"Ashamed..."

March 31, 2016

“Ashamed…”

Blessings folk!

Are you ashamed of the gospel?
Are you ashamed of the good news…the death, burial, resurrection of the Lord for our salvation?
Are you embarrassed by the plan of the Lord to redeem rebellious man?

Be not.

Why?

Because, it is the power of God…

Rom 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”


The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
For the Jew first.
But, also for the Greek.

Why are we “embarrassed”?
Perhaps we are not saved.
Perhaps we give more attention to pride than we do the Lord. We fear what man “thinks.”

God’s righteousness…His “right acting”…is revealed in the gospel.
It is revealed from faith to faith.

Why?

Because the righteous man shall live by faith.

Fear not speaking the truth of the power of God.
It is the gospel.
It transforms life.
It brings forth the Kingdom of God.

"Right Hand of the Power of God"

March 30, 2016

“Right Hand of the Power of God”

Blessings folk!

We are seeing what the Word says about the “power of God”.

Yesterday we saw that Jesus told some religious rulers that they erred by not knowing the Word nor the power of God.

Mar 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?


Now, see what we learn about the power of God.
Jesus is being interrogated by the Council of Elders.

Luk 22:66-71
When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying,

“If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe;

and if I ask a question, you will not answer.

“But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD.”

And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”

Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”


Jesus answers that He is the Son of God.
He tells them that the Son of Man, His term for Himself based upon the phrase from Daniel, will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.

The right hand of the power of God?
The right hand often signifies strength, power and authority.
Such flow from Father.
God the Father on the throne.

In the wondrous mystery of the Godhead, the power of God is in Father, Son and Spirit.

Live in the power of God.

"You Are Mistaken..."

March 29, 2016

“You Are Mistaken…”

Blessings folk!

Mat 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.


So many professing believers live like this.
They are mistaken.
They do not know the Scriptures.
Yes.
They know the traditions of man.
Yes.
They know denominational emphasis.
Yes.
They know what they have been told.

Yet, they do not know the Scriptures.
A mistake.
A grievous error.

They also do not know the power of God.
Yes.
They know the power of man.
Yes.
They know the power of position.

Yet, they do not know the power of God.
The Cross.
Christ sacrifice.
Repentance, confession, salvation.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit.

They find themselves as these that Jesus is addressing.
The context is this.
The religious rulers were trying to set Jesus up.
They were trying to trip Him in His word and deed.

They were trying to justify themselves.


Mat 22:23-29
On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him,


asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’

“Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother;

so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh.

“Last of all, the woman died.

“In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”

But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.


The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection.
Yet, they ask about a resurrection.
Shows the motivation and intent of their heart.

Be not as they.
Know the Word of God.
Know the Power of God.

"The Power of God"

March 28, 2016

“The Power of God”

Blessings folk!

Think on this phrase…”the power of God”.

What does it mean?
What is it?
Does what we do…individually and corporately…reflect a true understanding of “the power of God”?

Read these verses.
Reflect upon the power of God.

Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1Co 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:24
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Co 2:5
so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.


The gospel is the power of God for salvation…to all who believe.
What is the “gospel”? The good news…

The word of the cross is the power of God…to those of us who are being saved. For those who believe.

Christ is the power of God…and the wisdom of God…for those called.

Our faith…the faith of those that truly believe…does not rest in the wisdom of me, but on the power of God.

Simple truths.
Profound “theological” insights…if we choose to see. If we choose to believe.

…to be continued…

Do not be as the “religious learned”…

Mat 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Mar 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?

Jesus was speaking to the religious rulers and teachers.
They “knew” the Scripture.
Yet, they did not know the Scripture.
They did not know the power of God.

Do you?

"He Is Risen"

March 27, 2016

“He Is Risen”

Blessings folk!

He is not here.
He is risen.
As He told us.

Mat 28:6
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

Mar 16:6
And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.

Luk 24:6
“He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,


This is the foundation of the true faith.
Jesus is resurrected from the dead.
He is alive.
He defeated death.

No other so-called “religion” can state such.

This is the power of God unto salvation…

Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1Co 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


The resurrection is the power of God unto salvation.
Believe and you shall be saved.
Believe not?
Eternal separation from the Most High.
Eternal presence in the lake of fire.
Eternal torment.

