Redeemed" by Hillsong:
In 2 Kings 20-21 we see Hezekiah again. he had a real problem with pride! When he was told that he would die, Hezekiah called out to God. God delivered him and he was thankful for a time, but then pride rose up again when the Babylonians came to see him. Hezekiah basically bragged about all of his possessions to the king of Babylon and showed him everything he had in his kingdom. Babylon was NOT a friend! Another shortcoming of king Hezekiah was that he didn't teach and train his children as the Word of God says to do. His son Manasseh, and grandson Amon, who both succeeded him on the throne, "did evil in the sight of the LORD". Remember the promise from Proverbs 22:6:
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Hezekiah didn't and the people suffered! It is ALWAYS best to obey God's Word! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 90:9-10:
9 For all our days [out here in this wilderness, says Moses] pass away in Your wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told [for we adults know we are doomed to die soon, without reaching Canaan]. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten (seventy years) -- of even, if by reason of strength, fourscore years (eighty years); yet is their pride [in additional years] only labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away.
Many people have quoted the years in verse 10 to say that this is the life-span that God has decided for us. That is simply not true! This psalm is speaking of those who rejected the good report of Joshua and Caleb, AND the promise of the One, True God to deliver them, and refuse to go up and take the land! There are many promises in the Word of God concerning long life as a blessing for obedience! Find out what GOD has to say and then stand on it! Don't take the word of another person for anything. Check it out in the Word of God for yourself! You will be amazed and very blessed at all of the great promises (2 Peter 1:4) that are available to you! Verse 12 is a very wise prayer!
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.
"Number" here is the Hebrew word "manah", which means: to count, to assign, to appoint, to prepare. We are to make full use of each day so that we can fulfill God's plan for our lives! Prepare your schedule wisely, appoint, or schedule, things to do so that you don't forget to do them. Pray this prayer and expect God to lead you in how to schedule your day to get the most benefit, for your life AND for the Church! This is one of the ways of reaping a long and prosperous life (Proverbs 3:1-2).
Luke 11:1:
1 THEN HE (Jesus) was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, [just] as John taught his disciples.
If there was only one thing that the disciples knew for certain about Jesus the Nazarene, it was that He was most definitely a man of prayer! He was ALWAYS going off to pray. When they asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He could only teach them according to the Old Covenant because the new was not in force yet. He gave them NOT a specific prayer to pray, but a format to use when they approached God in prayer. They were to come first of all with praise, thanksgiving and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Then they were to make sure that their hearts were submitted to HIS will. They were to make their requests for needs; to give, ask for, and receive forgiveness for sin and wrongdoing, and then to have faith, trust and confidence that God would lead them in a good and right way! We can use that as our check list for prayer also. Jesus then proceeded to encourage them to persevere in prayer, not quitting or giving up. He also gave them some instructions that are the very key to New Covenant prayer, and they would have to remember this after His resurrection. Verse 13:
13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
Born again believers have the Holy Spirit living in us, but Jesus says here to ask for the Holy Spirit. We get born again by asking Jesus to be our Lord and personal Savior. He sends the Holy Spirit to make our spirits new! Then, AFTER we are born again, WE ask for the Holy Spirit! This is the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the anointing "with with power from on high" that we will see in Luke 24:49. In Acts 1:8 we see this:
8 But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus was speaking in both of these instances to born again believers! They were to EXPECT to receive more than they had already received! They did, and you can, too! Check out The Spoken Word Church website on the left of this blog and find out how! Contact us if you have any further questions! Here is "We The Redeemed" by Hillsong:
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Hezekiah didn't and the people suffered! It is ALWAYS best to obey God's Word! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 89:6-8:
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the mighty [heavenly beings] can be likened to the LORD, 7 A God greatly feared and revered in the council of the holy (angelic) ones, and to be feared and worshipfully revered above all those who are round about Him? 8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O LORD? And Your faithfulness is round about You [an essential part of You at all times].
This is the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible that we're speaking about here! The Ancient of Days! The great I AM! The Covenant making, and Covenant keeping God! The psalmist is reminding God of His covenant and then asking why it SEEMS like God is not keeping His covenant (verses 38-39). The answer is that God ALWAYS keeps His Covenants! The problem lies with the PEOPLE who don't keep their end of the Covenant! We have already read that God does NOT want sacrifices from us, but rather, He wants OBEDIENCE (1 Samuel 15:22)! When WE break our part of the Covenant, we cut ourselves off from the blessings and rewards of the Covenant! Who must make the adjustment then? ME! These people should have checked their own hearts and then changed their thinking to agree with GOD! If they had, they would not have had to endure things they went through! Instead of questioning God, we should be praising Him for Who He is! Verses 14-18 from the Message Bible:
14 The Right and Justice are the roots of Your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. 15 Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of GOD. 16 Delighted, they dance all day long; they know Who You are, what You do - they can't keep it quiet! 17 Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us - You've been so good to us! We're walking on air! 18 All we are and have we owe to GOD, Holy God of Israel, our King!
Now THAT is more like it! Practice THAT every day and EVERY day will be so much better for you!
Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Everyday"! (Click through to You Tube to see the lyrics:
I love that Jesus made this statement in Luke 10:21:
21 In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have concealed these thing [relating to salvation] from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes (the childish, unskilled and untaught). yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure.
Does that mean that God did not want the wise to know the Gospel? NO! What it means is that you do not need a degree in Biblical Theology to understand the Bible! In fact, such a degree has hindered very, very many people from truly understanding the simple, and powerful Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth! If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Savior, you have already received the Holy Spirit to live inside of you and HE is your teacher! He will make the Word of God real and easy to understand for you IF you continue in it faithfully, expecting HIM to teach you! This means that the "wise and learned" need to put aside all of their previous ideas and let the Holy Spirit lead them. They will be amazed at how very logical the Word of God really is! Our God is a God of sense and order! I LOVE that! Then we must always remember to pray what Jesus told us to pray for, everyday! Verse 2:
2 And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.
Pray this and at the same time be willing to say, "Here I am Lord, send me"!
The message of Micah 6-7 was for the nation of Israel to return to trusting in the LORD and none other! My favorite verses are Micah 7:7-8:
7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light to me.
When you realize that you have missed it, go immediately to 1 John 1:9. Confess your sins, failures and shortcomings. He is faithful and just to forgive you of those, and then to cleanse you from anything else that would hinder you from having close fellowship with Him! Spend time in His presence and in obedience to His Word. Then you will see the way out to victory and you WILL arise as more than a conqueror! The enemy HATES that, so don't believe the lies. He will stop at nothing to try to keep you from obeying God's Word, but YOU are in control of your choices! Choose wisely and choose LIFE! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 89:6-8:
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the mighty [heavenly beings] can be likened to the LORD, 7 A God greatly feared and revered in the council of the holy (angelic) ones, and to be feared and worshipfully revered above all those who are round about Him? 8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O LORD? And Your faithfulness is round about You [an essential part of You at all times].
This is the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible that we're speaking about here! The Ancient of Days! The great I AM! The Covenant making, and Covenant keeping God! The psalmist is reminding God of His covenant and then asking why it SEEMS like God is not keeping His covenant (verses 38-39). The answer is that God ALWAYS keeps His Covenants! The problem lies with the PEOPLE who don't keep their end of the Covenant! We have already read that God does NOT want sacrifices from us, but rather, He wants OBEDIENCE (1 Samuel 15:22)! When WE break our part of the Covenant, we cut ourselves off from the blessings and rewards of the Covenant! Who must make the adjustment then? ME! These people should have checked their own hearts and then changed their thinking to agree with GOD! If they had, they would not have had to endure things they went through! Instead of questioning God, we should be praising Him for Who He is! Verses 14-18 from the Message Bible:
14 The Right and Justice are the roots of Your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. 15 Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of GOD. 16 Delighted, they dance all day long; they know Who You are, what You do - they can't keep it quiet! 17 Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us - You've been so good to us! We're walking on air! 18 All we are and have we owe to GOD, Holy God of Israel, our King!
