Shalom,
Psalm 138:8 is a verse I stand on for myself!
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.
"Will perfect" is the Hebrew word, "gamar", which, in this case, means: to complete, to perfect, to perform, to finish, to fulfill, to accomplish. I have all confidence that Philippians 1:6 is MINE also!
6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return] developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Remember, it's HIS work, and He does a GREAT job! AMEN!
Continuing with THAT theme, we look at John 15:2-3:
2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away [trims off, takes away]; and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. 3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
It is spending time in the Word of God DAILY that will allow the Holy Spirit to complete the WORK in us! He does the work, but we must give Him something to work with! He goes on to say in verses 4-5:
4 Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Aren't you glad that you NEVER have to be apart from HIM again! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 44:23-24 reveals what the priests and high priests were SUPPOSED to be doing! This is why Jesus spoke so harshly to those very people during His earthly ministry.
23 The priests shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common or profane, and cause them to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in a controversy they shall act as judges, and they shall judge according to My judgments; and they shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts, and they shall keep My Sabbaths holy.
These priests and high priests were supposed to be teaching the people the Truth of God's Word, but they didn't know the Word themselves any longer! You and I have the priceless privilege of having the Word of God so abundantly in these times! We also have the awesome responsibility of getting that Word our to the people! Preach the Gospel at every opportunity! THAT is God's #1 priority! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 137:1:
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].
Sitting was the official position for mourning, and that is what the Jewish exiles were doing! They were finally experiencing what the prophets had warned them over and over again would happen IF they didn't repent! NOW they repent and are in mourning for all that they had lost! They were mocked by the Babylonians, verses 2-4:
2 On the willow trees in the midst of [Babylon] we hung our harps. 3 For there they who held us captive required of us a song with words, and our tormentors and they who wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 how shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
The Babylonians were mocking the Jewish captives by asking them to sing the songs that they sang in Zion about how mighty their God was to deliver them and about how safe and secure their city was! They also wanted, for their own entertainment, to hear the Jewish captives sing the songs that were reserved for the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! The people refused and called on God to avenge them of their adversaries!
In John 14 Jesus is sharing Truths with His disciples concerning what is about to happen. They CANNOT receive it, yet! Verses 3-9:
3 And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am You may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way. 5 Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? 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. 7 If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. 8 Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father -- that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. 9 Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, how can you say then, Show us the Father?
The disciples DID NOT see and understand the Word because they COULD NOT! Remember the Scripture we looked at in 1 Corinthians 2:14:
14 But the natural man receives NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.
The first order of business was to get them born again, so that the Spirit of God could come to live inside of them and give them them the ability to understand and obey the Word! Verses 16-17:
16 And I will ask the Father, and Her will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever -- 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for he lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.
What a wonderful treasure it is to have the Spirit of god living IN US! We are NEVER alone and without help! He will be to us whatever we need AND allow Him to be! Take the time YOU need to get to know the ONE Who lives in you!
Ezekiel is continuing with the description of the new Temple! Just read it and imagine it!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 137:1:
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].
Sitting was the official position for mourning, and that is what the Jewish exiles were doing! They were finally experiencing what the prophets had warned them over and over again would happen IF they didn't repent! NOW they repent and are in mourning for all that they had lost! They were mocked by the Babylonians, verses 2-4:
2 On the willow trees in the midst of [Babylon] we hung our harps. 3 For there they who held us captive required of us a song with words, and our tormentors and they who wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 how shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
The Babylonians were mocking the Jewish captives by asking them to sing the songs that they sang in Zion about how mighty their God was to deliver them and about how safe and secure their city was! They also wanted, for their own entertainment, to hear the Jewish captives sing the songs that were reserved for the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! The people refused and called on God to avenge them of their adversaries!
In John 14 Jesus is sharing Truths with His disciples concerning what is about to happen. They CANNOT receive it, yet! Verses 3-9:
3 And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am You may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way. 5 Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? 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. 7 If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. 8 Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father -- that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. 9 Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, how can you say then, Show us the Father?
The disciples DID NOT see and understand the Word because they COULD NOT! Remember the Scripture we looked at in 1 Corinthians 2:14:
14 But the natural man receives NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.
The first order of business was to get them born again, so that the Spirit of God could come to live inside of them and give them them the ability to understand and obey the Word! Verses 16-17:
16 And I will ask the Father, and Her will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever -- 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for he lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.
What a wonderful treasure it is to have the Spirit of god living IN US! We are NEVER alone and without help! He will be to us whatever we need AND allow Him to be! Take the time YOU need to get to know the ONE Who lives in you!
Ezekiel is continuing with the description of the new Temple! Just read it and imagine it!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 136 is what is known as an "antiphonal" Psalm. That means that this Psalm was sung in parts; with the priests singing the first part and the people responding with the last part. The priests would declare something that the LORD had done, then the people would respond with "for His mercy endures forever." The word for "mercy" here is the Hebrew word, "checed", which means: loving-kindness, steadfast love, mercy, grace, faithfulness, goodness, devotion, favor. "Endures" was added by the translators to clarify "forever", which is the Hebrew word, "`olam", which means eternity. You can't get any more FOREVER than that! AMEN! My favorite is verse 1:
1 O GIVE thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
There is NO getting away from the greatness of our God, and who would WANT to?
John 13:1:
1 [NOW ]BEFORE the Passover feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.
Jesus KNEW and UNDERSTOOD exactly what was about to happen to Him! Even though He could have, at any time, stopped the whole thing (John 10:18; Matthew 26:53)! But He didn't, because of the joy that was set before Him (US), and because of His great love for us! Verse 1 says that He HAD loved His disciples and that He continued to love them to the "end". That is the Greek word, "telos", which means: the limit, that by which a thing is finished. It ALSO means: to the utmost degree! What does that mean? It means Jesus loves us LONG (forever) and BEST (better than any other)! That should greatly encourage you! If He loved them to that extant before they were even born again, how do you think He loves you? TO THE FULL! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 40-41 an angelic being gave Ezekiel a "guided tour" of the new Millennial Temple that would be built in the future! Here is a picture of what was described to Ezekiel:
As we continue on in Ezekiel in the next few days, refer back to this sketch! God has a plan! He has ALWAYS had HIS plan! He has a plan for YOU! Find out what it is, and then pour your heart into fulfilling that plan and purpose! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 136 is what is known as an "antiphonal" Psalm. That means that this Psalm was sung in parts; with the priests singing the first part and the people responding with the last part. The priests would declare something that the LORD had done, then the people would respond with "for His mercy endures forever." The word for "mercy" here is the Hebrew word, "checed", which means: loving-kindness, steadfast love, mercy, grace, faithfulness, goodness, devotion, favor. "Endures" was added by the translators to clarify "forever", which is the Hebrew word, "`olam", which means eternity. You can't get any more FOREVER than that! AMEN! My favorite is verse 1:
1 O GIVE thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
There is NO getting away from the greatness of our God, and who would WANT to?
John 13:1:
1 [NOW ]BEFORE the Passover feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.
Jesus KNEW and UNDERSTOOD exactly what was about to happen to Him! Even though He could have, at any time, stopped the whole thing (John 10:18; Matthew 26:53)! But He didn't, because of the joy that was set before Him (US), and because of His great love for us! Verse 1 says that He HAD loved His disciples and that He continued to love them to the "end". That is the Greek word, "telos", which means: the limit, that by which a thing is finished. It ALSO means: to the utmost degree! What does that mean? It means Jesus loves us LONG (forever) and BEST (better than any other)! That should greatly encourage you! If He loved them to that extant before they were even born again, how do you think He loves you? TO THE FULL! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 40-41 an angelic being gave Ezekiel a "guided tour" of the new Millennial Temple that would be built in the future! Here is a picture of what was described to Ezekiel:
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Shalom,
I really like Psalm 135:6:
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleases, that has He done in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Whatsoever the LORD (Jehovah) "pleased", the Hebrew word, "chaphets", which means: to delight in, to take pleasure in, to be pleased with; HE DID! AMEN! It pleased the God the Father to send God the Son to bring Salvation to US! It pleased God the Son, Who became the Son of God, to lay down His own life as a sacrifice for OUR redemption! It pleased the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to provide THE WAY for us to become children of God; heirs of God and joint, equal heirs WITH Jesus of Nazareth! It pleased the LORD to provide the Word of God so that we can operate in faith here on earth! Do you get the picture? God Himself set it up and it pleased Him to do so! When someone tells you, "Well, God is Sovereign. He can do whatever He wants to." Then YOU say, "Yes, the Sovereign God chose to set it up so that those who are born again should operate in the same authority that Jesus had when He ministered on the earth! The Sovereign God shows us in His Word how to walk in Divine health, prosperity, success, victory, authority and power NOW, in THIS life!" GLORY TO GOD!
I want to look at John 12:16 today:
16 His disciples did not understand and could not comprehend the meaning of these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified and exalted, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.
