Shalom,


Psalm 132:1-5:

1 LORD, [earnestly] remember to David's credit all his humiliations and hardships and endurance —  2 How he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 Surely I will not enter my dwelling house or get into my bed —  4 I will not permit my eyes to sleep or my eyelids to slumber, 5 Until I have found a place for the Lord, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob. AMP

We now know that David was not allowed to build the Temple for the LORD that he so greatly desired to build. We also know that it  was because of all the preparation that David had made, and the contributions, that Solomon was able to build it. David was sad at the time, but not any more! That is the glorious reality of being a believer in Jesus of Nazareth! We KNOW, for a certainty, that we have HEAVEN as our home when we live this earth (2 Corinthians 5:8)! As grand and glorious as that first temple was, it couldn't hold a candle to the glory of Heaven! Soon and VERY soon, we are going to see THE King of all kings! JESUS! HALLELUJAH!!! In the meantime, continue to be a doer of verse 7:


7 Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool.


Remember that WE are the Temple of the LORD on the earth now! 1 Corinthians 3:16:

16 Don’t you know that you people are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 

CJB

So worship Him in His Temple - EVERY DAY! Obedience brings GREAT blessings! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Everday"! If you double click, it should take you to You Tube where you can see the lyrics! 

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 has to be our attitude towards other people if we are going to walk pleasing to God while we are here on earth! 

16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh]. 17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! AMP

We, as born again believers, are no longer to look at people as mere humans. We MUST realize that God made every person a "speaking spirit"! Some spirits have been "reborn" because the person accepted and received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Saviour! Some have not! Those are the ones we need to reach with the Gospel of Jesus the Christ! It doesn't matter what they think, say or do, whether good or bad, they still ALL need a personal Saviour, because they are ALL personal sinners! As were all of us at one time! So don't judge people by what they APPEAR to be! Simply preach the Gospel! The ones who need it will have the chance to make a choice and the ones who already have, but aren't living "well" on the earth, will be reminded, by the Word of God, what they should be doing. That takes all of the judgement and criticism out of our hands and allows us to truly love them with the Love of God! AMEN! Here is a picture of some "Ingrafted" jewelry that we found on our trip to Israel! It says, "Jesus Christ, King of the Jews"! The fish represents Jesus, the Star of David represents the Kingship, the Menorah represents the Jewish people! I think that it is beautiful jewelry, with an even more beautiful meaning!

Judges 13-14 begins recalling the life of Samson. We would probably ALL say that Samson's weakness was women! We'll find out later in this story that wasn't entirely true! It may have been ONE weakness, but in Judges 14:4 was see that this WAS part of God's plan for him!

4 His father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, and that He sought an occasion for assailing the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 

AMP

God had a plan, and He was using Samson to carry it out! Some of the things that Samson went through were of his own doing, but God DID use Him, and in a mighty way! Stay tuned!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 131 is truly the picture of the balanced Christian life! David says this in verse 1:


1 LORD, MY heart is not haughty - ( I am not arrogant) -nor my eyes lofty - (I don't magnify myself); neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me (I don't operate in my own strength and ability, but rely on YOURS, and give YOU all the credit!). In verse 2 David is saying that he can operate in the peace of God because he is growing into a mature believer, one who is able to wait patiently on the LORD, with complete faith, trust and confidence that He WILL come through! Do YOU have that hope? God has promised to do great and mighty things THROUGH us (John 14:12)! He will confirm His own Word, spoken out of our mouths, and HE will be glorified! Recognizing who we are, IN HIM, will give us the confidence to do the things that Jesus did, knowing that it is HIS ability, but it happens THROUGH us! THAT is how He meant for us to live! AMEN!


Going right along with that is 2 Corinthians 4:5-7:

5 For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. 

6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  [Gen 1:3.] 

7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 

AMP

Do you see that God gets all of the glory when we act in obedience to His Word? WE  preach the Gospel and HE does the work of confirming His Word with signs and wonders and miracles (Mark 16:20)! We need to make sure that it is the Gospel that we are preaching, then God does the rest! And then, to further encourage us to continue fulfilling our ministry, in spite of all obstacles, trusting in His deliverance, verses 17-18:



17 For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], 

18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. 