Now THAT is more like it! Practice THAT every day and EVERY day will be so much better for you!
Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Everyday"! (Click through to You Tube to see the lyrics:
I love that Jesus made this statement in Luke 10:21:
21 In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have concealed these thing [relating to salvation] from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes (the childish, unskilled and untaught). yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure.
Does that mean that God did not want the wise to know the Gospel? NO! What it means is that you do not need a degree in Biblical Theology to understand the Bible! In fact, such a degree has hindered very, very many people from truly understanding the simple, and powerful Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth! If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Savior, you have already received the Holy Spirit to live inside of you and HE is your teacher! He will make the Word of God real and easy to understand for you IF you continue in it faithfully, expecting HIM to teach you! This means that the "wise and learned" need to put aside all of their previous ideas and let the Holy Spirit lead them. They will be amazed at how very logical the Word of God really is! Our God is a God of sense and order! I LOVE that! Then we must always remember to pray what Jesus told us to pray for, everyday! Verse 2:
2 And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.
Pray this and at the same time be willing to say, "Here I am Lord, send me"!
The message of Micah 6-7 was for the nation of Israel to return to trusting in the LORD and none other! My favorite verses are Micah 7:7-8:
7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light to me.
When you realize that you have missed it, go immediately to 1 John 1:9. Confess your sins, failures and shortcomings. He is faithful and just to forgive you of those, and then to cleanse you from anything else that would hinder you from having close fellowship with Him! Spend time in His presence and in obedience to His Word. Then you will see the way out to victory and you WILL arise as more than a conqueror! The enemy HATES that, so don't believe the lies. He will stop at nothing to try to keep you from obeying God's Word, but YOU are in control of your choices! Choose wisely and choose LIFE! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 88:18:
18 Lover and friend have You put far from me; my familiar friends are darkness and the grave.
When we visited Israel last year we were taken to the ruins of the house of Caiaphas where Jesus was taken the night that He was betrayed and captured in the Garden of Gethsemane. I shared pictures before of the place where Jesus was held. He had a rope tied around His chest and was lowered through a small opening into a pit below. There were no windows or doors in this pit, which is why they would keep the prisoners tied until they were ready for questioning. Then they would raise them up out of the pit through that same small opening. Here is a picture of this:
Many commentaries say that Psalm 88 refers to Heman, others say it sounds like Job. Once you have seen this dungeon area, you realize that this was also speaking of Jesus! We were shown what the pit looks like from below and we listened to Pastor Bill Novak of The Spoken Word Church read Psalm 88. Here is a very amateur video of this! Remember that the darkness at the end is what Jesus experienced the entire time He was down there!
Thank YOU, Lord Jesus, for paying the ultimate price for ME! I am so grateful to have received YOU as my personal Saviour, and I desire for You to be LORD over ALL of my life! AMEN! If you have never received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, please visit our website at the left and find out how!
Luke 9:26:
26 Because whoever is ashamed of Me and My teachings, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when He comes in the [threefold] glory (the splendor and majesty) of Himself and of the Father and of the holy angels.
Jesus had just had the apostles return from their successful mission trip and had fed the 5,000 men, PLUS women and children, on 5 loaves of bread and three small fish. Why in the world would He have had to warn them about being ashamed of Him? Because He understood the tactics of the enemy! The enemy has one goal: to steal from , kill, and destroy God's people! Stay in the Divine protection of Almighty God, stand on His Word, and EXPECT to be delivered! AMEN!
Micah tells of the judgment of the LORD for the sins of the nation, but Micah 5:2 contains the promise of THE ONE Who is to come!
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).
That ONE is Jesus of Nazareth! He was God the Son. He became the Son of God and then the Saviour of the world! His "goings forth" were of old because He was often manifest in the earth as the Angel of the LORD (Remember the fiery furnace of Daniel?!!!). NOW He resides in Heaven with the Father and lives IN US, by the Holy Spirit! We are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 88:18:
18 Lover and friend have You put far from me; my familiar friends are darkness and the grave.
When we visited Israel last year we were taken to the ruins of the house of Caiaphas where Jesus was taken the night that He was betrayed and captured in the Garden of Gethsemane. I shared pictures before of the place where Jesus was held. He had a rope tied around His chest and was lowered through a small opening into a pit below. There were no windows or doors in this pit, which is why they would keep the prisoners tied until they were ready for questioning. Then they would raise them up out of the pit through that same small opening. Here is a picture of this:
This is the hole for lowering into the pit as seen from the top.
This is the hole as seen from inside the pit.
This is a painted picture portraying Jesus tied and lowered into the pit.
Thank YOU, Lord Jesus, for paying the ultimate price for ME! I am so grateful to have received YOU as my personal Saviour, and I desire for You to be LORD over ALL of my life! AMEN! If you have never received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, please visit our website at the left and find out how!
Luke 9:26:
26 Because whoever is ashamed of Me and My teachings, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when He comes in the [threefold] glory (the splendor and majesty) of Himself and of the Father and of the holy angels.
Jesus had just had the apostles return from their successful mission trip and had fed the 5,000 men, PLUS women and children, on 5 loaves of bread and three small fish. Why in the world would He have had to warn them about being ashamed of Him? Because He understood the tactics of the enemy! The enemy has one goal: to steal from , kill, and destroy God's people! Stay in the Divine protection of Almighty God, stand on His Word, and EXPECT to be delivered! AMEN!
Micah tells of the judgment of the LORD for the sins of the nation, but Micah 5:2 contains the promise of THE ONE Who is to come!
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).
That ONE is Jesus of Nazareth! He was God the Son. He became the Son of God and then the Saviour of the world! His "goings forth" were of old because He was often manifest in the earth as the Angel of the LORD (Remember the fiery furnace of Daniel?!!!). NOW He resides in Heaven with the Father and lives IN US, by the Holy Spirit! We are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 87:1-3:
1 ON THE holy hills stands the city [of Jerusalem and the temple] God founded. 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion [through which the crowds of pilgrims enter from all nations] more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel). 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]!
Here are some pictures of this area. Some are paintings or renderings of what we think they may have looked like:
He has already brought His people back to the land that HE gave to them! More Jewish people are returning to Israel all the time! This IS the time of the SIGNS! Are you watching them unfold with great excitement? This is THE most exciting time to be alive on earth! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! AMEN!
Shalom in Him
Psalm 87:1-3:
1 ON THE holy hills stands the city [of Jerusalem and the temple] God founded. 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion [through which the crowds of pilgrims enter from all nations] more than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel). 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]!
Here are some pictures of this area. Some are paintings or renderings of what we think they may have looked like:
The Zion Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem.
A painting of what it may have looked like as the pilgrims were coming into Jerusalem and the Temple!
A higher view of the Zion Gate looking over the wall.
A map of the city showing the gates. Soon and very soon Messiah will be placing His feet on these mountains and then that atrocity in the middle of the Temple Mount will be GONE!
In Luke 8 Jesus is teaching the Parable of the Sower. The word "hear" is mentioned in some form 9 times in the first 21 verses! How and what we hear (by choosing to listen!) affects every area of our lives. Romans 10:17 tells us that this is how we get faith, by hearing and hearing and hearing the Word of God. Prepare the "soil" of your heart by spending time in daily prayer, praise and worship and fellowship with HIM. Then, when you spend time in His Word, faith will come and faith will grow! When we act on that Word, by faith, we will have what the Word promises! That is exactly how God planned it to work!
