TUESDAY'S POST
Shalom,
Psalm 150 closes out the book of Psalms with the highest praise! Praise is mentioned 13 times and we are commanded to praise Him! We are told to praise Him everywhere, with every type of praise, for everything He's done and for all that He is! Every time "praise" is mentioned, it is the Hebrew word "halal", which means: to be of clear sound; to shine; to make a show; to boast; to rave; to celebrate; to be clamorously foolish; to stultify (to cause to appear foolish); to act like a madman. This also involves shouting and jubilation! Do you get the very energetic and noisy picture here? Have you done this lately? Remember, it IS a command! Verse 6:
6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
In Revelation 6 we see the first of the seals broken. This is the time that the antichrist will be revealed. The rider on this white horse is NOT Jesus THE Christ, but the one who will pose as the Him! The truly sad thing about this is that the very people who should have recognized the REAL Christ when He came, will also be fooled into believing that this impersonator, liar, murderer, thief, evil one actually is the One they have been waiting for! Verse 2:
2 And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.
This "crown" is a victor's crown, but it is NOT the crown the King of kings will wear! HIS is the diadem, which is the Kingly crown and only the True Son of God will wear that crown! We will not be on earth for these happenings, but it is interesting to study!
In Jeremiah 37-38 we see King Zedekiah seek the counsel of Jeremiah 4 different times and all 4 times he rejected the Word! He even allowed Jeremiah to be beaten and imprisoned because he was too weak willed to stand up to anyone. It seems that sometimes God will allow weak and terrible men to rule a land in order to wake the people up to what is right and Godly! Does that sound at all familiar to you? We need to continue to be DOERS of 2 Chronicles 7:14 so that God Himself can heal OUR land! AMEN!
Let this song from Hillsong get inside you today and cause you to rise up and BE all that the One, True God has planned for you to be! It is called "Rise":
Shalom in Him!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 149:3-4:
3 Let them praise His Name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre! 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.
We are to praise Him in any and every way! Use every gift and talent you have to bring glory to His Name! Why? Because it pleases Him! There is something else interesting about the word "pleasure" in verse 4. It is the Hebrew word "ratsah", which means: to be pleased with; to approve; AND to satisfy a debt! We owe Him a very great debt and this is one way that we can repay Him! Then verses 6-9 say this:
6 let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands, 7 To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples, 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron. 9 To execute upon them the judgment written. he [the LORD] is the honor of all His saints. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
Warfare is another part of our responsibilities as believers. Look at this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Worship and warfare go together, as the book of Revelation makes very clear. Satan has always wanted to be worshiped (Isa 14:12-15), and he is willing to pay for it (Matt 4:8-11). Satan is constantly at work enticing the world to worship him (Rev 13), for he does not mind if people are "religious" so long as they leave out Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel. In recent years, some denominations have eliminated the "militant songs" from their hymnals and their worship, and this is disappointing. Whether we like it or not, the church is an army, this world is a battlefield, and there is a struggle going on for the souls of lost sinners (Matt 16:17-18; Eph 6:10 ff; 2 Tim 2:3-4; 2 Cor 10:3-5). Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), is also the Conquering Warrior (45:3-7; Rev 19:11-21), and like the workers in Nehemiah's day, we must have both tools for building and swords for battling (Neh 4:17-18). Our weapons are prayer, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12), and hymns of praise to the Lord. Worship is warfare, for we are singing soldiers! Did not our Lord sing before He went out to the cross to do battle against the devil? (See Matt 26:30; John 12:31-32; and Col 2:13-15.)
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 149:3-4:
3 Let them praise His Name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre! 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.
We are to praise Him in any and every way! Use every gift and talent you have to bring glory to His Name! Why? Because it pleases Him! There is something else interesting about the word "pleasure" in verse 4. It is the Hebrew word "ratsah", which means: to be pleased with; to approve; AND to satisfy a debt! We owe Him a very great debt and this is one way that we can repay Him! Then verses 6-9 say this:
6 let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands, 7 To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples, 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron. 9 To execute upon them the judgment written. he [the LORD] is the honor of all His saints. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
Warfare is another part of our responsibilities as believers. Look at this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
So let's fight the good fight of faith, all the while praising the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible for Who He is and for all that He has done! Amen! Join Hillsong with "Everything That Has Breath":
Revelation 5 speaks of a time that we have heard about, but have yet to see. That is the time when ALL beings will bow their knee to Jesus of Nazareth! Verse 11-13:
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, 12 Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing! 13 And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of the departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!
Every knee WILL bow, and every tongue WILL say that JESUS IS LORD! Make YOUR choice to say it begin NOW! Amen!
Jeremiah 21 and 34 both speak of the judgment of Israel and Judah. This judgment came to them as a result of their continued disobedience to God's Word! There is one section from the Bible Exposition Commentary that explains this concerning the church of today!
The message to the nation was clear. If the command of a mere man, Jonadab, was respected and obeyed by his family for over two centuries, why didn't the people of Israel and Judah obey the command of Almighty God — a command that the prophets had repeated over and over again? If a family tradition was preserved with such dedication, why was the very Law of God treated with such disrespect? Obeying Jonadab's words had only a limited and temporal significance, but disobeying God's Word had eternal consequences!
How often God's people are put to shame by the devotion and discipline of people who don't even know the Lord but who are intensely loyal to their family, their religion, or their personal pursuits. Even people who want nothing to do with the Word of God can be loyal to traditions and man-made codes. If Christians were putting into their spiritual walk the kind of discipline that athletes put into their chosen sport, the church would he pulsating with revival life.
Can YOU get THAT picture of how the church will look when we all make loving and obeying HIM the first priority in our lives? Then let's get back to our first love and please Him again!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Shalom,
In Psalm 148 we see that the Heavens praise the LORD (verses 1-6); the Earth praises the LORD (verses 7-13); and the people praise the LORD (verse 14)! Look at verses 11-12:
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth! 12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children!
THAT doesn't leave anyone out! What are they supposed to do, and why? Verses 13-14:
13 Let them praise and exalt the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven! 14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
AMEN!
Revelation 4 is all about the throne of God! It is mentioned 14 times in this chapter alone! When we realize that the One, True God IS the very center of all that is, then we will be more inclined to give Him His proper place in our own lives! Verse 11:
11 Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.
"Worthy" is the Greek word "axios", which means: deserving, comparable, or suitable; due reward; of one who has merited something. He most definitely IS "worthy"!
Jeremiah 32-33 are speaking about the restoration of the nation and the land of Israel after the exile. Jeremiah 32:17:
17 Alas, LORD God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You --
And verse 27:
27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?
NOTHING is too difficult for our GOD! Amen! Here is an old song being sung by children: "Ah Lord God":
Then Jeremiah 33:3:
3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).
Is there something that you need to know? ASK HIM! Then LISTEN and OBEY!
Shalom in Him!
In Psalm 148 we see that the Heavens praise the LORD (verses 1-6); the Earth praises the LORD (verses 7-13); and the people praise the LORD (verse 14)! Look at verses 11-12:
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth! 12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children!
THAT doesn't leave anyone out! What are they supposed to do, and why? Verses 13-14:
13 Let them praise and exalt the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven! 14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
AMEN!
Revelation 4 is all about the throne of God! It is mentioned 14 times in this chapter alone! When we realize that the One, True God IS the very center of all that is, then we will be more inclined to give Him His proper place in our own lives! Verse 11:
11 Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.