Jesus faithfully taught His disciples for the entire three years of His ministry on earth, even though they would not, and COULD not, understand it at the time! Why not? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 2:14:
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
They COULD not understand because they had not yet been born again. The moment they were born again, they received the Spirit of God to live in them and HE made the Word clear to them! He also brought to their remembrance all of the things that Jesus had taught them! That is why we CANNOT try to teach the Word to unbelievers! They need to hear the simple Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth so that they CAN be born again. Once they are, THEN they can be taught!
In Ezekiel 38-39 we see the war of Gog and Magog. I believe that this war may or may not happen before the Rapture of the church, but it most definitely precedes the Tribulation! We don't know just how much time will take place between the Rapture and the signing of the treaty with the anitchrist, but we DO know that once that treaty is signed, there will be only seven more years! While it IS fun and interesting to speculate these things, it does not affect our lives, because we won't be here! So what do we do? Get into the Word of God and get the Word of God into you! Spend time every day in praise and worship, and in one on one fellowship with the One, True, Most high, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! God will most definitely take care of the rest! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
I really like Psalm 135:6:
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleases, that has He done in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Whatsoever the LORD (Jehovah) "pleased", the Hebrew word, "chaphets", which means: to delight in, to take pleasure in, to be pleased with; HE DID! AMEN! It pleased the God the Father to send God the Son to bring Salvation to US! It pleased God the Son, Who became the Son of God, to lay down His own life as a sacrifice for OUR redemption! It pleased the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to provide THE WAY for us to become children of God; heirs of God and joint, equal heirs WITH Jesus of Nazareth! It pleased the LORD to provide the Word of God so that we can operate in faith here on earth! Do you get the picture? God Himself set it up and it pleased Him to do so! When someone tells you, "Well, God is Sovereign. He can do whatever He wants to." Then YOU say, "Yes, the Sovereign God chose to set it up so that those who are born again should operate in the same authority that Jesus had when He ministered on the earth! The Sovereign God shows us in His Word how to walk in Divine health, prosperity, success, victory, authority and power NOW, in THIS life!" GLORY TO GOD!
I want to look at John 12:16 today:
16 His disciples did not understand and could not comprehend the meaning of these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified and exalted, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.
Jesus faithfully taught His disciples for the entire three years of His ministry on earth, even though they would not, and COULD not, understand it at the time! Why not? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 2:14:
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
They COULD not understand because they had not yet been born again. The moment they were born again, they received the Spirit of God to live in them and HE made the Word clear to them! He also brought to their remembrance all of the things that Jesus had taught them! That is why we CANNOT try to teach the Word to unbelievers! They need to hear the simple Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth so that they CAN be born again. Once they are, THEN they can be taught!
In Ezekiel 38-39 we see the war of Gog and Magog. I believe that this war may or may not happen before the Rapture of the church, but it most definitely precedes the Tribulation! We don't know just how much time will take place between the Rapture and the signing of the treaty with the anitchrist, but we DO know that once that treaty is signed, there will be only seven more years! While it IS fun and interesting to speculate these things, it does not affect our lives, because we won't be here! So what do we do? Get into the Word of God and get the Word of God into you! Spend time every day in praise and worship, and in one on one fellowship with the One, True, Most high, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! God will most definitely take care of the rest! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 134:1:
1 BEHOLD, BLESS (affectionately and gratefully praise) the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, [singers] who stand by night in the house of the LORD.
If you would ask one of the priests or Levites of the Temple when the worship service ended, they would say, "Never!" David had set it up so that temple choirs would be praising the LORD both day and night (1 Chronicles 9:33; 23:30)! This doesn't take place in any pagan temple. I guess their so-called "gods" need to rest, but OUR GO; the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4), so He SHOULD be receiving praise continually! Think about it. When you go to sleep in your home, someone on the other side of the world is just waking up and praising Him! GLORY!
John 11 begins with Mary and Martha sending for Jesus because their brother, Lazarus was ill. They wanted Him to come right away because they had faith the if Jesus were there, Lazarus would recover! Jesus did NOT go right away! He wanted to not only teach Mary and Martha more about how to operate in faith, but He wanted to show His disciples, too! Some people are under the impression that the Apostles were some kind of spiritual giants who just absorbed the teaching of Jesus and did them. NOT SO! There were many times when Jesus would say, "How long must I be with you?" Verse 4 is very revealing:
4 When Jesus received the message, He said, This sickness is not to end in death, but [on the contrary] it is to honor God and to promote His glory, that the Son of God may be glorified through (by) it.
And He was! Jesus went, raised Lazarus from the dead, taught them about faith and the operation of it, and conquered the last stronghold of fear - the fear of death! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 36 the Lord has this to say in verses 23-24:
23 And I will vindicate the holiness of My great Name and separate it for its holy purpose from all that defiles it -- My Name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them -- and the nations will know, understand, and realize that I Am the LORD [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service],when I shall be set apart by you and My holiness vindicated in you before their eyes and yours. 24 For I will take you from among the nations and gather you our of all countries and bring you into your own land.
The fulfillment of that in our present day began in 1948 and continues! He is continually bringing His own people back from all the lands they have been dispersed to! Hallelujah! Then in Ezekiel 37:4 & 7-10:
4 Again He said to me, Prophesy to these bones and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise and behold, a shaking and trembling and a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked and behold there were sinews upon [the bones] and flesh came upon them and skin covered them over, but there was no breath or spirit in them. 9 Then said He to me, prophesy to the breath and spirit, son of man, and say to the breath and spirit, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath and spirit, and breathe upon these slain that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath and spirit came into [the bones], and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great host.
How could this happen? Hebrews 4:12:
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of the joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
SPEAK THE WORD into any and every situation you are facing today! The Word WORKS! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 133 only has three verses, but the message is so important for the church today!
1 BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 it is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. 3 It is like the dew of [lofty Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion, for there the LORD has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly].
The idea of unity here is not just everyone gathering together to hold a worship service! Although that IS pleasant and can be a real blessing, the idea of unity here means so much more than that! The dictionary definition of unity is:
20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
[As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion] This was not Mount Zion, Tsiyown, in Jerusalem, but Sion, Siy'on, which is a part of Hermon, see Deut 4:48: "Mount Zion, which is Hermon." On this mountain the dew is very copious. Mr. Maundrell says that "with this dew, even in dry weather, their tents were as wet as if it had rained the whole night."
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. 12 But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. and the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. 13 Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].
11 Say to them, As is live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why would you die, O house of Israel?
9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but he is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but hat all should turn to repentance.
Psalm 133 only has three verses, but the message is so important for the church today!
1 BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 it is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. 3 It is like the dew of [lofty Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion, for there the LORD has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly].
The idea of unity here is not just everyone gathering together to hold a worship service! Although that IS pleasant and can be a real blessing, the idea of unity here means so much more than that! The dictionary definition of unity is:
- The state or quality of being one; oneness
- The act, state, or quality of forming a whole from separate parts
- Something whole or complete that is composed of separate parts
20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
21 That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.
22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:
23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.
This is the "unity" that the Psalm is talking about! This "oneness" comes from each individual person seeing the Word of God as Truth! That is where Jesus' prayer began! John 17:17...Thy Word is Truth! Then we see that this unity is just like the ointment with which the very first High Priest, Aaron, was anointed for service in the Holy of Holies! We have each received that anointing (1 John2:20). When all of those anointed ones stand together on the Word of God, there is much more power available! Then we see the comparison to the dew on Mount Hermon. I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
[As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion] This was not Mount Zion, Tsiyown, in Jerusalem, but Sion, Siy'on, which is a part of Hermon, see Deut 4:48: "Mount Zion, which is Hermon." On this mountain the dew is very copious. Mr. Maundrell says that "with this dew, even in dry weather, their tents were as wet as if it had rained the whole night."
The Anointing, the Glory, the Presence of the LORD, is magnified in our unity! Guess what! If YOU are spending time in the Word and in the presence of God daily, and I am, too, then when we come together, IN UNITY, we can accomplish more for the Kingdom of God than either of us alone! Hallelujah!
John 10:10-13:
Of course we know that the thief is satan, and all of his cohorts. We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Who are the hired servants? I believe that these are the religious leaders of Bible times who SHOULD have known Him and didn't! They were not interested in the Truth themselves, and they tried to keep others from the Truth, too. I also believe that "religious" leaders in our time are the same! There are many who call themselves pastors who have never even received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Saviour themselves! Another thought I have when I read these verses is that Jesus, Who is God the Son, GAVE Himself for our salvation! What other so-called "gods" have ever given their lives for their subjects? NONE! From the Old Testament "gods" or idols to the present day false gods that some serve! Not only that, but not one of them lives today! Only the One, True< Most High, LIVING, Almighty God of the Bible died and now lives! Hallelujah!