Believe today.
Repent.
Confess.
Call upon the name of the Lord.

"Righteousness of God in Him"

March 26, 2016

“Righteousness of God in Him”

Blessings folk!

Paul was encouraging those who had yet to believe to do so.

He explained…

2Co 5:20-21

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


Paul, as an ambassador for Christ, begged them to be reconciled to God.
To believe.
To repent.
To confess.
To be made new by the Most High.

We then see how salvation occurs.
God the Father, made God the Son, to be sin…to bear the sin of all mankind.
The Son, Who knew no sin bore the sin.

Thereby we become the righteousness of God in Christ.

As believers we are righteous.
We are in “right standing” with the Most High.
We are restored to right relationship.

Therefore, how should we live?

In holiness.
In the righteousness that we are.
In new life.

Realize, we are ambassadors for Christ.
Appeal to others.
Exhort them to be reconciled to God.

"Three Days and Three Nights"

March 25, 2016

“Three Days and Three Nights”

Blessings folk!

It is really very simple.
Read what Jesus said…

Mat 12:38-40

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

But He answered and said to them, “
An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;

for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.


The religious rulers were demanding a sign.
Proof that Jesus was Who He said He was.

Jesus said the only sign they would receive would be the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Note that Jesus called Jonah a prophet.
Note that Jesus believed (knew!) that Jonah was a real person.
Jesus believed that the fish account was true, accurate.
Many in “the church” today reject it.

The Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
Not a portion of a day…as many would seek to explain the timing of “good friday”.
Three days.
Three nights.

How can it be that the believers have been wrong about this for so many years?
Because they have not examined the Word of God.
They assumed that the sabbath was the weekly sabbath.

Jesus was hurried off the cross due to the fact that the next day was the sabbath.
But, not the weekly sabbath…sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
Rather, it was Nisan 15, the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, a holy convocation.
A sabbath.

Lev 23:6-7

‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.

‘On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.

Jhn 19:31

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.


The Word tells us directly that the next day was a “high day”.
It was not the weekly sabbath.

Here is the short of it.

Jesus died on “our” Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. on the Day of Preparation, Nisan 14, Passover.
He died the Passover Lamb.
He was buried.

When the Jews sat down for the Passover meal that evening it became Nisan 15.
(The Hebrew day begins at sundown.)

Evening/Morning, Day 1. Thursday
Evening/Morning, Day 2. Friday
Evening/Morning, Day 3. Saturday

Three days.
Three nights.

At sundown Saturday, Sunday came.

Jesus was resurrected sometime thereafter.

The women discovered the empty tomb later, just before sunrise.

Is all this important?
I think so.
If we can not be trusted in speaking the truth in such a simple matter, then why should we be trusted with the weightier matters of the faith?

Do we separate fellowship over such?
Start the First Church of Wednesday Death?
Or course not.

But, why not know and speak the truth?
Why not be accurate?

"Word of Reconciliation"

March 24, 2016

“Word of Reconciliation”

Blessings folk!

The beginning of a wonderful conclusion to 2 Corinthians 5.

Note from where “all these things” (the things we have seen in 2 Cor. 5) come.
What has occurred?
How?
To what purpose?

2Co 5:18-19

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.


All these things are from God.
He, God, reconciled us to Himself.
It was His work.
It was His intention.
It was His plan.
God did so through Christ.

He gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
We have been reconciled.
We are to reconcile.

God reconciled the world to Himself through Christ.
He did not count our trespasses against us.

He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
We are not to hold trespasses agains one another.

We, the new creatures of a new creation, are to be the very vehicle of the Word of reconciliation.

Think on that.
Be it.

"Answers..."

March 23, 2016

“Answers…”

Blessings folk!

I hope you took the time to watch the video mentioned yesterday…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFICLWVPuQ

How would you answer the gentlemen’s questions?
The questions at the end.
Why he had been left behind?
Why his older sibling and parents had died?
Was this “of God”?
Was this just an “incident of nature”?

These are the things that believers and non-believers alike want to know.
Too often answers are not provided.
Too often such conversations are avoided or ignored.
Too often the questioners are left to feel as fools for inquiring.

Such should not be.