Micah 1-2 cover the warnings that the prophet gives to the nation. He warns them that, because of their sin, God's wrath was coming, the cities shall be ruined, but, there was hope for the future if they repent! Micah 2:12-13:
12 I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely collect the remnant of Israel. I will bring them [Israel] together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture. They [the fold and the pasture] shall swarm with men and hum with much noise. 13 The Breaker [the Messiah] will go up before them. They will break through, pass in through the gate and go out through it, and their King will pass on before them, the LORD at their head.
He has already brought His people back to the land that HE gave to them! More Jewish people are returning to Israel all the time! This IS the time of the SIGNS! Are you watching them unfold with great excitement? This is THE most exciting time to be alive on earth! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! AMEN!
Shalom in Him
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 86:9- 13:
9 All nations whom You have made shall come and fall down before You, O LORD, and they shall glorify Your name.10 For You are great and work wonders! You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart [solely, reverently] to fear and honor Your Name. 12 I will confess and praise You, O Lord my God, with my whole (united) heart; I will glorify your Name forevermore. 13 For great is Your mercy and loving-kindness toward me; and You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol [from the exceeding depths of affliction].
The key for a born again believer to stay in close fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is to take time every day to remember Who He is, who you WERE, what He has done for you, who you are NOW because of HIM! That will maintain a grateful and thankful heart! We can take credit for NOTHING good in our lives, but we CAN take great confidence in what HE has done! Because of the new Covenant we have with Him, through the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, everything we have belongs to Him and everything He has belongs to us! Thank You, Jesus! Now let's live like it!
Two things really ministered to me in Luke 7 today. The first was something I read in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Compassion has been defined as "your pain in my heart." What pain our Lord must have felt as He ministered from place to place! In this chapter alone, Jesus is confronted with the miseries of a dying servant, a grieving widow,' a perplexed prophet, and a repentant sinner, and He helped them all. If a "hardship committee" had been asked to - decide which of these persons was "deserving," we wonder who would have been chosen.
My goal is to develop a heart like Jesus! I want to see people as Jesus sees them and saw them. Then I want to minster as He did! How about you? The second thing that really ministered to me is found in the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with the expensive ointment. Verses 44-48:
44 Then turning toward the woman, He (Jesus) said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not ceased [intermittently] to kiss My feet tenderly and caressingly. 46 You did not anoint My head with [cheap, ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with [costly, rare] perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her -- because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.
This story goes right along with what we looked at above! In order to maintain a grateful heart, like this woman evidently had, we MUST appreciate what our life was, and would still be, without HIM! Allow the thankfulness to rise up in YOU! Love Him MUCH, for we have all been forgiven very, very much! AMEN!
Hosea 13-14 give us a picture of what happens to those who do NOT remain thankful to Him and honor Him! Because the Tribe of Ephraim had turned to idol worship instead of worshiping the One, True God, He had to discipline them! Look at this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
"For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives" (Heb 12:6; Prov 3:11-12). Chastening isn't a judge inflicting punishment on a criminal in order to uphold the law. Rather, chastening is a loving parent disciplining his or her child in order to perfect his character and build his endurance. Punishment has to do with law, which is important, but chastening has to do with love, which is also important.
9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the LORD are right and the [uncompromisingly] just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall stumble and fall in them.
What should WE do, then? BE WISE! AMEN! We can start with Hillsong's "For All You've Done":
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 86:9- 13:
9 All nations whom You have made shall come and fall down before You, O LORD, and they shall glorify Your name.10 For You are great and work wonders! You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart [solely, reverently] to fear and honor Your Name. 12 I will confess and praise You, O Lord my God, with my whole (united) heart; I will glorify your Name forevermore. 13 For great is Your mercy and loving-kindness toward me; and You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol [from the exceeding depths of affliction].
The key for a born again believer to stay in close fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is to take time every day to remember Who He is, who you WERE, what He has done for you, who you are NOW because of HIM! That will maintain a grateful and thankful heart! We can take credit for NOTHING good in our lives, but we CAN take great confidence in what HE has done! Because of the new Covenant we have with Him, through the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, everything we have belongs to Him and everything He has belongs to us! Thank You, Jesus! Now let's live like it!
Two things really ministered to me in Luke 7 today. The first was something I read in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
COMPASSION IN ACTION
Jesus helped them all, because compassion does not measure: it ministers. Bernard of Clairvaux said, "Justice seeks out only the merits of the case, but pity only regards the need." It was compassion, not justice, that motivated the Great Physician who came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32).
My goal is to develop a heart like Jesus! I want to see people as Jesus sees them and saw them. Then I want to minster as He did! How about you? The second thing that really ministered to me is found in the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with the expensive ointment. Verses 44-48:
44 Then turning toward the woman, He (Jesus) said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not ceased [intermittently] to kiss My feet tenderly and caressingly. 46 You did not anoint My head with [cheap, ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with [costly, rare] perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her -- because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.
This story goes right along with what we looked at above! In order to maintain a grateful heart, like this woman evidently had, we MUST appreciate what our life was, and would still be, without HIM! Allow the thankfulness to rise up in YOU! Love Him MUCH, for we have all been forgiven very, very much! AMEN!
Hosea 13-14 give us a picture of what happens to those who do NOT remain thankful to Him and honor Him! Because the Tribe of Ephraim had turned to idol worship instead of worshiping the One, True God, He had to discipline them! Look at this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Hosea warns Ephraim what will happen and why in Hosea 13 and then God's plan to restore them in Hosea 14. Hosea 14:9:
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 85:8:
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.
"Listen" is the Hebrew word "shama`", which means: to hear with attention or interest, to understand, to give heed, to be obedient. That means that we will listen with the determined purpose that we will understand so that we can obey God's Word! THEN, God will speak "peace" to His people. This is the Hebrew word "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, prosperity, peace, safety, contentment. The Words that God speaks are Words that speak LIFE into us! That is "zoe"! Life as God has it in Himself! HE wants that for me AND YOU! Thank You, Jesus!
In Luke 6 we see the reaction that most of the scribes and Pharisees had to the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus was doing. We see how Jesus dealt with the man with the withered hand in verses 9-11:
9 Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good [so that someone derives advantage from it] or to do evil, to save a life [and make a soul safe] or to destroy it? 10 Then He glanced around them all and said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he did so, and his hand was fully restored like the other one. 11 But they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage and discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus.
They SHOULD have been delighted that Jesus was showing forth the wonderful works of God! BUT, they had no understanding of God's Word! They were easy prey for the enemy and he pushed them into "senseless rage" over it! They were out of their minds with anger and jealousy! Realize that those who persecute you for your faith have no hope of understanding the Word of God in their present lost condition. It takes a reborn spirit to know and understand the Word (1 Corinthians 2:13).
Luke 6:12-13:
12 Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers)
Do YOU think that choosing those you will allow to be close to you is a very important decision? Jesus did! He spent ALL NIGHT in prayer over this decision! How much time do YOU spend in prayer when YOU have an important decision to make? If JESUS thought it was necessary to do this, how much MORE do WE need to?! He will take situations in our lives just as seriously as we do! Give Him something to work with! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with Desert Song:
Hosea is reminding Israel of their past with God so that they can remember and repent! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
At least fourteen times in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses used the word remember. Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell address to the new generation of Israelites as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. But why would Moses ask these young people to look back when they were getting ready to move forward? Because a correct under-standing of God's dealings in the past is the best way to be certain of success in the future. Philosopher George Santayana expressed this truth succinctly: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it."
