the Voice God gave me by Sean Lawrence

Meditations for an every day relationship with Jesus

by Sean Allen Lawrence 1

Forward Writing this book is the inevitable result of collecting. I do this to bring a unique voice … a voice that has developed over many years by God’s grace. Listening to Him speak is a blessing I have attempted to record for the purpose of honoring Jesus Christ as Lord.

At the core of this collection is the harvest of countless “meditations” ... lessons or devotions ... which have been sent out to e-congregations over the years under the banner of the gathering after Matthew’s gospel: Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Note: all Scripture is taken from the Holman Christian Standard Translation unless assigned.

Index Page 45 ……. Isaiah 53:5 Page 46 ……. Hebrews 11-3 Page 47 ……. Genesis 3:20-21 Page 48 ……. Joshua 24:15 Page 49 ……. Psalm 46:1 Page 50 ……. John 8:42 Page 51 ……. John 21:24-25 Page 52 ……. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Page 53 ……. Ezekiel 36:27-28 Page 54 ……. Timothy 6:6-8 Page 55 ……. James 5:14-16 Page 56 ……. 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8 Page 57 ……. Psalm 46:10 Page 58 ……. Genesis 2:7 Page 59 ……. Exodus 20:2-7 Page 60 ……. 1 Peter 2:10 Page 61 ……. Leviticus 26:3-4&6 Page 62 ……. Luke 4:17-19 Page 63 ……. Matthew 7:7-11 Page 64 ……. John 2:7-11 Page 65 ……. 2 Chronicles 20:17 Page 66 ……. Numbers 6:22-26 Page 67 ……. 2 Corinthians 4:18 Page 68 ……. Hebrews 13:15 Page 69 ……. Ephesians 5:15-17 Page 70 ……. Matthew 26:75 Page 71 ……..John 11:35 Page 72 ……. Matthew 6:1-4 Page 73 ……. Psalm 40:9-10 Page 74 ……. Luke 16:10-13 Page 75 ……. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Page 76 ……. Psalm 27:1 Page 77 ……. Matthew 10:28 Page 78 ……. Matthew 6:33-34 Page 79 ……. Psalm 46:10 Page 80 ……. Genesis 1:3-5 Page 81 ……. Jeremiah 29:11-23 Page 82 ……. Jeremiah 29:14 Page 83 ……. 1 Peter 1:6-9 Page 84 ……. 1 Corinthians 15:9 Page 85 ……. Haggai 1:5-6 Page 86 ……. John 3:13 Page 87 ……. Acts 2:2-6 Page 88 ….... Psalm 139:23-24

COVER Page 2 ……. Forward Page 3 ……. Index Page 4 ……. Index Page 5 ……. Index Page 6 ……. Index Page 7 ……. Index Page 8 ……. James1:17-18 Page 9 ……. Titus 3:1 Page 10 ...…. Luke 9:18-20 Page 11 …… Isaiah 41:10 Page 12 …….Job 1:6-8 Page 13 …… Matthew 5:43-45 Page 14 ……John 14:6-7 Page 15 …… John 14:14-18 Page 16 …… Luke 6:27-30 Page 17 …… Romans 5:3-8 Page 18 …... Isaiah 57:1-2 Page 19 …... Habakkuk 1:2-4 Page 20 …… Isaiah 51:6 Page 21 …… Revelation 21:4-5 Page 22 ……Titus 3:3 Page 23 …... 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Page 24 …… Romans 5:1-5 Page 25 …… 2 Corinthians 12:19 Page 26 …… Matthew 18:21-22 Page 27 …… Job 42:5-6 Page 28 …… Leviticus 24:3-4 Page 29 …… Revelation 22:12-13 Page 30 …… Matthew 6:24 Page 31 …….Timothy 6:10 Page 32 …… Luke 14:27 Page 33 …… John 14:15-17 Page 34 …… 2 Corinthians 5:17 Page 35 …… 1 Peter 2:13-15 Page 36 …… 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 Page 37 …… Colossians 1:15-17 Page 38 …… 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 Page 39 …… Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Page 40 …… 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Page 41 …… 2 Timothy 2:8-9 Page 42 …… Genesis 11:5-8 Page 43 …… Genesis 1:31 Page 44 …… 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

Index Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page age

89 …… John 3:35 90 …… Lamentations 1:1-2 91 …… Daniel 12:4 92 …… 1 Timothy 3:2-7 93 …… Titus 3:5-7 94 …… Psalm 61:1-3 95 …… Genesis 16:11-12 96 …… Numbers 23:19 97 …… 2 Timothy 2:13 98 …… 2 Peter 3:8-9 99 …… Isaiah 46:4 100 …. 1 Samuel 15:22 101 ….. Psalm 9:8-10 102 ….. Psalm 138:7-8 103 ….. John 15:16 104 ….. Romans 5:8 105 ….. Acts 2:42-47 106 ….. James 1:12 107 ….. James 1:13-14 108 ….. James 1:15 109 ….. John 13:34-35 110 ….. 1 John 4:7-12 111 ….. Ezra 9:18-19 112 ….. Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 113 ….. Nehemiah 6:8 114 ….. Psalm 62:5 115 ….. 2 John 1:9-11 116 ….. Hosea 2:16-20 117 ….. Song of Solomon 2:8-12 118 ….. Colossians 3:1-4 119 ….. 1 Corinthians 15:58 120 ….. Colossians 3:18-24 121 ….. Psalm 62:5 122 ….. Revelation 1:8 123 ….. John 4:9-12 124 ….. Galatians 6:1-2 125 ….. Proverbs 10:2-6 126 ….. Daniel 11:21-24 127 ….. James 3:1 128 ….. Mark 8:11-12 129 ….. Romans 12:4-8 130 ….. Colossians 3:17 131 …...Galatians 2:20

Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

132 …… Matthew 6:5-6 133 …… 2 Thessalonians 3:8 134 …… Psalm 42:1 135 …… Isaiah 44:23 136 …… Matthew 1:7 137 …… Esther 5:3 138 …… Daniel 12:1 139 …… Revelation 17:3-6 140 …… Romans 2:1 141 …… Leviticus 19:11-14 142 …… Matthew 24:6-8 143 …… Esther 9:1-2 144 …… Isaiah 44:20 145 …… John 15:1-5 146 …… John 4:35-36 147 …… Psalm 92:12-15 148 …… Deuteronomy 21:18-21 149 …… Deuteronomy 21:22-23 150 …… 3 John 1:11 151 …… Deuteronomy 5:6-10 152 …… Joel 2:1-2 153 …… Ecclesiastes 7:19-20 154 …… Philemon 1:8-10 155 …… Ecclesiastes 7:26 156 …… John 21:15-17 157 …… Revelation 20:6 158 …… Proverbs 14:29 159 …… Proverbs 3:1-6 160 …… Deuteronomy 5:6-21 161 …… Philippians 4:4-6 162 …… 1 Peter 3:16 163 …… Amos 1:6-7 164 …… Matthew 4:18-20 165 …… Habakkuk 2:18-19 166 …… Hebrews 13:5-6 167 …… 2 Kings 6:16 168 …… John 7:14-17 169 …… Joel 3:3 170 …… Proverbs 15:15 171 …… John 15:9-12 172 …… Ezra 9:15 173 …… Psalm 39:5-6 174 …… 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

175 …... Obadiah 1:2-4 176 …... Acts 17:22-23 177 ..…. Jonah 3:8-10 178 ..…. Ephesians 6:5-8 179 ..…. Psalms 14:1 180 ..…. Romans 3:20-24 181 ..…. James 4:1-4 182 ..…. Numbers 5:7 183 ..…. Psalm 103:11-12 184 ..…. Psalm 86:1-6 185 ..…. Isaiah 4:6-4 186 ..…. Numbers 23:19 187 ..…. 2 Timothy 2:13 188 ..…. Proverbs 28:26 189 ..…. 1 Chronicles 11:7-9 190 ..…. Zephaniah 3:1-2 191 ..…. Zephaniah 3:4-5 192 ..…. Proverbs 15:3 193 ..…. Titus 3:5-7 194 ..…. Psalm 138:7-8 195 ..…. Matthew 10:7-10 196 ..…. John 8:51 197 ..…. Psalm 48:14 198 ..…. Micah 3:1-3 199 ..…. 2 Titus 1:8-10 200 ..…. Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 201 ..…. Acts 4:18-19 202 ..…. Psalm 119:28-32 203 ..…. Ezekiel 46:16 204 ..…. Deuteronomy 4:29 205 ..…. Acts 21:10-14 206 ..…. 1 Kings 8:53 207 ..…. Nahum 1:2-2 208 ..…. Isaiah 46:11 209 ..…. Ecclesiastes 11:1-3 210 ..…. Mark 4:39-41 211 ……Luke 12:32 212 ..…. 1 Corinthians 4:1 213 ..…. Isaiah 57:1 214 ..…. Genesis 14:18-20 215 ..…. Genesis 14:22-23 216 ..…. Matthew 9:3-7 217 ..…. Matthew 9:36-38

218 …… Proverbs 28:1-3 219 …… Deuteronomy 10:1-3 220 …… Genesis 1:27-28 221 …… Genesis 8:15-17 222 …… Genesis 11:1-6 223 …… Hosea 6:1-2 224 …… Matthew 16:21-23 225 …… John 2:16-19 226 …… Ecclesiastes 7:29 227 …… David 12:16 228 …… Isaiah 11:6-9 229 …… Genesis 1:27-30 230 …... John 5:42-43 231 …… 1 Kings 8:41-43 232 …… Matthew 2:1-2 233 …… Luke 11:39-41 234 …… Joel 1:5 235 …... Daniel 12:3 236 …… Jeremiah 1:4-5 237 …… Colossians 2:8 238 …… Romans 5:12-14 339 …… Romans 5:19-20 240 …… Matthew 10:7-10 241 …… Psalm 49:20 242 …… 1 Peter 1:6-7 243 …… Psalm 18:3 244 …… Matthew 9:35-36 245 …… John 6:64-65 246 …… Judges 2:1-5 247 …… Ezra 1:2-4 248 …… Haggai 1:5-7 249 …… Jude 1:4-6 250 …… 3 John 1:9-11 251 …… Ecclesiastes 2:21 252 …… Genesis 9:20-23 253 …… Micah 7:77-79 254 …… James 1:13-14 256 …… 1 Peter 1:18-19 257 …… Zechariah 1:8-10 258 …… Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 259 …… Luke 9:18-20 260 …… Philippians 4:13 261 …… Matthew 9:9-11