AMP

His Word IS Truth, there are no contradictions, and everything we do now in obedience to God's Word, will result in blessings in THIS life and rewards in the next! And he will continue to receive all the glory! Hallelujah! Here is song "Yours Is The Kingdom" from Hillsong:

Judges 11-12 begins with the works of Jephthah. One of the things that I believe is most important concerning the life of Jephthah is the fact that even though other people didn't think he was deserving because he was the son of a harlot, God does not look on outward things! He judges the heart and ANYONE who comes to Him in faith, He will not turn away (1 Samuel 16:7)! It doesn't make any difference where you've been or what you've done in your life, either for good or for bad! Follow hard after God now and obey His Word and the voice of His Spirit, and He will use YOU mightily, too! He so wants to! AMEN!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 130:1-2:


1 OUT OF the depths have I cried to You, O LORD. 2 LORD, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.


We need to remember that THIS is an Old Testament prayer, based on the Covenant that THEY had with the One, True God. Hebrews 8:6 tells us this:


6 But now has He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.


The Amplified Bible says this:


6 But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is a Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.


What are those more excellent promises? One of them is found in 1 John 5:14-15 and is our answer for Psalm 130:1-2!


14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), he listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.


So what are we saying? We no longer have to beg God to hear us, we simply have to find out His will in any given situation, and then ask according to His will. Then He hears us and we HAVE it! AMEN! How do we know His will? His Word IS His will! Find out what the Word of God has to say about EVERY situation you face, and then make your petition to Him from His Word! After that, stand strong in the faith that He hears and ANSWERS! Praise Him for the answer! HALLELUJAH!


2 Corinthians 3:7-18 in the Complete Jewish Bible:



7 Now if that which worked death, by means of a written text engraved on stone tablets, came with glory — such glory that the people of Isra’el could not stand to look at Moshe’s face because of its brightness, even though that brightness was already fading away —  8 won’t the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory? 9 For if there was glory in what worked to declare people guilty, how much more must the glory abound in what works to declare people innocent! 10 In fact, by comparison with this greater glory, what was made glorious before has no glory now. 11 For if there was glory in what faded away, how much more glory must there be in what lasts. 

12 Therefore, with a hope like this, we are very open —  13 unlike Moshe, who put a veil over his face, so that the people of Isra’el would not see the fading brightness come to an end. 


14 What is more, their minds were made stonelike; for to this day the same veil remains over them when they read the Old Covenant; it has not been unveiled, because only by the Messiah is the veil taken away. 15 Yes, till today, whenever Moshe is read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 “But,” says the Torah, “whenever someone turns to Adonai, the veil is taken away.”  17 Now, “Adonai” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit. 

CJB

I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament:



Moses reflected the glory of God, but you and I may radiate the glory of God. When we meditate on God's Word and in it see God's Son, then the Spirit transforms us! We become more like the Lord Jesus Christ as we grow "from glory to glory." This wonderful process cannot be achieved by keeping the Law. The glory of the Law faded away, but the glory of God's grace continues to increase in our lives.

We "radiate" the Glory because the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Glory, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, LIVES IN US! This only happens, though, as we meditate on the Word of God and stay filled with the Spirit every day! If we don't, then we look just like the rest of the world! There really SHOULD be a difference in our countenances, don't you think? Here is a song from Hillsong called "From The Inside Out":

Judges 9 is the longest chapter in the Book of Judges and is one of the most depressing. Abimelech had such a craving, covetous hunger to be the king that he even took the lives of his own half-brothers, seventy of them, to ensure that he could rule. Time and time again we have seen in the Word of God that disobedience to God's Word will ALWAYS cost you dearly in the end! Did this happen to Abimelech? Look at verses 56-57:


56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech which he had done to his father [Gideon] by slaying his seventy brothers; 57 And all the wickedness of the men of Shechem God repaid upon their heads and cause to come upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal (Gideon).


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 129:1-2 says this:


1 MANY A time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up -- let Israel say -- 2 many a time and much have they afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.


The nation of Israel has experienced hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy, cruelty, attacks, war and bloodshed since almost the very beginning of their existence as a nation! Many times it was because of their own disobedience to the One, True God and His Word. Whatever the cause, when they repented, He ALWAYS delivered them! The nations at whose hands they suffered always reaped the result of their treatment of God's people! In spite of all that has happened to the nation, and the dispersion of the people from their land, Israel was reborn in 1948! When God is FOR you, it doesn't do ANYONE any good to be against you! This is the promise to the nation of Israel: Genesis 12:2-3:

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. 