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 85:8:
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.
"Listen" is the Hebrew word "shama`", which means: to hear with attention or interest, to understand, to give heed, to be obedient. That means that we will listen with the determined purpose that we will understand so that we can obey God's Word! THEN, God will speak "peace" to His people. This is the Hebrew word "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, prosperity, peace, safety, contentment. The Words that God speaks are Words that speak LIFE into us! That is "zoe"! Life as God has it in Himself! HE wants that for me AND YOU! Thank You, Jesus!
In Luke 6 we see the reaction that most of the scribes and Pharisees had to the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus was doing. We see how Jesus dealt with the man with the withered hand in verses 9-11:
9 Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good [so that someone derives advantage from it] or to do evil, to save a life [and make a soul safe] or to destroy it? 10 Then He glanced around them all and said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he did so, and his hand was fully restored like the other one. 11 But they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage and discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus.
They SHOULD have been delighted that Jesus was showing forth the wonderful works of God! BUT, they had no understanding of God's Word! They were easy prey for the enemy and he pushed them into "senseless rage" over it! They were out of their minds with anger and jealousy! Realize that those who persecute you for your faith have no hope of understanding the Word of God in their present lost condition. It takes a reborn spirit to know and understand the Word (1 Corinthians 2:13).
Luke 6:12-13:
12 Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers)
Do YOU think that choosing those you will allow to be close to you is a very important decision? Jesus did! He spent ALL NIGHT in prayer over this decision! How much time do YOU spend in prayer when YOU have an important decision to make? If JESUS thought it was necessary to do this, how much MORE do WE need to?! He will take situations in our lives just as seriously as we do! Give Him something to work with! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with Desert Song:
Hosea is reminding Israel of their past with God so that they can remember and repent! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Parents, make sure that YOUR children continue to hear the Word of God in your home. When you do, you give the Holy Spirit something to bring back to their remembrance when they face serious circumstances! Remember the past victories, remember the Word of God, then remember to give GOD all the praise, honor, and thanksgiving for all good things! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 84:1-2:
1 HOW lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.
Being in the presence of the LORD is the most wonderful part of being a believer! Now WE are the tabernacle, the house, of the LORD! He lives IN us! Do you agree with verse 10?
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
What a blessing it is to BE the house of the LORD! Here are the "Sons of Korah" with Psalm 84:
Luke 5 begins with Jesus preaching by the Sea of Galilee (Lake Gennesaret or Lake Tiberias). Here are some pictures of the lake from our trip to Israel:
Israel is such a beautiful land! Most of the events recorded in the Bible take place right there! I would encourage everyone to make it your goal to visit! Luke 5:12-13 should forever settle the question of whether or not health and healing is the will of God for us:
12 While He (Jesus) was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean. 13 And [Jesus] reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy him.
There you have it, right from the mouth of Jesus Himself! "I AM WILLING!" If Jesus is willing to heal ONE, He is willing to heal ALL, for He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)! Don't EVER pray "if it be Thy will" concerning healing again! In fact, you should find out what the will of God is for every situation so that you can have confidence asking (1 John 5:14-15), knowing that you HAVE the answer! AMEN!
Hosea continues to admonish Israel for their sins by the Spirit of God. Hosea 10:12 is very appropriate for today in Israel!
12 Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.
It is near time for all of Israel to finally meet their Messiah! Pray for the people, that they will see Him NOW! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 84:1-2:
1 HOW lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.
Being in the presence of the LORD is the most wonderful part of being a believer! Now WE are the tabernacle, the house, of the LORD! He lives IN us! Do you agree with verse 10?
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
What a blessing it is to BE the house of the LORD! Here are the "Sons of Korah" with Psalm 84:
Luke 5 begins with Jesus preaching by the Sea of Galilee (Lake Gennesaret or Lake Tiberias). Here are some pictures of the lake from our trip to Israel:
Israel is such a beautiful land! Most of the events recorded in the Bible take place right there! I would encourage everyone to make it your goal to visit! Luke 5:12-13 should forever settle the question of whether or not health and healing is the will of God for us:
12 While He (Jesus) was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean. 13 And [Jesus] reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy him.
There you have it, right from the mouth of Jesus Himself! "I AM WILLING!" If Jesus is willing to heal ONE, He is willing to heal ALL, for He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)! Don't EVER pray "if it be Thy will" concerning healing again! In fact, you should find out what the will of God is for every situation so that you can have confidence asking (1 John 5:14-15), knowing that you HAVE the answer! AMEN!
Hosea continues to admonish Israel for their sins by the Spirit of God. Hosea 10:12 is very appropriate for today in Israel!
12 Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.
It is near time for all of Israel to finally meet their Messiah! Pray for the people, that they will see Him NOW! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 83 is very appropriate for our times. I especially like it in the Message Bible:
1 GOD, don't shut me out; don't give me the silent treatment, O God. 2 Your enemies are out there whooping it up, the God-haters are living it up; 3 They're plotting to do Your people in, conspiring to rob You of Your precious ones. 4 "Let's wipe this nation from the face of the earth," they say; "scratch Israel's name off the books." 5 And now they're putting their heads together, making plans to get rid of You.
There are currently several Arab/Muslim nations that are threatening to wipe Israel from the face of the earth! They will NOT succeed! God has made certain promises to the nation of Israel, and He KEEPS His promises! The psalmist is calling on God to deal with the enemy nations in verses 9-17. Verse 18 is the desired result of all that he is asking God for:
18 Then they'll learn Your Name: "GOD", the One and only High God on earth.
Remember, always, that God desires that NONE should perish (2 Peter 3:9)! We should desire the same thing! AMEN! Here is "Shalom, Jerusalem" by Paul Wilbur:
Although Luke 4 is all about the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, I want to look at something that directly affects you and me! We read that after Jesus was baptized, He was led into the desert (wilderness) by the Holy Spirit, where He was tempted by the devil. After Jesus met every temptation with the Word of God, this was said about the devil in verse 13:
13 And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that it, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.
Realize that after every victory you have over the enemy, he is merely standing off to the side, waiting for a more opportune time to hit you again! Be prepared! THIS is also true of you and your situation: verse 14a:
14a Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the Holy Spirit....
Keep yourself filled with the Holy Spirit every day and you, too, will be able to withstand and quench every fiery dart of the enemy! AND, you can say, with Jesus, verses 18-19:
18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].
The Spirit of the Lord IS on YOU, also(1 John 2:20)! Now let's show HIM off to the world!
In Hosea 6-7 we see what appears to be repentance on the part of the nation of Israel. Hosea 6:1-2:
1 COME AND let us return to the LORD, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him.
They were caught in their sin and rebellion and were reaping the results of their disobedience. They didn't like it and decided to call out to God so that He could make everything right again. They wanted a two-three day "quick-fix"! But God knew their hearts! He says this in Hosea 7:14:
14 They do not cry to Me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; they gash and distress and assemble themselves [in mourning] for grain and new wine; they rebel against Me.
What was God saying here? He was saying that they cried out NOT from a true repentance (changing your thinking to agree with God) but because of the "things" they wanted from Him! What does God truly desire to receive from us? Hosea 6:6:
6 For I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings.
He wants YOUR love and desire to know Him, also! Make Philippians 3:10 YOUR prayer and determined purpose today!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 83 is very appropriate for our times. I especially like it in the Message Bible:
1 GOD, don't shut me out; don't give me the silent treatment, O God. 2 Your enemies are out there whooping it up, the God-haters are living it up; 3 They're plotting to do Your people in, conspiring to rob You of Your precious ones. 4 "Let's wipe this nation from the face of the earth," they say; "scratch Israel's name off the books." 5 And now they're putting their heads together, making plans to get rid of You.