The Lord tells us.

Now, let me hasten to say, we may not understand what the Lord tells us.
We may not even like what the Lord tells us.

Could it be that the Lord answered the reported prayer of the husband?
Did the Lord take the family?
I think it is likely.

Why were the youngest left?
To testify.
To live God-filled lives.
To reach “the age of accountability” and turn to the Lord.
I suspect that those that were take were in correct relationship with the Lord and received the reward of eternity before Him.

Know these truths from the Word…

Job 36:32
“He covers His hands with the lightning,
And commands it to strike the mark.


God commands lighting to strike the mark.
He controls the lighting.
He controls the clouds. Job 36-39.

God will allow satan to use such…

Job 1:18-19
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”


Satan did this.
God allowed.
Why?
To His praise honor and glory.
Remember, as we are learning in our Daniel and Isaiah studies…God has a plan. None can thwart it.

Isa 14:24
The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,

Isa 14:27
“For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”


Does our heart break for the gentleman in the video?
Certainly.
But, he can know that he will some day see his loved one…if he believes unto salvation.

We see what happened with Job.
At the end of the account, God restores everything that Job has lost…doubled.
Doubled the sheep, camels, yoke of oxen, donkeys.

He also gave Job seven sons and three daughters.
Wait!?
Job had lost seven sons and three daughters…

Job 1:2
Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.


Why did Job not received a double blessing of children?
He did.
He had ten granted to him at the end of the account.
He had ten awaiting him in glory.
A vivid picture that the children would be seen again.

Remember, Job has prayed for them.
May we do likewise.

Job 1:4-5
His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

"Be Diligent - Answer!"

March 22, 2016

“Be Diligent - Answer!”

Blessings folk!

Something a little different today.

An interesting video worth ten minutes of life to watch.

How would you respond to the gentlemen’s questions…at the end of the video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFICLWVPuQ

My two-year old dad was barely missed by one of these in another part of the state.

People want to know answers.

We have access to the answers…
the Word of the Lord
the Spirit of the Lord

God will give us the thing to say…
if we know Him
if we abide in Him
if we know His Word

2Ti 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.


…to be continued…

"A New Creature..."

March 21, 2016

“A New Creature…”

Blessings folk!

Paul is drawing to the end of chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians…a series of “therefores”, to be added to the previous “therefores”, “fors”, etc. that we have seen before -
March 18, 2016

2Co 5:16-17

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.


True knowledge of the Lord is in the Spirit.
Yes, it has an effect on the flesh, but the effect begins in the Spirit.

If someone is in Christ…
If someone is truly saved…
Then, they are a new creature.
A new creation.

All the old things have passed away.
The old life.
The old self.

New things are.

We are called to live and walk in the new things.
In the Spirit.
Not in the flesh.

Rejoice!
You are a new creature.

We recognize in the Spirit.

Do you not believe?
Have you not experienced such?

Then, examine yourself to see if you be of the faith…

2Co 13:5

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

"...Controls Us..."

March 20, 2016

“…Controls Us…”

Blessings folk!

What controls you?
Think about it…

What?
Passion?
Pursuit?
Purpose?
Presence?

Watch this…

2Co 5:14-15

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.


The love of Christ controlled Paul.
We should be so controlled.

Notice this came about after a conclusion.
After realizing that…
one died for all
all died
He (Jesus) died for all
so that we who live…in Him…might live for Him…not for ourselves.
He died and rose again on our behalf

We are to live for Him.
We are to be controlled by His love in us.

Anything else is idolatry.
Anything else is sin.

"Out of Our Mind"

March 19, 2016

“Out of Our Mind”

Blessings folk!

Paul was often accused of being “beside himself”, “out of his mind”.

He was.
He admits this.

Read and see…

2Co 5:11

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.


The immediate context involves those “who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart”. Usually Jewish leadership.

Paul wanted the Corinthians to be proud of him…in the correct way.

He was “proud” that he was “out of his mind” for God.

So should we be.

The soundness of his mind was for them.

There is a bit of an echo of the “desire to be in heaven rather than in this body” statement made earlier.

May our love and walk with the Lord be such that the world will consider it madness.
We are, after all, a peculiar people…

1Pe 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

"Complete Open Before God..."