3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. 

AMP

Today the nation of Israel, is celebrating 63 years as a Re-born nation! Join with me in blessing Israel according to the Word of God! Father, we ask for Your protection, provision and safety, peace, prosperity and blessing for the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem - in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth! AMEN! Here is are some pictures from last year's Independence Day celebration in Israel, when we were there!

GLORY TO GOD for His never-ending FAITHFULNESS!!!

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 is very good in the Amplified Bible and in both the Complete Jewish Bible and the Message Bible. The Amplified:

14 But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, 15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: 16 To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [ a fatal odor], the smell of doom]: to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?] 17 For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; But like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God. AMP

The Complete Jewish Bible:

14 But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost; 16 to the latter, we are the smell of death leading only to more death; but to the former, we are the sweet smell of life leading to more life. Who is equal to such a task? 17 For we are not like a lot of folks who go about huckstering God’s message for a fee; on the contrary, we speak out of a sincere heart, as people sent by God, standing in God’s presence, living in union with the Messiah. 

CJB

The Message Bible:

14 And I got it, thank God! 

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. 15 Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation — an aroma redolent with life. 16 But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 

This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? 17 No — but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can. 

THE MESSAGE

The bottom line? Keep preaching the Word of God, in season and out of season! Preach it when they WANT to hear it, and when they DON'T want to! We smell GOOD to God and to those who want Him. We smell BAD to those who don't want to have anything to do with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Either way, the ANSWER is given! AMEN!

In Judges 7-8 we continue with the life, and faith, of Gideon. Gideon is referred to in chapter 7 as Jerubaal - "let baal contend", because he had destroyed the alter dedicated to baal. When the people complained, they were told to let baal stick up for himself, IF he can! He couldn't! Just another life-less idol, formed with human hands and bowed down to! Gideon had to operate in faith concerning the One, True God, and His instructions. I read this in the Bible Exposition Comentary: Old Testament concerning walking in faith:

"A man of faith needs to be 

able to "see the invisible, choose the imperishable, and do the impossible."

 I like that! God gave some very specific instructions to Gideon. He was patient with Gideon when his faith was weak and he needed signs from God. He worked mightily through Gideon to confirm His Word! Gideon began with 32,000 men and, after God's "reduction instructions", he ended up with 300! The bigger the battle, the bigger, and better, the victory! God got all the glory for that! Wouldn't you think that having God operate through him in such an extraordinary manner would have settled Gideon's heart to obey God's Word always? It didn't! He ended up using the gold from the spoils to have a priest's ephod made and worshiped that! It was no different than the baal in God's eyes! Remember that God is SPIRIT, and must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth (His Word)! And ALWAYS - Give God the Glory! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 128 gives us the very simple, God-ordained "formula" to live a truly blessed life! I still have not found a translation that I like better than the Amplified Bible for verse 1:


1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the LORD, who walks in His ways and lives according to his commandments.


The simplest way to put it is, find out what God wants done, and HOW He wants it done, and then DO IT! AMEN! Blessings await! Hallelujah!


2 Corinthians 1:20 says:


20 For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. AMP


I also like this verse in the Complete Jewish Bible and the Message Bible:



20 For however many promises God has made, they all find their “Yes” in connection with him; that is why it is through him that we say the “Amen” when we give glory to God. 

CJB

20 Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. 

THE MESSAGE

I really like this from the Bible Expository Dictionary: New Testament:

 Jesus Christ reveals the promises, fulfills the promises, and enables us to claim the promises! 

So simply, yet powerfully put! God's Word shows the promises to us, the Holy Spirit gives us the revelation of it, then WE add the AMEN (So be it!) over our own lives!  I can't think of ANYONE more important to agree with than the One, True God! Can you?

Judges reveals the continuing saga of the nation of Israel! God used Deborah to deliver them from their enemies, then they went right back to doing evil! Judges 6:1:

1 BUT THE Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years. 

Was that the end for them? NO! And WE should take great encouragement from all of these situations to pick ourselves up WHEN we fail, and get back in line with His Word again! His mercy is new EVERY morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)! When they cried to the LORD again (Judges 6:7) He sent Gideon! We'll look more at Gideon tomorrow! 