There are currently several Arab/Muslim nations that are threatening to wipe Israel from the face of the earth! They will NOT succeed! God has made certain promises to the nation of Israel, and He KEEPS His promises! The psalmist is calling on God to deal with the enemy nations in verses 9-17. Verse 18 is the desired result of all that he is asking God for:
18 Then they'll learn Your Name: "GOD", the One and only High God on earth.
Remember, always, that God desires that NONE should perish (2 Peter 3:9)! We should desire the same thing! AMEN! Here is "Shalom, Jerusalem" by Paul Wilbur:
Although Luke 4 is all about the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, I want to look at something that directly affects you and me! We read that after Jesus was baptized, He was led into the desert (wilderness) by the Holy Spirit, where He was tempted by the devil. After Jesus met every temptation with the Word of God, this was said about the devil in verse 13:
13 And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that it, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.
Realize that after every victory you have over the enemy, he is merely standing off to the side, waiting for a more opportune time to hit you again! Be prepared! THIS is also true of you and your situation: verse 14a:
14a Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the Holy Spirit....
Keep yourself filled with the Holy Spirit every day and you, too, will be able to withstand and quench every fiery dart of the enemy! AND, you can say, with Jesus, verses 18-19:
18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].
The Spirit of the Lord IS on YOU, also(1 John 2:20)! Now let's show HIM off to the world!
In Hosea 6-7 we see what appears to be repentance on the part of the nation of Israel. Hosea 6:1-2:
1 COME AND let us return to the LORD, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him.
They were caught in their sin and rebellion and were reaping the results of their disobedience. They didn't like it and decided to call out to God so that He could make everything right again. They wanted a two-three day "quick-fix"! But God knew their hearts! He says this in Hosea 7:14:
14 They do not cry to Me from their heart, but they wail upon their beds; they gash and distress and assemble themselves [in mourning] for grain and new wine; they rebel against Me.
What was God saying here? He was saying that they cried out NOT from a true repentance (changing your thinking to agree with God) but because of the "things" they wanted from Him! What does God truly desire to receive from us? Hosea 6:6:
6 For I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings.
He wants YOUR love and desire to know Him, also! Make Philippians 3:10 YOUR prayer and determined purpose today!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 82:1-2:
1 GOD STANDS in the assembly [of the representatives] of God; in the midst of the magistrates or judges He gives judgment [as] among the gods. 2 How long will you [magistrates or judges] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
God sees and knows what is happening in the nations of the earth! He holds men responsible for the choices that they make! The judges are supposed to ensure that EVERYONE gets fair treatment! Verses 3-4:
3 Do justice to the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked.
This is the responsibility of those whom GOD has put in positions of authority! It does not always happen this way, so verse 5 is what has taken place on the earth!
5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.
I really like the Message Bible for these verses:
1 God calls the judges into His courtroom, He puts all the judges in the dock. 2 "Enough! You've corrupted justice long enough, you've let the wicked get away with murder. 3 You're here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that the underdogs get a fair break; 4 Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them." 5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges! They haven't a clue to what's going on. And now everything's falling apart, the world's coming unglued. 6 "I commissioned you judges, each one of you, deputies of the High God, 7 But you've betrayed your commission and now you're stripped of your rank, busted."
Then verse 8:
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to You belong all the nations.
And He is about to do just that! Make sure that YOU are on God's side!
In Luke 3 we see Jesus revealed as the Son of God! Did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte said this about Jesus: "If Socrates would enter the room, we should rise and do him honor. But if Jesus Christ came into the room, we should fall down on our knees and worship Him." AMEN! John revealed that the One to come was mightier than he was! Verse 16:
16 John answered them all saying, I baptize you with water; But He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Do you realize how unusual it was for these Jewish people to be coming to John for baptism? Baptism is not a part of Judaism at all! This was something completely new to them! John was baptizing them as a witness of their repentance from sin and a looking toward the Messiah! Jesus was further revealed as the Son of God by the Father and the Holy Spirit in verses 21-22:
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened 22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!
God the Son came to earth as the Son of God to give His life for the eternal salvation of all mankind. Only those who accept and receive Him are saved and become members of the family of Almighty God! Have you? If not, use the link at the left to go to The Spoken Word Church website and find out how, Then let us know about your decision! We would love to hear from you!
Hosea 4:1-2 certainly describes the world of our day!
1 HEAR THE Word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy (a pleading contention) with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, love, pity, and mercy, or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land. 2 There is nothing but [false] swearing and breaking faith and killing and stealing and committing adultery; they break out [into violence], one [deed] of bloodshed following close on another.
Unbelievers will soon find out that God is God! We, as believers in Jesus of Nazareth, are to be about our Father's business! We are here to preach the Gospel and to be a living witness of the goodness and glory of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Verse 6 tells us that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and that it is because they have rejected knowledge. That word "destroyed" can be translated: dumb, silenced, brought to silence. Without a working knowledge of the Word of God, we cannot preach the Gospel! Find out what God's Word says and then preach it! We are ALL called to the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)! Telling the world that God has already reconciled them to Himself through the precious blood of Jesus! Now all they need to do is receive! Hallelujah! God is SO good! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Mighty To Save":
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 82:1-2:
1 GOD STANDS in the assembly [of the representatives] of God; in the midst of the magistrates or judges He gives judgment [as] among the gods. 2 How long will you [magistrates or judges] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
God sees and knows what is happening in the nations of the earth! He holds men responsible for the choices that they make! The judges are supposed to ensure that EVERYONE gets fair treatment! Verses 3-4:
3 Do justice to the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked.
This is the responsibility of those whom GOD has put in positions of authority! It does not always happen this way, so verse 5 is what has taken place on the earth!
5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.
I really like the Message Bible for these verses:
1 God calls the judges into His courtroom, He puts all the judges in the dock. 2 "Enough! You've corrupted justice long enough, you've let the wicked get away with murder. 3 You're here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that the underdogs get a fair break; 4 Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them." 5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges! They haven't a clue to what's going on. And now everything's falling apart, the world's coming unglued. 6 "I commissioned you judges, each one of you, deputies of the High God, 7 But you've betrayed your commission and now you're stripped of your rank, busted."
Then verse 8:
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to You belong all the nations.
And He is about to do just that! Make sure that YOU are on God's side!
In Luke 3 we see Jesus revealed as the Son of God! Did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte said this about Jesus: "If Socrates would enter the room, we should rise and do him honor. But if Jesus Christ came into the room, we should fall down on our knees and worship Him." AMEN! John revealed that the One to come was mightier than he was! Verse 16:
16 John answered them all saying, I baptize you with water; But He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Do you realize how unusual it was for these Jewish people to be coming to John for baptism? Baptism is not a part of Judaism at all! This was something completely new to them! John was baptizing them as a witness of their repentance from sin and a looking toward the Messiah! Jesus was further revealed as the Son of God by the Father and the Holy Spirit in verses 21-22:
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened 22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!
God the Son came to earth as the Son of God to give His life for the eternal salvation of all mankind. Only those who accept and receive Him are saved and become members of the family of Almighty God! Have you? If not, use the link at the left to go to The Spoken Word Church website and find out how, Then let us know about your decision! We would love to hear from you!
Hosea 4:1-2 certainly describes the world of our day!
1 HEAR THE Word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy (a pleading contention) with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, love, pity, and mercy, or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land. 2 There is nothing but [false] swearing and breaking faith and killing and stealing and committing adultery; they break out [into violence], one [deed] of bloodshed following close on another.
