Shalom,

Proverbs 9:10-11 says this:

10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.11 For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased. AMP

Do you know why the fear of the Lord is necessary for us to walk in the Wisdom that only God can give? Because we MUST have the utmost respect and reverence for Him in order to truly believe His Word! You wouldn't believe the word of just any person that walked in off the streets, would you? Well, you won't TRULY believe the Word of God, either, until you KNOW Him! That's why Paul made it his continual and determined purpose to know more about the Lord each day than he did the day before! Read Philippians 3:10 in the Amplified Bible! The Word of God will come alive for you as never before when you make HIM your first priority! As you do this, you will be excited to know something that we learned about today in our SWC Worship Service! Pastor Bill Novak is teaching a series called "Money Matters". He is teaching about the matters, or the things, having to do with money and finances, but also how much money really does MATTER! God WANTS you to prosper! How do I know that? Look at 3 John 2 in a couple of different versions:

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayprosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. KJV

3 John 2 Beloved, in all things I am praying that you will be prospering, and that you will be continually having good health just as your soul is prospering. The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest 

Do you know what is better than getting financial needs meet? Walking in Divine Prosperity, where you are in control of your finances and always have more than enough to accomplish what God has called you to do and to be a provider for the needs of others! Do you know what is better than receiving healing? Walking in Divine Health where you are ready at all times to carry out His call on your life! AMEN! GOD desires that FOR you! All that it will take is for you to prosper your soul! how do you do that? Meditate on His Word - day and night! (Joshua 1:8). Be a DOER of the Word you see and hear and then Wisdom and understanding will be yours! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "You Are More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Look at Proverbs 8:13:

13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.

Notice that He did NOT say that we are to hate the perpetrators of evil, but the evil itself! Every person ever born is precious in the eyes of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! That includes YOU! It also includes every sinner! Many will find themselves thrown into the lake of fire along with the devil and his angels, but it will NOT bring joy to the One, True God to see this happen! We are to hate the sin, but LOVE the sinner with the same love that caused the Father to  send the Son to pay the price for every person! We are HERE to preach the Good News so that "none should perish"(2 Peter 3:9)! THAT is the Father's desire! Some will still NOT choose life, but their blood will be on their own hands and not ours! AMEN! Now look at the what He promises for those who will choose HIM! Verses 17-21:

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God). 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver. 20 I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.

Also verses 32-35:

32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it. 34 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. 

I'm sure you've heard this before: "It doesn't cost to serve God, it pays!" Well, there IS a price to pay. The price will be in time, energy and resources, but the rewards FAR outweigh the cost of serving Him! Now look at the price for NOT doing things God's way in verse 36:

36 But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.

Don't play around with the things of God! The price is too high and affects all of those around you! The Father's desire for YOU is found in John 10:10:

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).

So let's really LIVE this life and do it for HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love John 17 for the prayers that Jesus prayed! Look at verses 15-19:

15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. 18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth. AMP

Notice that the prayer that Jesus prayed was so that His people would be set apart, consecrated and prepared to be IN TH WORLD! Why? Because the need for the Gospel is IN THE WORLD! The lost MUST hear the Gospel preached in order to be saved! Notice who else is included in these prayers from verses 20-23:

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. AMP

WE are included in these prayers! He has a job for us to do right here, and right now, and He has already prepared the way FOR us! How exciting this life is! Let's be BOLDLY about our Father's business, bringing Glory to His Name and people into the Kingdom! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Children Of The Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 6 has some interesting things to say about sleep! Look at verses  4 and 10-11:

4 Give not [unnecessary] sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep—11 So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless].

Verses 10-11 are speaking about being lazy! Notice that in the Amplified Bible, verse 4 says not to allow yourself "unnecessary" sleep! That means more than your body requires. I want to share some from today's "Sparkling Gems" by Rick Renner. This is referring to the parable of the talents, and specifically to the wicked servant who had simply buried his master's money instead of using ingenuity and diligence to increase it!

But when the master came to the third servant and saw that he had done nothing with the money given to him, he told the servant, "...Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury" (vv. 26,27).