March 18, 2016

“Completely Open Before God…”

Blessings folk!

To this point in 2 Corinthians 5 we have seen several terms of conclusions: “therefore”, “for” and the like.

For we know…we have a building with God
For indeed…we groan, longing for our dwelling from heaven
Now…God has prepared us for this purpose
Therefore, being always of good courage…walk by faith, not by sight
Therefore…our ambition is to be pleasing to Him
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ

Now, the next “therefore”…

2Co 5:11

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.


We should live in the fear of the Lord.
Not the fear of man.
Not the fear of situation nor circumstance.
The fear of the Lord.

Knowing the fear of the Lord, we…as Paul…should seek to persuade people as to the things of the Kingdom.
Not religion.
Not churchianity.
Not organization.
The Kingdom.

Paul was complete open before the Lord.
So should we be.

Being open before the Lord will open others to His Kingdom.

Let us do so.

"We Must All Appear..."

March 17, 2016

“We Must All Appear…”

Blessings folk!

It has been a day.
A day ago we saw that is should be our ambition to please the Lord.

2Co 5:9
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.


We seek to do so, a day at a time.
Pleasing Him.

So much of what we do would be changed if our goal is to please Him.

Why should it be our ambition to please the Lord?
The next verse tells us…

2Co 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


Why?
Because we each will be judged.
This is speaking to true believers.
True believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
This is for the purpose of being recompensed for deeds done in the body…
Good.
Bad.
Whoa!

We know of the “good”…rewards.
But bad?

What does that mean?
It means that the blood of Jesus will cover us for the bad deeds that are done.

What will happen to unbelievers and false believers?
They will appear before the Lord at the Great White Throne…a different place, time, event.

Please Him.
Rewards come.

"Our Ambition..."

March 16, 2016

“Our Ambition…”

Blessings folk!

What is your ambition?

Often, within the organizational church, the question is asked “what is the vision?”

Paul gave a succinct declaration.
May it be ours.

2Co 5:9
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.


Paul wanted to please the Lord.
That should be our ambition.

Not to do “great things for the Lord”.
But, to please Him.
To walk in obedience.

The Lord is not consumed with all we “do for Him”.
He does desire obedience.

Hos 6:6
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,
And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.


Paul desired to please the Lord “whether at home or absent”.
Whether with the Lord…at home.
Whether absent…in this body.

Do this simple thing.

Make it your ambition to be pleasing to the Lord.

"Always Be of Good Courage"

March 15, 2016

“Always Be of Good Courage”

Blessings folk!

The Lord has prepared us.
He has prepared us for purpose.

Read.
Note.

2Co 5:5-8

Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

for we walk by faith, not by sight—

we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.


The Holy Spirit empowers true believers.
The Holy Spirit is given to us as a pledge to that which awaits.

Because of this…therefore!

Be of good courage.
Always!

Yes, while here in this corporeal existence we are absent from the Lord.
We walk by faith…not by sight.
We do not see all that is.
We do not see all that will be.

Still, we are of good courage.

Be strong.
Be courageous.
Be very courageous.

Even though we have rather be absent from the body and at home with the Lord… Happy Happy

"The Spirit As A Pledge"

March 14, 2016

“The Spirit As A Pledge.”

Blessings folk!

Our earthly tent may moan and groan, still we press on, longing for that which is yet to come.

2Co 5:4-5

For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.


Yes, we are burdened.
Yes, we had rather be clothed with the house of God yet to come.
Yes, we desire to be swallowed up by life…life in Him.

God knows.
He prepared us.
He created us.
He did so before the foundations of the earth.

He has prepared us for the life that He desires.
He has given us the work to do.

He has given us…true believers…the Holy Spirit as a pledge.

A pledge?
Yes.
A “down payment” on the house of God yet to come.
A foreshadowing of the relationship we will have with God Eternal.

We are not alone.
We are not without His Presence.
We are not without His power.

Live in the truth that you are an empowered vessel of the Most High God…

"An Eternal God House..."

March 13, 2016

“An Eternal God House…”

Blessings folk!

Two short, profound truths.

This is who we…true believers…are…

2Co 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.


A new creature.
The old things…old life…old sins, etc. … are passed away.
New things have come.