Here is another proof that He will NEVER give up on the nation of Israel! Tomorrow they will celebrate the 63rd year of their rebirth as a Jewish nation! In honor of that,  here is a picture of the flag of Israel!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 127:2 says this:


2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil -- for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.


The word "vain" is the Hebrew word "shaw'", which means: deceit, deception, vanity, falsity, emptiness, uselessness, worthlessness. Rising up early and working hard CAN BE very positive things, IF we are relying on the One, True God, and HIS ability IN us! If we are doing this under our own strength, then it becomes all of those words above! As believers in Jesus of Nazareth, we will be rewarded in Heaven for the works we do on earth that are done in obedience and with the right attitude and motive! Anything else is useless, worthless, and empty! Don't give yourself a FALSE sense of accomplishment by doing "busy work". Be busy about what GOD has called and anointed you to do, and you will have GREAT rewards! 


I also love the Amplified Bible (above) for this verse. He not only gives us much needed sleep, that refreshes and rejuvenates us, but He gives TO us while we sleep! We can rest assured that while WE sleep, He does NOT (Psalm 121:3-4)! He is actively working on our behalf - AT ALL TIMES! Thank You, Jesus!


1 Corinthians 16:13 is an exhortation to all believers to GROW UP!:


13 Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength.


The Complete Jewish Bible says:


13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, behave like a mentsh, grow strong. CJB


A "mentsh" is: a person of integrity and honor, a stand-up person, someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. That is how we are to show ourselves in this world. Sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn't it? EXACTLY! 


In Judges 3:5-6 we se this:


5 And the Israelites dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites; 6 And they married their daughters and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.


You know, those same "gods" that could NOT deliver all of the other nations from the Israelites! How  could they do this? Have you ever heard the saying "out of sight, out of mind"? When they didn't have someone that they could see, constantly reminding them to serve the One, True God, the natural, human tendency is to follow what you CAN see! They did this time after time after time! The good news is that when they DID repent (change their thinking to agree with God) He ALWAYS delivered them! Not always in THEIR timing, but in His perfect time! In chapter 3 it was Ehud. Then, in chapter 4, when they did evil in the sight of the LORD again, He sent Deborah! Yes, that's right! A WOMAN! Hallelujah! God uses women, and He uses them  MIGHTILY! Verse 4-5:


4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time. 5 She sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.


It is NOT just a modern church concept to have women ministers! God did HIS thing a very long time ago! He is STILL working through mighty women of faith today! Thank You, Lord Jesus! If you KNOW a woman in ministry today, support her! If you ARE one, be the very best YOU that you can be! And give ALL the Glory to HIM! AMEN! Here is a song by Hillsong United called "His Glory Appears" that tells of His great faithfulness to us! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this portion of Psalm 126 in the Message Bible!  Verses 1-3:

126 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,

when God returned Zion's exiles. 

2 We laughed, we sang,

we couldn't believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations — 

"God was wonderful to them!" 

3 God was wonderful to us;

we are one happy people. 

We SHOULD be the "talk of the nations", right along with the nation of Israel! The Church of Jesus of Nazareth should be spoken about person to person and city to city, not for what we DON'T do, but for what we DO! The WORKS of Jesus (John 14:12)!  Let's be about our Father's business of setting the captives free! Not everyone will like us. In fact, many will NOT! But those who DO will be set free and be able to set others free also! 

1 Corinthians 15:39 is just one more witness AGAINST the "theory" (a supposition based on ignorance of the subject at hand!) of evolution! 

39 For all flesh is not the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for beasts, another for birds, and another for fish.

The "one" kind for each DOES NOT turn into another! God knew what He wanted and He made it just that way! AMEN! Here's a fun pic!

I really like verse 55 in the Message Bible!

Death swallowed by triumphant Life! 

55 Who got the last word, oh, Death?

Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now? 

And then verse 58 from the Amplified Bible:

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of  the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].

Of course, that "work of the Lord" is referring to what the Holy Spirit is individually leading YOU to do! As believers we are all individuals, with individual and unique personalities, gifts, talents, AND callings! Fulfill what GOD is calling YOU to do and support everyone else in theirs! Don't pressure someone else to join you, and absolutely refuse to be pressured by anyone else! Our rewards in Heaven, and this earth, will be based on our OBEDIENCE! Thank You, Jesus!