In Ezekiel 34 the LORD speaks of shepherds again! He is not happy with the spiritual shepherds of Israel and the fact that they fed themselves and not the sheep! The whole chapter is about the fact that HE will become the Shepherd of His sheep! Then we will end with this thought from Ezekiel 33:11:
Even though the Lord has promised to protect us from our enemies and to avenge us of our adversaries, he does NOT want them to die in their sins! Remember this in 2 Peter 3:9:
Don't HATE your enemies, pray for them! What should you pray? Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers across their path to preach the Gospel to them, and that the Holy Spirit will prepare their hearts to receive! THAT prayer is pleasing to God and will reap you a sure reward and abundant blessing, whether or not they choose Him! What a wonderful God we serve! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 132 is said to have been written for the transfer of the Ark of the covenant from the Tabernacle to the new Temple built by Solomon. There is a tribute to David who had supplied all of the provision for the building of the Temple, but had not been allow to build it. What a tremendous blessing and privilege it is to now BE the House of God! The Holy of Holies is in US (believers in Jesus of Nazareth)! His presence is in us by the Holy Spirit! Verse 9:
9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God); and let Your saints shout for joy!
So DO IT! SHOUT for JOY! HALLELUJAH!!!
John 9:39:
39 The Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be a separation between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind.
At first glance this would seem to be a contradiction to John 3:17 where Jesus said that God didn't send the Son to condemn the world. Remember, though, that what APPEARS to be a contradiction is really just something we have yet to learn! God sent Jesus to bring Salvation! But when Jesus came, the Word that He preached DID cause a separation! Those who believed and received were set free! Those who refused and rejected, most of whom were religious leaders who SHOULD have known the Word, had CHOSEN to reject the Salvation He had offered! That's why Jesus said what He did in verse 41:
41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. [If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see clearly, you are unable to escape your guilt.]
DON'T be one who refuses to accept and receive the Truth!
In Ezekiel 31-32 we see further judgment on the nations who had exalted themselves and had NOT acknowledged the One, True, Most High, Living Almighty God of the Bible! If the nations of the world we live in would understand Who is REALLY in control, they would never come against the nation of Israel! The future of all of these nations is spelled out in the Word of God! In fact, the Word of God says that in the end, Israel will stand completely alone and have to rely, again, ONLY on the One, True God! things are leading up to that point steadily in our time! Watch, pray and be ready! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 132 is said to have been written for the transfer of the Ark of the covenant from the Tabernacle to the new Temple built by Solomon. There is a tribute to David who had supplied all of the provision for the building of the Temple, but had not been allow to build it. What a tremendous blessing and privilege it is to now BE the House of God! The Holy of Holies is in US (believers in Jesus of Nazareth)! His presence is in us by the Holy Spirit! Verse 9:
9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God); and let Your saints shout for joy!
So DO IT! SHOUT for JOY! HALLELUJAH!!!
John 9:39:
39 The Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment [as a Separator, in order that there may be a separation between those who believe on Me and those who reject Me], to make the sightless see and to make those who see become blind.
At first glance this would seem to be a contradiction to John 3:17 where Jesus said that God didn't send the Son to condemn the world. Remember, though, that what APPEARS to be a contradiction is really just something we have yet to learn! God sent Jesus to bring Salvation! But when Jesus came, the Word that He preached DID cause a separation! Those who believed and received were set free! Those who refused and rejected, most of whom were religious leaders who SHOULD have known the Word, had CHOSEN to reject the Salvation He had offered! That's why Jesus said what He did in verse 41:
41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. [If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see clearly, you are unable to escape your guilt.]
DON'T be one who refuses to accept and receive the Truth!
In Ezekiel 31-32 we see further judgment on the nations who had exalted themselves and had NOT acknowledged the One, True, Most High, Living Almighty God of the Bible! If the nations of the world we live in would understand Who is REALLY in control, they would never come against the nation of Israel! The future of all of these nations is spelled out in the Word of God! In fact, the Word of God says that in the end, Israel will stand completely alone and have to rely, again, ONLY on the One, True God! things are leading up to that point steadily in our time! Watch, pray and be ready! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Shalom,
I like Psalm 131 in the Message Bible:
1 God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. 2 I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. 3 Wait Israel, for GOD. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!
David was fully aware of God's presence in his life, MOST of the time! He was content to be what God had called him to be! That is the same attitude we should all have! 1 Timothy 6:6 says that it brings abundance into our lives!
6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.
There are several things that really stand out to me in John 8 today. The first is in verse 1-2. The previous chapter took place mainly in the Temple with arguments about Who Jesus was. The people all left to go home, but Jesus did not!
1 BUT JESUS went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back to the Temple [court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,
When everyone else went home to sleep, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray and fellowship with His Heavenly Father! After spending the night away from people and in the presence of the Father, Jesus was ready to teach the people! We all need to be doing this BEFORE we open our mouths to other people! That's why James tells us to do THIS in James 1:19:
19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak. slow to take offense and to get angry.
If we HEAR from God BEFORE we speak, we WILL speak "as the oracle of God"! (1 Peter 4:11) That brings us to John 8:31-32:
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to my teachings and lie in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
The Truth is the Word of the Living God! (John 17:17) Center your entire life around the Word of God! Make it your vital necessity! Then you will know TRUE freedom! AMEN! Then we see the Jews questioning, again, Who Jesus is. He says this in verse 58:
58 Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM.
They did not understand His Deity! They could only see the Man. If they had really understood their own Scriptures, they would have recognized Who He was! I like this verse in the Message Bible!
58 "Believe Me," said Jesus, "I am Who I am long before Abraham was anything."
I love that! And guess what? He STILL IS! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 28:1-10 the LORD is telling Ezekiel what to say to the prince of Tyre. Verse 2:
2 Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is lifted up and you have said and thought, I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas; yet you are only man [weak, feeble, made of earth] and not God, though you imagine yourself to be almost more than mortal with your mind as the mind of God;
This man had such an exalted opinion of himself! He did not acknowledge that it was the One, True God Who allowed him to succeed! There was a certain end for him that the LORD instructed Ezekiel to speak out and it happened! Then in verses 11-19 the LORD instructs Ezekiel to speak to the king of Tyre. In these verses He is speaking to satan! He, too, has a certain end! It WILL come to pass! Until that time, we have been given ALL authority over him through the Blood of Jesus, by the Word of God, and in the Name of Jesus! USE IT! The authority was given so that we would operate just as Jesus did in His earthly ministry!
Ezekiel 30:20-26 shows the LORD dealing with Egypt. They had to acknowledge, again, that our God IS God! I find it very exciting to read over these Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment! Everything that God said would happen, DID happen! All of the prophecies concerning the Messiah have been, or soon will be, fulfilled in Jesus! We are living in the most exciting time! Keep looking up AND looking out to the ripe fields! Do all that you can do to preach the Good News while there is still time to do so! Soon and VERY soon, we are going to see our KING of kings! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
I like Psalm 131 in the Message Bible:
1 God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. 2 I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. 3 Wait Israel, for GOD. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!
David was fully aware of God's presence in his life, MOST of the time! He was content to be what God had called him to be! That is the same attitude we should all have! 1 Timothy 6:6 says that it brings abundance into our lives!
6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.
There are several things that really stand out to me in John 8 today. The first is in verse 1-2. The previous chapter took place mainly in the Temple with arguments about Who Jesus was. The people all left to go home, but Jesus did not!
1 BUT JESUS went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back to the Temple [court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,
When everyone else went home to sleep, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray and fellowship with His Heavenly Father! After spending the night away from people and in the presence of the Father, Jesus was ready to teach the people! We all need to be doing this BEFORE we open our mouths to other people! That's why James tells us to do THIS in James 1:19:
19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak. slow to take offense and to get angry.
If we HEAR from God BEFORE we speak, we WILL speak "as the oracle of God"! (1 Peter 4:11) That brings us to John 8:31-32:
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to my teachings and lie in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
The Truth is the Word of the Living God! (John 17:17) Center your entire life around the Word of God! Make it your vital necessity! Then you will know TRUE freedom! AMEN! Then we see the Jews questioning, again, Who Jesus is. He says this in verse 58:
58 Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM.
They did not understand His Deity! They could only see the Man. If they had really understood their own Scriptures, they would have recognized Who He was! I like this verse in the Message Bible!
58 "Believe Me," said Jesus, "I am Who I am long before Abraham was anything."
I love that! And guess what? He STILL IS! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 28:1-10 the LORD is telling Ezekiel what to say to the prince of Tyre. Verse 2:
2 Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is lifted up and you have said and thought, I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas; yet you are only man [weak, feeble, made of earth] and not God, though you imagine yourself to be almost more than mortal with your mind as the mind of God;
This man had such an exalted opinion of himself! He did not acknowledge that it was the One, True God Who allowed him to succeed! There was a certain end for him that the LORD instructed Ezekiel to speak out and it happened! Then in verses 11-19 the LORD instructs Ezekiel to speak to the king of Tyre. In these verses He is speaking to satan! He, too, has a certain end! It WILL come to pass! Until that time, we have been given ALL authority over him through the Blood of Jesus, by the Word of God, and in the Name of Jesus! USE IT! The authority was given so that we would operate just as Jesus did in His earthly ministry!