The context of the chapter 5 is interesting.
We are new creatures.
Yet, we are still in the old body.

2Co 5:1-3
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.


Our body is an earthly tent.
If it is torn down…if we die…we have a building from God, a house not made with hands.
(Having moved to a new location this weekend, a God house sounds good…LOL)
An eternal, God house.

We are new creatures, still inhabiting an earthly tent.
We have an eternal God house awaiting us.
Through the groaning…
Through the longing…
Put on the new self.
Rejoice in that yet to come.

"God Had Him Move..."

March 12, 2016

“God Had Him Move…”

Blessings folk!

Stephen was before the “powers that be”.

He brought them the Word of God.

Stephen is speaking to the Jewish leadership.
He starts with the beginning of the Jews, the calling of Abram…Abraham.

Act 7:1-4

The high priest said, “Are these things so?”

And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’

“Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living.


We see that the Lord called Abram to leave.
To leave his country.
To leave his relatives.
To go to a land yet to be revealed.

The move was transitional and in segments.
To Haran.
Then to the country where they were.

I believe a portion of this was due to Abram’s “partial” obedience.

I also believe that God calls us to times of transition.
Times when we have change.
Then change.
Then change.

I suspect this is the norm of the life of the True Believer.

Be not surprise if the Lord has you move…

"Word of the Lord Fulfilled"

March 11, 2016

“Word of the Lord Fulfilled”

Blessings folk!

The Angel of the Lord struck and 185,000 enemy soldiers were struck down in one evening.

The Lord protected Jerusalem.

What did the king of Assyria do?
Humorous if not so sad.
He went home.

But remember the Word of the Lord spoken through Isaiah to King Hezekiah?

2Ki 19:6-7

Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master (Hezekiah), ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

“Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and
return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.


Now, watch what happened.

2Ki 19:35-37

Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.

It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.

The king of Assyria headed back home.
Might as well, considering that his army has been annihilated by the Angel of the Lord.

Apparently losing the entire army did not go down well at home.
One day the King of Assyria was worshiping his god Nisroch.
Two of his sons arose and killed him.
They fled to Ararat.
Another son became king.

The Word of the Lord fulfilled.

"I Will Defend..."

March 10, 2016

“I Will Defend…”

Blessings folk!

The zeal of the Lord bring forth that which He planned…that which He intended.
A great truth to rest and live in.
He will bring forth the planned, intended future.

The Lord was responding to Hezekiah’s prayer.
The Lord had a Word for the Assyrian King…spoking through Isaiah, to Hezekiah…apparently they sent a note to the Assyrian king?
Then, the Lord had a Word for Hezekiah.

The Assyrian would not come into the city.
The Assyrian would not raise up shield nor siege.
The Assyrian would return.
The Lord would defend the city.
He would do so for His name sake.
He would do so for His servant David’s sake.

Note what happens afterward…

2Ki 19:32-35

‘Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.

“By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”’ declares the LORD.

‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”

Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.


The angel of the Lord killed 185k Assyrians that night.
The Lord fought.
The Lord was victorious.
The Lord fulfilled His Word.

He does so today…

"The Zeal of the Lord Will Perform This..."

March 9, 2016

“The Zeal of the Lord Will Perform This…”

Blessings folk!

The “raging against God” king of Assyria would not conquer Jerusalem.
The Lord states such…as we will see later.

First, look at what the Lord says.
Remember, Jerusalem was surrounded.
The enemy was outside the walls…taunting, berating.
The enemy king had sent a letter to Hezekiah, King of Judah.
The Lord was now responding through Isaiah the prophet to Hezekiah.

2Ki 19:29-31

‘Then this shall be the sign for you: you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.

‘The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

‘For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion survivors. The zeal of the LORD will perform this.


The Lord would give a sign.
Provision would be provided in an unusual way.
Abundance would spring forth.
Then, in the third year, they would sow, reap, plant vineyards, eat their fruit.

There would be a surviving remnant of the house of Judah.
The Lord always has a remnant.
They might not always be seen, but they are there.
Survivors out of Mount Zion.
A remnant that would go forth from Jerusalem.

The Lord does the same today.
He has a remnant of true believers.
A mighty army of those who are not just “religiously active”.
An army of Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered believers that He will use to His praise, honor and glory.