One of the saddest things to me in Scripture is reading about how many times the people failed to obey the Lord. He promised to deliver them and He ALWAYS did, when they obeyed Him! He had instructed them to drive out ALL of the inhabitants of the lands that He delivered up to them. In Judges today we read how they did NOT do this! Is it REALLY any wonder then that they had trouble, during all of the years of their existence as a nation, with the heathen nations? Remember that the "curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2). That means that, though SOME of the tests and trials we face come because we serve the Lord and the enemy wants to stop us, many of them come because of OUR disobedience to God's instructions! Which is it for you? No one else can answer that for you! But we DO know when we're being disobedient and when we're not! Let's get that straightened out in our own lives, then be prepared to help others! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 125:1-2:


1 THOSE WHO trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands forever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from this time forth and forever.


I found this in the Bible Expository Dictionary: Old Testament:

Spiritual security and stability belong to those who walk by faith. The city of Jerusalem was firmly established and could not be shaken. For one thing, it was built on a solid foundation of rock that went deep into the ground. The city was surrounded by a number of hills and probably two sets of walls. Even more, Jerusalem was home to the holy temple of Jehovah and the throne of David. God's glory and God's authority dwelt among His people.


The writer did not say that God's people should be like Mount Zion but that they are like Mount Zion. We are built upon the solid Rock, Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:11; 1 Peter 2:4-8). He dwells within us and He surrounds us with His protection and mercy. As people of faith, we shall not be moved (16:8; 21:7; 62:6). Like Paul, we say, "None of these things move me" (Acts 20:24). We have a marvelous standing, for we stand in God's grace (Rom 5:2; Gal 5:1), and we stand by faith (Rom 11:20). We take our stand on the truths of the Word of God (2 Thess 2:15) and stand in the will of God (Col 4:12). It is God who enables us to stand (2 Cor 1:21,24), and because He does, we are able to accomplish the work He wants us to do (1 Cor 15:58). When we begin to trust ourselves or other people, and we bypass the Lord, then we begin to waver, stumble, and fall. 



The Temple could NEVER have been destroyed and the city taken IF God's people had kept HIM as their #1 priority, by obeying His Word! The same is true for believers in Jesus of Nazareth! We have the POTENTIAL to never be defeated, IF we do things HIS Way! Choice, choices! I hope you are making the right ones, daily! Here is a picture of where Mount Zion was located and also a picture of the SOLID walls beneath the ground that have never been moved! A SOLID FOUNDATION!

1 Corinthians 14:1-5:

14 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 

NKJV

Paul is speaking about the best way to operate in a Worship Service. We are going to look at only the parts having to do with our personal prayer language today. Verse 2 tells us that when we pray in the Spirit, we pray spirit to spirit with the One, True God! We pray for things we don't understand, so that we can receive the understanding! How? By allowing the Holy Spirit to give us the interpretation of what we pray: Verses 13-14:

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 

NKJV

Verse 17 tells us that in tongues we "give thanks well" and verse 18a:

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 

NKJV

Again, Paul is speaking about his individual, private prayer life! We need to spend more time praying in the Spirit if we want to become  more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, understand the Word of God, and  be led by the Spirit. How much time do YOU spend praying in your precious heavenly prayer language? 

In Joshua 23-24 he reminds and warns the Israelites of the importance of serving the One, True God and obeying His Word. Joshua 23:14-16:

14 And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. Know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one thing of them has failed. 

15 But just as all good things which the Lord promised you have come to you, so will the Lord carry out [His] every [warning of] evil upon you, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. 

16 If you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, if you serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land He has given you. AMP

Joshua 24:31 says this:

31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the works the Lord had done for Israel. 