Ezekiel 30:20-26 shows the LORD dealing with Egypt. They had to acknowledge, again, that our God IS God! I find it very exciting to read over these Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment! Everything that God said would happen, DID happen! All of the prophecies concerning the Messiah have been, or soon will be, fulfilled in Jesus! We are living in the most exciting time! Keep looking up AND looking out to the ripe fields! Do all that you can do to preach the Good News while there is still time to do so! Soon and VERY soon, we are going to see our KING of kings! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 130:3-4 says it all, in my opinion!
3 If You, LORD, should keep account of and treat [us according to our] sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You [just what man needs], that You may be reverently feared and worshiped.
We have NO HOPE of salvation apart from Jesus! He paid the price for ALL sin for ALL time when He BECAME sin with our sin! He paid the price we COULD NOT pay! For that, and for Who He IS, He should be reverently feared and worshiped continually! AMEN!
I really enjoy John 7:16-17:
16 Jesus answered them saying, My teaching is not My own, but His Who sent Me. 17 If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own authority.
What is the answer for people who can't seem to understand the Word when they read it? They need to develop the DESIRE to be pleasing to God! He is very pleased when we take the time to get to know Him through His Word! Pray with Paul in Philippians 3: "My determined purpose is to KNOW HIM!"
In Ezekiel 26-27 we witness the warning of destruction, the actual destruction and the lament over the destruction of the city of Tyre. The judgment came because they rejoiced over the judgment and destruction of Jerusalem! It is NO LIGHT THING in the eyes of God, to come against the nation of Israel and/or the city of Jerusalem! Tyre was destroyed in progressive attacks over time. The reason for the lament was because the destruction of this particular city affected the economy of all the other countries at that time. It was the center of all merchandising along the Mediterranean Coast! The lesson here? Don't be quick to pass judgment on or to pray for the destruction of your enemies! Leave that to God and trust HIM to continue to provide prosperity any way He chooses! AND never come against the nation of Israel or the city of Jerusalem! Are they always right? NO! But THAT is not our business! Our command is to bless them! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 130:3-4 says it all, in my opinion!
3 If You, LORD, should keep account of and treat [us according to our] sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You [just what man needs], that You may be reverently feared and worshiped.
We have NO HOPE of salvation apart from Jesus! He paid the price for ALL sin for ALL time when He BECAME sin with our sin! He paid the price we COULD NOT pay! For that, and for Who He IS, He should be reverently feared and worshiped continually! AMEN!
I really enjoy John 7:16-17:
16 Jesus answered them saying, My teaching is not My own, but His Who sent Me. 17 If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own authority.
What is the answer for people who can't seem to understand the Word when they read it? They need to develop the DESIRE to be pleasing to God! He is very pleased when we take the time to get to know Him through His Word! Pray with Paul in Philippians 3: "My determined purpose is to KNOW HIM!"
In Ezekiel 26-27 we witness the warning of destruction, the actual destruction and the lament over the destruction of the city of Tyre. The judgment came because they rejoiced over the judgment and destruction of Jerusalem! It is NO LIGHT THING in the eyes of God, to come against the nation of Israel and/or the city of Jerusalem! Tyre was destroyed in progressive attacks over time. The reason for the lament was because the destruction of this particular city affected the economy of all the other countries at that time. It was the center of all merchandising along the Mediterranean Coast! The lesson here? Don't be quick to pass judgment on or to pray for the destruction of your enemies! Leave that to God and trust HIM to continue to provide prosperity any way He chooses! AND never come against the nation of Israel or the city of Jerusalem! Are they always right? NO! But THAT is not our business! Our command is to bless them! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 129 is addressing the persecution of the nation of Israel (and of the church) by those who don't know or want God. We can fall into complacency where this is concerned unless we take the time to look at these things! I like this passage that I found in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Egypt tried to drown the Jews (Ex 1:15-22), but the Lord drowned Egypt's crack troops (Ex 14:19-31). The Assyrians tried to starve them into surrender, but God wiped out the Assyrian army (Isa 37-38). Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon, tried to burn them up, but the Lord delivered them (Dan 3). Belshazzar blasphemed the God of Israel and defiled the holy vessels of the temple, but that very night, the Medes and Persians killed him. The Persian soothsayers tried to throw Daniel to the lions, but God rescued him and the beasts killed the soothsayers instead (Dan 6). Hitler killed over six million Jews in his gas chambers, but he was soundly defeated, and the nation of Israel was born a few years later. The church of Jesus Christ has experienced persecution, but it still stands and will stand until Jesus returns (Matt 16:18). This persecution will continue, right up until Jesus appears in the air for the church! Every true believer can identify with Paul's testimony in 2 Cor 4:7-12.
As believers in Jesus of Nazareth, we WILL suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), but we also have THIS promise if we don't quit! Romans 8:18:
18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred upon us!
There is a lot going on in John 6! I want to direct your attention specifically today to verse 63:
63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.
There is no natural thing we can do as human beings that will accomplish anything in the Heavenly realm! We cannot earn our way to Heaven and we can NEVER be "good enough" for Heaven because the Word of God tells us that to miss it even once is to be guilty of breaking all the Law (James 2:10) So what exactly is Jesus saying here? He is revealing the Truth that the ONLY way to eternal Life is through the Word! He had preached the Gospel to them! Re-read John 6 and see if you can pick up on what he was saying. Then He brought all down to this verse! Receive the Living Word that He was speaking and receive the Life! That word "life" is the Greek word, "zoe", which means: the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God! It IS the same LIFE that God has in Himself! And when we receive HIM (Jesus) we receive this same LIFE! Hallelujah!
In Ezekiel today we see the judgment of God against the nations that rejoiced at the judgement of Israel and Judah! God was disciplining His own chosen people for their sin, but that did NOT give other nations the right to come against them! God had promised that one day the nation would be restored and it has happened in our lifetime! We have also seen what has happened to nations who have come AGAINST Israel! Woe to them! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and its capital of Jerusalem! To NOT do so is to go against God's Word and the results will NOT be pretty! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 128 is a celebration of the life of those who truly fear the LORD and belong to Him! Verse 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.
"Blessed" is the Hebrew word, " 'ashre ", which means: prosperity, happiness, the happiness of one who has the favor of God bestowed on them! Who are blessed? Those who "fear" the LORD! This is the Hebrew word, " yare' ", which means: reverence! Hold HIM in high esteem and as your #1 priority, in reverence and awe for Who He is! THEN the rest of Psalm 128 will become true of YOU! The promises in the rest of this Psalm go all the way from finding the right spouse and having a blessed marriage, through having children and into older age with grandchildren! The entire life of a true worshiper is covered in the blessing of God! Then the Psalm ends with this in verse 6b:
6 ....Peace be upon Israel!
Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem!
John 5 speaks of the healing of the man lying at the Pool of Bethesda. As always, the religious Jews questioned the TIMING of the healing! Never mind that they just witnessed a miraculous manifestation of the power of God that NONE of them had ever witnessed before! Jesus had this to say in verse 24:
24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.
There you have the Gospel! Jesus Himself presented it to them and they had a choice to make! So do we all! What we do with Jesus determines our eternal destinies! Choose wisely, and encourage others to do so, also! AMEN!
Ezekiel continues to speak of the sins of Israel and Judah. Where previous chapters spoke of their idolatry in turning to other so-called gods, these chapters speak of their reliance on other nations! God did NOT plan a global government on the earth until the reign of Jesus of Nazareth as King! In fact, He thwarted plans for such a thing when He confused the languages at Babel and dispersed the people. All of the current plans for global government and global currency, etc., are mankind's very futile attempt to show that they can do it alone without God! They can't! God began it and HE will have the final say in how this world ends up! HINT: He laid it all out in "The Book"! Check out Psalm 33:12:
12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His heritage.
Nations who honor the God of the Bible have ALWAYS been blessed and those who don't, aren't! Keep that in mind as you continue your study in the Word of God and as you witness the things happening in the world today! Our God IS STILL God! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 128 is a celebration of the life of those who truly fear the LORD and belong to Him! Verse 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.
"Blessed" is the Hebrew word, " 'ashre ", which means: prosperity, happiness, the happiness of one who has the favor of God bestowed on them! Who are blessed? Those who "fear" the LORD! This is the Hebrew word, " yare' ", which means: reverence! Hold HIM in high esteem and as your #1 priority, in reverence and awe for Who He is! THEN the rest of Psalm 128 will become true of YOU! The promises in the rest of this Psalm go all the way from finding the right spouse and having a blessed marriage, through having children and into older age with grandchildren! The entire life of a true worshiper is covered in the blessing of God! Then the Psalm ends with this in verse 6b:
6 ....Peace be upon Israel!
Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem!
John 5 speaks of the healing of the man lying at the Pool of Bethesda. As always, the religious Jews questioned the TIMING of the healing! Never mind that they just witnessed a miraculous manifestation of the power of God that NONE of them had ever witnessed before! Jesus had this to say in verse 24:
24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.
There you have the Gospel! Jesus Himself presented it to them and they had a choice to make! So do we all! What we do with Jesus determines our eternal destinies! Choose wisely, and encourage others to do so, also! AMEN!