The zeal of the Lord performed what He promised to Hezekiah.
The zeal of the Lord will likewise accomplish His promises in us.

"My Hook, My Bridle"

March 8, 2016

“My Hook, My Bridle”

Blessings folk!

One of the great truths that we have seen of late is that God has a plan.
He has planned since before the foundation of the earth.

There are many interesting and magnificent corollaries that arise from this truth.

For now, rest in it.
Live in it.
God has a plan.

The Lord had told the King of Assyria that his great conquests were not due to his own personal magnificence.
They were God’s plan.
A plan from ancient times.

The Lord continues to inform the Assyrian king…

2Ki 19:25-28

‘Have you not heard?
Long ago I did it;
From ancient times I planned it.
Now I have brought it to pass,
That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

‘Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength,
They were dismayed and put to shame;
They were as the vegetation of the field and as the green herb,
As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up.

‘But I know your sitting down,
And your going out and your coming in,
And your raging against Me.

‘Because of your raging against Me,
And because your arrogance has come up to My ears,
Therefore I will put My hook in your nose,
And My bridle in your lips,
And I will turn you back by the way which you came.


The Lord was the reason for the victories of Assyria
It was the Lord who caused the vanquished to be…
short of strength
dismayed
put to shame

But, the Lord knows the King’s every move…his sitting down, going out, coming in…his raging against the Lord!

Because of this raging…
Because the king’s arrogance had come to the Lord’s ear…via Hezekiah…(yes, the Lord already knew! Happy )…
Because of these, the Lord had determined to put His hook in the nose of the king and His bridle in the king’s lips.
The Lord would turn the king back by the way he came.

Wait until you see how…

The Lord heard the prayer of Hezekiah.
Yes, the Lord had planned long ago for the Assyrians to do this.
Yet, there is more to the plan.

Did you know that a day is coming when Egypt, Assyria and Israel will all worship the Lord together?

"From Ancient Times I Have Planned It..."

March 7, 2016

“From Ancient Times I Have Planned It…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord was speaking a Word to the King of Assyria.
The Lord had quoted the braggadocios statements of the King…the “I, I, I, I, I,”…
The Lord responds…

2Ki 19:25
‘Have you not heard?
Long ago I did it;
From ancient times I planned it.
Now I have brought it to pass,
That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.


The Lord was letting the King know that the actions of the King were planned from long ago.
The Lord had planned them.
From ancient times.
From long ago.

It was the Lord that brought it to pass.
It was the Lord that had planned and brought about the King’s ability to turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

Man thinks far too highly of himself and the great endeavors we believe that we do.

God knows.
God plans.
Who can thwart His plan?

He has called believers to good works.
He has a plan.
A daily plan that was foreordained before the foundations of the earth…

Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.


Today, walk in the work the Lord has prepared for you.
Reject any other temptation or way.

"You Have Reproached the Lord"

March 6, 2016

“You Have Reproached the Lord”

Blessings folk!

The king of Assyria had reproached the Lord.
He had done so through the word he sent via messengers.
The people of Jerusalem/Judah had heard.
The king Judah had heard.
The Lord had heard.

Read and see what the reproach was…

2Ki 19:23-24

‘Through your messengers you have reproached the Lord,
And you have said, “With my many chariots
I came up to the heights of the mountains,
To the remotest parts of Lebanon;
And I cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypresses.
And I entered its farthest lodging place, its thickest forest.

“I dug wells and drank foreign waters,
And with the sole of my feet I dried up
All the rivers of Egypt.”


“I, I, I, I, I…”

The king was proud, boastful, arrogant.

Note what he had done
He had ascended to the heights…
He had cut down the tall cedars, the choice cypresses…highly valued…
He had entered the farthest lodging place.
He had dug wells and drank foreign waters.
He had dried up all the rivers of Egypt.

Beware when someone launches into “I, I, …”

Reminds me of another passage…

Isa 14:12-14

“How you have fallen from heaven,
O star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who have weakened the nations!

“But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.

‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’


Five “I”s.

Many believe this is a typological picture spoken to the king of Babylon that reflects the true account of what happened to Lucifer in heaven. I think so.