Unbelievers will soon find out that God is God! We, as believers in Jesus of Nazareth, are to be about our Father's business! We are here to preach the Gospel and to be a living witness of the goodness and glory of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Verse 6 tells us that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and that it is because they have rejected knowledge. That word "destroyed" can be translated: dumb, silenced, brought to silence. Without a working knowledge of the Word of God, we cannot preach the Gospel! Find out what God's Word says and then preach it! We are ALL called to the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)! Telling the world that God has already reconciled them to Himself through the precious blood of Jesus! Now all they need to do is receive! Hallelujah! God is SO good! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Mighty To Save":
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 81:13-16:
13 Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! 14 Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. 15 [Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then] those who hated the LORD would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever. 16 [God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you.
Much of what Israel has gone through over the years is a result of the rebellion of the people against God's Word and His Ways. Over and over we have read in the Old Testament of the warnings given by the prophets that went unheeded by the people. They CHOSE disobedience, even knowing the consequences of those actions! They gave their hearts and lives over to idol worship instead of worship of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. The idols never did anything for them and the One, True God ALWAYS did, when they turned back to Him! Why did they keep falling into the same sin? Because their minds were blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). If the people of Israel had listened and obeyed from the beginning, they would never have been persecuted all of these years (verse 15 above)! Make the choice to not allow YOUR mind to be blinded to the Word of God! Make fellowship with HIM your #1 priority in every day! Then YOU will NOT be blinded! You will be able to see and hear clearly and walk in the fullness of God's BLESSING! That's what I choose! How about you?
We read again about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Luke 2 today. I thought this was interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament:
When Mary said "Be it unto me according to Thy word" (Luke 1:38), it meant that from then on, her life would be a part of the fulfillment of divine prophecy. God had promised that the Saviour would be a human, not an angel (Gen 3:15; Heb 2:16), and a Jew, not a Gentile (Gen 12:1-3; Num 24:17). He would be from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), and the family of David (2 Sam 7:1-17), born of a virgin (Isa 7:14) in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic 5:2).
All of the prophecies in the Word of God concerning the Jewish Messiah find fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth! Including this one, from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Bethlehem means "house of bread", the ideal birthplace for the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
I love the way that everything just fits right together as you gain understanding of the Word of God! He IS a God of order, and He has ordered EVERYTHING concerning our Salvation just as He desired! I hope YOU have taken advantage of the God's free gift of Eternal Life through Jesus of Nazareth! Here is Lamb singing "You Are Our Salvation":
19 And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20 I will eve betroth you to Me in stability and in faithfulness, and you shall know (recognize, be acquainted with , appreciate, give heed to, and cherish) the LORD. 21 And in that day I will respond, says the LORD; I will respond to the heavens [which ask for rain to pour on the earth], and they shall respond to the earth [which begs foe the rain it needs], 22 And the earth shall respond to the grain and the wine and the oil [which beseech it to bring them forth], and these shall respond to Jezreel [restored Israel, who prays for a supply of them]. 23 And I will sow her for Myself anew in the land, and I will have love, pity, and mercy; and I will say to those who were not My people, You are My people, and they shall say, You are my God!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 81:13-16:
13 Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! 14 Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. 15 [Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then] those who hated the LORD would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever. 16 [God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you.
Much of what Israel has gone through over the years is a result of the rebellion of the people against God's Word and His Ways. Over and over we have read in the Old Testament of the warnings given by the prophets that went unheeded by the people. They CHOSE disobedience, even knowing the consequences of those actions! They gave their hearts and lives over to idol worship instead of worship of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. The idols never did anything for them and the One, True God ALWAYS did, when they turned back to Him! Why did they keep falling into the same sin? Because their minds were blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). If the people of Israel had listened and obeyed from the beginning, they would never have been persecuted all of these years (verse 15 above)! Make the choice to not allow YOUR mind to be blinded to the Word of God! Make fellowship with HIM your #1 priority in every day! Then YOU will NOT be blinded! You will be able to see and hear clearly and walk in the fullness of God's BLESSING! That's what I choose! How about you?
We read again about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Luke 2 today. I thought this was interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament:
When Mary said "Be it unto me according to Thy word" (Luke 1:38), it meant that from then on, her life would be a part of the fulfillment of divine prophecy. God had promised that the Saviour would be a human, not an angel (Gen 3:15; Heb 2:16), and a Jew, not a Gentile (Gen 12:1-3; Num 24:17). He would be from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), and the family of David (2 Sam 7:1-17), born of a virgin (Isa 7:14) in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic 5:2).
Bethlehem means "house of bread", the ideal birthplace for the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
Hosea 2:19-23 is one of God's many promises to the nation of Israel:
God has NOT EVER given up on Israel! Everything that He has done concerning this nation has been to get them into position to receive His richest and best! He used them to bring Salvation Himself to us! Hallelujah! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel (the people and the land) and the city of Jerusalem (its eternal capital)!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 80:8-11 again reveals the Source and scope of the nation of Israel according to GOD'S WORD!
8 You brought a vine [Israel] out of Egypt; You drove out the [heathen] nations and planted it [in Canaan]. 9 You prepared room before it, and it took deep root and it filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs of it were like the great cedars [cedars of God]. 11 [Israel] sent out its boughs to the Mediterranean] Sea and its branches to the [Euphrates] River.
The One, True, God HIMSELF appointed the land for the nation of Israel! He brought them out of Egypt, lead them (after 40 years of discipline!) to the land, ordered the removal of all of the heathen (those who refused the One, True God), and established them FOREVER! He removed the Israelites from the land when their sin and rebellion threatened to overrun the entire nation and the land. He has been in the process of bringing them ALL back to the land since HE re-established the nation in 1948! I don't care who CLAIMS to own the land, my Bible says that the earth and ALL of its fullness belong to HIM (Psalms 24:1; 50:12; 89:11; 1 Corinthians 10:26 & 28)! If HE wants to designate a certain area for a certain people, HE has every right to do it! How dare ANYONE to claim otherwise? Join with the One, True God in calling the nation ISRAEL and its capital JERUSALEM! AMEN! Also, join in praying verse 19 with and for Israel:
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine [in pleasure, approval, and favor on us], and we shall be saved!
Here are some interesting images of Israel and Jerusalem:
We begin Luke today and I wanted to share this from the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament.
If ever a man wrote a book filled with good news for everybody, Dr. Luke is that man. His key message is, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). He presents Jesus Christ as the compassionate Son of man, who came to live among sinners, love them, help them, and die for them.
In this Gospel you meet individuals as well as crowds, women and children as well as men, poor people as well as rich people, and sinners along with saints. It's a book with a message for everybody, because Luke's emphasis is on the universality of Jesus Christ and His salvation: "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10).
Dr. Luke is named only three times in the New Testament: in Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; and Philem 24. He wrote Acts (compare Luke 1:1-4 with Acts 1:1) and traveled with Paul (note the "we" sections in Acts 16:10-17; 20:4-15; 21:1-18, and 27:1-28:16). He was probably a Gentile (compare Col 4:11 and 14) and was trained as a physician. No wonder he began his book with detailed accounts of the births of two important babies! No wonder he emphasized Christ's sympathy (my change - compassion) for hurting people! He wrote with the mind of a careful historian and with the heart of a loving physician.
Isn't that a great background for this Gospel? The phrase "from the very first" in verse 3 is actually the Greek word "anothen", which can be translated: from above. Luke was indeed the writer of this Gospel, but the Holy Spirit was the Author! If we pay attention, the Author, Who lives IN us, will make the Word come alive and give us increased understanding, so that we can be in the best possible position to walk daily in the Blessing of God! Verse 4:
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.