"Worthy" is the Greek word "axios", which means: deserving, comparable, or suitable; due reward; of one who has merited something. He most definitely IS "worthy"!
Jeremiah 32-33 are speaking about the restoration of the nation and the land of Israel after the exile. Jeremiah 32:17:
17 Alas, LORD God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard or too wonderful for You --
And verse 27:
27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?
NOTHING is too difficult for our GOD! Amen! Here is an old song being sung by children: "Ah Lord God":
Then Jeremiah 33:3:
3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).
Is there something that you need to know? ASK HIM! Then LISTEN and OBEY!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 147:1:
1 PRAISE THE LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate.
This Psalm was most likely written for the celebration, during the time of Nehemiah, of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the return of the exiles from Babylon. I liked this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
One of the unique characteristics of this psalm is the large number of present participles in it — "building, healing, binding, counting, lifting up," and so on — all of which speak of the constant and dynamic working of the Lord for His people.
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 147:1:
1 PRAISE THE LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate.
This Psalm was most likely written for the celebration, during the time of Nehemiah, of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the return of the exiles from Babylon. I liked this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
One of the unique characteristics of this psalm is the large number of present participles in it — "building, healing, binding, counting, lifting up," and so on — all of which speak of the constant and dynamic working of the Lord for His people.
Our God is CONSTANTLY working on our behalf when we get in position to receive the Blessing (Zechariah 4:10)! This Psalm gives three reasons why we should be praising the LORD!
- His people have been restored (verses 1-6).
- The land of Israel has been refreshed (verses 7-11).
- The Word of God has been revealed (verses 12-20).
Each section begins with a new command to praise HIM! Let's DO IT!
Revelation 3 continues with the messages to the churches. I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary, also:
We are still listening to what the Holy Spirit has to say to the churches; for these messages from Christ belong to our day as well as to the first century. Churches are people, and human nature has not changed. So, as we continue our study, we must not look on these letters as ancient relics. On the contrary, they are mirrors in which we see ourselves!
As you continue to study these messages, allow the Spirit of God to reveal anything in your personal life that is need of change or adjustment. He desires that we ALL walk in close, personal, intimate fellowship with HIM! Verses 19-22:
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. 20 behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. 21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on his throne. 22 he who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).
If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, the you ARE and over-comer ( 1 John 4:4)! Let's LOOK like one! Amen!
In Jeremiah 30-31 the prophet received the message from the LORD while he was sleeping. The message is of the return of the exiles from Babylon, and also of the return of the scattered people of Israel in our time. Since 1948 the Jewish people have been returning to the land that God Himself gave to them so very many years ago! In the eyes of Almighty God, this land, and much more than they have right now, has ALWAYS belonged to Him and His people! Jeremiah 31:35-37:
35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day and the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, Who stirs up the sea's roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar -- the LORD of hosts is His Name: 36 If these ordinances [of fixed order] depart from before me, says the LORD, then the posterity of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me throughout the ages. 37 Thus says the LORD: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD.
Israel belongs to the One, True God of the Bible and He will NEVER forsake them completely! Hallelujah! Make sure that YOU are on the right side of THAT situation! Amen! This is a map of God's original plan for the land!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Shalom,
The last five Psalms are known as the "Hallelujah Psalms" and they are all about praising the LORD! Psalm 146:1-2:
1 PRAISE THE LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 While I live will I praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have any being.
Anytime and all the time is the RIGHT time to praise the LORD! AMEN! Verse 10:
The LORD shall reign forever, even Your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
Here is "Forever Reign" by Hillsong:
Revelation 2 begins the messages to the seven churches. They are also messages to us as individuals! Verses 4-5a:
4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. 5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord],
Our "first love" is, of course, Jesus of Nazareth. When you love someone, you make their priorities your own. We know that the #1 priority of our Lord Jesus is that "none should perish" (2 Peter 3:9)! We will KNOW that our love for HIM is strong when we are desiring, above all else, that the people we come in contact with, and those all over the world, be born again. What does YOUR "first love" gauge look like? Make the needed adjustments. Remember what our wonderful partner, Jerry O'Dell, has said: "When we want what God wants, for the same reason He wants it, we cannot fail!" And then we have this admonition in verse 29:
29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).
If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, then you HAVE ears that are CAPABLE of hearing! LISTEN and DO! Amen!
Jeremiah 50-51 foretell the fall of Babylon. God protected His people while they were in exile in Babylon. The kings of Babylon saw the results of the blessing of the Lord on those of His people who refused to serve any other God. They had the opportunity to repent and serve the One, True God, but they refused! Now they would receive the just rewards of there acts against HIM and His people! The nations of the world would do well to read these judgments and realize that the One, True God is STILL watching over, protecting and avenging HIS people ISRAEL! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! You WILL be blessed! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
The last five Psalms are known as the "Hallelujah Psalms" and they are all about praising the LORD! Psalm 146:1-2:
1 PRAISE THE LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 While I live will I praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have any being.
Anytime and all the time is the RIGHT time to praise the LORD! AMEN! Verse 10:
The LORD shall reign forever, even Your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)
Here is "Forever Reign" by Hillsong:
Revelation 2 begins the messages to the seven churches. They are also messages to us as individuals! Verses 4-5a:
4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. 5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord],
Our "first love" is, of course, Jesus of Nazareth. When you love someone, you make their priorities your own. We know that the #1 priority of our Lord Jesus is that "none should perish" (2 Peter 3:9)! We will KNOW that our love for HIM is strong when we are desiring, above all else, that the people we come in contact with, and those all over the world, be born again. What does YOUR "first love" gauge look like? Make the needed adjustments. Remember what our wonderful partner, Jerry O'Dell, has said: "When we want what God wants, for the same reason He wants it, we cannot fail!" And then we have this admonition in verse 29:
29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).
If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior, then you HAVE ears that are CAPABLE of hearing! LISTEN and DO! Amen!
Jeremiah 50-51 foretell the fall of Babylon. God protected His people while they were in exile in Babylon. The kings of Babylon saw the results of the blessing of the Lord on those of His people who refused to serve any other God. They had the opportunity to repent and serve the One, True God, but they refused! Now they would receive the just rewards of there acts against HIM and His people! The nations of the world would do well to read these judgments and realize that the One, True God is STILL watching over, protecting and avenging HIS people ISRAEL! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! You WILL be blessed! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 145 is the last of the Psalms of David and the only one that is called "A Psalm Of Praise". We see in this Psalm many wonderful attributes of God that give us the answer to why we praise Him. We also see when we are to praise Him! Verse 2 especially covers how often and for how long:
2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your Name forever and ever.
We should never let a day go by without some time spent in praise and worship to the One, True God! Verse 6:
6 Men shall speak of the might of your tremendous and terrible acts, and I will declare Your greatness.
This reminds me very much of Psalm 103:7 where it says that God made known His ways to Moses, but only His acts to the other Israelites. The world can see the things that God does (in and through believers!), but only the fully committed believer can know HIM! I am with Paul in Philippians 3:10 when he says that his "determined purpose" is to KNOW HIM! How about you? Verse 17 shows us some of the nature of our God!