It is obvious that this third servant was not ignorant of the master's expectation. He knew that the master expected increase from him. In fact, he told them, "Thou knewest." This means the third servant couldn't pretend to be ignorant. He knew that the master expected him to do something significant with what had been entrusted to him.

This master would accept no excuses for a lack of increase. It didn't matter how difficult the situation, how many odds were against his servants, or how impossible it seemed, the master still expected increase. His servants understood that this was his expectation. Thus, the servant who did nothing with his talent found himself in a horrible predicament.

His master called him, "Thou wicked and slothful servant" (Matthew 25:26). As if this isn't bad enough, in Matthew 25:30 his master called him "the unprofitable servant." Before we go any further, let's stop to examine these words, for they vividly express Jesus' personal sentiment toward people who possess great potential but never develop it due to laziness.

Let's look first at Matthew 25:26, where Jesus calls the non-productive servant "thou wicked and slothful servant." The words "wicked and slothful" are taken from the single Greek word okneros. This word means lazy or idle. It carries the idea of a person who has a do-nothing, lethargic, lackadaisical, apathetic, indifferent, lukewarm attitude toward life.

This is a strong word, chosen by the Holy Spirit to tell us how strongly Jesus feels about those who are apathetic and lethargic about their spiritual lives and life assignments. Jesus has no taste for lackadaisical people. People who are lukewarm about their God-given abilities or who are indifferent about their assignments leave a sickening taste in the Lord's mouth. He loves the person, but He strongly dislikes the lazy attitudes that keep them from reaching their maximum potential.

In Matthew 25:30, Jesus continues by calling this non-productive servant "the unprofitable servant." The word "unprofitable" is from the Greek word achreios, which literally means useless. A literal translation in today's vernacular would be the good-for-nothing servant.

This word describes a person whose existence in life is absolutely pointless. He is an aimless, purposeless person who contributes nothing to life. This person's value has never been realized because he does nothing but take up space on the face of the planet. But like everyone else, this person had a choice. He could have become something significant if he had used what was entrusted to him and had done what God asked him to do. 

The two servants who had produced for their master were given even more responsibility and opportunity for advancement! Which "servant" will YOU be for the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? Your decision will affect your entire life here on earth! Make a wise choice! AND, lest you think NECESSARY sleep is unimportant, Psalm 127:2 says give THIS promise (to the diligent!):

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. AMP

Be diligent and be rewarded! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Running":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this from today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin:

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 4:18, 5:1). 

The outward man is seen. The inward man is that hidden man. He is unseen. Paul is still talking about this inward man we read about in yesterday's scripture text, 2 Cor. 4:16. Paul is saying that this inward man is unseen and that he is eternal. 

Our earthly house of this tabernacle is the outward man Paul was talking about in verse 16. Our earthly house (body) is decaying. When it dies, is put into the grave, is dissolved, and goes back to dust that is not the end! 

The inward man is eternal! 

The hidden man of the heart is eternal! 

The hidden man is a spirit man and he is eternal! 

You are a spirit and you are eternal! 

Confession: I am an eternal spirit being. I look not to the things which are seen. I look at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal! 

Remember that the heart is the spirit/soul combination! The hidden man of the heart is the spirit man!  The soul isn't seen, but revealed by our words and actions. The spirit man is only seen by God and those who are operating in the Gift of the Discerning of spirits! Some have seen in to the supernatural, spirit realm and others have not. Whether you have seen over there or  not, the realm of the spirit is more real than this sense realm in which we now live! Make the decision , with the renewed mind, emotions and will of your soul, that you will agree with the Word and your spirit, which is filled with the Holy Spirit! Then you will be in agreement with God and you KNOW what He has said about two or more agreeing (Matthew 18:19)! AMEN! HE is the very best "agreeing Partner" you could ever have! Here is Hillsong United with "Scandal of Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love how the Word of God can be so complex and at the same time so extraordinarily simple! Proverbs 5:7 is an example of this to me:

7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). AMP

We've been looking at Proverbs and how important the Word of God is, and the Wisdom, knowledge and understanding that comes when we are diligent to renew our minds with it! In all of it's simplicity, this verse says that the most important part of getting Wisdom is to GET IT! Make the determined purpose, along with Paul in Philippians 3:10, to get to know HIM more each day. The only way to get to know Him is by getting to know the Word! Making the decision to get Wisdom is the wisest decision you will ever make! I also love the instruction found in verses 20-23:

20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. AMP

The only way to "find" His Words is to spend time daily in study and meditation. When we do this, the result will be an understanding of what belongs to us because of the Covenant we have through the Blood of Jesus! His Word brings the faith needed for health and healing, prosperity, peace, favor, and anything  and everything else that we could ever need (Romans 10:17). We are to guard what goes into our heart (the spirit/soul combination) because what we allow in will determine what we think about, and what we think about is what we will eventually say and do, and what we say and do will determine what quality of life we will have on this earth! His Word is the most important thing there is for us to give attention to every day! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Undending Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 3 is, of course, speaking of the Wisdom of God again! I like this from verses 1-2:

1 My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. AMP

Do YOU know what "let" represents in the Bible? It represents a choice that must be made! I, and I alone, must choose whether or not I will allow my heart to keep His commandments! Do you know what the heart is? Look at 1 Peter 3:3-4:

3 Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate]  interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; 4 But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.  AMP

There is a hidden person in our heart! Who IS that hidden person? Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. KJV

Every person ever born into this world is a triune being! We have been created in the image of God, Who is a Spirit! We possess a soul, which is our mind, emotions and will. While on this earth, we live in a body! The heart is the combination of the spirit and the soul. For the born again believer, the spirit has been recreated in the image of God! 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are new creatures! Our spirit man is now perfect and does not sin! We still DO sin, however, but it is with the soul and body that we make selfish decisions to go against the Word of God. So if WE must make the decision to "let" our hearts keep the Word of God, then we must put our souls in position to make right decisions! The spirit ALWAYS does! The soul decides for the body! How can we ensure that our souls will obey? We must renew our minds with the Word of God, so that we can think LIKE God! THEN we will make the right, and wise, decision! AMEN! Spend more time today meditating on the Word and see how much easier it is to do right! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "I Give You My Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 2:1-8:

1 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. 6 For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, 8 That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.

Notice that it is ONLY when we are seeking for this "skillful and godly Wisdom" with our whole hearts that we will find it! Look again at the first part of verse 7:

7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him)

He has hidden the understanding of His Word FOR us, not FROM us! We MUST progressively come to know the Word of God if we are to walk in the authority that He has given us! Look at Hosea 6:3a from the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord KJV

3 Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. AMP

We WILL know, IF we follow on to know! IF we make it our daily determined purpose to know! Make the decision today to get to know something more about Him and His Word every day. You will be amazed at how quickly those little nuggets of Truth and layers of knowledge build upon each other until your faith, trust and confidence is stronger than you ever thought possible! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "I Surrender":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love one of the lessons learned from the account in John of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus! Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, but He didn't go to see him right away. When He explained to His disciples that Lazarus was, in fact, dead, He added THIS from verse 15:

15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there; it will help you to believe (to trust and rely on Me). However, let us go to him.

The disciples THOUGHT that Lazarus was simply sleeping. When they heard Jesus specifically say that he was dead, they had NO expectation of what was about to happen before their very eyes! This is what Jesus said TO LAZARUS and what happened next! Verses 43-44:

43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. 44 And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.

What point should we take away from this? We MUST remember what God's Word has to say about physical death! Look at John 10:10:

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). AMP

He CAME to bring us HIS life! Death is NEVER God's will for us! How will we ever get to Heaven then, you may ask? We are designed by God to live a full and fruitful life here on earth, fulfilling the calling that we have from Him. When we have finished our course, then we are to just move on over into the spiritual dimension and leave these bodies! We do NOT have to be sick, weak or infirm in order to leave this life! We do not have to DIE, rather re-locate! I have made walking in Divine health, healing, wholeness, wellness and fitness a primary goal! When I'm ready to leave, I will make that decision, just as Paul did, and I will "move on over to the other side"! AMEN! Make the decision to walk in the supernatural protection, provision and safety that have already been given to us in this powerful New Covenant that we have!  LIVE, He desires it to be so! Here is Hillsong with "Rise":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 150 is a total psalm of praise to the LORD and instruction to US to do so! We've covered it on this blog a few times before. "Praise" is the Hebrew word "halal", which means: to shine, to boast, to make a show, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to appear as a fool or madman. When was the last time that YOU praised Him with your whole being as this Psalm instructs? Our Bible reading for today in John 10 gives us even more reason to praise Him! John 10:10:

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).