262 …… Ephesians 2:19-22 263 …… 2 Peter 1:3-4 264 …… Amos 3:3-7 265 …… Esther 9:1-2 266 …… Joel 2:1-3 267 …… James 5:1-3 268 …… 1 John 4:11-13 269 …… 2 Chronicles 12:5-8 270 …… 1 Peter 1:14-16 271 …… Ecclesiastes 6:7 272 …… Proverbs 15:6 273 …… Revelation 3:14-17 274 …… Psalm 111:10 275 …… Genesis 12:1-3 276 …… Ezekiel 2:1-5 277 …… Ezekiel 15:17-18 278 …… Exodus 15:17-18 279 …… Galatians 5:13-15 280 …… Matthew 5:43-46 281 …… Deuteronomy 6:4-8 282 …… Leviticus 19:29-30 283 …… 2 Timothy 4:6-8 284 …… 2 Samuel 8:13-15 285 …… Luke 1:1-4 286 …… 1 Corinthians 1:9-13 287 …… Exodus 37:1-9 288 …… Isaiah 14:1-2 289 …… Isaiah 14:12-14 290 …… Isaiah 14:24-27 291 …… Isaiah 16:5 292 …… Romans 8:29-30 293 …… Jeremiah 10:5 294 …… Jonah 2:1-2 295 …… Amos 6:11 296 …… Jeremiah 4:3-4 297 …… Romans 8:31 298 …… Nehemiah 10:37 299 …… Matthew 19:20-22 300 …… Matthew 19:23-26 301 …… 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 302 …… Revelation 22:12-13 303 …… Ruth 2:1-3 304 …… Judges 2:10-12

305 …… 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 306 …… Exodus 14:13 307 …… Matthew 4:23 308 …… Daniel 12:9-13 309 …… Matthew 16:5-8 & 11-12 310 …… Matthew 13:33 311 …… Leviticus 23:17-18 312 …… Hebrews 1:1-3 313 …… Joshua 1:6-9 314 …… Acts 1:4-5 315 …… Hebrews 8:6-7 & 13 316 …… Hosea 4:2 317 …… Psalm 22:14-21 318 …… Jude 1:4-6 319 …… Jonah 3:8-10 320 …… Jonah 4:1-4 321 …… Jonah 4:9-11 322 …… Colossians 3:18-24 323 …… Hebrews 12:28-29 324 …… 2 John 1:7-11 325 …… Jeremiah 4:23-26 326 …… Joel 3:1-3 327 …… Hebrews 13:1-6 328 …… 1 John 3:4-7 329 …… John 10:17-21 330 …… Hosea 6:1-2 331 …… Judges 2:18-19 332 …… Habakkuk 2:5 333 …… Psalm 41:1-3 334 …… Psalm 41:11-13 335 …… Hebrews 5:1-4 336 …… Micah 6:1-3 337 …… Genesis 47:1-4 338 …… Galatians 4:1-7 339 …… Habakkuk 3:1-2 340 …… Galatians 4:28-31 341 …… Acts 10:34-36 342 …… 1 Timothy 4:4-8 343 …… Revelation 20:7-10 344 …… Revelation 11:1-2 345 …… Romans 6:1-4 346 …… Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 347 …… Jude 1:12-1`3

348 …… 2 Timothy 2:15-18 349 …… Lamentations 3:1-5 350 …… Ruth 4:13-22 351 …… 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 352 …… Nahum 2:3-4 353 …… Psalm 150:1-6 354 …… Zephaniah 3:12-13 355 …… Revelation 17:7-9 356 …… Hebrews 4:12-14 357 …… James 3:7-10 358 …… Psalm 5:7-9 359 …… John 20:21-23 360 …... Ecclesiastes 8:6-8 361 …… Hebrews 11:1-3 362 …… Malachi 3:7 363 …… Romans 13:12-14 364 …… Galatians 5:24-26 365 …… Psalm 34:4-8 366 …… Job 33:14-17 367 …… 2 Peter 2:20-22 368 …… James 5:8 369 …… Romans 15:3-6 370 …… Genesis 16:4-6 371 …… Job 42:12-17 372 …… Ephesians 6:10 373 …… Afterward 374 375

Note: spacing on lesson is 1.15 spaces while Scripture is typically not spaced. Set locations of lessons on the page is typically at 1”, 1.5” and 2” using the scale on the LH side of the page. For longer pieces the 3/4” can be used. 7

the voice God gave me

Is perception reality? James 1:17-18 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.

Perception is not reality. Reality stands apart from our perception in the way truth stands apart from a lie. Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life. Our God, Father of Lights, is the only absolute reality because He never changes: there is no variation or shadow caused by movement. God stays put! Perception is something that changes based on any number of variables, such as who is perceiving and what is being perceived. This is very subjective and open to endless interpretation. God always remains true to who He is, and keeps the promises He makes. If we choose to rebel against Him, it is not God who changes, but us. Assume that our perception is not Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reality. Make the necessary adjustments.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

What did Paul tell Titus? Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

Believers must keep their eyes on the prize which is Christ Jesus. Paul was giving Titus direction on how to keep his church on Crete intact. However, Paul has broader and more contemporary appeal as we read his practical guide to living in a world that often views belief in God as a failure. We must be kingdom people who turn the unnatural order of our world on its head. And we must never forget that we were once the foolish, disobedient and deceived. We still struggle but we are stronger., wiser and less foolhardy ...

the voice God gave me

What child is this? Luke 9:18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20 Once when He was praying in private, and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back." "But you," He asked them, "who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "God's Messiah!"

Who do you say that He is? The answer will forever define you and your relationship with God. C.S Lewis said that unless Jesus was telling the truth about Himself He could not be a moral teacher, since He had obviously lied. Jesus would have been undeniably insane to have orchestrated His own death by the cross â&#x20AC;Ś the worst kind of torture! So, if you are reading this, and cannot believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then who do you say that He is?

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

How does God protect us? Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

Jesus hurt on the cross in ways we will never understand; and there is a part of us that still feels a deep sense of guilt. Whenever we get wrapped up in self pity it hurts deeply because we know that what we are going through is only a taste of what Jesus experienced first and on our behalf. As believers we get a fleeting sense of bitter-sweetness that washes over us but it does not remain; because of Christ we do not know the full depth of the separation that sin brings. Yet we sense its loneliness and longing. Grace protects us from lives of sin that kill the spirit; it is unmerited and given freely. Honor His gift!

the voice God gave me

Who is the Lord of this world? Job 1:6--8 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" "From roaming through the earth," Satan answered Him, "and walking around on it." Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil."

Have you ever felt like your life was in the toilet, and God was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to flush your karma down the drain? Understood! But, you wouldn’t have been the first person to consider that possibility. Take heart … God trumps karma, fate and especially Satan! Your life is not a gamble. Albert Einstein once said that God doesn’t play dice. The great physicist knew that worlds upon worlds are ordered, balanced, and with distinct purpose.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Is life fair? Matthew 5:43-45 " You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Actually, life is more than fair. Life is neutral; everyone has the same opportunity. People make lives what they are (or are not). The individual who has the most profound impact on our lives is us â&#x20AC;Ś you and me. No one else has a bigger starring role in the drama of our lives than we do. Living is about freewill, and the choices we make. The clouds rain and the sun shines on everyone. The bigger question is whether we will make the best use of umbrellas and sunscreen.

the voice God gave me

Why is Jesus different? John 14:6-7 Jesus told him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.â&#x20AC;?

Jesus, unlike other faith leaders, is exactly who He claims to be. Instead of pointing to a tin god, or one who might offer superficial enlightenment, Jesus comes as God and is the very answer we seek. Instead of being confusing and complex, offering riddles and rules, Jesus is simple and direct. Jesus also did something that no one else has ever done: He was resurrected bodily from the dead and promised the same for all who believe on Him. This assertion has never been successfully challenged, and no corpse was ever produced. Our God lives!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Is God nearby? John 14:14-18 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world is unable to receive because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.”

There are those times for each of us when we wonder where God went; we wonder why we feel so alone in our faith. The answer is this: God is always close in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Jesus left behind with us in a spiritual form to comfort and guide us. We are never alone even if we cannot see Him. Since we are not gods, and our faith is not perfect, we have doubts and fears. But know this … we are children of the One Living God. We are not orphans.

the voice God gave me

How can we love our enemies? Luke 6:27-30 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back.”

We can only love our enemies if we have Jesus “in us” as our personal Lord and Savior. No one can love themselves into a relationship with Him by loving others. We do not have the capacity to do that without His capacity. We call it grace.

This is not an ordinary love. It is “agape love” a Greek term which is best defined as a selfless love of one person for another without sexual implications; especially love of a spiritual nature. Be loved and love without condition. Forgive seven times seventy.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Why me, Lord? Romans 5:3-8 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person-though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!

Why not you; why not me? What makes us so special that we think we are exceptions to any of the rules? Addiction recovery tells us that we are not so special nor should we expect a free pass through the difficult times. Jesus died for each of us so that we might live life more fully. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it outrageous that He would die for even those who would mock Him and scoff at His claims? God approves of those who are willing to walk the walk.

the voice God gave me

Do the good always die young? Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart; faithful men are swept away, with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil. He will enter into peacethey will rest on their beds—everyone who lives uprightly.

The good may not always die young, but when they do at least we can point to a verse in Scripture that deals with it in an honest way. What happens to us is not bad luck, karma, destiny or fate. What happens is the net result of the decisions we have made over a lifetime tempered with God’s purpose. In Isaiah we see that death can be a protective shield. More importantly … does good mean an individual who is innocent or does it mean those who make seek recognition for the good works they have done? Goodness is not godliness; righteousness is godliness. Be holy because God is holy. In that is our only purpose.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Can we be really honest with God? Habakkuk 1:2-4 How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

This sense of outrage is only half of the equation. Honest communication with God is more than frustration, petition and challenge. However, this diatribe by the prophet Habakkuk suggests that God can handle our outrage, and more, without blinking. Our God has an infinite capacity for our fears and our sins. Remember that it was He who gave up only His Son as a ransom for our lives. I suggest that we balance our conversations with God by offering up praise, confession, and seeking forgiveness. That is a relationship.

the voice God gave me

Always saved? Isaiah 51:6 Look up to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die in like manner. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never be shattered.