17 The LORD is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.
He is "rigidly righteous", which reveals His nature of "justice". He is also, and at the same time, "gracious and merciful"! That is what took Jesus to the cross! His merciful nature laid down His own life to pay the price demanded by His just nature! What a powerful concept that is! Meditating on that Truth alone will completely change your life! Then we end with verse 21:
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy Name forever and ever.
AMEN! GLORY TO GOD!
We begin today in the Book of Revelation. "Revelation" is the Greek word "apokalupsis", which means: disclosure; appearing; manifestation; uncovering; revealing. Notice that this is the "revealing" of Jesus Christ! In verse 11a He reveals Who He is:
11a Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.
Then we see Jesus reveal His appearance in verses 13-16:
13 And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire. 15 His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand he held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.
This is the our Resurrected Lord Jesus! This is how He appears in heaven and WE SHALL SEE HIM! Glory to God! Verse 7 says this:
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be] Amen (so be it).
Here is Robin Marks with Days Of Elijah:
In Jeremiah 28 we see the prophet dealing with the false prophet Hananiah. The people were believing the message of false hope that the captivity was ending rather than heeding the REAL Word of the Lord that came through Jeremiah. Verses 15-17:
15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Listen now, Hananiah, The LORD has not sent you, but you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have uttered and taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died [two months late4r], the same year, in the seventh month.
Make sure that YOU check out the teaching you hear with the Word of God for yourself so that you are not led off into error by anyone! Jeremiah 29 includes letters that Jeremiah sent to different groups of people. He was encouraging them to not give up during this time of exile because God had a plan for them! Verses 10-11:
10 For thus says the LORD, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the LORD, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you a hope in your final outcome.
He also has good and Godly plans for YOU! Spend time in His presence, getting to know Him, and He will reveal His good plans to you, too! Thank You Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 145 is the last of the Psalms of David and the only one that is called "A Psalm Of Praise". We see in this Psalm many wonderful attributes of God that give us the answer to why we praise Him. We also see when we are to praise Him! Verse 2 especially covers how often and for how long:
2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your Name forever and ever.
We should never let a day go by without some time spent in praise and worship to the One, True God! Verse 6:
6 Men shall speak of the might of your tremendous and terrible acts, and I will declare Your greatness.
This reminds me very much of Psalm 103:7 where it says that God made known His ways to Moses, but only His acts to the other Israelites. The world can see the things that God does (in and through believers!), but only the fully committed believer can know HIM! I am with Paul in Philippians 3:10 when he says that his "determined purpose" is to KNOW HIM! How about you? Verse 17 shows us some of the nature of our God!
17 The LORD is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.
He is "rigidly righteous", which reveals His nature of "justice". He is also, and at the same time, "gracious and merciful"! That is what took Jesus to the cross! His merciful nature laid down His own life to pay the price demanded by His just nature! What a powerful concept that is! Meditating on that Truth alone will completely change your life! Then we end with verse 21:
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy Name forever and ever.
AMEN! GLORY TO GOD!
We begin today in the Book of Revelation. "Revelation" is the Greek word "apokalupsis", which means: disclosure; appearing; manifestation; uncovering; revealing. Notice that this is the "revealing" of Jesus Christ! In verse 11a He reveals Who He is:
11a Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.
Then we see Jesus reveal His appearance in verses 13-16:
13 And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire. 15 His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand he held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.
This is the our Resurrected Lord Jesus! This is how He appears in heaven and WE SHALL SEE HIM! Glory to God! Verse 7 says this:
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be] Amen (so be it).
Here is Robin Marks with Days Of Elijah:
In Jeremiah 28 we see the prophet dealing with the false prophet Hananiah. The people were believing the message of false hope that the captivity was ending rather than heeding the REAL Word of the Lord that came through Jeremiah. Verses 15-17:
15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Listen now, Hananiah, The LORD has not sent you, but you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have uttered and taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died [two months late4r], the same year, in the seventh month.
Make sure that YOU check out the teaching you hear with the Word of God for yourself so that you are not led off into error by anyone! Jeremiah 29 includes letters that Jeremiah sent to different groups of people. He was encouraging them to not give up during this time of exile because God had a plan for them! Verses 10-11:
10 For thus says the LORD, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the LORD, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you a hope in your final outcome.
He also has good and Godly plans for YOU! Spend time in His presence, getting to know Him, and He will reveal His good plans to you, too! Thank You Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 144 is a Psalm of David and is about the one, True, Most high, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. We can look at it in three parts, according to the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 144 is a Psalm of David and is about the one, True, Most high, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. We can look at it in three parts, according to the Bible Exposition Commentary:
- The Loving God Who Cares For Us Personally (verses 1-4).
- The Mighty God Who Delivers Us Victoriously (verses 5-11).
- The Gracious God Who Blesses Us Abundantly (verses 12-15).
My favorite verse in the first section is verse 1:
1 BLESSED BE the LORD, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight
Remember that our warfare is NOT against people, but against the works and workers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The One, True God is the only One Who can properly teach to fight this kind of fight because we cannot win with natural weapons, but with Spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:4)! Be a good student of the Word and you will be victorious in every area of your life! My favorite verse in the next section is verse 10:
10 You are He Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David His servant from the hurtful sword [of evil].
"Salvation" is the Hebrew word "teshuw`ah", which means: rescue; deliverance; help; safety; victory. WE are now the "kings" that that are being spoken of in here (Revelation 1:6; 5:10) and we can count on HIM to deliverer us! My favorite verse in the last section is verse 15:
15 Happy and blessed are the people who are in such a case; yes, happy (blessed, fortunate, prosperous, to be envied) are the people whose God is the LORD!
We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED to have Jesus of Nazareth as our LORD and personal Savior! This is THE most exciting time to be alive on this earth! Revival is sweeping the planet and we have the opportunity to be right in the middle of what God is doing! Spend some time in His presence today so that you can be sure that YOU are in the very center of His will for YOU! There is NO better place to be on earth! Amen! Here is Psalm 144 put to song by Ian White:
We finish the Gospel of John today with chapter 21. I LOVE Peter! He may have made a lot of mistakes (his "blooper reel" would be a fun one!), but he had heart! I would rather deal with someone who was a little overly aggressive than to try to get someone going who was too laid back! Here in verse 7 Peter puts ON his coat to jump in the water and swim to Jesus! Then he had to go back into the water to help with the great catch of fish! Then in verses 15-17 Jesus restores Peter to fellowship with Himself after the three-time denial. Then verse 25:
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should all be recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.
We should not be concerned about, or consumed with, finding out what all of those other "things" are. We have enough to do to keep us busy with getting to know Him through all that has already been revealed! Let's be a DOER of the Word we know, all the while learning more. Our faith will grow and God will be well-pleased with us, just as He was with Jesus! Hallelujah!
2 Chronicles 36:16:
16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God and despising His Words and scoffing at His Prophets till the wrath of the LORD rose against His people, till there was no remedy or healing.
Don't be discouraged or angry when people despise you for the message of the Gospel! Realize that God will NOT put up with it forever, so pray for them - they NEED it! Jeremiah 27 gives more warning to the people. I especially like verse 5:
5 I have made the earth, the men, and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I give it to whomever it seems right and suitable to Me.