Fear not the taunts of man.
Fear not the strategies of man.
Fear not the “victories” of man.
Know that those who are the Lord’s will be guarded, protected and used by Him to the praise of the glory of His grace.

"Against the Holy One of Israel"

March 5, 2016

“Against the Holy One of Israel”

Blessings folk!

As Hezekiah prayed, the Lord heard.
As Hezekiah prayed, the Lord spoke - to Isaiah the prophet.
Isaiah went to Hezekiah with the Word of the Lord.

It is a lengthy Word, therefore we take a bite at a time.
Read carefully.
Pay attention as to who is speaking to whom.

2Ki 19:20-22

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.’

“This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him:
‘She has despised you and mocked you,
The virgin daughter of Zion;
She has shaken her head behind you,
The daughter of Jerusalem!

‘Whom have you reproached and blasphemed?
And against whom have you raised your voice,
And haughtily lifted up your eyes?
Against the Holy One of Israel!


Isaiah is speaking to Hezekiah.
The Lord had heard his prayer…because he had prayed about Sennacherib.

Then, the Word of the Lord.
The Word was spoken against “him”…

Not “him” Hezekiah.
“Him” Sennacherib, King of Assyria.
Very important! Happy

Remember, the King and his minions had been mocking Jerusalem.
The letter was likely a written mocking-threat version of what had been recorded as being said.

God now says that the daughter of Jerusalem, the virgin daughter of Zion, despises and mocks Assyria. She has shaken her head behind him.

Then the Lord ask the King of Assyria questions…remember, this is the prophet Isaiah speaking the Word of the Lord to Hezekiah, King of Judah, a Word against Assyria.

Who had Sennacherib reproached and blasphemed?
Against whom had he raised His voice?

Against the Holy One of Israel!

The Lord was telling Hezekiah that He had heard.
The Lord was telling Hezekiah that a Word spoken against him/them was a word spoken against the Lord himself.

An encouragement to the King.

As well as to us.

Fear not when others speak against you.
They are speaking against the Lord.
He will take care of it.

"Gods Destroyed..."

March 4, 2016

“Gods Destroyed…”

Blessings folk!

One last point from Hezekiah’s prayer…

The Kings of Assyria had been successful in their campaigns.
Note what they had done to the varied gods.
Note why.

2Ki 19:14+
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands
and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.
So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.


Hezekiah acknowledged the success of Assyria.
He also pointed out that the gods of the nations had been destroyed…cast into fire, laid waste.
Why?
Because the gods were the work of men’s hands.
They worshipped what they made.

So is man today.

The world worships that which is made by man.
Such will be destroyed.
All will burn.

Believers, on the other hand, worship the Most High God, the Lord of All.

Be reminded.
Live in this truth.
Fear not what the worshippers of the hand of man might do.
Seek the Lord.
Fear Him.
Rest and trust in Him.

"God, Save Us!"

March 3, 2016

“God, Save Us!”

Blessings folk!

Hezekiah asked the Lord to hear and to see the situation.

Then Hezekiah stated that the braggadocios proclamation of the Assyrian king was correct…

2Ki 19:14+
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands
and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.
So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.


Truly, the king of Assyria had…
laid waste the nations and their lands
cast their gods into the fire

Not much of a god if it can be cast in a fire…

This is what Hezekiah stated before the Lord.
They were gods of the hands of man.
They were destroyed by man

But, God…
The Lord God of Israel was not a creation of man.
Man is a creation of His.

It is his God that Hezekiah calls upon to save.
To save so that all kingdoms of the earth would know that He is God alone.

The pattern of the prayer…
declaration of Who God is
petition/crying out for God to hear, see
acknowledgement of the truth of the situation
cry for the Lord to save

Seek the Lord.
Cry to Him.
Trust in Him.

"Incline...Open..."

March 2, 2016

“Incline…Open…”

Blessings folk!

Hezekiah had a problem.
The enemy had sent a threat via letter.
Hezekiah took it before the Lord.
He laid it before the Lord - literally.

He then prayed.

2Ki 19:14+
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands
and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.
So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.


Hezekiah acknowledged the Lord as God of All.
God of all kingdoms.
God the creator of heaven and earth.
God who is enthroned above the cherubim.