If salvation can be lost, then it is not good news for us. If salvation is conditional, then it cannot be eternal. The more critical question is whether or not we can lose something we have not merited or earned? Neither you nor I can lose something we never had, which is why an altar call can feel so empty after all of the excitement has passed, the church is empty, and nothing seems to have changed. However, if we are truly transformed, our salvation can never be lost. We could no more give back our â&#x20AC;&#x153;new creatureâ&#x20AC;? status than we could un-know God.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

When will things be made new? Revelation 21:4-5 Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.

Everything is being made new as I write this and as you read this. The “newness” began with a definite purpose the moment Jesus emerged from the tomb. Everything is changing; nothing just stays where it is. It has been said that we are either busy living or busy dying . The choice is ours, and there is no in-between. Newness is four-fold. It affects how we relate to God, self, others, and creation. Are you busy being a life-giver? Are you about the newness of a life in Christ Jesus? The Light, which is God ,brings life; darkness, which is evil, brings only sin and death.

the voice God gave me

Titus 3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

We must overcome our biases and our prejudiced thinking if we are going to have any hope of making disciples in Jesus’ name. And … sometimes it isn’t unbelievers, but believers, who are the greatest challenge. Lashing out at leaders, not for truth but because of ideology or “righteous indignation,” is only giving power to the devil and his kind. We cannot do God’s will and submit to our own petty differences. This all divides the church and alienates Christ followers from one another at a time when we need each other the most.

When have you claimed to be a believer, but discovered that you are as weak in the flesh as anyone else? If you have, then you are aware of how difficult it is to live for Jesus day in and day out. Have you confessed and sought to be forgiven? If you have, then forgive and be free to be a slave for Jesus Christ.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Do I have to run? 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

Running the race is a metaphor, or symbolic language, that helps the Apostle Paul better illustrate what he is trying to teach the followers of Jesus. All of those listening would have understood the concept of racing just like we understand a touchdown or a basket. We are told that if we want to get to the finish line first and receive the best prize, then we need to run hard and run straight!

Only a handful of those who begin any race will finish in the top positions. Practice hard every day and prepare to run a long race. Your efforts will pay off if you persevere.

the voice God gave me

How can we possibly enjoy difficult times? Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We cannot do this alone, and God does not expect us to. He has given us a helper we refer to as the Holy Spirit. The term for this third person of the Trinity, in the Greek, is paraclete; this word means “one brought alongside.” It is doubtful that Paul would have expected any of us to be thrilled with the prospect of hard times. What he does ask, however, is that we look at these times as formative, … experiences that will make us stronger and wiser for what is to come.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

How can Jesus be enough? 2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Jesus is all we need. In fact, He is more than we will ever need! He is bigger than any person or any problem. Real evidence for the power of God is made known to all the world when we, as believers, rely upon Him. To those who do not believe it looks like insanity to depend upon a God no one can see; but the weakness referred to in this passage isn’t about physical strength. It is about being obedient and trusting in His purpose even if we do not have all of the answers. This is what we call “faith.” It is the reliance upon, and devotion to, things unseen.” Be faithful; what the world sees as weakness is really a source of strength.

the voice God gave me

Endless forgiving? Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" “I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven.”

Matthew West answers the question very eloquently in his hit “Forgiveness,” when he tells the listener that forgiveness frees the real prisoner which is really me and you. Seven is a perfect number, and would ordinarily suggest completion. However, in the case of forgiveness, Jesus tells Peter that forgiveness is an infinite process of healing and is never completed. The reason for this is a simple fact: the real victim of an unforgiving heart is not the person who needs to be forgiven, but the one who needs to forgive.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Love me? Job 42:5-6 “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself.”

How many of us have compared ourselves to God and, like Job, wondered how we could ever approach Him and ask for anything? Most of us feel so bad about who we are, or what we have done, that we envision such an encounter as just another rejection … but on a cosmic scale. For many of us it would confirm our worst fears, and underscore what we already know about ourselves. We are tempted to say, “If God only knew about … (1.) my infidelities, (2.) my addictions, (3.) my lies (4.) my fears, (5.) my resentments, etc.” And, of course He does know, and loves us anyway. We assume that God is like people only bigger and scarier. Our God is a loving God, and there is nothing else like Him … nothing better.

the voice God gave me

Obedience Leviticus 24:3-4 If you follow My statutes, and faithfully observe My commands, I will give you rain at the right time, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.

This is more about blessing than simply following a list of rules. We can follow rules and abide by civil law all day long, and we will probably not feel particularly blessed … although we will no doubt fit in better with our community, avoid fines and jail time. In the ways of God obedience is its own reward. We find ourselves submitting to a benevolent and merciful authority, and there is peace. No one but God can be the author of real peace in the middle of such hectic and unfulfilling lives. “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.” Sometimes bumper stickers get it right!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

When will the end come? Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the last, the Beginning and the End.”

While many signs of the end are obvious, most are subtle. In Matthew it refers to “wars and rumors of wars,” and that these are but the “birthing pangs.” There are of course gatherings of the faithful, which are not new; but the microscopic focus on Israel and the Middle-East is new. God’s work will end where it began. Decisions about where we place our faith cannot be put off, and we can no longer claim ignorance. We do not live in a vacuum, but on a globe, informed and vulnerable. The emergence of the Bible Code, the Nag Hammadi Library, the nation of Israel, and the Dead Sea Scrolls are but a sampling of the knowledge that God asks us to investigate. He is commanding us to look at the big picture and to be aware of “which way the wind is blowing.”

the voice God gave me

Why not more than one master? Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other … You cannot serve God and mammon [other gods, i.e. money, etc.].”

What this tells us is that we cannot serve Christ and other gods; a decision must be made. None of us do particularly well with split loyalties, and our “jealous God” will simply not stand for it. Praise Him for forcing our hand! Hid jealous love for us actually makes the decision for Him far less complex. He offers one real option, not a buffet of alternatives. Gather with those of one accord and behold Christ in the Holy Spirit. While you are on your faith journey continue ask Him for guidance, and actively seek Him out. He is not elusive. You will be blessed to discover that He is always there for us.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Tithing: what does it mean? 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”

Interestingly, Christ does not directly address tithing, but suggests that money should be given away, or at the very least be placed in perspective because it can become obsessive. If we are immersed in our faith, and worship is truly a lifestyle, then 10% of our accumulated (or earned) resources will be just the beginning. That is why Christ didn’t put a number on it. He wanted our faith to emanate from the heart not from the purse. God is also wondering what you and I will do with the other 90% of our resources, since it all originated with Him. We have not earned anything that He did not first create. Invest wisely.

the voice God gave me

Cross training? Luke 14:27 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?â&#x20AC;?

It is vitally important that we understand what the cross that Jesus bore consisted of, and why it was essential to salvation The cross that He carried was more than physically heavy, cumbersome, and full of splinters. It contained our sins: all the sins of all of the world, past, present, and future. To redeem means that He both paid for them and was literally crucified on them. And because of this real event, Jesus paid for those sins with His life. He paid as an innocent lamb (one without blemish or spot). This is in keeping with Biblical prophecy and Hebrew messianic tradition. Who carries a cross that has not counted the cost? Follow Him!

Titus 3:1-3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Do you love Me ...? John 14:15-17 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world is unable to receive because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.”

“If you love me …” Have you ever had someone begin a conversation like this, and you know it is going to a very bad place? We are immediately on the defensive because in the flesh we know that a question like this is conditional; it will leverage our passion and our loyalty for the other person’s gain. You win, I lose. Not so with Jesus. When we give ourselves to Him in spirit and truth we gain the whole world even though we lose our old lives. These are conditions which hold promise and blessing. Love Him!

the voice God gave me

Are our relationships broken?? 2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

Today, instead of licking our wounds, and wallowing in self-pity, we are beginning to see that there are new ways to mend the relationships that are vital to us. We consider: Our relationship with God (we are no longer what happened) Our relationship with self (we are what can happen) Our relationship with others (we are now pure potential) Our relationship with creation (we are what God intended us to be)

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

How are we radicals? 1Peter 2:13-15 Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For it is God's will that you, by doing good, silence the ignorance of foolish people.

We talk freely about being “radical,” though most of us really don’t understand its root meaning. The actual definition is to be fully committed and thoroughgoing.

In Christ Jesus we are indeed radical, passionate and fully committed, though we support governments—we do not make it our goal to overthrow them—and we honor kingdoms. We know that God will have the final word; we do not need to wage His wars for Him. Our constructive activities will do more to silence the tongues of the ignorant than any protest.

the voice God gave me

What did Paul tell the Thessalonians? 1Thessalonians 4:10-12 But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

Paul was teaching the Thessalonians to work quietly and let their everyday lives speak for Christ. In this way we are also asked not to shy away from the workplace, but to engage in it so that our light might shine brightly to others.

We are commanded to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;glow in the darkâ&#x20AC;? people who shine brightly in the darkness of this world. By the grace of God we can be a light to the paths of others.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

What did Paul tell the Colossians? Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.

Paul reminded the church members at Colossae that Jesus Christ alone is at the center, and at the head, of everything they needed to know. Because there were many false teachings circulating, especially those that were competing with the “Jesus only” doctrine, this lyrical letter, or creed, is simple, straight forward, and easy to remember. Today we do the same when we recite the Lord’s Prayer to invoke community and strength. “… protect us and deliver us from the evil one.”

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What was Paul’s thorn? 2Corinthians 12:7-9 Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

We don’t know for certain exactly what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was, but it was presumably a temptation of the flesh. All of us who seek Christ, and perfection in Him, understand all too well that the flesh itself is the last obstacle to a state of spiritual perfection.

Our flesh is the one common humbling factor that no individual can claim to have overcome … not in this life. In this way all are equal, no one standing taller than another at the foot of the cross. Each one of us know the torment of the flesh. Take heart! Note: The “thorn” may well be a metaphor for what is suggested more broadly in Romans: the consequence of free will.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Why should we be together? Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

As it goes for marriages it also goes for communities. We were not meant to be alone. Jesus even left behind the Holy Spirit so that we would not be alone when He left. Consider that this model for community, and for marriage, is also the covenant model that God intends for us to experience with Him. We do not have to be alone; being alone is a choice. Being alone makes us vulnerable to the temptation of the enemy.

the voice God gave me

Is the rapture real? 1Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.