Now THAT is very easy to understand! The enemy wants to hurt us in any and every way possible, but JESUS came to GIVE us His very own LIFE! He goes on to say this in verse 11:

11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

Jesus GAVE His life for us! Look at verse 18:

18 No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.

Jesus, knowing FULLY what He was about to do, laid down His own life to become sin with our sin and sick with our sickness and disease! He gave us His eternal life, life as HE has in Himself! Look at verses 27-28:

27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

Would you like to see where He is speaking of US specifically? Look at verse 16:

16 And I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring and impel those also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be [they will become] one flock under one Shepherd.

Remember, He was speaking to the Jewish people during His earthly ministry, but the Gospel was given to ALL people when He commissioned the Church to "go into all the world" (Mark 16:14)! 

Let's praise Him today with every fiber of our being and all that is within us! He IS worthy and we ARE, of all people, MOST BLESSED! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

It will really help our sharing of the Gospel if we recognize that the eyes of some have been blinded by the devil so as to keep them from seeing the Truth of God's Word! ALWAYS pray before you go out to share the Word! Pray that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of the lost to see the Truth of the Gospel. Then share as the Holy Spirit leads, operating in the gifts of the Spirit, with each and every individual. Our reading in John today is a good example of that blindness! We have the account of the man born blind whom Jesus healed by spreading mud on his eyes and having him wash in the Pool of Siloam. The Pharisees just could not figure this out! Look at John 9:14-17:

14 Now it was on the Sabbath day that Jesus mixed the mud and opened the man’s eyes. 15 So now again the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. And he said to them, He smeared mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see. 16 Then some of the Pharisees said, This Man [Jesus] is not from God, because He does not observe the Sabbath. But others said, How can a man who is a sinner (a bad man) do such signs and miracles? So there was a difference of opinion among them. 17 Accordingly they said to the blind man again, What do you say about Him, seeing that He opened your eyes? And he said, He is [He must be] a prophet!

And then again in verses 24-33:

24 So the second time they summoned the man who had been born blind, and said to him, Now give God the glory (praise). This fellow we know is only a sinner (a wicked person). 25 Then he answered, I do not know whether He is a sinner and wicked or not. But one thing I do know, that whereas I was blind before, now I see.26 So they said to him, What did He [actually] do to you? How did He open your eyes? 27 He answered, I already told you and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Can it be that you wish to become His disciples also? 28 And they stormed at him [they jeered, they sneered, they reviled him] and retorted, You are His disciple yourself, but we are the disciples of Moses. 29 We know for certain that God spoke with Moses, but as for this Fellow, we know nothing about where He hails from. 30 The man replied, Well, this is astonishing! Here a Man has opened my eyes, and yet you do not know where He comes from. [That is amazing!] 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything like this.

I especially like the underlined verses! Can you just see how the Pharisees would have reacted to that? Religious thinking is some of the hardest to undo in people! They put more stock in what they THINK the Word says than in what it actually DOES say! Pray and let the holy Spirit do the work! OUR responsibility is simply to tell the TRUTH! Preach the GOOD NEWS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I'm Not Ashamed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 148 is most definitely a PRAISE Psalm! 

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights!

2 Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts!

3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars of light!

4 Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away [He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed over].

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps!

8 You lightning, hail, fog, and frost, you stormy wind fulfilling His orders!

9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars!

10 Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers andjudges of the earth!

12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children!

