Shalom,
Psalm 123:1:
1 UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven.
The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is our ONLY sure source of protection, provision and safety! Look to HIM for your every need! Here is "I Lift Up My Eyes" from Integrity Music's Scripture Memory Songs:
Jude 1:1-2:
1 JUDE, A servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and brother of James [writes this letter] to those who are called (chosen), dearly loved by God the Father and separated (set apart) and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, [soul] peace, and love be multiplied to you.
This was the half-brother of Jesus who didn't believe in Him at first! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
A CALL TO ARMS!
Since the author of this epistle was the brother of James, this would make him the half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Mark 6:3). Our Lord's brothers in the flesh did not believe in Him while He was ministering (John 7:5). But after the Resurrection, James was converted (see 1 Cor 15:7), and we have every reason to believe that Jude was also saved at that time. Acts 1:14 informs us that "His brethren" were part of the praying group that was awaiting the Holy Spirit; 1 Cor 9:5 states that "the brethren of the Lord" were known in the early church.
So much for the identification of the author. Why did Jude write this letter? To warn his readers that the apostates were already on the scene! Peter had prophesied that they would come (2 Peter 2:1-3; 3:3 ff), and his prophecy had been fulfilled. Apparently Jude wrote to the same believers who had received Peter's letters, intending to stir them up and remind them to take Peter's warnings to heart. You will discover a number of parallels between Jude and 2 Peter as you study this fascinating but neglected letter.
He wrote to "exhort" them (Jude 3). In the Greek language, this word was used to describe a general giving orders to the army, hence the atmosphere of this letter is "military." Jude had started to write a quiet devotional letter about salvation, but the Spirit led him to put down his harp and sound the trumpet! The Epistle of Jude is a call to arms.
So are YOU ready to "take up arms" against the works and workers of darkness? If so, then you must do this from verses 20-21:
20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; 21 Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ (the Messiah) -- [which will bring you] unto life eternal.
Praying in the Spirit is one of the greatest blessings we have been given! To communicate spirit to Spirit with the One, True God is invaluable! To pray mysteries and secrets from the throne room of God into our lives here on earth is so precious! To be able to build us up in the faith we have received from hearing and hearing and hearing His Word is VITAL to walking in faith instead of doubt, fear and unbelief! Thank You, Jesus, for such wonderful blessings! Verses 24-25:
24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight] -- 25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it).
In Ezekiel 13-14 the LORD has Ezekiel address the false prophets. Ezekiel 13:1-3:
1 AND THE word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own mind and heart, Hear the word of the LORD! 3 Thus says the LORD GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit [and things they have not seen] and have seen nothing!
God was against the false prophets who were telling the people just the opposite of what Ezekiel and the other godly prophets were saying. These were saying what the people wanted to hear rather than the Truth of God's Word! We have been warned of false prophets in our day who will come preaching a "different" Gospel which is not the Truth! Remember that Jesus Himself said that HE is the only way to the Father! Anything else is FALSE! Know the Word of God so well that the false and untrue statements stand out so clear! Chapter 14 continues with the judgement of a Righteous God on a nation who had turned their back on Him! He preserved, in Babylon, a remnant for Himself so that He could once again return the people to the land He chose for them! The fact that they are a nation again after 1948 points to the eternal nature of the Word of God, His Promises and Covenants! We can COUNT ON HIM! HALLELUJAH!
Shalom in Him!