AMP

They served the LORD while those were still living, but we will see, as we continue in the Bible Reading Plan, just how they get away from the LORD again! But remember that He ALWAYS delivered them when they turned back to Him! That's called repentance. Changing our thinking to agree with God! Make sure your are doing that, too, so you can stay in intimate fellowship with Him!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I think that Psalm 124 is so very valuable for us to meditate on in the light of all the chaos that is going on in the world right now, AND what is yet to come! I am putting the entire Psalm from the Amplified Bible here:

1 IF IT had not been the Lord Who was on our side — now may Israel say —  

2 If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side when men rose up against us, 

3 Then they would have quickly swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us; 

4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us and swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 

5 Then the proud waters would have gone over us. 

6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 

7 We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 

Our "help", the Hebrew word "`ezer", which means: help, succor (dictionary: aid, assistance and support in times of hardship), is found in the Name of the LORD! The Name is Yahweh, or Jehovah! Remember all the of the Names of God that begin with "Jehovah"? Each on of those Names represents His aid or assistance for our deliverance in a particular area of need! He has declared, and proven, that HE is on OUR side! Who's side are YOU on? Make sure it's HIS! Then you can have complete faith, trust, and confidence that HE will deliver YOU in ANY situation, and from ANY enemy! Thank You, Jesus! 

1 Corinthians 13: 9-10 & 12:

9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). 10 But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). 12 For now we are looking in a mirror that give only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

The Word of God is PERFECT and perfectly clear! But OUR understanding of it is not! We are only seeing dimly right now! When will we see clearly? 1 John 3:2 tells us that!

2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. 

THAT is when we will understand His Word clearly! Until then, we still NEED tongues, prophecy and the teaching of the Word! Thank YOU, Jesus, for Your priceless gifts to us! AMEN! And verse 13 tells us that the greatest thing is still LOVE! God's love in us showing to the world. An excellent paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 can be found on this blog for this date in 2010! It comes from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems" book and is the best I have seen! Check it out!

Joshua 21: 43:

43 And the LORD gave to Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers. and they possessed it and dwelt in it. 

There you have it! GOD'S view of the nation of Israel! GOD'S borders! Here are 2 more pictures contrasting the borders ordained by the One, True God and the borders ordered by the world:

How DARE the rest of the world tell Israel what their borders should be? Satan has always been very daring! Very WRONG, but very daring! The Bible tells us not only what HIS end will be, but also all of those who side with him, AND against Israel! Make sure YOU are on the right side of this issue, too! Verses 44-45:

44 The LORD gave them rest round about, just as He had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies withstood them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hands. 45 There failed no part of any good thing which the LORD had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass.

How long did that last? Until the very next time they forgot the LORD their God and set their heart on other things. He has ALREADY blessed us, too! Ephesians 1:3:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Let's stay in close, intimate fellowship with HIM and be in position to appropriate all of those blessings! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 123 is another Psalm of  Ascents. For us to ascend, we will have to continue to grow up in the things of God! One of the things addressed in this Psalm is the Godly way to deal with persecution! Verse 4 says this:


4 Our life is exceedingly filled with the scorning and scoffing of those who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud (irresponsible tyrants who disregard God's law). 


The Complete Jewish Bible says this:


4 more than our fill of scorn from the complacent and contempt from the arrogant.


When we make the all-out commitment to obey the Word of God, as led by the Spirit of God, we WILL suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). The words for scorn and scorning above refers to mocking, while the word for contempt means disrespect. This is really pretty tame compared with actual physical persecution. That word, from 2 Timothy, refers to someone pursuing us, or chasing us down because of what we believe. That would be what Saul (Paul) was doing before he got saved! I don't  know about you, but I have been mocked and disrespected MANY times, but I have NEVER been chased down or away over the Word! Those times MAY be coming, but whether it's actual persecution or just bothersome scoffing, our answer to it is to DO verse 1:


1 UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven.


Our New Covenant Scripture is found in Hebrews 12:2:


2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.


He is our example of how to act under pressure and persecution! Staying filled with the Spirit and full of His Word will put us way ahead in this! 


1 Corinthians 12 is speaking of the Gifts of the Spirit and the Body of Christ! We will concentrate on the Body today. Verses 5-6 from the Message Bible:


5 God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. 6 God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God Himself is behind it all.


Then these verse, all from the Message Bible:

12 You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts — limbs, organs, cells — but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. 13 By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain — his Spirit — where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves — labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free — are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive. 


14 I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. 15 If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? 16 If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? 17 If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? 18 As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it. 


19 But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. 20 What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. 21 Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? 22 As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way — the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach.


25 The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, 26 the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. 