The rapture is absolutely real, and it is the foundation of our hope in this crazy age. Paul reassures us through this letter to the church at Thessalonica that what Jesus promised He would fulfill; and that we should be prepared because no one but God the Father knows the day or the hour. The time for His return grows nearer with each passing day. Are you prepared in Christ?

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Chains cannot bind us 2Timothy 2:8-9 Keep in mind Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, according to my gospel. For this I suffer, to the point of being bound like a criminal; but God's message is not bound.

God’s message is not bound by anything! No person, place or thing can stop God if He has a will and a purpose for your life. That being said, you and I can be the obstacle to His will for us in the same way the rich young man in Matthew 19 turned away from Jesus. He was bound by his wealth and his possessions. He chose them over God. God will never make us choose Him, but He will not let us forget Him, either. God’s message is never bound by circumstance, time or place. We, on the other hand, are bound by our obsessions and the chains of our sin. However, if we allow God to work through us no sin can prevent His work, and no prison can contain us. God’s truth will always set us free.

the voice God gave me

Are some divisions necessary? Genesis 11:5-8 Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city.

While the Holy Spirit truly binds us as the common denominator, the God-glue, there are significant factors which continue to divide us. There is, in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind, a good reason for this. Issues of language, ethnicity, affiliation and origin, continue to distract us so that we do not set about to do the unthinkable: That we might conquer the impossible, believe ourselves invincible, and crown ourselves God. Real beneficent unity occurs only in the Spirit and in the body of Christ. Unity is not about buildings or facades. Be still and know that only God is God.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Creation or science? Genesis 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came, and then morning: the sixth day.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. 2Peter 3:8 Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: with the Lord one day is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years like one day.

What we have to take away from Genesis is this: we do NOT have to choose between creation and science. God does not require it and Jesus did not die for it. Our salvation is not affected by our belief in six days or six ages of creation. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time is not our time. What we must understand is that God saw all that He had created, and that it was good. Scientists and believers alike are required to understand creation in terms of faith because faith is the only avenue to an answer. The final step in any process is faith.

the voice God gave me

Being responsible 2Thessalonians 3:7-10 For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: we were not irresponsible among you; we did not eat anyone's bread free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It is not that we don't have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: "If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat."

Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message was a message for the marketplace as was Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gospel. Most of us spend more time at work, and in commuting, than we do almost anywhere else. The Bible never speaks against honest labor or the acquisition of material goods. What Paul makes plain is that no one, especially faith leaders, should have an entitlement mentality. The church should not be burdened my mortgages or leadership; the church is a spiritual body headed by Christ, not merely a physical address with a cross on the steeple.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Healing in woundedness? Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.

The prophet Isaiah foretells the scourging of Jesus Christ centuries before it came to pass. But, how can healing come from someone being hurt in our place? How can we live by the death of another? Debt always has to be repaid unless it is forgiven. Living may be a gift, but it is a gift that takes more than it gives back because of the nature of sin. Jesus actually had to purchase our sin, and paid the Father what we could not. Because sin will not just go away on its own the payment required to cover it up once and for all was the death of the only innocent one. It is the consummate irony, I believe. Rules and scorecards cannot add up to a tally that exonerates us. We are truly unforgivable! The only way to win is to believe on Jesus.

the voice God gave me

What is a letter to the Hebrews? Hebrews 1:1-3 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

This letter or “epistle” to the Hebrews is Holy Scripture that speaks directly to believing Jews about the person of Jesus Christ. It ties together the Old and New Testaments by clearly illustrating the transformation of the Law given to Moses into an expression of God’s grace. Jesus died for all men, both the Jew and the Gentile. God has spoken in different ways at different times, but God’s voice is the always same … it is the voice of love and purpose. Seek God and find your purpose. Know that you are loved.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

What is atonement? Genesis 3:20-21 Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The Lord God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.

To atone means to cover ... literally, to cover up a thing that is blemished. In the Old Testament it required the death of a sinless animal to cover up our shame. In the New testament Jesus Christ is slain, as the perfect unblemished lamb, to cover all of our sins and to bridge the distance sin has created between ourselves and God. Hebrews 10:18 tells us that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now where there is forgiveness of these (sins and lawless acts) there is no longer an offering for sin.â&#x20AC;? Christ did once and for all the very thing that no animal or good work could ever atone for.

the voice God gave me

Does God make us choose Him? Joshua 24:15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshipped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.

Thematically, the importance of freewill in the Bible is bested only by the assertion that there is one God ... that He is sovereign and above all other gods. Freewill, or choice, is how the Bible begins for humanity, and it is where it will end for each of one of us. In eternity we receive what we have sown in this earthly life. Jesus on the cross paid the price for the privilege to choose our “forever.” The consequence of His shed blood is our grace.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Where do we turn? Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Romans 8:38-9 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

We are faced with a choice, a dilemma … one that has plagued the post-modern man in ways that no other has been burdened. We are asked to choose God or Science. It is not a choice we have to make.

While we tend to choose God when we are desperate and science at our most rational, the two combined answer the questions “why” and “how” in a complete and coherent way that science by itself cannot. We would do well to consider both/and, not either/or. Our God is a God of inclusion and promise, not exclusion and dismay.

the voice God gave me

What do we know about Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birth? John 8:42 " Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn't come on My own, but He sent Me. Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Surprising little is known about the birth of our Savior. The accounts we are familiar with in Matthew and Luke were written 40-50 years after His death and resurrection. Even Jesus didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say anything useful about His own birth if we are to believe the first-hand accounts of the Gospels. Our Jesus is not held captive in a manger nor is He to remain on the cross. Our Lord is a living God who is not bound by any event or human expectation. Isaiah tells us that a son will be born for us; Jesus fulfills all that is hoped for.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Are there other inspired writings? John 21:24-25 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

In the Gospel of John the author who creates the epilogue for him wants us to know that Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; works, even though He ministered for only 3 years, is far more vast than any one book or collection can possibly contain. Believers have struggled, as long as there has been breath, to put the mysteries of God into language that everyone can understand. Yet, we know that no language, or human utterance, can adequately represent the mighty and awesome nature of our God. Though men have written many books, and men have decided what our Bible would consist of, in the end they were led by the Spirit of God. There are not enough words, or the right words, to describe who God is or what He has done. He is way beyond words!

the voice God gave me

What is Charisma? 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.

The Greek charismata if derived from the root charis meaning grace. Paul tells us that are different gifts and different ministries, so we should not get stuck on one gift or the other. It requires all gifts working together to fully represent the body of Christ. Gifts cross denominational lines, and are not the sole property of any sect or institution. What is most important is how we use our gifts and talents to glorify God in the name of Jesus Christ. If we use our gifts or talents to further our own importance then we are dishonoring God and misleading those who need Jesus the most. Find your gift; find your passion; but, by all means find Jesus!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Ezekiel and gifts of the Spirit? Ezekiel 36:27-28 I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.

We often think of Ezekiel only in terms of the strange visions he had; but he also had very practical insight into the Holy Spirit long before the advent of Jesus or the Disciples’ gifting of tongues at Pentecost. The purpose of gifts is made clear in the Old Testament, and should be considered before we go out prophesying, speaking in tongues, and laying on of hands. Why? Because more often than not these acts are not glorifying God; they are furthering personal agenda and directing our attention away from following only God’s statutes and ordinances. Jesus says love God and your neighbor … that covers it!

the voice God gave me

Having just what we need? 1 Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

It is possible to be content without material gain. Consider what Jesus had: He had what was in His heart and what was on His back. He reminded a scribe in the Gospel of Matthew that while the Son of Man had no place to lay His head, the foxes have dens and birds have nests. Our Lord was not complaining; He was providing perspective in a culture that equated material gain with blessing. Are you content â&#x20AC;Ś that is to say â&#x20AC;Ś are you free, and not caught up in the bondage of materialism? If you are truly liberated it is because the Son has set you free! Do not equate material gain with blessing.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Faith healing? James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.

Faith healing, or being healed in (and by) our faith in Jesus is absolutely real. The problem with our understanding of “faith healing” is that it is presumed to be immediate, and always relief from a physical ailment. However, while there will always be miracles of physical healing, more often than not, healing is of a spiritual nature. Know this: healing is always in God’s time, and it must glorify the Son. We should praise God for even the smallest miracles in our daily living because that is where healing is most abundant.

the voice God gave me

What a church looks like 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit, and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.

A church looks exactly like the individuals that meet one, two, three or more, at a time. They gather to enrich their lives and to let the name of Jesus pass their lips. They speak His name just as easily as the names of their favorite foods, or the names of childhood friends. Their hands and feet look just like the hands and feet of the man Jesus. In these intimate churches there are kingdom and garden experiences, the ones we all yearn to have at least one time in our lives this side of heaven. Churches are not real estate or stained glass; they are places we find (or maybe they have found us). Regardless, they give us a glimpse of heaven at times when hell is far more familiar.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Why stop fighting? Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (KJV)

One perception that still prevails is this: God is a being who is both benevolent and yet cannot wait to exercise His wrath. While this is deeply rooted in tradition, it is only half true. Our God is merciful and loving to a fault â&#x20AC;Ś He exists to deliver us, and we are made to love Him. That is all. We are to be still and respectful of our Lord, to stop our fighting, knowing that while He could exercise His wrath at any time, He does not. He waits patiently. He has decided to let us choose when to fight and when to sit down, when to be active and when to stop. Wrath is defined as right judgment, not unbridled anger. Our God is not full of wrath; He satisfied it so long ago on the cross.

the voice God gave me

But, what is life? Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

All that we know is that without life we are but empty husks. We know that we cannot create it because life is not just the random activity of cells … it has a critical spiritual component. It is a gift that has no other purpose than to reproduce itself and to glorify its Creator. Such a gift is unparalleled because it has no conditions, and when opened is full of nothing but perfect love.

Strong #5397 Hebrew neshâmâh (Greek pneuma) 1) breath, spirit

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

No idols or tin gods? Exodus 20:2-7 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.

Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name.”