Ezekiel continues to speak of the sins of Israel and Judah. Where previous chapters spoke of their idolatry in turning to other so-called gods, these chapters speak of their reliance on other nations! God did NOT plan a global government on the earth until the reign of Jesus of Nazareth as King! In fact, He thwarted plans for such a thing when He confused the languages at Babel and dispersed the people. All of the current plans for global government and global currency, etc., are mankind's very futile attempt to show that they can do it alone without God! They can't! God began it and HE will have the final say in how this world ends up! HINT: He laid it all out in "The Book"! Check out Psalm 33:12:
12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His heritage.
Nations who honor the God of the Bible have ALWAYS been blessed and those who don't, aren't! Keep that in mind as you continue your study in the Word of God and as you witness the things happening in the world today! Our God IS STILL God! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
SATURDAY'S POST
Shalom,
Psalm 127:1-2 actually go together:
1 EXCEPT THE LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the LORD keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. 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.
Notice that the word "vain" is used 3 times in these two verses! This is the Hebrew word, "shav`", which means: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, worthlessness. All of our efforts are really worthless and of no value whatsoever IF what we are trying to accomplish is NOT part of God's plan! Also worthless and of no value are our attempts at ANYTHING unless we are trusting in the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! IF we belong to Him and are trusting in the presence and power of God inside of us, then there is no need for us to lose sleep over situations or get all stressed out trying to do things in our own strength! We NEVER have to rely on our own strength again! Hallelujah! HE gives us enough of everything, EVEN WHILE WE SLEEP, that we can be more than conquerors and over come victoriously in EVERY situation we face! Just remember to give HIM all the praise, thanksgiving and worship for the results! AMEN!
In John 4 we have the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Even many of the commentaries I have read seem to emphasize the sin of this Samaritan woman. I don't believe THAT is the point of this story at all! Was there any one of us without sin before we were born again? I believe it is very important to notice that Jesus was at that well at the very time that the women would be showing up to draw water. Do you REALLY think that this was a coincidence? I don't! Jesus was at this specific place, at this specific time, in order to minister LIFE to this woman! And His main concern was NOT that she was living in sin, but that she was a sinner without a Saviour! He was preparing her heart to be in position to be born again after He laid down His life! The disciples came back and were shocked that Jesus is even speaking to this Samaritan, who was also a woman! We can all be so narrow minded sometimes! Jesus is not NEARLY so concerned with the specific sins of the people as He is with their having an opportunity to know, understand and realize that HE offered them LIFE! I love verse 10:
10 Jesus answered her, If you had known and had recognized God's gift and Who this is that is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given you living water.
That is really the heart of the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! Let's learn to look beyond the obvious and get to the heart of the matter with people! AMEN!
In studying Ezekiel 21-22 I am reminded of the sinfulness of our own nation and how far away from the standard of God's Word parts of this nation have turned! Then I saw this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Under "Query 18 " in his Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." Ezekiel has defended the justice of God and magnified the mercy and grace of God. What more could he do?
Then I found THIS in Ezekiel 22:30:
30 And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
I KNOW that He has found more than one to stand in the gap for THIS country! We are standing on 2 Chronicles 7:14:
14 If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Notice that it DOES NOT say that all of the people who live in the land, but MY people! Those who belong to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible through the New Birth may intercede got our land and He WILL hear! Eventually this country, too, will run out of time, but not before we complete our work here! Join us and be one who will stop complaining about the nation and will pray and intercede instead! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Shalom,
Psalm 127:1-2 actually go together:
1 EXCEPT THE LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the LORD keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. 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.
Notice that the word "vain" is used 3 times in these two verses! This is the Hebrew word, "shav`", which means: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, worthlessness. All of our efforts are really worthless and of no value whatsoever IF what we are trying to accomplish is NOT part of God's plan! Also worthless and of no value are our attempts at ANYTHING unless we are trusting in the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! IF we belong to Him and are trusting in the presence and power of God inside of us, then there is no need for us to lose sleep over situations or get all stressed out trying to do things in our own strength! We NEVER have to rely on our own strength again! Hallelujah! HE gives us enough of everything, EVEN WHILE WE SLEEP, that we can be more than conquerors and over come victoriously in EVERY situation we face! Just remember to give HIM all the praise, thanksgiving and worship for the results! AMEN!
In John 4 we have the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Even many of the commentaries I have read seem to emphasize the sin of this Samaritan woman. I don't believe THAT is the point of this story at all! Was there any one of us without sin before we were born again? I believe it is very important to notice that Jesus was at that well at the very time that the women would be showing up to draw water. Do you REALLY think that this was a coincidence? I don't! Jesus was at this specific place, at this specific time, in order to minister LIFE to this woman! And His main concern was NOT that she was living in sin, but that she was a sinner without a Saviour! He was preparing her heart to be in position to be born again after He laid down His life! The disciples came back and were shocked that Jesus is even speaking to this Samaritan, who was also a woman! We can all be so narrow minded sometimes! Jesus is not NEARLY so concerned with the specific sins of the people as He is with their having an opportunity to know, understand and realize that HE offered them LIFE! I love verse 10:
10 Jesus answered her, If you had known and had recognized God's gift and Who this is that is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given you living water.
That is really the heart of the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! Let's learn to look beyond the obvious and get to the heart of the matter with people! AMEN!
In studying Ezekiel 21-22 I am reminded of the sinfulness of our own nation and how far away from the standard of God's Word parts of this nation have turned! Then I saw this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Under "Query 18 " in his Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." Ezekiel has defended the justice of God and magnified the mercy and grace of God. What more could he do?
Then I found THIS in Ezekiel 22:30:
30 And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
I KNOW that He has found more than one to stand in the gap for THIS country! We are standing on 2 Chronicles 7:14:
14 If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Notice that it DOES NOT say that all of the people who live in the land, but MY people! Those who belong to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible through the New Birth may intercede got our land and He WILL hear! Eventually this country, too, will run out of time, but not before we complete our work here! Join us and be one who will stop complaining about the nation and will pray and intercede instead! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 126:1-2:
1 WHEN THE LORD brought back the captives [who returned] to Zion, we were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal]. 2 Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them.
The most powerful things about standing on God's Word until we see the promises fulfilled is how the world sees it! When God gets involved, and God gets the glory, people notice! That is all a part of our job of lifting Him up! When he promised this in John 12:32:
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
Jesus spoke those words referring to His crucifixion. It is ALSO true for every time that WE give Him glory and praise for every good thing! That, too, is lifting Him up for the world to see! What will He do? He will draw people to Himself! Rejoice and be glad for all of the good blessings that you receive into your life every day! you will be sowing good seed for your harvest AND you will be giving God something to work with to draw the hearts of the unbelievers to Himself! AMEN!
In studying John 3 I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Not only was Benjamin Franklin a great statesman and inventor, but he was also a great correspondent and received letters from famous people from all over the world. One day he received what could well have been the most important letter ever to come to his desk. It was from the well-known British preacher George Whitefield.
I find that you grow more and more famous in the learned world," Whitefield wrote. "As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains."
John 3 is all about the New Birth! Start YOUR study there! Jesus was the ONE Who said:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
To be born again we must:
35 The Father loves the Son and has given (entrusted, committed) everything into His hand. 36 And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him, His indignation hangs over him continually].
DON'T be one who does not believe! Accept and receive new life from the God of the Bible and become all that God intended for you to be, now, in THIS life, and afterward - HEAVEN!!!
As the people of Israel continue to reject the warnings of the prophet and fall deeper and deeper into sin, there is, always waiting for them, the promise of God to the obedient! Verse 41-44:
41 I will accept you [graciously] as a pleasant odor when I lead you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered, and I will manifest My holiness among you in the sight of the nations [who will seek Me because of My power displayed in you]. 42 And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I lifted up My hand and swore to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall [earnestly] remember your ways and all your doings with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evil deeds which you have done. 44 And you shall know, understand, and realize that I AM the LORD, when i deal with you for My Name's sake, not according to your evil ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.
I'm glad YOU have changed your thinking to agree with God!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 126:1-2:
1 WHEN THE LORD brought back the captives [who returned] to Zion, we were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal]. 2 Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them.
The most powerful things about standing on God's Word until we see the promises fulfilled is how the world sees it! When God gets involved, and God gets the glory, people notice! That is all a part of our job of lifting Him up! When he promised this in John 12:32:
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
Jesus spoke those words referring to His crucifixion. It is ALSO true for every time that WE give Him glory and praise for every good thing! That, too, is lifting Him up for the world to see! What will He do? He will draw people to Himself! Rejoice and be glad for all of the good blessings that you receive into your life every day! you will be sowing good seed for your harvest AND you will be giving God something to work with to draw the hearts of the unbelievers to Himself! AMEN!
In studying John 3 I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Not only was Benjamin Franklin a great statesman and inventor, but he was also a great correspondent and received letters from famous people from all over the world. One day he received what could well have been the most important letter ever to come to his desk. It was from the well-known British preacher George Whitefield.
I find that you grow more and more famous in the learned world," Whitefield wrote. "As you have made such progress in investigating the mysteries of electricity, I now humbly urge you to give diligent heed to the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important and interesting study and, when mastered, will richly repay you for your pains."