That is all that anyone ever needs to know about who exactly is supposed to be living in Israel! God decides, and HE has already spoken concerning this matter in His Word! Let's let God BE God! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 143:5-6:
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I ponder the work of Your hands. 6 I spread forth my hands to You; my soul thirsts after You like a thirsty land [for water]. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
This is another good example to follow when you are faced with tests and trials. Remember all of the times that God and His Word have come through for you in the past. Meditate on those past victories so that you can maintain great confidence in Him. Your grateful and thankful attitude for all that He has done should bring you to a place where you desire His presence more than anything else! In HIS presence, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)! Here is Hillsong with "For All You've Done":
John 20 is all about the Resurrected Jesus appearing to His disciples. I really like verse 31:
31 But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His Name [through Who He is].
God gave us His Word so that we could KNOW Him! The Word of God is where we find the Way to LIFE (John 14:6)! Make sure that spending time in the Word of God is YOUR #1 priority!
Jeremiah 48-49 includes God's judgment on the nations of:
Psalm 143:5-6:
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I ponder the work of Your hands. 6 I spread forth my hands to You; my soul thirsts after You like a thirsty land [for water]. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
This is another good example to follow when you are faced with tests and trials. Remember all of the times that God and His Word have come through for you in the past. Meditate on those past victories so that you can maintain great confidence in Him. Your grateful and thankful attitude for all that He has done should bring you to a place where you desire His presence more than anything else! In HIS presence, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)! Here is Hillsong with "For All You've Done":
John 20 is all about the Resurrected Jesus appearing to His disciples. I really like verse 31:
31 But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His Name [through Who He is].
God gave us His Word so that we could KNOW Him! The Word of God is where we find the Way to LIFE (John 14:6)! Make sure that spending time in the Word of God is YOUR #1 priority!
Jeremiah 48-49 includes God's judgment on the nations of:
- Moab
- Ammon
- Edom
- Syria
- Kedar
- Hazor
- Elam
The Word that God gave to His prophets was to warn the nations so that they could repent. Those that did not will experience certain judgment! All of the nations of the world are without excuse because they had the opportunity to repent (change their thinking to agree with God)! They will also answer to God for the way that they treated the nation of Israel. Keep praying for YOUR nation, that they will support Israel and be her true friend! Any other choice is very dangerous!
Shalom in Him!
MONDAY'S POST
Shalom,
Psalm 142:5-7:
5 I cried to You, O LORD; I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my loud cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my life out of prison, that i may confess, praise, and give thanks to Your Name; the righteous will surround me and crown themselves because of me, for You will deal bountifully with me.
This is the last of the Palms of David that come from the time when he was fleeing from Saul. he begins by crying out in complaint to the LORD, but ended with the verses above! He confessed, declared, and proclaimed what the LORD would do for him, and then proceeded to spend time in praise and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Follow David as he follows the Word of God!
John 19 covers the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. I have shared these before, but I feel that it is important to cover this again. Jesus was beaten and mocked. They dressed Him in a "royal" robe and then in put a "crown" of thorns on his head. These were not the little sharp thorns that we see on a rose. These were huge! Here is a picture of the thorns that probably were used. Don't they look fierce?
Then Jesus was taken to Golgotha, or the "place of the skull", and it actually looks like that! Here is a picture:
This was very close to a garden that contained the new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, where the body of Jesus was taken. Tomorrow's chapter is VERY exciting!
Jeremiah 46-47 continue with judgments to the nations. Jeremiah 46 deals with Egypt. Jeremiah 47 deals with judgment for Philistia. If you ever deal with someone who doubts the Word of God, take them through the judgments of the nations and the fulfillment of them! The Word of God has never been proven WRONG! Everything historical that has been uncovered has PROVEN the Word of God to be TRUE! Thank You, Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Shalom,
Psalm 142:5-7:
5 I cried to You, O LORD; I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my loud cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my life out of prison, that i may confess, praise, and give thanks to Your Name; the righteous will surround me and crown themselves because of me, for You will deal bountifully with me.
This is the last of the Palms of David that come from the time when he was fleeing from Saul. he begins by crying out in complaint to the LORD, but ended with the verses above! He confessed, declared, and proclaimed what the LORD would do for him, and then proceeded to spend time in praise and worship to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Follow David as he follows the Word of God!
John 19 covers the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. I have shared these before, but I feel that it is important to cover this again. Jesus was beaten and mocked. They dressed Him in a "royal" robe and then in put a "crown" of thorns on his head. These were not the little sharp thorns that we see on a rose. These were huge! Here is a picture of the thorns that probably were used. Don't they look fierce?
Then Jesus was taken to Golgotha, or the "place of the skull", and it actually looks like that! Here is a picture:
This was very close to a garden that contained the new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, where the body of Jesus was taken. Tomorrow's chapter is VERY exciting!
Jeremiah 46-47 continue with judgments to the nations. Jeremiah 46 deals with Egypt. Jeremiah 47 deals with judgment for Philistia. If you ever deal with someone who doubts the Word of God, take them through the judgments of the nations and the fulfillment of them! The Word of God has never been proven WRONG! Everything historical that has been uncovered has PROVEN the Word of God to be TRUE! Thank You, Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, November 21, 2011
SUNDAY'S POST
Shalom,
Psalm 141 is another "Psalm of David" that was written when he faced trouble. I found this breakdown of the verses interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary. This reveals David's choices on how to respond to each situation:
- "I will seek the LORD'S help." -- (verses 1-2)
- "I will keep myself from sin." -- (verses 3-4)
- "I will gladly accept counsel." -- (verse 5)
- "I will let God judge my enemies." -- (verses 6-7)
- "I will keep going by faith." -- (verses 8-10)
If we follow David's example here in dealing with our own tests, trials, and problems, then we will be in position for VICTORY, every time!
One of the most exciting things I have learned about the God of the Bible is that He is extremely organized and very precise! I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary concerning the Gardens in the Bible:
The Kidron Valley is located east of Jerusalem, between the city wall and the Mount of Olives; and the Garden of Gethsemane is on the western slope of Olivet. Jesus often went to this Garden with His disciples, no doubt to rest, meditate, and pray (Luke 22:39). Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims attending the Passover, and Jesus would want to get away from the crowded city to a private place. He knew that Judas would come for Him there, and He was ready.
Human history began in a Garden (Gen 2:8 ff), and the first sin of man was committed in that Garden. The first Adam disobeyed God and was cast out of the Garden, but the Last Adam (1 Cor 15:45) was obedient as He went into the Garden of Gethsemane. In a Garden, the first Adam brought sin and death to mankind; but Jesus, by His obedience, brought righteousness and life to all who will trust Him. He was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil 2:8).
History will one day end in another garden, the heavenly city that John describes in Rev 21 and 22. In that garden, there will be no more death and no more curse. The river of the water of life will flow ceaselessly and the tree of life will produce bountiful fruit. Eden was the Garden of disobedience and sin; Gethsemane was the Garden of obedience and submission; and heaven shall be the eternal garden of delight and satisfaction, to the glory of God.
The name Gethsemane means "oil press." Even today there are ancient olive trees in Gethsemane, though certainly not the ones that were there in Jesus' day. The olives would be picked and put into the press for their oil. What a picture of suffering! So our Lord would go through the "oil press" and the "winepress" (Isa 63:3) and taste our judgment for us.