Boundaries, rules if you want to call them that, are set in place for protection, not to restrict. And in the end the Ten Commandments, of which these are representative, and those that accompany them in the balance of the Torah, are reduced to only two: Love God and love your neighbor; everything else depends upon this. God is showing us how to love. No false gods. Having them is unhealthy and ends in destruction.

the voice God gave me

God’s people?

1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Being a defined and recognizable people is more than a metaphor, it is symbolic of the kingdom blessing found only in the “body of Christ.” This is unique to Christ-followers because they know the Messiah has come, and they are a transformed people. This is literally the revelation of the gospel ... “the uncovering” of an indisputable truth. We are a peculiar people defined by our covenant relationship with God.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Isn’t obedience a kind of punishment? Leviticus 26:3-4&6 " If you follow My statutes and faithfully observe My commands, I will give you rain at the right time, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.

I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to frighten [you]. I will remove dangerous animals from the land, and no sword will pass through your land …”

Know that even today, especially in these last days, the following blessings are ours if we are obedient to our Lord Jesus: It will rain at the right time The land will yield its produce Trees will bear their fruit Peace will be given across the land One can lie down without fear Dangerous animals will be removed No sword will pass through your land.

the voice God gave me

Am I a captive? Luke 4:17-19 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, and unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

We are bound by our discipleship to go out and carry the message of good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom to all captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Which one of us cannot identify at one time or another with being poor in possession & in spirit, captive to our sin, blind to the healing grace of Jesus Christ and oppressed by some one or some thing?

However, now that we have a pretty good idea just what it means to taste freedom from a lifestyle that kept us forever in bondage, it is time to go out and tell others what we have discovered!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Ask Matthew 7:7-11 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Does this mean that the first time we seek, or the first time we knock on God’s door, that we will be given everything we ask for and we will be completely satisfied? Or is there a suggestion that we must be persistent, and not tire of doing the right things, until we have results? We must be persistent, and the results will come at an appointed time. This timing will honor God and benefit us … that is His will. If our lives are going to change it will be because of a process of steps we take each day, not because we have been involved in some “one-of-a-kind” supernatural event.

the voice God gave me

Inferior wine John 2:7-11 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. [about 150 gallons] “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did. When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from — though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Our passage about the finest wine being left until “now” is a strong statement about God’s timing for Jesus Christ Himself. In Jesus He kept the finest wine (His only Son) until an appropriate moment, and then gave Him to the world: His blood a covenant. While the world is drunk on itself, and enamored with all of its acquisitions (having consumed the inferior wine), God has poured out His Son (the fine wine) at just the right time: the “now” is truly “in this church age,” but sadly many of the most inebriated on the inferior product cannot taste the fine wine of salvation. We are told time and time again in the New and Old Testaments to stay sober and vigilant so that opportunity does not pass us by in our drunken state. (see Luke 21:34)

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

God has this 2 Chronicles 20:17 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.’ ”

Tomorrow go out and face whatever is your battlefield and know that God is already there to slay the enemy. He simply wants you to show up in faith. We are not required to do the hand to hand or sword to sword combat, but to be of a sound spirit and a passionate single mindedness. Don’t confuse this with being perfect. If you wait to be perfect you will never go out to meet your Goliath. Size doesn’t matter, by the way. God is bigger than your biggest adversary!

the voice God gave me

Recount His glory and seek His deliverance Numbers 6:22-26 The LORD spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: May Yahweh bless you and protect you; may Yahweh make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh look with favor on you and give you peace.”

There are many beautiful prayers in the Bible; The Lord’s Prayer and The Magnificat, to name a couple. Yet, the prayer of grace in the Book of Numbers is one of the oldest and most reassuring in all of Scripture. There is the direct invocation of God to be with us in the blessing, but not as a wrathful or punishing figure. This manifestation of Yahweh suggests a loving and affirmative countenance or face of God smiling and well pleased. God’s appearance shines on the recipient and causes them to glow like Children of Light, warriors of the faith. Additionally there is the closing to confer favor and peace as the blessed assembly goes out. This prayer of blessing is simple, well rounded, and overflowing with assurance. It can be used anytime a blessing is required.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Believe in Him

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Faith is what we rely on, and it is sustained or fed by the Holy Spirit. Believing is a choice, but faith is a gift. Paul tells us in the Second letter to the Corinthian church not to get caught up in the appearances of things, but what is unseen and spiritual. Appearances, as we know, can be deceiving. The work of the Holy Spirit is its own best evidence and is discerned or understood clearly by those willing to accept the truth, which is Christ Jesus

What we lay physical eyes on is temporary and will decay and go back to the earth. What is invisible is no less real, but the caveat is that it will never cease to be in its current state. It is endless, limitless and unchanging. It is absolute. We need our guidepost.

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Praise God! Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.

We crawl up onto the altar, a living sacrifice. We praise Him and we pray that we are committed enough not to roll off the altar at the first hint of discomfort. We must intentionally relieve Jesus on the cross by remaining on the altar.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

The days are evil Ephesians 5:15-17 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk--not as unwise people but as wise-making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

The days themselves are not evil, but the potential for using our time for an evil purpose is greater now than ever. Do not give into the temptation of the Adversary. He whispers sweet nothings that have lost their sweetness â&#x20AC;Ś they are lies: candy coated barbed wire and broken glass. Watch what you swallow.

the voice God gave me

The reality Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter is each one of us: foundational building blocks of the universal church held intact by the cornerstone, Jesus. A foundation without its cornerstone cannot remain. Building blocks crumble and are scattered. Without their cornerstone They have no purpose. A foundation that has no integrity, no cornerstone, cannot support anything built upon it. A foundation in Christ cannot be scattered nor destroyed. It remains when all else is swept away by the fear and uncertainty of the current age. The rock Peter was flawed, but remained intact because of its proximity to the cornerstone. Stones placed together strategically have incredible strength.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

The real Jesus John 11:35 Jesus Wept.

With the exception of the clearing of the Temple complex of money changers, this is Jesus at His most human; and yet He is the most Godlike in His mercy and complete love for the loss of His friend Lazarus. He weeps for us as well. He calls us from the darkness of our tombs into the bright light of a life eternal.

the voice God gave me

Don’t boast in your charity Matthew 6:1-4 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Can you imagine sounding a trumpet as you proceed down the center aisle at church to present your offering, or having a parade and fanfare as you march down the street to give money or belongings to someone in need? This is what God says we should not do because it isn’t God who is getting the glory, it is the individual (you and me) becoming bloated with pride and getting the attention … our fifteen minutes, as Andy Warhol so aptly stated. Our reward is in heaven. Anything else is temporary and a distraction. Make sure that your heart and treasure are in heaven. Look up!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Proclaim God! Psalm 40:9-10 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; see, I do not keep my mouth closed -as You know, Lord. I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal Your constant love and truth from the great assembly.

So, have you kept your mouth shut like a tomb? Have you been reluctant to pronounce the truth of Jesus Christ to the “great assembly?” In our time the great assembly is our local community; this is as it was in ancient times.

If we hide what we know to be true we may not touch those who need to hear a comforting word or an admonition. Tell about your personal experience with God in Jesus Christ! Testify! Do not keep your light under a bushel or those who are in darkness will mot be able to clearly see the path worth taking. We are to be “glow in the dark people” … maybe the only light some folks will ever see. Shine brightly!

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God and money Luke 16:10-13 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t be slaves to both God and money.”

This is simply about stewardship. Of the four relationships that we must cultivate as believers, this one is probably the most challenging because it means taking what we have learned and applying it to our everyday living. The other relationships, i.e. with God, self and others can seem very abstract to us, but this one has “practical” written all over it. Some say we can serve God by giving money, funding a project or a cause, while others say we can only truly serve God if we cast off all of our material trappings … that money or mammon is somehow evil.

In the context of our faith, Jesus is asking us to be in balance and to use our resources wisely. Being rich will not save anyone but either will a vow of poverty. Be alive: worship Jesus Christ is spirit and in truth.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Love is â&#x20AC;Ś 1Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

God is the Alpha and the Omega, and since He is love, and love neverending, love can never end. We are assured that all other things will pass away except Him and His beloved bride, the church. If we want to know the character of God, then we should read the above passage closely as Paul has been very specific about the nature of love: bears, believes, hopes and endures. This is our merciful God as He presented Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. God in Jesus Christ is not provoked, but deeply in love which was best demonstrated on the cross. On it He loved us to death ...

the voice God gave me

God’s strength Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom should I be afraid?

In the beginning God not only created the light and the darkness; He is the light! Fear Him! Seek Him out!

The Light of God is spiritual, but it behaves like a solid. The Light of God that IS God is not a metaphor; it is itself a real thing. It is wholly mysterious. Its empirical evidence is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Light of God is a stronghold, a fortress against enemies of the kingdom. The Light of God purifies and saves us; it burns away the evil and the darkness which clings to us like a spiritual cancer. The Light of God is a force field; it shields us from harm and cannot be penetrated by any darkness or unclean thing.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Whom to fear Matthew 10:28 “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Jesus is telling us that our fears are misplaced if we fear only the things that can hurt the flesh. And … He isn’t telling us to fear the Devil or any other power or spirit, either. Jesus tells us to fear only God! He tells us to fear God because God alone controls all things eternal. The soul will last forever in one of two places: heaven or hell. How does Jesus know this? 1.) Jesus is God. He knows everything. 2.) Jesus knows the weakness of the flesh. He was with God when we were created. 3.) Jesus knows He is going to the cross, and He knows the outcome. We also have two choices: we can analyze this and get distracted or we can take Jesus at His word. Take Jesus at His word!

the voice God gave me

Enough for us Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We all know that worry will not do us any earthly good. It will not make us taller, richer, smarter or better looking. Yet, we worry just the same. In fact, the very things we are told not to worry about (especially tomorrow) we tend to worry about even more. Why is this? Because all of the things we tend to worry about have something in common: tomorrow. Tomorrow is when we will start a new diet, it is when we will finally quit using drugs, it is when we will see our investments finally paying off, etc. But, Jesus says that we should focus on today and leave tomorrow to itself. Tomorrow also has troubles, just like today. Handling both the troubles of today and the troubles of tomorrow simply tends to be overwhelming. Jesus is giving us practical advice.

What isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Jesus saying? Tomorrow will be here before you know it!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Stop your fighting Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (KJV)

One perception that still prevails is this: God is a being who is both benevolent and yet cannot wait to exercise His wrath. While this is very traditional, is only half true. Our God is merciful and loving to a fault â&#x20AC;Ś He exists to deliver us, and we are made to love Him. That is all. We are to be still and respectful of our Lord, to stop our fighting, knowing that while He could exercise His wrath at any time, He does not. He waits patiently. He has decided to let us choose when to fight and when to sit down, when to be active and when to stop. Wrath is defined as right judgment, not unbridled anger. Our God is not full of wrath; He set it free so long ago on the cross.

the voice God gave me

God said Genesis 1:3-5 Then God said, " Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and He called the darkness "night." Evening came, and then morning: the first day.

And God saw that it was good. This was such a pristine beginning, so pared down, so simple and so fool-proof! Our God had everything under control and still does; but He left one option open. He purposely left a loose-end we have termed “freewill.” Why would God leave an option so glaring open to a fragile population of creatures seemingly bent on their own destruction?

God believed that some of us would want to know Him and develop a relationship with Him. He was willing to forfeit everything for a relationship with His creation. He seeks the few, not the many. We should be heartened by God’s unfailing love, and faithfulness, especially because it is often travelling in only one direction: outward toward us ...

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

There is a plan Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you" -[this is] the Lord's declaration-"plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Have you ever heard the joke about telling God what you have planned? Wait for it … wait for it … there you go; you have it. What could possibly be more ridiculous than telling God about the plans you have made (the ones that He already had planned)! Most of us think we have something over on God; that He may not know about the latest change in our itinerary. Now, that’s funny!

What isn’t funny is that we make the vast majority of our plans without letting God into our decision-making process. On the surface, it would seem prudent to at least take into consideration the thoughts of the original Planner. We should consult Our Lord as we make plans, as we revise our plans, and also as we conclude and execute our plans. Rather than an afterthought or a second opinion, God should be the first One we consider and the last One we consult.

the voice God gave me

Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise Jeremiah 29:14 I will be found by you"-the Lord's declaration-"and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you"-the Lord's declaration. "I will restore you to the place I deported you from."

This prophecy is being fulfilled as we speak. And it could not have been clearer than when Prime Minister Netanyahu called for European Jews to return en masse to Israel in 2015 in the aftermath of terrorist bombings in Europe. Granted, European leaders rejected this plea; but it was clear that Israel was beckoning to her scattered population. Furthermore, it is not just a gathering of scattered peoples, but a restoration of fortune and former prosperity â&#x20AC;Ś all to glorify God and to fulfill His promises. Every believer, Jew or Gentile, should be heartened by this. It reminds us all that while we may forget God, He does not forget His promises.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

The essence of faith 1Peter 1:6 –9 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith--more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The goal of our faith is to be two-fold: the salvation of our souls, and the glorification of Jesus Christ as Lord of Salvation! If we are true to this plan then we can expect to endure trials in the short term. However the “genuineness of our faith” will produce:

Praise Glory & Honor ... at the time that Jesus chooses to reveal Himself. This is more valuable than gold because it is a result of loving Him without having seen Him. This is faithfulness.

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Imperfect Paul 1 Corinthians 15:9 “I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

We often see Paul as being the most important and the least sinful. Indeed, he is the most prolific of the writers in the New Testament with the exception of Luke. He is certainly the most influential second to Jesus. Sinlessness and importance are a winning combination that most of us view with awe and reverence rather than with a sense of its reality. We tend to overlook the issues Paul contended with: he despised who he was, he had “a thorn in the flesh,” he did things he knew did not honor God (and didn’t do those things which would), and he was conflicted over his separation from his Jewish tradition. When we see people this gifted and talented, we must keep in mind that they are not any better or worse than us; then we can begin to see our own inherent worth…. the hope that Jesus Christ sees.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Never enough Haggai 1:5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;6 Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: "Think carefully about your ways: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner [puts his] wages into a bag with a hole in it."

Why is it that we never have enough? Is it because of there being too little or is there another reason? Is it because we are unwise with what little we do have?

the voice God gave me

Belief John 3:12 If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven?

We believe what we want to believe. Sometimes it involves heaven, and other times not. Jesus knew this all too well. That is why he timed His delivery of sensitive information so that the disciples could “eat it in little bites.” Too much good information is the same as misinformation: it is more than the recipient can handle. The Christ-follower’s simple claim to belief might begin like this: “I believe that God exists. The proof is all around me. There is no other reasonable explanation for the perfect harmony I see around me every day. It is easier, for me, to believe that God did this than to invent an alternative. I choose to believe.”

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

The gift of tongues Acts 2:2-6 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Ah, Pentecost! This is where the Pentecostal movement derived its name, however, tongues is not the only gift as many of you are already know. It would seem that while this is indeed the best known Scriptural evidence for a specific gift, like all gifts it had a specific purpose: it honored God, not the individuals giving utterance. In your own faith experience what is your personal evidence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you? Keep in mind that the demonstration of ones gifts in a public place, such as in Acts 2, was preceded by receiving the Spirit in a private place. To remain honest the use of gifts should not be measured by material or personal gain. The right hand should not know what the left hand is doing.

the voice God gave me

Lead me Psalm 139:23-24 Search me O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.

There is great anxiety in all of us regarding the position of free will. There is nothing more conflicting than making a choice about an issue that our hearts are torn in two over. It makes the sin more tempting and the joy more fulfilling. Having freewill and asking to be led seems like a contradiction. What is the point in having choice if we choose to follow someone? This individual we are following is not just anyone; He is God.

Instead of the blind leading the blind, which is often the case when one person leads another, we have the divine benefit of being led by a God with perfect vision and a perfect will.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

God the Father loves the Son John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands.

If God the Father loves the Jesus the Son so much that He has given Him all things, then doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it also make sense that Jesus would imitate His Father and also entrust us with all that He has been given? We know that God loves us because He is a merciful God, not because of something we might do or who someone we might be. There is nothing God needs from us that He cannot provide for Himself except â&#x20AC;Ś a relationship. And because of that prospect He allows us to live; He tarries for one last soul.

God is love. What He does is simply how He is. Jesus is the same way, and we see the gift of life given to us when Jesus died on the cross. There is no greater gift. Jesus is the gift.

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Our cities Lamentations 1:1-2 How she sits alone, the city [once] crowded with people! She who was great among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has become a slave. She weeps aloud during the night, with tears on her cheeks. There is no one to offer her comfort, [not one] from all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

This is undoubtedly about Zion (Jerusalem) after she was sacked and ravaged by the Babylonian army; but it also sounds like so many of our own cities which were once prosperous, but now find themselves infested with blight. In these ending days the residents of our once vibrant cities have not been exiled to prison camps, but have become captive to prisons of economic downturn and the behavior of the hopeless: substance abuse, relational chaos, homelessness, joblessness, mental illness, incarceration, prostitution, etc. The list is seemingly endless. My own town is now desolate, though efforts are being made to revitalize the downtown; the steel foundry is a fraction of its original size; heroin addiction is rampant, and we often feel like we are our own worst enemies. This is the lament of the current age ...

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Ending times Daniel 12:4 "But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase."

If there was ever an indicator of prophecy being fulfilled in our lifetime, this one resonates. It was significant when I began this exercise of lesson writing back in 2001, and it remains as clear as ever.

The time of the end: Many will roam about: transportation and means have created a lifestyle of global travel and general transience that is unparalleled in modern history. As the family and the community have become blurred with regard to boundary and definition, the attachment to birthplace and region have all but vanished. Knowledge will increase: It has been said that modern man processes more information in a single day than most processed in a lifetime only a hundred years agoâ&#x20AC;Ś and that is still ramping up with the cloud and other instantaneous media platforms. How long can this dizzying pace continue before it runs its course and God says â&#x20AC;&#x153;enough is enough!â&#x20AC;?? Daniel indicates that it may be sooner rather than later.

the voice God gave me

Service requirements 1Timothy3:2-7 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy-- one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God's church?) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil's trap.

A leader must be living a life that is indicative of the serious nature of his or her calling. I believe Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter to Timothy was worded to underscore the gravity of being such a leader. It is obvious that no one, save Jesus Himself, could be that well grounded. But the message is clear: be in better shape than those you teach if you want them to grow. As such, an individual must be settled, not a practicing addict, be able to manage his own dwelling place, and must not be a new convert. Why you ask? Because even a person with some years in the faith is not always able to resist the temptations of the Adversary; and such an individual must have had the time to prove that falling prey is not the norm.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Not by works Titus 3:5-7 He saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy,

through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace,

we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

We have done nothing to deserve grace; we did not do this by ourselves nor for ourselves. … “He saved us.” What did He save us from? Eternal separation from God and glory. God’s Holy Spirit was poured out on us by His own choice. Our participation is simple by comparison: either we accept the gift of grace or reject it! Simple to do but hard to maintain. That’s why so many gifts of grace remain unopened boxes in dark corners of the soul. Do not let it be so with your gift. Dust it off, open it, take it out, and wear it proudly in the name of Jesus! No works required!

the voice God gave me

Prayer Psalm 61:1-3 God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.

Praying believing is, in my humble opinion, the most difficult thing we can do as Christ-followers. It sounds obvious enough to believe that God will answer our prayers, and it would appear the only way to pray … however, many believers are conflicted in their personal prayer life. Why would be conflicted on such a foundational element of our belief?   

 

There is not always an obvious cause and effect. Prayer isn’t necessarily answered in the positive. We are taught that prayer is only for others. We may not have a convincing personal testimony. We don’t pray as often as we claim to.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

The nature of Ishmael Genesis 16:11-12 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her: You have conceived and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. This man will be like a wild donkey.

His hand will be against everyone, and everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand will be against him; he will live at odds with all his brothers.

As this was being written we had just experienced an unprovoked terror attack in Paris, France and in Bamako, Mali, not to mention the downing of a Russian airliner. It would appear that ISIS was gaining a considerable foothold on the world stage, and that it was unprecedented in its rise and reach. But this was not entirely true. In the context of recent attacks on the West it was savage, but has its roots in prophecy going back over 4000 years. Brother against brother â&#x20AC;Ś a conflict as old as man. And we should not confuse the political terror we have witnessed with a jihad waged for religious purposes. This was strictly terror for its own sake, and it has no place in the hearts and minds of moderate or even passionate Muslims. The fulfillment of end time prophecy is not even remotely Muslim or Christian. It is tied to the consequences of a man named Abraham and his covenant with God.

the voice God gave me

God remains true Numbers 23:19 God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?