13 Let them praise and exalt the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven!

14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) AMP

The word "praise" here is the Hebrew "halal", which means: to shine, to boast, to make a show, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to appear as a madman! Notice that not a person, place or living thing is exempt from the COMMAND to praise HIM! Why? Because He IS and He made us! Everything we are and everything we have that is good came from HIM! AMEN! Our New Testament reading today in John recounts the situation when the scribes and Pharisees brought the woman whom they caught in "the very act of adultery". (I wonder how they missed the man that must have been present "in the very act", but THAT is another subject!) Notice how Jesus spoke to this woman after all those who MUST have had sin in their own lives had left them. Verses 10-11:

10 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? 11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more. AMP

Notice how Jesus addressed the Pharisees in the crowd after this incident in verse 15:

15 You [set yourselves up to] judge according to the flesh (by what you see). [You condemn by external, human standards.] I do not [set Myself up to] judge or condemn or sentence anyone. AMP

They had judged this woman, and many others on other occasions, but Jesus, Who alone had the RIGHT to judge, did NOT! Look at John 3:17:

17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. AMP

Jesus did NOT come into the world to judge, but to bring SALVATION! Neither did He send US into the world to condemn, but to PREACH THE GOSPEL (the GOOD NEWS)! Don't get caught up, as some have, in concentrating on sin, but rather on SALVATION! Present THIS Jesus to the world and the world will WANT Him! AMEN! Hallelujah! Now THAT is something to Praise Him for! Here is Hillsong Live with "Praise Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a portion from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek" devotional:


The Shield of Faith!

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -- Ephesians 6:16

Rick explains the type of shield that Paul had in his mind when he wrote this:

With the imagery of a Roman soldier before him, Paul used the Roman soldier's shield to illustrate the shield of faith that God has provided for you and me. The word "shield" is the Greek word thureos, which was used by the Greeks and Romans to depict an oblong door that was wide in width and long in length. The reason the Roman soldiers used this word to describe their battle shields was that the shields were door-shaped. They were wide in width and long in length; just like the door of a house.Because it was wide and long, this shield completely covered the Roman soldier! This is why the Holy Spirit chose to use the word thureos as the illustration of faith. He is telling us that God has given us enough faith to make certain we are completely covered for every situation - just like the shield that completely covered a Roman soldier! 

So we see that these Roman shields were big enough to cover a man! Now we will see how strong they were:

In the majority of cases, the Roman soldier's shield was composed of multiple layers of thick animal hide that had been tightly woven together. Usually six layers of animal hide were specially tanned and then woven together so tightly that they became nearly as strong as steel. One piece of leather is tough, but imagine how tough and durable six layers of leather would be! Because of how it was made, the shield of the Roman soldier was extremely tough and exceptionally durable! 

Very strong! Just like the faith that comes to us from the Word of God is stronger than any force that could ever come against it! He also covers the fact that these shields had to be cared for in  order to maintain the ability to protect:

In order to keep those shields in good shape, the soldiers were given a daily schedule to maintain excellent condition of their shields. Each morning when the soldier was awakened, he would reach for a small vial of oil. After saturating a piece of cloth with oil, he would begin to rub, rub, and rub that heavy ointment into the leather portion of the shield to keep it soft, supple, and pliable. Any soldier who neglected this daily application of oil and allowed his shield to go without the necessary care was in effect inviting certain death. If not correctly cared for and properly maintained, the leather portion of the shield would harden, crack when put under pressure, and finally fall to pieces. Therefore, the end result of a soldier's failure to care for his shield was the loss of his own life. 

Oil in the Word of God always refers to the Holy Spirit! What are we told about this? Look at Jude 20:

20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; AMP

We also know from Romans 10:17 where faith comes from:

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV

So, we see that there are NO shortcuts to developing and maintaining our "Shield Of Faith"! It takes diligence and commitment, but it is SO well worth our time and effort! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with a fun armor of God song called "On The March"! Lyrics follow!

ON THE MARCH LYRICS

I straighten up, I stand my ground
I'm in the army of God now
I'm not alone there's many more
We're gonna change the world.

I'm not afraid, How can I be?
My God is here, He's with me
I shine a light a light for you
In everything I do.

We're gonna change the world, We're gonna change the world
The army of God is on the march again
Hey, Hey
We're on the march again.