Though the info concerning the olive press above is very true, not so the info about the olive trees! On out trip to Israel last year we were able to see some olive trees that were over 2000 years old! They were probably there when Jesus and His disciples spent time in the garden. We also saw an olive tree that was over 3000 years old! That was most definitely there when Jesus was there, and was possibly there during the reign of Solomon! It was amazing to see them! Here is a picture:
These ancient olive trees regenerate from the inside out (sort of like a born again believer)! The new sapling grows inside of the old tree and bears fruit! Doesn't THAT sound like our God? Amen! I like verse 6:
6 When Jesus said to them, I am He, they went backwards (drew back, lurched backward) and fell to the ground.
There WILL come a day when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that JESUS IS LORD! Here they fell backward because of the power of His words, something which involved no choice on their part! THAT day will be the same! Some will bow willingly, because they have already been doing so! Others WILL bow, but NOT because they choose to! They will have no choice in the matter! The time for choosing is NOW! Today is the day of Salvation! JESUS is MY Lord! Amen!
We read Jeremiah 45 and 25 today. Remember that the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan covers the Bible chronologically (in the order in which events happened). These two chapters actually took place in the same time period! Jeremiah 45 looks at Baruch, the faithful assistant to Jeremiah. Baruch had a brother who was on the king's official staff and could have found a position for Baruch there. Baruch chose to be obedient to the One, True God and assist Jeremiah. He became discouraged, so the LORD encouraged him! We all face tests and trials that bring the strong urge to give up and quit. DON'T DO IT! Allow the Word of God to encourage you and the Spirit of God to lead, guide, and direct you THROUGH these times and you will emerge from them far stronger than you were before! After all, a crisis cannot "make a person", it simply reveals what a person is made of! What are YOU made of? Jeremiah is someone who never quit, even though the people did not typically respond well to his messages of warning from God! He just continued to be faithful to HIS calling and God always rewards obedience! BE OBEDIENT and BE BLESSED!!! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Shalom,
In Psalm 140 David is calling out to God to deliver him from the evil people that keep pursing him to do him harm. Verse 8 says this:
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not their wicked plot and device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
We pray a prayer similar to that. We pray "May Godly plans succeed and prosper and may ungodly plans fail and come to utter destruction!" Once we pray that, then we can cast the care of it all on HIM and declare verse 13:
13 Surely the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).
I love John 17! This prayer that Jesus prayed is so very powerful. Do YOU believe that Jesus always had His prayers answered? I DO! WE were included in this prayer and it is still in the process of being fulfilled in our lives! I found this from the Bible Exposition Commentary very interesting:
THE PRAYER OF THE OVERCOMER
Most scholars who have sought to harmonize the accounts in the four Gospels have the Lord Jesus praying the prayer of John 17 in the Upper Room after He had finished His instructions to the disciples. Then He and the disciples sang the traditional Passover psalms, left the Upper Room, and headed for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus had been accustomed to meet with them and pray (see Matt 26:30-46 and Mark 14:26-42).
Whether He prayed it in the Upper Room or en route to the Garden, this much is sure: it is the greatest prayer ever prayed on earth and the greatest prayer recorded anywhere in Scripture. John 17 is certainly the "holy of holies" of the Gospel record, and we must approach this chapter in a spirit of humility and worship. To think that we are privileged to listen in as God the Son converses with His Father just as He is about to give His life as a ransom for sinners!
No matter what events occurred later that evening, this prayer makes it clear that Jesus was and is the Overcomer. He was not a "victim"; He was and is the Victor! "Be of good cheer," He had encouraged His disciples; "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The word world is used nineteen times in this prayer, so it is easy to see the connection between the prayer and John 16:33. If you and I will understand and apply the truths revealed in this profound prayer, it will enable us to be overcomers too.
17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
No matter what the situation, problem or question, the Word of God is ALWAYS the Truth and the3 Final Authority! Anything that does NOT fall in line with the Word of God is nothing but a lie! It may be a pretty sounding lie, a logical sounding lie, a world accepted lie; but it is still and only a LIE! Know what the Word of God has to say about every situation you are facing and you will be able to overcome every time! THAT is how your Father God desires for you to live this life. Hallelujah! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "I Will Run To You":
Shalom in Him!
In Psalm 140 David is calling out to God to deliver him from the evil people that keep pursing him to do him harm. Verse 8 says this:
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not their wicked plot and device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
We pray a prayer similar to that. We pray "May Godly plans succeed and prosper and may ungodly plans fail and come to utter destruction!" Once we pray that, then we can cast the care of it all on HIM and declare verse 13:
13 Surely the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).
I love John 17! This prayer that Jesus prayed is so very powerful. Do YOU believe that Jesus always had His prayers answered? I DO! WE were included in this prayer and it is still in the process of being fulfilled in our lives! I found this from the Bible Exposition Commentary very interesting:
THE PRAYER OF THE OVERCOMER
Most scholars who have sought to harmonize the accounts in the four Gospels have the Lord Jesus praying the prayer of John 17 in the Upper Room after He had finished His instructions to the disciples. Then He and the disciples sang the traditional Passover psalms, left the Upper Room, and headed for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus had been accustomed to meet with them and pray (see Matt 26:30-46 and Mark 14:26-42).
Whether He prayed it in the Upper Room or en route to the Garden, this much is sure: it is the greatest prayer ever prayed on earth and the greatest prayer recorded anywhere in Scripture. John 17 is certainly the "holy of holies" of the Gospel record, and we must approach this chapter in a spirit of humility and worship. To think that we are privileged to listen in as God the Son converses with His Father just as He is about to give His life as a ransom for sinners!
No matter what events occurred later that evening, this prayer makes it clear that Jesus was and is the Overcomer. He was not a "victim"; He was and is the Victor! "Be of good cheer," He had encouraged His disciples; "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The word world is used nineteen times in this prayer, so it is easy to see the connection between the prayer and John 16:33. If you and I will understand and apply the truths revealed in this profound prayer, it will enable us to be overcomers too.
My favorite verse here is verse 17:
Ezekiel 48 continues speaking of the millennial reign of Jesus and Ezekiel 29-30 speaks of the judgment of Egypt for coming against Israel. Egypt has never risen to the height it once had as a nation, and right now things are not going very well for them! It does NOT bode well for ANY nation that comes against God's people Israel! Pray that our nation will continue to support Israel! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 139:1-3:
1 O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off. You search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.
I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
God Knows Us Intimately — We Cannot Deceive Him
The verb "search" means "to examine with pain and care." The Jewish people used this word to describe digging deep into a mine, exploring a land, and investigating a legal case. Our friends see the outside but God sees the heart, and we cannot deceive Him. Adam and Eve tried it (Gen 3:7-24), Cain tried it (Gen 4:1-15), and even David tried it (2 Sam 11-12), and all of them discovered that God knew all about them. "Understand" in verse 2 means "to distinguish and discern with insight" and not just gather raw data.
14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth. 16 you eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.
23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:1-3:
1 O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off. You search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.
I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
The verb "search" means "to examine with pain and care." The Jewish people used this word to describe digging deep into a mine, exploring a land, and investigating a legal case. Our friends see the outside but God sees the heart, and we cannot deceive Him. Adam and Eve tried it (Gen 3:7-24), Cain tried it (Gen 4:1-15), and even David tried it (2 Sam 11-12), and all of them discovered that God knew all about them. "Understand" in verse 2 means "to distinguish and discern with insight" and not just gather raw data.
Be honest with God always! He knows it all anyway, so you might as well be open with Him. Then HE can be open with YOU! Remember, He knew you before you were born! Verses 14-16:
There is absolutely no question in the mind of Almighty God as to when life begins! HE is responsible for it! Not only is there life from the moment of conception, but it begins way before that in the mind of Almighty God! Here is a video that shows the development of a baby in the womb to show you just how very real that baby is!