John 3 is all about the New Birth! Start YOUR study there! Jesus was the ONE Who said:
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
To be born again we must:
- Believe that Jesus is Who He said He was.
- Believe that He died on the cross for us.
- Believe that He was raised from the dead and is alive!
- Recognize that we are personal sinners who NEED a Saviour.
- Accept and receive Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour.
35 The Father loves the Son and has given (entrusted, committed) everything into His hand. 36 And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him, His indignation hangs over him continually].
DON'T be one who does not believe! Accept and receive new life from the God of the Bible and become all that God intended for you to be, now, in THIS life, and afterward - HEAVEN!!!
As the people of Israel continue to reject the warnings of the prophet and fall deeper and deeper into sin, there is, always waiting for them, the promise of God to the obedient! Verse 41-44:
41 I will accept you [graciously] as a pleasant odor when I lead you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered, and I will manifest My holiness among you in the sight of the nations [who will seek Me because of My power displayed in you]. 42 And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I lifted up My hand and swore to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall [earnestly] remember your ways and all your doings with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evil deeds which you have done. 44 And you shall know, understand, and realize that I AM the LORD, when i deal with you for My Name's sake, not according to your evil ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.
I'm glad YOU have changed your thinking to agree with God!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 125:5b:
5 ...Peace be upon Israel!
The word "peace" is the wonderful Hebrew word, "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment. THAT is to be our prayer for Israel! When we pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, we are in the perfect will of God and we WILL be blessed (Genesis 12:3)! Now let's take that further and speak "shalom" over, and to, everyone we meet! Remember that the seed we SOW is the also what we shall REAP! I LOVE reaping shalom! How about you?
John 2:18-22:
18 Then the Jews retorted, What sign can You show us, seeing You do these things? [What sign, miracle, token, indication can You give us as evidence that You have authority and are commissioned to act this way?] 19 Jesus answered them, Destroy (undo) this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again. 20 Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will you raise it up in three days? 21 But He had spoken of the temple which was His body. 22 When therefore he had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this. And so they believed and trusted and relied on the Scripture and the Word (message) Jesus had spoken.
Even the disciples that were the closest to Jesus and had been with Him the longest, did not REALLY understand what was about to happen to Him! Jesus was so faithful to continue to give them the Word of God, so that WHEN they were able to understand, they would remember what He had taught them! Don't get discouraged if it seems like some Truths from the Word of God seem difficult to understand. You WILL eventually "get it" if you don't give up and quit! Knowledge of God's Word is built layer upon layer and it takes time! BE FAITHFUL!
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the fact that some people, religions and nations have set themselves against God and are His enemies, that we forget how GOD Himself looks at them! Ezekiel 18:23:
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his evil ways and return [to his God] and live?
The Father is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7)! He wants that none should perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)! Let's not be quick to condemn the enemies of God. That is really HIS job, when the set time for judgment has come. For now, there is still time for hearts to be changed! What do we do? Preach the Gospel, in season and out of season! When it is convenient, and even when it isn't! THAT is OUR calling and only reason to be living on this earth right now! DO IT WELL!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 125:5b:
5 ...Peace be upon Israel!
The word "peace" is the wonderful Hebrew word, "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment. THAT is to be our prayer for Israel! When we pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, we are in the perfect will of God and we WILL be blessed (Genesis 12:3)! Now let's take that further and speak "shalom" over, and to, everyone we meet! Remember that the seed we SOW is the also what we shall REAP! I LOVE reaping shalom! How about you?
John 2:18-22:
18 Then the Jews retorted, What sign can You show us, seeing You do these things? [What sign, miracle, token, indication can You give us as evidence that You have authority and are commissioned to act this way?] 19 Jesus answered them, Destroy (undo) this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again. 20 Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will you raise it up in three days? 21 But He had spoken of the temple which was His body. 22 When therefore he had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this. And so they believed and trusted and relied on the Scripture and the Word (message) Jesus had spoken.
Even the disciples that were the closest to Jesus and had been with Him the longest, did not REALLY understand what was about to happen to Him! Jesus was so faithful to continue to give them the Word of God, so that WHEN they were able to understand, they would remember what He had taught them! Don't get discouraged if it seems like some Truths from the Word of God seem difficult to understand. You WILL eventually "get it" if you don't give up and quit! Knowledge of God's Word is built layer upon layer and it takes time! BE FAITHFUL!
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the fact that some people, religions and nations have set themselves against God and are His enemies, that we forget how GOD Himself looks at them! Ezekiel 18:23:
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his evil ways and return [to his God] and live?
The Father is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7)! He wants that none should perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)! Let's not be quick to condemn the enemies of God. That is really HIS job, when the set time for judgment has come. For now, there is still time for hearts to be changed! What do we do? Preach the Gospel, in season and out of season! When it is convenient, and even when it isn't! THAT is OUR calling and only reason to be living on this earth right now! DO IT WELL!
Shalom in Him!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Shalom,
We've already looked at the fact that God is on our side and that WE need to make the choice to be on HIS side by obeying the Word and putting Him first place. Today I want to look at Psalm 124:6-8:
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.
Not only has He delivered us from the snare, or trap, that the enemy had laid for us, but He BROKE the trap! The enemy has no authority over us at all! ALL authority, in Heaven and earth, has been given to Jesus, and HE has given it to us to use in His Name (Matthew 28:18-20 - Amplified)! Remember that HIS Name is above every name that is named (Philippians2:9)! USE IT!
John 1:11-12:
11 He came to that which belonged to Him [ to His own -- His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His Name --
It never ceases to amaze me that many of the very people who were waiting and waiting for their promised Messiah, actually missed Him when He came! They were expecting someone different! If they had actually known the Scriptures they were reading, they would have recognized Him! The prophecies having to do with Messiah are very clearly fulfilled in Yeshua (Jesus)! Eventually, though, they WILL see Him clearly! I pray that they will see while they still have time! AMEN! The Truth about Jesus is found in verse 14:
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
He came to pay the price for sin so that we could have eternal LIFE! THANK YOU, JESUS!
In Ezekiel 15-16 God explains what Israel had done against His Word. He starts back at the beginning of His relationship with them and covers His history with them. He called them, anointed them, delivered them, prospered them, covenanted with them, and yet they STILL turned their back on Him to serve other gods, who are NOT gods at all! They wanted to be like other nations, even though they had the very best of everything! God was forced, by their idolatry, to give them over to be taken captive so that He could preserve them! Ezekiel 16:60:
60 Nevertheless, I will [earnestly] remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant.
God will NEVER forget His covenants! Temporary captivity, in order to preserve them from falling into total wickedness, did NOT wipe out His covenant with the nation of Israel! Nothing can! Verses 62-63:
62 And I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know (understand and realize) that I am the LORD, 63 That you may [earnestly] remember and be ashamed and confounded and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done, says the Lord GOD.
There WILL be a day, soon and very soon, when the Jewish people will know, recognize and understand that their Messiah has already come and they missed Him! Then they will flock to Him and make Him their Lord and Saviour! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
We've already looked at the fact that God is on our side and that WE need to make the choice to be on HIS side by obeying the Word and putting Him first place. Today I want to look at Psalm 124:6-8:
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.
Not only has He delivered us from the snare, or trap, that the enemy had laid for us, but He BROKE the trap! The enemy has no authority over us at all! ALL authority, in Heaven and earth, has been given to Jesus, and HE has given it to us to use in His Name (Matthew 28:18-20 - Amplified)! Remember that HIS Name is above every name that is named (Philippians2:9)! USE IT!
John 1:11-12:
11 He came to that which belonged to Him [ to His own -- His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His Name --
It never ceases to amaze me that many of the very people who were waiting and waiting for their promised Messiah, actually missed Him when He came! They were expecting someone different! If they had actually known the Scriptures they were reading, they would have recognized Him! The prophecies having to do with Messiah are very clearly fulfilled in Yeshua (Jesus)! Eventually, though, they WILL see Him clearly! I pray that they will see while they still have time! AMEN! The Truth about Jesus is found in verse 14:
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
He came to pay the price for sin so that we could have eternal LIFE! THANK YOU, JESUS!
In Ezekiel 15-16 God explains what Israel had done against His Word. He starts back at the beginning of His relationship with them and covers His history with them. He called them, anointed them, delivered them, prospered them, covenanted with them, and yet they STILL turned their back on Him to serve other gods, who are NOT gods at all! They wanted to be like other nations, even though they had the very best of everything! God was forced, by their idolatry, to give them over to be taken captive so that He could preserve them! Ezekiel 16:60:
60 Nevertheless, I will [earnestly] remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant.
God will NEVER forget His covenants! Temporary captivity, in order to preserve them from falling into total wickedness, did NOT wipe out His covenant with the nation of Israel! Nothing can! Verses 62-63:
62 And I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know (understand and realize) that I am the LORD, 63 That you may [earnestly] remember and be ashamed and confounded and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done, says the Lord GOD.