27 You are Christ's body — that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything.

We are all VALUABLE to each other, but no one is indispensable! We need to each do FULLY and ONLY "our part". Then we are knitted together by the Spirit of God and His work gets done! AMEN! Here is a song from Casting Crowns called "If We Are The Body?" which should challenge us to make sure we are doing OUR PART! 

Joshua 19-20 continues the dividing up of the land that God had promised for the nation of Israel, according to their Tribes. Again, the world would do well to check with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible when they start telling Israel what land should and should not be theirs! GOD HAS SPOKEN! Do they REALLY want to continue defying the one, True God? Those who persist, WILL find out! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 122:3-4:


3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compacted together -- 4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed and as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the Name of the LORD.


The first time I read verse 3, I thought it was referring to the closeness of everything within the Old City of Jerusalem. Even the new part of the city is not expanding, but being built from the outside in! They have set the outer limits of the city, and homes are being built from there inward towards the Old City. But that it NOT what this word means! The phrase "that is compacted" is the Hebrew word "chabar", which means: to join, to couple together, to unite, to bind together, to be joined, to be in league, to have fellowship with, to make an ally of, to make an alliance, to join forces. Under the Old Covenant, Jerusalem was to be the capitol city where the Temple was located and where the tribes would gather together, united in the worship of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God! Under our New Covenant, we are to join together with the nation of Israel in worship of the One, True God; in prayer for the protection, provision and safety of the people, the city and the nation; in standing against all of the works and workers of darkness who would seek to steal, kill and destroy what belongs to God alone! Jerusalem should NEVER be divided! There should NOT be a mosque in the middle of the Temple Mount, and it will NOT be there much longer! God will not allow the enemy to roam this city forever! The Messiah WILL return and set His feet on the Mount of Olives. He will then walk right through the Beautiful Gate as the King and Ruler of Jerusalem, of Israel and of the entire world! Come quickly, LORD Jesus! What do we do in the meantime? Verses 6-7:


6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]! 7 May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!


I also love the Message Bible for these verses:

6 Pray for Jerusalem's peace!
Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers! 
7 Friendly insiders, get along!
Hostile outsiders, keep your distance! 

AMEN! SO BE IT! Here is a picture of the beautiful city from out trip to Israel! 

And HERE is one of what the artist SUPPOSED that the New Jerusalem will look like!

In your study of 1 Corinthians 11, I will first refer you to Galatians 3:28:


28 There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


Temper everything you read in this chapter with the verse from Galatians and you will see that the traditional interpretations are seriously lacking in Truth! One key word here is found in verse 2:


2 I appreciate and commend you because you always remember me in everything and keep firm possession of the traditions, just as I have [verbally] passed them on to you.


The word "traditions" here and "ordinances" in the KJV is the Greek word "paradosis", which means: transmission, a precept, tradition, specifically the Jewish traditionary law. This is exactly the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 15:6b when He said this:


6b  Thus have you made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.


Do not let the "traditions" of men rob YOU of the effect of the genuine Truth found in the Word of God! Allow the Holy Spirit to teach YOU what the Word is saying about your own life! Live the life God intended you to live, free from the burden of anyone's tradition! Preach the Word is the commandment given to EVERY believer! AMEN!


In Joshua 17-18 we see Joshua exhorting the tribes to go up and take the land that God had promised them! Some of them had not yet taken their land and he said this to them in Joshua 18:3:


3 Joshua said to the Israelites, How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?


It was THEIR job to POSSESS what God had already provided! They had to have faith that when they moved, God would act on their behalf! He never failed to, WHEN they did things His way! Now THIS is one of many things that the Word of God says about US in 1 Peter 2:9:


9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 

Let's find out just exactly WHO we are IN CHRIST and GET TO IT! AMEN!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 121 is a very exciting Psalm for both the nation of Israel AND the Church of Jesus of Nazareth! Because we know that OUR God IS God, we can have complete faith, trust and confidence in His Word and His promises! Here is Psalm 121 from the Message Bible:



121 I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains? 
2 No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. 


3 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep. 
4 Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep. 


5 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you —  
6 Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke. 


7 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life. 
8 He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always. 