Keep a gauge on your own life by praying verses 23-24 to the LORD.
23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Whatever He reveals to you, DO IT! Amen!
In John 16 Jesus is preparing His disciples for life after His death, burial, and resurrection. Verse 7-8:
7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. 8 And when he comes, he will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with god) and about judgment:
Notice that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict the unbelievers of their need for a Savior, not ours! Our job is to preach the Good News of the Gospel; telling people that God isn't holding anything against them, but that Jesus of Nazareth paid the price for ALL sin, for ALL people, for ALL time. The only condition is that we must accept and receive Him as our own personal Savior! Then Jesus further encouraged them with this in verses 12-13:
12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For HE will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatsoever He hears [from the Father; he will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].
We should NEVER be taken by surprise with the trials, tests, and situations of life because God the Holt Spirit lives IN us! HALLELUJAH! We are MOST BLESSED! Amen!
Ezekiel 46-47 continue describing the Millennial Temple and the distribution of land. Once the 1000 years is over, the Temple will no longer be needed because there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth with the presence of God everywhere! We don't know, and have a difficult time actually imagining, what the world will be like then, but we DO know that our God is a God of infinite ORDER! The devil and his "gang" will be locked up and King Jesus will rule! Something to look forward to! Let's get busy with OUR job now and bring great joy to the heart of OUR FATHER! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 138:2:
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else your Name and Your Word and You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name!
We KNOW that He has been given the Name that is higher than any other name (Ephesians 1:21)! But this is telling us that the Word of the Living God is higher even than His Name! "Magnified" here is the Hebrew word "gadal". One of the meanings of this word is: to evidence oneself as great. It also means to be powerful, significant or valuable. We know that the Word of God is ALL of these things, and so much more! Remember, also, that it is the spoken Word of the One, True God that gave Jesus the Name that IS above every name that is named! We hear a lot of people saying "In the Name of Jesus", but we don't hear people declaring and proclaiming the Word of God nearly as often! Make the adjustment here so that you can rise above every situation by the Word of God, which is HIGHER! Amen!
I also remind the LORD and Myself of verse 8 on a daily basis!
8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, o LORD, endure forever -- forsake not the works of Your own hands.
"Mercy and loving-kindness" here is the Hebrew word "checed" which we covered on Tuesday! "Perfect" is the Hebrew word "gamar", which means:to perform; to complete; to finish. Let's look at it in the Complete Jewish Bible:
8 Adonai will fulfill His purpose for me. You grace, Adonai, continues forever. Don't abandon the work of Your hands!
He won't! You can count on it! If YOU stay in continual fellowship with HIM, you won't ever doubt the Truth of that! Amen!
John 15:7 is another one of my favorite verses of Scripture. I have MANY!!! Verse 7:
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever YOU will, and it shall be done for you.
Make His Word your VITAL necessity and you will be in position to do this! And then we have the command of Jesus in verses 12-13:
12 This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
Jesus gave His entire life for us! He came, leaving Heaven; He ministered on earth, showing the WAY; He died paying the price for our eternal Salvation; now He ever lives to make intercession for us! Always US! For us to lay down our lives for a friend does NOT mean dying. It means giving everything we have to give here in this life so that others can be saved, healed, prospered! That includes time, energy, resources or whatever else you have to give that is needed by someone! When we do that, we look like JESUS! Hallelujah! here is a new song from Hillsong called "Unending Love":
Ezekiel 44-45 continue with Ezekiel's vision of the New Temple! One point of interest is found in verses 1-2 when he said that the Eastern Gate should be shut and kept shut. Suleiman thought that HE came up with that idea, but he got it from God! It will not open again until Messiah Jesus enters to begin His millennial reign! Come quickly, LORD Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 138:2:
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else your Name and Your Word and You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name!
We KNOW that He has been given the Name that is higher than any other name (Ephesians 1:21)! But this is telling us that the Word of the Living God is higher even than His Name! "Magnified" here is the Hebrew word "gadal". One of the meanings of this word is: to evidence oneself as great. It also means to be powerful, significant or valuable. We know that the Word of God is ALL of these things, and so much more! Remember, also, that it is the spoken Word of the One, True God that gave Jesus the Name that IS above every name that is named! We hear a lot of people saying "In the Name of Jesus", but we don't hear people declaring and proclaiming the Word of God nearly as often! Make the adjustment here so that you can rise above every situation by the Word of God, which is HIGHER! Amen!
I also remind the LORD and Myself of verse 8 on a daily basis!
8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, o LORD, endure forever -- forsake not the works of Your own hands.
"Mercy and loving-kindness" here is the Hebrew word "checed" which we covered on Tuesday! "Perfect" is the Hebrew word "gamar", which means:to perform; to complete; to finish. Let's look at it in the Complete Jewish Bible:
8 Adonai will fulfill His purpose for me. You grace, Adonai, continues forever. Don't abandon the work of Your hands!
He won't! You can count on it! If YOU stay in continual fellowship with HIM, you won't ever doubt the Truth of that! Amen!
John 15:7 is another one of my favorite verses of Scripture. I have MANY!!! Verse 7:
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever YOU will, and it shall be done for you.
Make His Word your VITAL necessity and you will be in position to do this! And then we have the command of Jesus in verses 12-13:
12 This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
Jesus gave His entire life for us! He came, leaving Heaven; He ministered on earth, showing the WAY; He died paying the price for our eternal Salvation; now He ever lives to make intercession for us! Always US! For us to lay down our lives for a friend does NOT mean dying. It means giving everything we have to give here in this life so that others can be saved, healed, prospered! That includes time, energy, resources or whatever else you have to give that is needed by someone! When we do that, we look like JESUS! Hallelujah! here is a new song from Hillsong called "Unending Love":
Ezekiel 44-45 continue with Ezekiel's vision of the New Temple! One point of interest is found in verses 1-2 when he said that the Eastern Gate should be shut and kept shut. Suleiman thought that HE came up with that idea, but he got it from God! It will not open again until Messiah Jesus enters to begin His millennial reign! Come quickly, LORD Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 137 is the song of one who has returned from exile in Babylon and is remembering what it was like to long for home. Verse 1:
1 BY THE rivers of Babylon, there we [captives] sat down, yes, we wept when we [earnestly] remembered Zion [the city of our God imprinted on our hearts].
Their captors mocked them by asking them to sing the songs that had been sung to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. That was blasphemy to them! They refused and vowed to never forget their rightful home! Verses 5-6:
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill [with the harp]. 6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I remember you not, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy!
Don't ever "forget to remember" God's will and plan and purpose for YOUR life! If you have moved away from it, repent (change your thinking to agree with God and His Word) and get right back in the middle of HIS will for YOU! Amen! Listen to the Sons of Korah singing Psalm 137:
John 14:6 is one of the most powerful verses to share with someone who is hungry to know the Lord! It is our Lord Jesus Himself declaring Who he is!
6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
Jesus is the ONLY Way to be saved from eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire! Who would NOT want to escape that? Then Jesus gives us these promises of what HE expects to happen IN and THROUGH His Church! Verses 12-14:
12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. 13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM].
Many of us haven't even done the same works that Jesus did, let alone greater works! Let's do better from this day forward! Let's be about our father's business!