There WILL be a day, soon and very soon, when the Jewish people will know, recognize and understand that their Messiah has already come and they missed Him! Then they will flock to Him and make Him their Lord and Saviour! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 123:2:
2 Behold, as the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.
The hand of a master represents protection from harm, provision of needs and guidance and direction. As people look to natural leaders, SO MUCH MORE should we be looking to the "hand" of the LORD our God for all of these things! That's why verse 1 says:
1 UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in Heaven.
Jude was written by Jude, one of the half-brothers of Jesus; the others being James, Joses and Simon (Mark 6:3). Peter had warned the church about false teachers and false leaders and Jude was letting the people know that they were there! Verse 4:
4 For certain men have crept in stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Notice that these people were NOT born again believers in Jesus of Nazareth. They had disowned and denied Jesus as Lord and Master. Verse 4 says that they "gained entrance secretly by a side door". Anyone truly born again MUST come in by the RIGHT Door! The ONLY Way! John 14:6:
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.
They were warned then and we can take that same warning now! There have always been, and will continue to be, those false teachers and scorners and mockers. What are we to do? Verses 20-21:
20 But you, beloved, build yourself 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 you] unto eternal life.
So there it is! The instruction, along with the promise! God LOVES you! Don't be distracted from that Truth by anything the enemy will try to bring your way! KNOW the Word and it will become VERY clear to you! AMEN!
Ezekiel is sent in our reading today to expose false prophets and those involved in idolatry. The judgement that God had warned about was about to take place! Notice verses 13-14:
13 Son of man, when a land sins against Me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out My hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it and cut off from it man and beast, 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they would save but there own lives by their righteousness (their uprightness and right standing with Me), says the Lord God.
That tells me that even under the Old Covenant, the righteousness of these three would have delivered them! HOW MUCH MORE will OUR right standing with God deliver us in every situation, because we HAVE that better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6)! Hallelujah!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 123:2:
2 Behold, as the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.
The hand of a master represents protection from harm, provision of needs and guidance and direction. As people look to natural leaders, SO MUCH MORE should we be looking to the "hand" of the LORD our God for all of these things! That's why verse 1 says:
1 UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in Heaven.
Jude was written by Jude, one of the half-brothers of Jesus; the others being James, Joses and Simon (Mark 6:3). Peter had warned the church about false teachers and false leaders and Jude was letting the people know that they were there! Verse 4:
4 For certain men have crept in stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Notice that these people were NOT born again believers in Jesus of Nazareth. They had disowned and denied Jesus as Lord and Master. Verse 4 says that they "gained entrance secretly by a side door". Anyone truly born again MUST come in by the RIGHT Door! The ONLY Way! John 14:6:
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.
They were warned then and we can take that same warning now! There have always been, and will continue to be, those false teachers and scorners and mockers. What are we to do? Verses 20-21:
20 But you, beloved, build yourself 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 you] unto eternal life.
So there it is! The instruction, along with the promise! God LOVES you! Don't be distracted from that Truth by anything the enemy will try to bring your way! KNOW the Word and it will become VERY clear to you! AMEN!
Ezekiel is sent in our reading today to expose false prophets and those involved in idolatry. The judgement that God had warned about was about to take place! Notice verses 13-14:
13 Son of man, when a land sins against Me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out My hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it and cut off from it man and beast, 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they would save but there own lives by their righteousness (their uprightness and right standing with Me), says the Lord God.
That tells me that even under the Old Covenant, the righteousness of these three would have delivered them! HOW MUCH MORE will OUR right standing with God deliver us in every situation, because we HAVE that better Covenant, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6)! Hallelujah!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 122:3:
3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compacted together --
The phrase "that is compacted" is the Hebrew word, "chabar", which means: to unite, to bind together, to be joined, to be in league. "Together" is the Hebrew word, "yachad", which is an emphatic word which means: all together, all at once, alike, union, unitedness. We don't really need any other Scripture to understand that to divide the city of Jerusalem would be totally and completely against God's Word! This city is to be totally united and under the rule of the nation of Israel which belongs EMPHATICALLY to the One, True God and the Jewish people! The Jewish people have ALWAYS welcomed other people to live there, but it was meant to be under Jewish rule. God did NOT give this city OR this nation to the Arabs, the Palestinians, the Americans, the British, the Russians or any other group of people! He dispersed His people when they rebelled against Him to preserve the nation, but He never GAVE the nation to any other people! Now that He has called the Jewish people BACK to the land, they are to have control until Messiah JESUS comes again to rule and reign as King! Soon and very soon we will see the first act that will set the ball rolling for the final 7 years! Are YOU ready?
We are probably all familiar with 3 John 2:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
The KJV says " I wish above all things". The word "above" is the Hebrew word, "peri", which has many meanings, but in this instance means: for, concerning, pertaining to. This is even more powerful a verse than I realized! The Holy Spirit is saying through John that God Himself wants us to prosper in EVERY area of our lives! The word "prosper" is the Hebrew word, "euodoo", whichi means to succeed, to prosper. The dictionary definition of "prosper" is: to cause to succeed or thrive, to be strong and flourishing! Now THAT sounds like MY God! He wants this for EVERY area of my life! Yours, too! And it will happen "even as", or "in proportion to" our souls prospering! How do our souls prosper? By obeying Romans 12:2:
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Very clear instruction, so let's get it done! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 11-12 we see God using Ezekiel to AGAIN warn the people what would happen to them for all of their idolatries! They did NOT listen, as a nation, and were taken into captivity. We know, from accounts in the book of Daniel, that God still operated through those whose hearts were toward Him. But they would stay in captivity for 70 years. Remember that everything that God does is according to His very own time schedule! From the signs He's given us in His Word, it won't be long now! Come quickly LORD JESUS!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 122:3:
3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compacted together --
The phrase "that is compacted" is the Hebrew word, "chabar", which means: to unite, to bind together, to be joined, to be in league. "Together" is the Hebrew word, "yachad", which is an emphatic word which means: all together, all at once, alike, union, unitedness. We don't really need any other Scripture to understand that to divide the city of Jerusalem would be totally and completely against God's Word! This city is to be totally united and under the rule of the nation of Israel which belongs EMPHATICALLY to the One, True God and the Jewish people! The Jewish people have ALWAYS welcomed other people to live there, but it was meant to be under Jewish rule. God did NOT give this city OR this nation to the Arabs, the Palestinians, the Americans, the British, the Russians or any other group of people! He dispersed His people when they rebelled against Him to preserve the nation, but He never GAVE the nation to any other people! Now that He has called the Jewish people BACK to the land, they are to have control until Messiah JESUS comes again to rule and reign as King! Soon and very soon we will see the first act that will set the ball rolling for the final 7 years! Are YOU ready?
We are probably all familiar with 3 John 2:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
The KJV says " I wish above all things". The word "above" is the Hebrew word, "peri", which has many meanings, but in this instance means: for, concerning, pertaining to. This is even more powerful a verse than I realized! The Holy Spirit is saying through John that God Himself wants us to prosper in EVERY area of our lives! The word "prosper" is the Hebrew word, "euodoo", whichi means to succeed, to prosper. The dictionary definition of "prosper" is: to cause to succeed or thrive, to be strong and flourishing! Now THAT sounds like MY God! He wants this for EVERY area of my life! Yours, too! And it will happen "even as", or "in proportion to" our souls prospering! How do our souls prosper? By obeying Romans 12:2:
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Very clear instruction, so let's get it done! AMEN!
In Ezekiel 11-12 we see God using Ezekiel to AGAIN warn the people what would happen to them for all of their idolatries! They did NOT listen, as a nation, and were taken into captivity. We know, from accounts in the book of Daniel, that God still operated through those whose hearts were toward Him. But they would stay in captivity for 70 years. Remember that everything that God does is according to His very own time schedule! From the signs He's given us in His Word, it won't be long now! Come quickly LORD JESUS!
Shalom in Him!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 121:1-2 is the perfect answer for anyone wanting to know what hope we have in this country!
1 I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah] -- From whence shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
In the Old Covenant the presence of the LORD was found in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount, within the Temple, in the Holy of Holies, where ONLY the High Priest could go! NOW, in our New Covenant, which was sealed by the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, we come boldly into His presence AND His presence is within US (born again believers)! Keep praying for this country AND keep spending time in intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He has promised to show us things to come (John 16:13)! AMEN! Then remember verses 7-8:
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
The word "keep" is the Hebrew word, "shamar", which means: to protect, to guard, to watch over, to save, to preserve. BUT, He can only do so for those who stay in fellowship with Him and will stand on His Word in faith! Everything promised in the Word of God must be received by faith, which is trust and confidence in Him and His Word! Remember what faith is (Hebrews 11:1); where faith comes from (Romans 10:17); what faith does (Romans 4:17); and how faith works (Galatians 5:6). AMEN!