Doesn't that give you renewed confidence that you can do anything! God if FOR us! He is FOR the Church and He is FOR Israel! Romans 8:31:

31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]  

He IS for us! He is on OUR side! The question NOW is: Who's side are WE on? God's Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is filled with CHOICES! He has given us a free will, told us the RIGHT choice, and then left the responsibility for CHOOSING up to us! When we choose HIS way, then all of these promises MUST come to pass in our lives! I would NOT want to be a person or a nation found by HIM to be coming against Israel right now! I would also NOT want to be in the shoes of those who oppose the Church of Jesus of Nazareth, either! Why? Because our God neither slumbers or sleeps! He doesn't miss a thing! Don't YOU feel safer now? Don't allow fear for what is soon coming on the earth to even enter your thinking! Be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might! After all, He IS the Answer! AMEN!

1 Corinthians 10 is a reminder of what God did for the Israelites in the wilderness. Everything we just read in Psalm 121 above was available to them! He proved Himself over and over again! And yet they made CHOICES to go against His Word at almost every turn! How did THAT work for them? Verses 11-12 in 1 Corinthians 10 tells us that what we read about the Israelites in the wilderness, was written for OUR benefit! I really like the Message Bible for this, too:

11 These are all warning markers — Danger! — in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel — they at the beginning, we at the end — and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. 12 Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 

Joshua 15-16 speak again of the territory given to the tribe of Judah and the Joseph tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Here are two pictures contrasting what God said was the nation of Israel and what this present world has said! 

Can you tell that there is no real fear of the LORD among the nations of the world? Pray for the nations, especially YOUR nation! It is a very serious things to go against the God of the Bible, especially when it comes to dealing with His people! We are living in very extraordinary times!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 120:1-2:


1 IN MY distress I cried to the LORD, and he answered me. 2 Deliver me, O LORD, form lying lips and from deceitful tongues.


This Psalm is one of the Psalms of degrees, or ascents. The natural idea is of pilgrims making their way up to Jerusalem. The idea in the spiritual realm is that of growing up, or maturing, in the things of God. That happens through our study and meditation of the Word of the God, and obeying what we know to do! As New Covenant believers in Jesus of Nazareth, we know HOW to get Him to hear when we "cry out"! 1 John 5:14-15:


14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: 15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.


Now THAT is quite some promise! All that we have to do to get our prayers answered is to make sure that HE hears them! What does He hear? Things asked for that line up with His WILL! Where do we find His will? His Word IS His Will! Find out what the Word of God says about your particular situation, then refuse to even THINK about anything else! When He hears - we HAVE! AMEN! Thank You, Jesus!


In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul says this in verses 24-25:


24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. 25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temporarily and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. 


In a natural race, there is only 1 winner! In OUR race that Paul is speaking about, EACH person wins, IF we win! How do we win? By fulfilling God's will and purpose and plan for our lives! Remember that REAL success is being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do! No other person can beat us in our race! Our enemy, the devil, cannot beat us in our race! The only person who can affect OUR race is US! Make the determined purpose right now that you want God's will for your life more than any other thing! Paul goes on to say in verses 26-27:


26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. 27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it  by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. 


Now that doesn't mean you won't be in Heaven! It simply means that for all of  our TALK about the Gospel, if we don't put our own bodies under and make them come in line with the Word, then we REALLY don't BELIEVE the Gospel we preach! Don't ever let your body decide ANYTHING for you! Don't let your body tell you when to eat, when to sleep, when to exercise, when to get up, when to praise, when to pray....! You get the idea! Make your every decision based on the Word of God and your body will learn that it has NO SAY in the matter! AMEN!  


My favorite verses in Joshua 13-14 are found in Joshua 14:10-11:


10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in.


Joshua and Caleb had been the only ones of the twelve men sent out to spy the land who came back with a good report that they were well able to take the land. They had complete faith, trust, and confidence that the One, True God would deliver the enemy into their hands! That same faith in HIM caused Caleb to stand before Joshua and say what we just read! Do YOU want to be able to say that when YOU are 85? Then start NOW by refusing to believe anything contrary to that about yourself! Feed daily on the Word of God and stay filled with the Spirit of God and you, too, will find your strength grow instead of abate! AMEN! Now remember that Caleb was living under the promises of the Old Covenant! We have a new one and WE are living in the "Aftermath" of all that Jesus has provided for us! Hillsong United's "Aftermath":

Shalom in Him!