Ezekiel 42-43 continue with the description of the Temple to come. Scholars differ on their ideas about this, so I hope you will read and study for yourself and allow the Spirit of God show you the Truth! That is what 2 Timothy 2:15 is speaking about!
15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
BE that person who DOES know their God, and YOU will be strong and DO exploits (Daniel 11:32)! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 137 is the song of one who has returned from exile in Babylon and is remembering what it was like to long for home. Verse 1:
1 BY THE rivers of Babylon, there we [captives] sat down, yes, we wept when we [earnestly] remembered Zion [the city of our God imprinted on our hearts].
Their captors mocked them by asking them to sing the songs that had been sung to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. That was blasphemy to them! They refused and vowed to never forget their rightful home! Verses 5-6:
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill [with the harp]. 6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I remember you not, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy!
Don't ever "forget to remember" God's will and plan and purpose for YOUR life! If you have moved away from it, repent (change your thinking to agree with God and His Word) and get right back in the middle of HIS will for YOU! Amen! Listen to the Sons of Korah singing Psalm 137:
John 14:6 is one of the most powerful verses to share with someone who is hungry to know the Lord! It is our Lord Jesus Himself declaring Who he is!
6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
Jesus is the ONLY Way to be saved from eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire! Who would NOT want to escape that? Then Jesus gives us these promises of what HE expects to happen IN and THROUGH His Church! Verses 12-14:
12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. 13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM].
Many of us haven't even done the same works that Jesus did, let alone greater works! Let's do better from this day forward! Let's be about our father's business!
Ezekiel 42-43 continue with the description of the Temple to come. Scholars differ on their ideas about this, so I hope you will read and study for yourself and allow the Spirit of God show you the Truth! That is what 2 Timothy 2:15 is speaking about!
15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
BE that person who DOES know their God, and YOU will be strong and DO exploits (Daniel 11:32)! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 135 is an "antiphonal" psalm. The first part would have been chanted or sung by the Worship Leader and the response by the congregation or by the choir. Verse 1:
1 O GIVE thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
The LORD is "good", the Hebrew word "towb", which means: good in the widest sense, beautiful, bountiful, joyful, kindly, loving, merry, precious, prosperity, rich, wealth, welfare, valuable; just to name a few! THAT is our God! The response for this and every new statement about Who He is and what He's done, is that His "mercy", the Hebrew word "checed", which means: goodness; kindness; faithfulness; loving-kindness; devotion; will endure forever! The word "endure" is not actually in there, but was added by the translators to clarify, and it IS appropriate! It actually says "for His "checed" forever"! "Forever" is the Hebrew word "olam", which means: time out of mind; eternal; perpetual; from ancient times into eternity! God FOREVER is GOOD and full of MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS!
Another important Truth that I noticed in this psalm is that they were thanking the LORD for everything, AND, every PART of everything! He smote the first-born of Egypt, THEN He brought Israel out! He divided the Red Sea FIRST; THEN He led the people through it! Don't be impatient waiting for answered prayer! Continue to stand on the Word of God and KNOW that He is working out every detail and putting "first things" FIRST! He is a God of ORDER! Allow God to BE God and then YOU will BE blessed! Amen! Enjoy this song from Hillsong called "Yours Is The Kingdom":
In John 13:1-3 we see what Jesus KNEW, and in verses 4-5 we see what Jesus DID! This was His last opportunity to prepare Himself and His disciples for what was just ahead. Here is a portion from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Jesus knew that "His hour was come". More than any of the Gospel writers, John emphasized the fact that Jesus lived on a "heavenly timetable" as He did the Father's will. Note the development of this theme:
2:4 -- "My hour is not yet come."
7:30 --"His hour was not yet come."
8:20 -- "His hour was not yet come."
12:23 -- "The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified."
13:1 -- "Jesus knew that His hour was come."
17:1 -- "Father the hour is come."
What was this divinely appointed "hour"? It was the time when He would be glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. From the human point of view, it meant suffering; but from the divine point of view, it meant glory. he would soon leave this world and return to the Father Who sent Him,Jesus having finished His work on earth (John 17:4). They could not even arrest Jesus, let alone kill Him, until the right hour had arrived.
In preparing the disciples for what was coming, Jesus said this to them in verses 19-20:
19 I tell you this now before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may be persuaded and believe that I am He [Who I say I am -- the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah]. 20 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who receives and welcomes and takes into his heart any messenger of Mine receives Me [in just that way]; and he who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way].
Have YOU received Him and welcomed Him and taken HIM into your heart? If so, HALLELUJAH! If not, WHY NOT? There is NO other Way to the Father than through Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:6)!
Ezekiel 40-41 deal with the new Temple that will be present during the Millennial rule of King Jesus! Here is an interesting section from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
It was on April 28, 573 B.C. — the first day of Passover that God gave Ezekiel the vision recorded in chapters 40-48. The Jews had been captives in Babylon for twenty-five years, and Passover would only remind them of their deliverance from Egypt. Passover was also the beginning of the religious year for Israel (Ex 12:2), and the Lord chose that significant day to tell His servant about the glory that Israel would share when Messiah established His kingdom.
In a vision. Ezekiel visited the land of Israel, but unlike his previous "visits," he didn't see sinful people, a devastated land, or a defiled temple. This time he saw a new land and a glorious new temple. Just as Moses received the tabernacle plans while on a mountain, so Ezekiel received the plans for the temple while on a mountain. Moses wasn't allowed to enter the Promised Land, but he saw it from a mountain (Deut 34:1-4) and from a high mountain Ezekiel saw the land and its new tribal divisions
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 135 is an "antiphonal" psalm. The first part would have been chanted or sung by the Worship Leader and the response by the congregation or by the choir. Verse 1:
1 O GIVE thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
The LORD is "good", the Hebrew word "towb", which means: good in the widest sense, beautiful, bountiful, joyful, kindly, loving, merry, precious, prosperity, rich, wealth, welfare, valuable; just to name a few! THAT is our God! The response for this and every new statement about Who He is and what He's done, is that His "mercy", the Hebrew word "checed", which means: goodness; kindness; faithfulness; loving-kindness; devotion; will endure forever! The word "endure" is not actually in there, but was added by the translators to clarify, and it IS appropriate! It actually says "for His "checed" forever"! "Forever" is the Hebrew word "olam", which means: time out of mind; eternal; perpetual; from ancient times into eternity! God FOREVER is GOOD and full of MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS!
Another important Truth that I noticed in this psalm is that they were thanking the LORD for everything, AND, every PART of everything! He smote the first-born of Egypt, THEN He brought Israel out! He divided the Red Sea FIRST; THEN He led the people through it! Don't be impatient waiting for answered prayer! Continue to stand on the Word of God and KNOW that He is working out every detail and putting "first things" FIRST! He is a God of ORDER! Allow God to BE God and then YOU will BE blessed! Amen! Enjoy this song from Hillsong called "Yours Is The Kingdom":
In John 13:1-3 we see what Jesus KNEW, and in verses 4-5 we see what Jesus DID! This was His last opportunity to prepare Himself and His disciples for what was just ahead. Here is a portion from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Jesus knew that "His hour was come". More than any of the Gospel writers, John emphasized the fact that Jesus lived on a "heavenly timetable" as He did the Father's will. Note the development of this theme:
2:4 -- "My hour is not yet come."
7:30 --"His hour was not yet come."