Hezekiah then boldly petitioned the Lord.
He asked the Lord to incline His ear…to hear.
He asked the Lord to open His eyes…to see.
He asked the Lord to hear the words of the mocking enemy.

Was Hezekiah accusing the Lord of not hearing, not seeing…not caring? No.

Hezekiah was calling upon the Lord.
He was acknowledging that it was only the Lord that could help.

We say it is the Lord in whom we trust.
Do our deeds reflect such? Hezekiah’s did…

…to be continued…

"Spread It Before the Lord..."

March 1, 2016

“Spread It Before the Lord…”

Blessings folk!

Hezekiah had a problem.
He had an army of 185,000 surrounding his city.
They shouted taunts.
They threatened.
Threats that they had already executed upon many cities.

Hezekiah then receives a letter from the Assyrian king.

Apparently it was threatening.

We read the extended passage yesterday.

Focus on the first few verses…

2Ki 19:14+
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands
and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.
So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.


Hezekiah literally spread his problem before the Lord.
He took the letter to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.

We should do likewise.

Too often we cling to problems thinking “not to bother God with it”.
Such shows a lack of understanding as to the nature of God.
He is “unbotherable”.
There is no limit to what the Lord can do.
He can handle all that we bring before him.

Hezekiah then prays a powerful prayer.
A pattern we should follow.

He declared Who God is…
God of Israel
God alone
enthroned above the cherubim…that is interesting…
God above all the kingdoms of the earth
Creator of all

We will continue later…

For now, spread all your problems before the Lord.
Begin with acknowledging that He is God of all, Creator of all.

If you do not believe that He is Creator…?
Then, you do not truly believe…

"Have You Not Heard..."

February 29, 2016

“Have You Not Heard…”

Blessings folk!

God has a plan.

We see it through the Word.

Nothing “catches the Lord unguarded”.

He has a plan.

A plan from the foundation of the world/creation.

Let’s look at a couple of Scriptures related to such.

In this first account, Judah was being besieged by Assyria.
Assyria was “on a roll”.
They had defeated everyone.
Now they were literally surrounding walled Jerusalem and shouting taunts…
“don’t listen to Hezekiah…he will get you killed”
“don’t trust in your God…let us take you to a better place”

Hezekiah had told the people to not respond.
They did so.
Silence before the taunt.

Then, Hezekiah receives a letter from the Assyrian king.
We are not told what the letter said directly, though I think we can glean from God’s response.

Read the extended passage…we will examine it slowly. Happy

Note what Hezekiah did.
Note what God did.

2Ki 19:14-31
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.
And
Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands
and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.
So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.”Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him:
“She despises you, she scorns you—
the virgin daughter of Zion;
she wags her head behind you—
the daughter of Jerusalem.
“Whom have you mocked and reviled?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes to the heights?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
By your messengers you have mocked the Lord,
and you have said, ‘With my many chariots
I have gone up the heights of the mountains,
to the far recesses of Lebanon;
I felled its tallest cedars,
its choicest cypresses;
I entered its farthest lodging place,
its most fruitful forest.
I dug wells
and drank foreign waters,
and I dried up with the sole of my foot
all the streams of Egypt.’
“Have you not heard
that I determined it long ago?
I planned from days of old
what now I bring to pass,
that you should turn fortified cities
into heaps of ruins,
while their inhabitants, shorn of strength,
are dismayed and confounded,
and have become like plants of the field
and like tender grass,
like grass on the housetops,
blighted before it is grown.
“But I know your sitting down
and your going out and coming in,
and your raging against me.
Because you have raged against me
and your complacency has come into my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
and my bit in your mouth,
and I will turn you back on the way
by which you came.
“And this shall be the sign for you: this year eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same. Then in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.
And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.
For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD will do this.


Hezekiah received a threatening letter.
He took it before the Lord and laid it before the Lord…so we should do with all things.
Hezekiah prayed.
The Lord responded through Isaiah the prophet.
The Lord reveals much…especially that He has a plan.

“Have you not heard
that I determined it long ago?
I planned from days of old…


Then why do we worry?
Why do we fret?
The Lord has a plan.
We must abide in Him.
We must be obedient.