2 John 1 is all about the Truth! The word truth is found 4 times in the first 4 verses.
1 THE ELDERLY elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady (Cyria) and her children whom I truly love -- and not only I but also all who are [progressively] learning to recognize and know and understand the Truth. 2 Because of the Truth, which lives and stays on in our hearts and will be with us forever: 3 Grace (spiritual blessing), mercy, and [soul] peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ (the Messiah), the Father's Son, in all sincerity (truth) and love. 4 I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking (living) in [the] Truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father [Himself].
This word "truth" is the Greek word, "aletheia", which means: the veritable essence of a matter, truth is all its fullness and scope, of which HE is the perfect expression of truth! We know from John 17:17 that HIS WORD is Truth! So they are really talking about people who know and trust the Word of God! The Word of God is the very foundation of our lives and contains everything we will ever need to know to be wise and successful! KNOW IT!
Ezekiel 9-10 shows the carrying out of the judgement against the nation. BUT, there is ALWAYS a remnant that God preserves for His use! Ezekiel 9:3b-5:
3b And [the Lord] called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's ink bottle at his side. 4 And the LORD said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it.
There's the remnant! In OUR day, that's us! Stay steady and strong in the Word, in praise and worship, in fellowship with like-minded believers and in prayer and YOU, TOO will be protected and provided for - NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS EARTH!
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 121:1-2 is the perfect answer for anyone wanting to know what hope we have in this country!
1 I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah] -- From whence shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
In the Old Covenant the presence of the LORD was found in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount, within the Temple, in the Holy of Holies, where ONLY the High Priest could go! NOW, in our New Covenant, which was sealed by the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, we come boldly into His presence AND His presence is within US (born again believers)! Keep praying for this country AND keep spending time in intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He has promised to show us things to come (John 16:13)! AMEN! Then remember verses 7-8:
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
The word "keep" is the Hebrew word, "shamar", which means: to protect, to guard, to watch over, to save, to preserve. BUT, He can only do so for those who stay in fellowship with Him and will stand on His Word in faith! Everything promised in the Word of God must be received by faith, which is trust and confidence in Him and His Word! Remember what faith is (Hebrews 11:1); where faith comes from (Romans 10:17); what faith does (Romans 4:17); and how faith works (Galatians 5:6). AMEN!
2 John 1 is all about the Truth! The word truth is found 4 times in the first 4 verses.
1 THE ELDERLY elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady (Cyria) and her children whom I truly love -- and not only I but also all who are [progressively] learning to recognize and know and understand the Truth. 2 Because of the Truth, which lives and stays on in our hearts and will be with us forever: 3 Grace (spiritual blessing), mercy, and [soul] peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ (the Messiah), the Father's Son, in all sincerity (truth) and love. 4 I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking (living) in [the] Truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father [Himself].
This word "truth" is the Greek word, "aletheia", which means: the veritable essence of a matter, truth is all its fullness and scope, of which HE is the perfect expression of truth! We know from John 17:17 that HIS WORD is Truth! So they are really talking about people who know and trust the Word of God! The Word of God is the very foundation of our lives and contains everything we will ever need to know to be wise and successful! KNOW IT!
Ezekiel 9-10 shows the carrying out of the judgement against the nation. BUT, there is ALWAYS a remnant that God preserves for His use! Ezekiel 9:3b-5:
3b And [the Lord] called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's ink bottle at his side. 4 And the LORD said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it.
There's the remnant! In OUR day, that's us! Stay steady and strong in the Word, in praise and worship, in fellowship with like-minded believers and in prayer and YOU, TOO will be protected and provided for - NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS EARTH!
Shalom in Him!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Shalom,
Psalm 120:5-7:
5 Woe is me that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]! 6 My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. 7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
In ancient times Meshach was located to the northwest of Israel and Kedar to the southeast. The psalmist could not have been speaking of a physical place because he could not have lived in both places at one time! He was referring to the Jewish people who were behaving like the people from these heathen nations who had no covenant with the One, True God! It grieved him to have to live among them! We face the same type of thing today when we have to live and work among believers who do not know the Word of God and do not want to live out the Word! It is very trying to always hear people attribute the works of darkness as "Acts of God" do to their ignorance of God's Word AND of the Covenant! It is also very trying to live in this country among people who don't WANT to hear about how to have peace with God through the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth! What to do? Continue to LIVE the Word in the presence of these people knowing that the time is coming, soon and very soon, when we will hear the trumpet sound and rise to meet HIM in the air! In the meantime, every opportunity to share the Good News, whether they want to hear it or not, should be taken advantage of with excitement and enthusiasm! THEY are running OUT of time while WE are running headlong into eternity with HIM! HALLELUJAH!
Do you want to know how to tell if someone is born again? 1 John 5:1a:
1 EVERYONE WHO believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God;
The question is: What does a person believe concerning Jesus of Nazareth? THEN, if they DO believe, what have they done with that belief! Verses 11-13 explain it even further! This is the Message Bible:
11 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in His Son. 12 So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. 13 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion.
Isn't that exciting! He spells it out so clearly that we can be rid of all doubt! I AM born again! How about you?
Then in verses 14-15 we have the "key" for getting our prayers answered!
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
That is one of the most powerful Truths about prayer that you should know! If what we need/want is according to His will, which is revealed in His Word, then we know we will have it for the asking! Once we've asked, then we need to stand strong in our believing, expecting to see the manifestation at any moment! Now ACT like you believe you HAVE it!
In Ezekiel 7-8 God is telling Ezekiel more of what will come upon the nation of Israel because of their disobedience and unbelief! In chapter 8 God reveals to Ezekiel some of the things being done by the religious leaders in secret, and it wasn't pretty! We see continually that the nation of Israel would fall into idolatry, God would warn them of judgment, they would not listen, the judgment would come, they would cry out to God and then He would deliver them. Then the cycle would repeat itself - over and over and over! WE sometimes get into judgment over the way THEY acted and fail to see that the devil was in an all out war against them because he KNOWS that there is something special to God about the nation of Israel! Remember that the devil is not dumb! The only stupid thing about him is that he still REALLY believes that he can beat the One, True God! What can WE take away from Ezekiel? I found THIS in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
When people lose their fear of God, they do as they please and don't worry about the consequences.
Shalom in Him!
Psalm 120:5-7:
5 Woe is me that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]! 6 My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. 7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
In ancient times Meshach was located to the northwest of Israel and Kedar to the southeast. The psalmist could not have been speaking of a physical place because he could not have lived in both places at one time! He was referring to the Jewish people who were behaving like the people from these heathen nations who had no covenant with the One, True God! It grieved him to have to live among them! We face the same type of thing today when we have to live and work among believers who do not know the Word of God and do not want to live out the Word! It is very trying to always hear people attribute the works of darkness as "Acts of God" do to their ignorance of God's Word AND of the Covenant! It is also very trying to live in this country among people who don't WANT to hear about how to have peace with God through the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth! What to do? Continue to LIVE the Word in the presence of these people knowing that the time is coming, soon and very soon, when we will hear the trumpet sound and rise to meet HIM in the air! In the meantime, every opportunity to share the Good News, whether they want to hear it or not, should be taken advantage of with excitement and enthusiasm! THEY are running OUT of time while WE are running headlong into eternity with HIM! HALLELUJAH!
Do you want to know how to tell if someone is born again? 1 John 5:1a:
1 EVERYONE WHO believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God;
The question is: What does a person believe concerning Jesus of Nazareth? THEN, if they DO believe, what have they done with that belief! Verses 11-13 explain it even further! This is the Message Bible:
11 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in His Son. 12 So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. 13 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion.
Isn't that exciting! He spells it out so clearly that we can be rid of all doubt! I AM born again! How about you?
Then in verses 14-15 we have the "key" for getting our prayers answered!
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
That is one of the most powerful Truths about prayer that you should know! If what we need/want is according to His will, which is revealed in His Word, then we know we will have it for the asking! Once we've asked, then we need to stand strong in our believing, expecting to see the manifestation at any moment! Now ACT like you believe you HAVE it!
In Ezekiel 7-8 God is telling Ezekiel more of what will come upon the nation of Israel because of their disobedience and unbelief! In chapter 8 God reveals to Ezekiel some of the things being done by the religious leaders in secret, and it wasn't pretty! We see continually that the nation of Israel would fall into idolatry, God would warn them of judgment, they would not listen, the judgment would come, they would cry out to God and then He would deliver them. Then the cycle would repeat itself - over and over and over! WE sometimes get into judgment over the way THEY acted and fail to see that the devil was in an all out war against them because he KNOWS that there is something special to God about the nation of Israel! Remember that the devil is not dumb! The only stupid thing about him is that he still REALLY believes that he can beat the One, True God! What can WE take away from Ezekiel? I found THIS in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
When people lose their fear of God, they do as they please and don't worry about the consequences.
Does that NOT sound just like what is going on in our country AND all over the world right now? The unbelievers of the world do NOT really believe that there will be a price to pay for their rebelling against the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible AND His Word! What do WE do? Continue to pray for our leaders, pray to the Lord of the Harvest for laborers, preach the Good News wherever and whenever we can, and keep looking up! OUR Redemption draws VERY near! Soon and VERY soon! Come quickly, LORD JESUS! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)