God does not lie; He cannot lie. He does not go back on His word.; He remains accountable and steadfast when all around Him falter and fail. God is not a man so His principles and His morality transcend all other standards! Therefore we cannot claim God when things go our way, nor can we blame God when things go badly or remain just outside of our control. God directs lives so that He is glorified. Since He is not a man it is not because of ego, but because He is God. He alone is deserving!

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Faith 2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

Fortunately God remains on course even when those who serve Him wind up on endless detours. It should be, at the very least, reassuring that when we fall short God exceeds; when we overstep God remains a step behind, restrained and endlessly patient. God is not only faith but the only source of our faith. Our ability to “stay the course” for even a little while is only because of God’s own faithfulness. Consider God’s belief in us, His faithfulness, such that when the time was right He sent His own Son to die for us. Evidently God believed deeply in us at a time when we did not believe in ourselves or Jesus as Christ. He died that we might confess Him Lord, not the other way around. That is faithfulness for he could not deny Himself!

the voice God gave me

Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time 2 Peter 3:8-9 Dear friends, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time is not our time.

meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

God is our protector Isaiah 46:4 I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.

The benefits of believing are literally endless! Eternal and infinite! The prophet tells us that God will take care of us throughout our lives; and â&#x20AC;Ś we now know that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end there. We know because of the grace of Jesus on the cross that we can rely on an eternity of glory, joy, and unimaginable, eye-popping, beauty. Isaiah foreshadows James 1:16-17 reassuring the reader that while everything else is bound to change our God does not!

the voice God gave me

God’s pleasure 1Samuel 15:22 Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention [is better] than the fat of rams.

So, in our contemporary culture we are reminded by an ancient prophet that God would rather have us paying attention, and being obedient, rather than offering sacrifices because of our disobedience. How many of us have clamored for secular leadership, a king if you will, rather than following the commands of God Himself! Israel got what she wanted … a flesh and blood idol named Saul. Israel wanted to be like every other nation rather than being a nation after God’s heart. When have we asked for, and received, what we wanted rather than what God desired for us? What are the consequences of this pattern of behavior? How are individuals, communities and nations affected?

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True refuge Psalm 9:8-10 He judges the world with righteousness; He executes judgment on the nations with fairness. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,

a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Yahweh.

Poets and prophets are those who inconveniently “remind” us of what is true and what is false. They remind us that God has a big plan and that it is good for us. Again, the writer of Psalms (most often associated with King David) reminds us that God is a refuge, a safe house, for those who believe in Him. If you are reading this collection of meditations, then you are most likely one of the believers. You know by now how a community of believers can be a sanctuary and a refuge in times of trouble.

We were told in Genesis that it was not good for people to be alone, and Jesus reinforces the benefits of gathering together by surrounding Himself with disciples and various followers. God’s church is His safe house and we are His hands and feet.

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Life preserver Psalm 138:7-8 If I walk into the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies.

You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me. The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me.

It seems that we are running a streak of Old Testament Scripture which reaffirms God’s unfailing goodness, strength, love and protection. This is, of course, tempered by the awareness that defying Him or disobeying Him have predictable consequences. All we have to do is reverse the Psalms and Wisdom books and it is pretty clear what the downside is of disbelieving, disobeying, and disconnecting from Yahweh. What is very clear from all of God’s authors is that He has a purpose: a purpose to glorify Himself and in doing that He raises us up to Him and blesses us with a purpose. Spiritual gifts, use of talents that glorify, and a peculiar calling (anointing), are evidence of this “extension of His hand” as we navigate the dangers of this life.

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Chosen John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Many are called; few are chosen.

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To be sin for us Romans 5:8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God hates sin because it alone is what distances us from Him. God’s holy discontent with sin has a long and disturbing history … my guess is that before time when God, the Son and the Holy Spirit were doing their strategic brainstorming this issue came up and lay square in the middle of their best laid plans like a huge blow fly buzzing in the cosmic ointment. And yet God loved us so much that He planned to send Himself (at an appointed time) to us, and for us, so that He could pay our sin debt in person. We didn’t even know we had such a thing as a sinful nature … but God knew. Paul in his letters to the Romans, and to the Corinthians, makes it clear that God never intended to lose us. Never!

Freewill is more than a choice for better or best; it is our God-given privilege to choose where we will spend eternity: with Him or without Him!

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Biblical community Acts 2:42-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. And every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added those being saved to them.

This is where we text our friend with 75 acres outside of town and see if he is ready to donate the land and join our commune of Acts 2 believers.

And while it may come to that before it is all unwinds, it is far more likely that we will continue to live our lives in very ordinary ways keeping our antenna up for signs that the wind might be blowing in a different direction. In the everyday experience of the early believers there was an intentionality about meeting that took on a legitimate sense of urgency. The faithful were preparing for the return of Jesus, and they were supporting one another spiritually and emotionally by gathering as a community. The next meeting was never guaranteed. We should gather in these days in the same way and with the same sense of urgency. Persecution may be subtle but it is no less real ...

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Temptation, trial and testing James 1:12 Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.

What are these trials that James is referring to? Are he and the Apostle Paul comparing notes? There was always a naïve belief, I suppose, that life would be blessed and therefore easier for the believer. Well, passing the test is not a pop quiz; it is a passage into eternity via death of the flesh. In our passage we receive the crown, the reward of eternal life, as promised. Life in the mean time can be hard … and we are not guaranteed special treatment. If we are living a truly Christian life, and doing it “by the Book” we can expect very tough times, very sweet times, and lots of time in between that is neither good nor bad. Life is life except that we are not on a journey by ourselves. The big difference between believers and unbelievers is 1.) more peace in the flesh and 2.) unimaginable joy in eternity. That makes our faith worth waiting for and worth enduring all of the ups and downs!

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God does not tempt James 1:13-14 No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.

God is neither tempted nor does He tempt. God is not capable of this because it is against the very construct of His nature. If He cannot be in the presence of sin without incinerating it, then it is impossible for Him to do something ungodly like tempting or being tempted. Temptation is a tool of the Adversary, not of God. If we are undergoing a trial, then we should pray for the strength to bear our cross and be grateful that we are not being nailed to it!

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Wages of sin James 1:15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

A contrite heart will prevent this from resulting in death of the soul â&#x20AC;Ś because it is the death of the soul which is at stake, not the demise of the flesh.

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Love as first and foremost John 13:34-35 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 15:17 This is what I command you: Love one another.

Any time a command is repeated frequently in Scripture it is being repeated for a purpose, suggesting importance and urgency. The command “to love one another,” is an example of this. In the New Testament this shows up at least 20 times which means that it is a recurring theme and demands to be acted upon. I have said often that God never asks us to do anything that is not practical or does not make sense. He is a God of simplicity and purpose. Loving one another is both simple and purposeful … but, it is harder to follow than it sounds.

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Perfected in us 1 John 4:7-12 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.

If we cannot love and live in a manner that honors love above all, then we are harboring evil. If we cannot love then the heart is dark and is dying. We love because God loved us first and showed us how. He did this in a final act through Jesus. Jesus loved in a way that was larger than the flesh, wider than our imaginations, and more mysterious than the cross. Love won on the cross because the flesh of all men was finally crucified … once and for all flesh. No more flesh will ever be required because in His love God crucified Himself. That was pure love.

The best way to honor that final sacrifice is to love one another and to be the “evidence of things unseen.”

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God’s hand Ezra 9:8-9 But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the Lord our God to preserve a remnant for us and give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our slavery, God has given us new life and light to our eyes. Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us in the presence of the Persian kings, giving us new life, so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

This is so reminiscent of Paul’s writing in the New Testament: “Though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery.” Such is the declaration in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in which he proclaims that being a slave to Christ is the ultimate expression of freedom. Ephesians 6:20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should. If we are slaves in Christ freed even in our chains, then nothing can hold us down. Praise God in all of His glory!

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There are times Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

Without a doubt Ecclesiastes is not the first book we read for reassurance unless we know the context and the mindset of the author, King Solomon.

King Solomon was wise beyond mortal understanding, but that wisdom came at a huge price. To have the comprehension of mysteries beyond acceptance of life in the moment, and for the moment, would test any of us to the our limits. The most simple-minded, and the most obedient among us, are the most content, I believe. This does not go to intelligence or capacity, but to faith. King Solomon knew too much and in that was the root of his cynicism and his fall later in life. Simple belief is enough to keep most of us fully occupied.

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Rumors are deadly Nehemiah 6:8-9 Then I replied to him, " There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind." For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, "They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished." But now, [my God,] strengthen me.

Rumors are deadly â&#x20AC;Ś often more deadly than any truth. Rumors are meant to intimidate and to discourage. The Devil knows this and tempts us to say things we cannot prove. He hopes that the pleasure taken in spreading lies will get someone hurt and hurt badly. Therefore, it is always better to say nothing negative; but if you do (and we all do) you had better be able to back it up with facts. Otherwise, you will be the one losing credibility, and not the target of the rumor mill. As with Nehemiah a rumor is never meant to edify. In this particular case it was hoped that the publicity of false information would shut down the work of rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. Nehemiah sought Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength and ignored the rumors. The wall was completed in 52 days without gaps and with new gates.

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Why do I feel this way? Psalm 42:5 Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Sometimes life is depressing. It’s just the way it is. Things happen to us or those we love. We try to do too much; time gets away from us, and there isn’t enough of it in the day, etc. This isn’t clinical depression, it is simply depressing at the time, and is a normal response to frustration and disappointment. You do not need psych meds for this! However, there is nothing wrong with the right medication in the right dosage. God gives us all of the people and places and things to live a full, healthy and abundant life. If you need prayer, seek prayer; if you need medication, seek out a reputable physician or psychiatrist. Do not be ashamed, be healed in the name of Jesus.

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Other false teaching 2 John 1:9-11 Anyone who does not remain in the teaching about Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works.