We learn from this account that there were messages delivered by the angel Gabriel to two different people. They each had a different response: Zachariah questioned how it could be possible, while Mary asked how it would be done! God is NOT against questions, He is against unbelief! Stay in the Word and you will stay in faith and be pleasing to God!
2 Chronicles 31-32 tell of the good and godly things done by king Hezekiah. He had the people cleanse the land from all of the tools of idol worship. He called for the people to resume paying tithes and giving offerings. The people obeyed to such a great extent that what they brought in had to be laid in "heaps" Hezekiah did other good things in keeping with the Word of God and this was said of him in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21:
20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah, and he did what was good, right, and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 And every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in keeping with the law and the commandments to seek his God [inquiring of and yearning for Him], he did with all his heart, and he prospered.
What is the Scriptural key to Divine prosperity in every area of life? Find out what God wants done and DO it - HIS WAY! 3 John 2:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
Your soul (mind, emotions, and will) prospers when you feed on the Word of God. Then you can do things HIS WAY, and the rest will follow!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 80:8-11 again reveals the Source and scope of the nation of Israel according to GOD'S WORD!
8 You brought a vine [Israel] out of Egypt; You drove out the [heathen] nations and planted it [in Canaan]. 9 You prepared room before it, and it took deep root and it filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs of it were like the great cedars [cedars of God]. 11 [Israel] sent out its boughs to the Mediterranean] Sea and its branches to the [Euphrates] River.
The One, True, God HIMSELF appointed the land for the nation of Israel! He brought them out of Egypt, lead them (after 40 years of discipline!) to the land, ordered the removal of all of the heathen (those who refused the One, True God), and established them FOREVER! He removed the Israelites from the land when their sin and rebellion threatened to overrun the entire nation and the land. He has been in the process of bringing them ALL back to the land since HE re-established the nation in 1948! I don't care who CLAIMS to own the land, my Bible says that the earth and ALL of its fullness belong to HIM (Psalms 24:1; 50:12; 89:11; 1 Corinthians 10:26 & 28)! If HE wants to designate a certain area for a certain people, HE has every right to do it! How dare ANYONE to claim otherwise? Join with the One, True God in calling the nation ISRAEL and its capital JERUSALEM! AMEN! Also, join in praying verse 19 with and for Israel:
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine [in pleasure, approval, and favor on us], and we shall be saved!
Here are some interesting images of Israel and Jerusalem:
The borders of Israel according to the Bible.
Another look at Biblical Israel.
The city of Jerusalem.
The Western Wall. Jerusalem has NEVER been the capital of any other nation. Only ISRAEL!
We continue to pray for peace and prosperity!
We begin Luke today and I wanted to share this from the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament.
In this Gospel you meet individuals as well as crowds, women and children as well as men, poor people as well as rich people, and sinners along with saints. It's a book with a message for everybody, because Luke's emphasis is on the universality of Jesus Christ and His salvation: "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10).
Dr. Luke is named only three times in the New Testament: in Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; and Philem 24. He wrote Acts (compare Luke 1:1-4 with Acts 1:1) and traveled with Paul (note the "we" sections in Acts 16:10-17; 20:4-15; 21:1-18, and 27:1-28:16). He was probably a Gentile (compare Col 4:11 and 14) and was trained as a physician. No wonder he began his book with detailed accounts of the births of two important babies! No wonder he emphasized Christ's sympathy (my change - compassion) for hurting people! He wrote with the mind of a careful historian and with the heart of a loving physician.
Isn't that a great background for this Gospel? The phrase "from the very first" in verse 3 is actually the Greek word "anothen", which can be translated: from above. Luke was indeed the writer of this Gospel, but the Holy Spirit was the Author! If we pay attention, the Author, Who lives IN us, will make the Word come alive and give us increased understanding, so that we can be in the best possible position to walk daily in the Blessing of God! Verse 4:
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.
We learn from this account that there were messages delivered by the angel Gabriel to two different people. They each had a different response: Zachariah questioned how it could be possible, while Mary asked how it would be done! God is NOT against questions, He is against unbelief! Stay in the Word and you will stay in faith and be pleasing to God!
2 Chronicles 31-32 tell of the good and godly things done by king Hezekiah. He had the people cleanse the land from all of the tools of idol worship. He called for the people to resume paying tithes and giving offerings. The people obeyed to such a great extent that what they brought in had to be laid in "heaps" Hezekiah did other good things in keeping with the Word of God and this was said of him in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21:
20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah, and he did what was good, right, and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 And every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in keeping with the law and the commandments to seek his God [inquiring of and yearning for Him], he did with all his heart, and he prospered.
What is the Scriptural key to Divine prosperity in every area of life? Find out what God wants done and DO it - HIS WAY! 3 John 2:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
Your soul (mind, emotions, and will) prospers when you feed on the Word of God. Then you can do things HIS WAY, and the rest will follow!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 79 today gives us an example of what we saw in Psalm 78 yesterday, of how the people of Israel would cry out to God when their disobedience got them in trouble. Verses 8-10:
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. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name! Deliver us, forgive us, and purge away our sins for Your name's sake. 10 Why should the Gentile nations say, Where is their God? Let vengeance for the blood of Your servants which is poured out be known among the nations in our sight [not delaying until some future generation].
The Message Bible says this:
8 Don't blame us for the sins of our parents. Hurry up and help us; we're at the end of our rope. 9 You're famous for helping; God, give us a break. Your reputation is on the line. Pull us out of this mess, forgive us our sins - do what You're famous for doing! 10 Don't let the heathen get by with their sneers: "Where's your God? Is He out to lunch?" Go public and show the godless world that they can't kill your servants and get away with it.
This could be a prayer for present day Israel, along with verses 12-13:
12 Give our jeering neighbors what they've got coming to them; let their God-taunts boomerang and knock them flat. 13 Then we, Your people, the ones You love and care for, will thank You over and over and over. We'll tell everyone we meet how wonderful You are, how praiseworthy You are!
God has delivered Israel time after time after time! I KNOW that He's not finished with them yet! Make sure that YOU are not a "jeering neighbor"! Instead, be one who blesses Israel!!
Hebrews 13:5-6 is one of my favorite portions of Scripture!
5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be content with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, the Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [ I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
When we KNOW that God is on our side, we realize that it doesn't do anyone, any good, to come against us! He WILL deliver us, when we count on Him! Here is a song to help remember Who He is! Hillsong's "God Of Ages":
2 Chronicles 29-30 is another account of the life of king Hezekiah. We see that he did right in the sight of the LORD. In verses 1-2 we see a possible reason for that!
1 HEZEKIAH BEGAN to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father [forefather] had done.
Did you catch what may have been responsible for Hezekiah's character? His mother was the daughter of Hezekiah! We can assume that she was raised in a godly home and would make a godly environment for her son! Proverbs 22:6 tells us this:
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
When we do this, then we also have this promise in Isaiah 54:13:
All your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children.
The word "peace" here is the Hebrew word "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, contentment.
It pays to do things God's way, for you AND your family!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 79 today gives us an example of what we saw in Psalm 78 yesterday, of how the people of Israel would cry out to God when their disobedience got them in trouble. Verses 8-10:
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. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name! Deliver us, forgive us, and purge away our sins for Your name's sake. 10 Why should the Gentile nations say, Where is their God? Let vengeance for the blood of Your servants which is poured out be known among the nations in our sight [not delaying until some future generation].