Have you got your belt of truth?(I've got that)
The breastplate of righteousness?(I've got that)
On your feet put the gospel of peace(I've got that)
Hold up the shield of faith(I've got that)
Put on the helmet of salvation(I've got that)
Lift high the sword of the spirit(I've got that)
Now you're wearing the Armour of God
'Cause we're a part of the army now

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

1 Samuel 18:1-4 says this:

1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own life. 2 Saul took David that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own life. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, even his sword, his bow, and his girdle.

Why am I sharing this today? Because THIS is the Scriptural way for men to love men and women to love women! The argument that people give in support of the homosexual lifestyle is that people should be able to love whomever they choose! That is TRUE! THIS type of love shown above! David loved Jonathan and Jonathan loved David, enough to give their lives for one another! THIS love did NOT involve sex, however, much to the dismay of many who would like to use this passage to legitimize this lifestyle choice! What does God have to say about this lifestyle choice in His Word? Here are two examples:

Lev 18:22 You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. AMP

Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. KJV

God does NOT hate homosexuals! God loves the entire world so very much that He gave His only Son to die for ALL OF US (John 3:16-17 AMP)! We are to LOVE the sinner and HATE the sin! Why? Because sinful choices open the door for the enemy to steal, kill and destroy in our lives! That includes sin of any and every kind! Did YOU know that to worry is a sin? Look up in  a concordance how many times God's Word says "Fret not"! There is no degree of sin. ALL selfish choices that we make to act in rebellion to God's Word are sin and CAN lead to serious and tragic situations in our lives. Let's make the conscious decision to avoid sin by hiding His Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11) and to love others as HE has loved us (John 13:14 and John 15:12)! THAT will keep us in His perfect peace and keep the Blessings flowing in our lives! AMEN! Here is a new song from Hillsong United that speaks of HIS love and HIS Word, called "Up In Arms":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am sharing Psalm 145 in it's entirety today!

Psalm 145

[A Psalm] of praise. Of David.

1 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever [with grateful, affectionate praise].

2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; and His greatness is [so vast and deep as to be] unsearchable.

4 One generation shall laud Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate.

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your tremendous and terrible acts, and I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall pour forth [like a fountain] the fame of Your great andabundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your rightness andjustice.

8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness.

9 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].

10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]!

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men God’s mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The Lord upholds all those [of His own] who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait for You [looking, watching, and expecting] and You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor.

17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious andmerciful in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently andworshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.

20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him, but all the wicked will He destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy name forever and ever.

I shared this entire Psalm so that we can remind ourselves that THIS is our #1 priority! To love the Lord our God with our entire being and to declare HIM to the world! How have YOU been doing in that department lately? Have you let the pressure to be "liked" by the world cause you to hesitate? So many of us have, at times, been too concerned with people "liking" us! I am NOT here to be liked, but to be HEARD as I share the Gospel, the Good News, with every person! AMEN! here, to encourage YOU to do the same, is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I find so many things in my daily study of the Word of God that fit right in with this time that WE are living in! The Word of God is SO exciting and SO appropriate! Look at Psalm 144:11:

11 Rescue me and deliver me out of the power of [hostile] alien [tribes] whose mouths speak deceit and whose right hands are right hands [raised in taking] fraudulent oaths. AMP

Could you imagine yourself praying that prayer today? From illegal aliens to corrupt politicians, we have seen it all! God has prepared us for this time ! Look at verses 1-2:

1 Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight - 2 My Steadfast Love and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in Whom I trust and take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. AMP

He does NOT want us to take this lying down! He wants us to use His Word and speak to those things, situations and circumstances. What do we speak? HIS WORD! Do you want to hear some more really GOOD news? Look at verse 15:

15 Happy and blessed are the people who are in such a case; yes, happy (blessed, fortunate, prosperous, to be envied) are the people whose God is the Lord! AMP

Is Jesus YOUR Lord? If not, why not? John 3:16-17 tells us this:

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. AMP

Is there any reason you can't receive Jesus as Lord and Savior right now, and have a fighting chance of coming out on top in all of this? Pray this prayer:

Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.

Now, get into a good local church among a loving family of believers and be taught the Word of God so that you, too, will know how to fight with weapons that cannot fail! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "With You":

Shalom in Him!