8:20 -- "His hour was not yet come."
12:23 -- "The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified."
13:1 -- "Jesus knew that His hour was come."
17:1 -- "Father the hour is come."
What was this divinely appointed "hour"? It was the time when He would be glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. From the human point of view, it meant suffering; but from the divine point of view, it meant glory. he would soon leave this world and return to the Father Who sent Him,Jesus having finished His work on earth (John 17:4). They could not even arrest Jesus, let alone kill Him, until the right hour had arrived.
In preparing the disciples for what was coming, Jesus said this to them in verses 19-20:
19 I tell you this now before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may be persuaded and believe that I am He [Who I say I am -- the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah]. 20 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who receives and welcomes and takes into his heart any messenger of Mine receives Me [in just that way]; and he who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way].
Have YOU received Him and welcomed Him and taken HIM into your heart? If so, HALLELUJAH! If not, WHY NOT? There is NO other Way to the Father than through Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:6)!
Ezekiel 40-41 deal with the new Temple that will be present during the Millennial rule of King Jesus! Here is an interesting section from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
It was on April 28, 573 B.C. — the first day of Passover that God gave Ezekiel the vision recorded in chapters 40-48. The Jews had been captives in Babylon for twenty-five years, and Passover would only remind them of their deliverance from Egypt. Passover was also the beginning of the religious year for Israel (Ex 12:2), and the Lord chose that significant day to tell His servant about the glory that Israel would share when Messiah established His kingdom.
In a vision. Ezekiel visited the land of Israel, but unlike his previous "visits," he didn't see sinful people, a devastated land, or a defiled temple. This time he saw a new land and a glorious new temple. Just as Moses received the tabernacle plans while on a mountain, so Ezekiel received the plans for the temple while on a mountain. Moses wasn't allowed to enter the Promised Land, but he saw it from a mountain (Deut 34:1-4) and from a high mountain Ezekiel saw the land and its new tribal divisions
Any time you are tempted by the enemy to get discouraged about THIS world, and THIS life, look ahead! God has the whole thing mapped out, and YOU are in the glorious future! Our responsibility now is to take as many with us into that future as we can possibly take! Make sharing the Gospel your #1 priority and other things in life will begin to shape up! Thank You, Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Shalom,
Psalm 135:1 says this:
1 PRAISE THE LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, O you servants of the LORD!
That includes the people of Israel THEN, and all of God's people everywhere NOW! We are included in that command, so PRAISE HIM! I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
The emphasis of the psalm is on praising the Lord because of who He is and what He has done for His people. It opens with the command to "praise the Lord" repeated four times and concludes with the command to "bless the Lord" also repeated four times. "Jehovah" is found thirteen times in the psalm, and the familiar phrase "praise the Lord" ("hallelujah") is repeated eight times. The psalm has been called "a mosaic" because it contains numerous quotations from other parts of Scripture, no doubt collected by a temple liturgist who, led by the Spirit, put the material together for a special occasion of worship. This psalm is an inspired statement of faith and believers today can shout a hearty "Amen!" to its affirmations.
AMEN!
John 12 has the account of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with costly perfume. One thing that I noticed more clearly this time through is found in verses 9-11:
9 Now a great crown of the Jews heard that he was at Bethany, and they came there, not only because of Jesus but that they also might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, 11 Because on account of him many of the Jews were going away [were withdrawing from and leaving the Judeans] and believing in and adhering to Jesus.
They SHOULD have recognized Who Jesus was themselves, and been the first to declare Him to the people! They were so jealous of Jesus that they would stop at nothing to try to get rid of Him in order to keep things as they had always been! That same spirit drives people to do ungodly things today. Remember, we are not dealing with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) and neither was Jesus! This would lead them to crucify the Lord of Glory! If the enemy had only known (1 Corinthians 2:8)! Thank God that he did not! Hallelujah!
Ezekiel 38-39 speak of the a war between Israel and those that would try to invade her from the north. They will NOT succeed, but this is the result in verses 22-23:
22 And with pestilence and with bloodshed will I enter into judgment with [Gog], and I will rain upon him and upon his hordes and upon the many peoples that are with him torrents of rain and great hailstones, firs and brimstone. 23 Thus will I demonstrate My greatness and My holiness, and i will be recognized, understood, and known in the eyes of many nations; yes they shall know that I am the LORD [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].
Ezekiel 39:27-29 speaks again of Israel:
27 When I have brought them again from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and My justice and holiness are set apart and vindicated through them in the sight of many nations, 28 Then shall they know, understand, and realize positively that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into captivity and exile among the nations and then gathered them to their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations any more [in the latter days]. 29 Neither will I hide My face and more then from them, when I have poured our My Spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
Much of this has already been fulfilled, some is yet to happen, but ALL will one day be accomplished exactly as the One, True God has said! We are living in MOST exciting times!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 135:1 says this:
1 PRAISE THE LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, O you servants of the LORD!
That includes the people of Israel THEN, and all of God's people everywhere NOW! We are included in that command, so PRAISE HIM! I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
The emphasis of the psalm is on praising the Lord because of who He is and what He has done for His people. It opens with the command to "praise the Lord" repeated four times and concludes with the command to "bless the Lord" also repeated four times. "Jehovah" is found thirteen times in the psalm, and the familiar phrase "praise the Lord" ("hallelujah") is repeated eight times. The psalm has been called "a mosaic" because it contains numerous quotations from other parts of Scripture, no doubt collected by a temple liturgist who, led by the Spirit, put the material together for a special occasion of worship. This psalm is an inspired statement of faith and believers today can shout a hearty "Amen!" to its affirmations.
AMEN!
John 12 has the account of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with costly perfume. One thing that I noticed more clearly this time through is found in verses 9-11:
9 Now a great crown of the Jews heard that he was at Bethany, and they came there, not only because of Jesus but that they also might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, 11 Because on account of him many of the Jews were going away [were withdrawing from and leaving the Judeans] and believing in and adhering to Jesus.
They SHOULD have recognized Who Jesus was themselves, and been the first to declare Him to the people! They were so jealous of Jesus that they would stop at nothing to try to get rid of Him in order to keep things as they had always been! That same spirit drives people to do ungodly things today. Remember, we are not dealing with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) and neither was Jesus! This would lead them to crucify the Lord of Glory! If the enemy had only known (1 Corinthians 2:8)! Thank God that he did not! Hallelujah!
Ezekiel 38-39 speak of the a war between Israel and those that would try to invade her from the north. They will NOT succeed, but this is the result in verses 22-23:
22 And with pestilence and with bloodshed will I enter into judgment with [Gog], and I will rain upon him and upon his hordes and upon the many peoples that are with him torrents of rain and great hailstones, firs and brimstone. 23 Thus will I demonstrate My greatness and My holiness, and i will be recognized, understood, and known in the eyes of many nations; yes they shall know that I am the LORD [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].
Ezekiel 39:27-29 speaks again of Israel:
27 When I have brought them again from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and My justice and holiness are set apart and vindicated through them in the sight of many nations, 28 Then shall they know, understand, and realize positively that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into captivity and exile among the nations and then gathered them to their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations any more [in the latter days]. 29 Neither will I hide My face and more then from them, when I have poured our My Spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
Much of this has already been fulfilled, some is yet to happen, but ALL will one day be accomplished exactly as the One, True God has said! We are living in MOST exciting times!
Shalom in Him!
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