The Message Bible says this:
8 Don't blame us for the sins of our parents. Hurry up and help us; we're at the end of our rope. 9 You're famous for helping; God, give us a break. Your reputation is on the line. Pull us out of this mess, forgive us our sins - do what You're famous for doing! 10 Don't let the heathen get by with their sneers: "Where's your God? Is He out to lunch?" Go public and show the godless world that they can't kill your servants and get away with it.
This could be a prayer for present day Israel, along with verses 12-13:
12 Give our jeering neighbors what they've got coming to them; let their God-taunts boomerang and knock them flat. 13 Then we, Your people, the ones You love and care for, will thank You over and over and over. We'll tell everyone we meet how wonderful You are, how praiseworthy You are!
God has delivered Israel time after time after time! I KNOW that He's not finished with them yet! Make sure that YOU are not a "jeering neighbor"! Instead, be one who blesses Israel!!
Hebrews 13:5-6 is one of my favorite portions of Scripture!
5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be content with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, the Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [ I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
When we KNOW that God is on our side, we realize that it doesn't do anyone, any good, to come against us! He WILL deliver us, when we count on Him! Here is a song to help remember Who He is! Hillsong's "God Of Ages":
2 Chronicles 29-30 is another account of the life of king Hezekiah. We see that he did right in the sight of the LORD. In verses 1-2 we see a possible reason for that!
1 HEZEKIAH BEGAN to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father [forefather] had done.
Did you catch what may have been responsible for Hezekiah's character? His mother was the daughter of Hezekiah! We can assume that she was raised in a godly home and would make a godly environment for her son! Proverbs 22:6 tells us this:
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
When we do this, then we also have this promise in Isaiah 54:13:
All your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children.
The word "peace" here is the Hebrew word "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, contentment.
It pays to do things God's way, for you AND your family!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 78:1-8:
1 GIVE EAR, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable (in instruction by numerous examples); I will utter dark sayings of old [that hide important truth] 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but we will tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonderful works that he has performed. 5 For he established a testimony (an express precept) in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, commanding our fathers that they should make [the great facts of God's dealings with Israel] known to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know them, that the children still to be born might arise and recount them to their children 7 That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but might keep His commandments. 8 And might not be as their fathers -- a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their hearts aright nor prepared their hearts to know God, and whose spirits were not steadfast and faithful to God.
This Psalm relates over and over what we have come to see from our reading through the Old Testament. God did many mighty, wonderful and spectacular works to deliver His people. They would be grateful and thankful for a while, then they would forget and turn away form Him to serve other "gods". They would get out of His protection and then things would begin to go wrong. They would repent (change their thinking to agree with God), call out to God for mercy, He would deliver them, and they would be grateful and thankful - for a time! God gave us His Word so that we could remember HIM, get to know and understand HIM, rely on HIM, and get HIS deliverance in every situation! Make sure that YOU are remembering to maintain a grateful, thankful heart every day! You need never find yourself in a position where you don't know what to do or where to turn! SEEK HIM! Amen!
We read Hebrews 12 today and I found this very interesting commentary on this chapter in the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament:
The writer of Hebrews combined these two themes of athletics and citizenship in this important twelfth chapter. The atmosphere is that of the footraces in the arena. We can see the runners laying aside their training weights and striving to run their races successfully. Some get weary and faint, while others endure to the end and win the prize. First the writer pictures the race (Heb 12:1-13), and then emphasizes citizenship in the heavenly city (Heb 12:14-29). In the minds of his readers, these two themes would go together, for no one could take part in the official games unless he was a citizen of the nation.
The one theme that runs through this chapter is endurance (Heb 12:1 ["patience"], 2-3,7; also see 10:32,36 ["patience"]). The Jewish believers who received this letter were getting weary and wanted to give up; but the writer encouraged them to keep moving forward in their Christian lives, like runners on a track (see Phil 3:12-14).
I really like that! And then verse 28:
28 Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe.
What is pleasing service and acceptable worship to God? Being exactly where He wants you to be, doing exactly what HE wants you to do! Then worship Him in Spirit (by the Holy Spirit Who lives in you) and in Truth (according to His Word) (John 4:24)!
2 Kings 18-19 begins with king Hezekiah. 2 Kings 18:1-6:
1 IN THE third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of ISrael, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began his twenty-nine -ear reign in jerusalem. His mother was Abit daughter of Zechariah. 3 Hezekiah did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his [forefather] had done. 4 He removed the high places, broke the images, cut down the Asherim, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until then the Israelites had burned incense to it; but he called it Nehushtan [ a bronze trifle]. 5 Hezekiah trusted in, leaned on, and was confident in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that neither after him nor before him was any one of all the kings of Judah like him. 6 For he clung and held fast to the LORD and ceased not to follow Him, but kept His commandments, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Did you catch that? Not even David obeyed the commandments of the LORD as well as Hezekiah did! If you simply continue consistently in the Word of God, you will discover many such things that will adjust your thinking and cause you to be even more open to what the Word of God has to say! I LOVE the Word of God! I hope you do, too! Here is Hillsong with Lord Of Lords, true worship for the King of kings and the Lord of lords!:
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 78:1-8:
1 GIVE EAR, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable (in instruction by numerous examples); I will utter dark sayings of old [that hide important truth] 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but we will tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonderful works that he has performed. 5 For he established a testimony (an express precept) in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, commanding our fathers that they should make [the great facts of God's dealings with Israel] known to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know them, that the children still to be born might arise and recount them to their children 7 That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but might keep His commandments. 8 And might not be as their fathers -- a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their hearts aright nor prepared their hearts to know God, and whose spirits were not steadfast and faithful to God.
This Psalm relates over and over what we have come to see from our reading through the Old Testament. God did many mighty, wonderful and spectacular works to deliver His people. They would be grateful and thankful for a while, then they would forget and turn away form Him to serve other "gods". They would get out of His protection and then things would begin to go wrong. They would repent (change their thinking to agree with God), call out to God for mercy, He would deliver them, and they would be grateful and thankful - for a time! God gave us His Word so that we could remember HIM, get to know and understand HIM, rely on HIM, and get HIS deliverance in every situation! Make sure that YOU are remembering to maintain a grateful, thankful heart every day! You need never find yourself in a position where you don't know what to do or where to turn! SEEK HIM! Amen!
We read Hebrews 12 today and I found this very interesting commentary on this chapter in the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament:
Hebrews 12:
STAY IN THE RUNNING!
If the Apostle Paul were alive today, he would probably read the sports pages of the newspaper and follow the progress of various teams and athletes. Why? Because several athletic references in his letters indicate his interest in sports. Of course, both the Greeks and the Romans were keenly interested in athletic contests, not only for their physical well-being, but also for the honor of their towns and countries. It was a patriotic thing to be a good athlete and to bring glory to your country.
I really like that! And then verse 28:
28 Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe.
What is pleasing service and acceptable worship to God? Being exactly where He wants you to be, doing exactly what HE wants you to do! Then worship Him in Spirit (by the Holy Spirit Who lives in you) and in Truth (according to His Word) (John 4:24)!
2 Kings 18-19 begins with king Hezekiah. 2 Kings 18:1-6:
1 IN THE third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of ISrael, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began his twenty-nine -ear reign in jerusalem. His mother was Abit daughter of Zechariah. 3 Hezekiah did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his [forefather] had done. 4 He removed the high places, broke the images, cut down the Asherim, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until then the Israelites had burned incense to it; but he called it Nehushtan [ a bronze trifle]. 5 Hezekiah trusted in, leaned on, and was confident in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that neither after him nor before him was any one of all the kings of Judah like him. 6 For he clung and held fast to the LORD and ceased not to follow Him, but kept His commandments, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Shalom in Him!
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