Truth is imperative! Truth is absolute and irrefutable! It is not enough to simply encourage a discussion about truth without knowing what the truth is. Time and time again we see that truth can be distorted â&#x20AC;Ś twisted into downright lies by those desiring to perpetrate their own version of it. Any variant on the truth, which is the Godhead of Jesus Christ on the cross and Him bodily resurrected, is never up for negotiation. No matter how well-meaning, nothing less should ever be tolerated, and if an individual or church persists, turn away and speak the truth!

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Song for Israel Hosea 2:16-20 In that day-the Lord's declarationyou will call [Me]: My husband, and no longer call Me: My Baal. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth; they will no longer be remembered by their names. On that day I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the creatures that crawl on the ground. I will shatter bow, sword, and weapons of war in the land and will enable the people to rest securely. I will take you to be My wife forever. I will take you to be My wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion. I will take you to be My wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.

This is God’s love song to Israel, but it is illustrated through the prophet Hosea’s troubled marriage to Gomer, a prostitute. God’s relationship to His children, Israel, and to His Bride, the church has always been fraught with adultery and promiscuity … not so much with other human beings, but with worship of other gods and idols. Our God is a jealous God. We should be grateful ...

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A song for the church Song of Solomon 2:8-12 Listen! My love [is approaching]. Look! Here he comes leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills My love is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows peering through the lattice. My love calls to me: Arise, my darling Come away, my beautiful one For now the winter is past; the rain has ended and gone away The blossoms appear in the countryside. The time of singing has come, and the turtledove's cooing is heard in our land.

Solomon obviously had an tender and romantic side. It is hard to square a book like Ecclesiastes with one as overtly erotic as The Song. And yet, these writings have both been attributed to King Solomon.

It has been said that this song praises the beauty of the Queen of Sheba or maybe one of his many wives and concubines; regardless, it is a beautiful lyric poem which gives us glimpses into the characteristics of a God that has many aspects, especially true love and grace. The inclusion of The Song also shows Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awareness of the need for balance in the human condition so that it can be healthy and glorify Him. Words like sex and intimacy describe our God, as do the words faithful and forgiving.

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Seek what is above Colossians 3:1-4 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Keep your head up and do not get preoccupied with your feet. Obviously this goes to balance. We know that making our way to any destination without stumbling is a result of the right mix of looking up and watching where we step. In his letter to the Colossians the Apostle Paul is reminding the congregation to keep their heads and hearts elevated and focused on the highest places. We are also reminded, in these ending days, to be vigilant and keep our â&#x20AC;&#x153;eyes peeledâ&#x20AC;? for the second coming of our Lord Jesus.

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Never in vain 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is its own reward.

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Submission: what it really means Colossians 3:18-24 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and don't become bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won't become discouraged. Slaves, obey your human masters in everything; don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord--you serve the Lord Christ.

If you maintain healthy relationships with family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances … keeping Jesus first and self last … you will reap the most coveted reward any human being has ever dreamed of: peace with God, self, others and creation. This is an earthly glimpse into the “kingdom experience” where all submit to Jesus, submit to one another, work alongside one another, trade first and last places, and honor one another out of love. In this experience sin has no place and the Devil has been cast into the outer darkness. This is God’s kingdom, and His alone!

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Hope comes Psalm 62:5 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

Real hope like grace, and true love are extensions of God’s Holy Spirit. They can only come from one place. We know that they did not originate with us. So, rest in God through His Only Son Jesus Christ who said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Way (direction), Truth (absolute and singular), and Life (eternal). Rest in Him.

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I Am the One Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty."

Keeping stride with His proclamation in the 14 chapter of John where Jesus assures that only He is “the Way, Truth and Life,” He enlarges His scope by also declaring that He is also “the Beginning and the End.”

Additionally, He covers all unclaimed territory between these holy attributes by underscoring with phrases like: “One who is, Who is coming and the Almighty.” Here are the descriptors in total quoting God Himself: Way Truth Life Alpha Omega One who is Who is coming Almighty Ours is a God for all seasons and all time ...

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The consistence of love John 4:9-12 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atonement or sacrifice) for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.

Not because we loved Him, but because He loved us first! No one has seen God, but we have seen what Jesus did on the cross and we have seen what true believers have done in His name. If we overcome the judgments, poor marketing and outright lies levied against us by loving one another we remove any excuse and obstacle to belief in an unbelieving world. In Christ our love can be consistent and pure; by His blood our wrongs are made right and His message is made clear: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.â&#x20AC;? Love speaks for and to itself. Each spirit knows this.

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Restoration Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

So, what is our inclination when someone is caught in wrongdoing … especially within the scope of church-think? Our responses tend to run in two distinct directions: jump into the same pot and try to save the individual from further harm or to expose the individual’s wrongdoing by shaming them in the count of public opinion.

Neither approach is beneficial: the first approach may lead to the rescuer being sucked into the same temptation as the one being rescued, while the alternative is not Christian, or indeed humane, by any stretch of the imagination. We might well refer to Matthew 18:15-17 so that how these things are handled is done with grace, is consistent with the balance of Scripture, and does not set anyone up for further failure.

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Proverbial sayings Proverbs 10:2–6 Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death. The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the wicked what they crave. Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches. The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful. Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Good practices bear plump juicy fruit while bad practices bear withered mushy fruit. One is appetizing while the other is disgusting. Proverbial saying are often common cultural agreements meant to underpin the rule of law, and the awareness of said consequences. Every culture has these moral “one liners.” Modern Western culture has, without a doubt, adopted much from the Biblical Wisdom Books. So much in fact that it is simple to trace our behavioral ethics and practical morality back to ancient Jewish Scripture, i.e. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in particular. As your hear or head those thing we call “proverbial” try to tie them back to Scripture. It is a good research technique, and ties our common understanding back to Biblical truth.

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Daniel and his prophetic nature Daniel 11:21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;24 "In his place a despised person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue. A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be shattered, as well as the covenant prince. After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation. During a time of peace, he will come into the richest parts of the province and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

A despised leader will inevitably arise, will make alliances and will attempt to do what he can by any means. He will seize the kingdom by intrigue rather than by a coup; and this will occur during a time of peace. After an alliance is made he will be deceitful, exposing his true character. He will attempt to buy support by taking from the rich and giving to those who can be bought off.

This activity occurred under the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the timeframe of about 170 B.C. This intentionally foreshadows the reign of the antichrist, as well, with its desecration of the Temple and its use of intrigue to accomplish evil.

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Is teaching for everyone? James 3:1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment;

This is not an issue of knowledge or intellectual development, but about the potential for misleading those who need truth the most. Those who teach are those with greater influence and authority, and therefore held to a higher standard and closer scrutiny. This is clearly evident when we look at the wide range of misunderstood and misused doctrine and Scriptural interpretation being lofted by those in positions of significant authority. Many are well-intended; however, if it is not Jesus first it is distorted and has great potential for damage. New believers, and the rebellious among us, are far more susceptible to false doctrine. Jesus Himself warns of this in the last days when He is quoted in the Olivet Discourse from the Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gospel Believe what is consistent and true. â&#x20AC;Ś test it.

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Believe Mark 8:11â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!"

We all wants signs and wonders to back up our beliefs and our actions. No one understands that better than me. I am dependent upon the love and affirmations of others; I am especially vulnerable when I do not receive visible cues. This is ok except when we become reluctant to act in faith, and on our belief, because of our dependency upon signs. I do not believe that faith is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;once and doneâ&#x20AC;? experience. It has to be cultivated though practice like everything else we learn. It is not natural for us to wait or to believe without tangible support. Yet, by the work of the Holy Spirit we can become better at waiting and acting in good measure. We anticipate the appropriate time to act.

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Spiritual gifting Romans 12:4-8 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

Spiritual Gifting (according to grace): Prophecy ( report what God is revealing to you in the Spirit) Service (some translations say ministry â&#x20AC;Ś your individual calling) Teaching (devotion to edifying and instructing in the faith) Exhorting (lifting up, motivating and moving other believers) Giving (giving generously of your personal resources) Leading (be diligent and lead by example; leadership roles incl. pastor) Mercy (helping in various forms; do it with a cheerful heart)

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Every word and deed

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Give thanks at all times and in all places in the name of Jesus for whom, by whom, and through whom, the Father created all things. This manifestation of Jesus must be intentional in word and in deed no matter where we are or whose company we are in. By His Spirit we do not have to broadcast our intent, but simply allow Jesus to shine through. Our daily walk represents a lifestyle of worship; we should be considered it a sacred statement. Remember â&#x20AC;Ś as Christfollowers we do not worship on Sundays alone; we have church wherever two or more are gathered!

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Not me who lives Galatians 2:20 And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

We are more alive in Christ than we will ever be without Him. Without Him we were living, but spiritually we were dead as doornails! We are alive because of our faith, because we choose to live! As such, we should pray that whenever we are being observed what others see is not us, but the Christ in us. Even when we are secluded, or when we have turned the corner and walked away from prying eyes and listening ears, God and Satan are still observing. Honor God. Glorify His name.

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Be honest not hypocritical Matthew 6:5-6 "Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They've got their reward! But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

What are those people doing that has drawn the ire of Jesus? What the heck has given the word hypocrite such incredible baggage? The ire of Jesus: this righteous anger was directed at the religious and social elite who had the responsibility to act in an upright way but misled many but saying one thing and doing absolutely the opposite for the purpose of protecting their high positions. These often public displays were intended to create misdirection, which hid their imperfection and increased their wealth. Jesus called them white-washed tombs, cups that were dirty on the inside, etc. Sadly the word hypocrite has taken on a recycled meaning and is often used against Christians in the same way Jesus used to call out the Pharisees and the Temple priesthood. It is ironic that in becoming institutionalized our faith is often labeled hypocritical. Is the label deserved? You decide ...

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Not a burden 2Thessalonians 3:8 â&#x20AC;Ś we did not eat anyone's bread free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

This actually goes to good citizenship â&#x20AC;Ś a virtue sorely lacking. A symptom of societal decay that is prevalent in our culture is the multigenerational assumption that entitlement is an acceptable lifestyle choice. If one thing that has fallen out of favor, especially among the hopeless, it is the belief that contribution is key to self worth. If we look at the significant number of disabled, drug addicted, unemployed, mentally ill and incarcerated it is apparent that taking is an inverse contribution: one that takes rather than contributes or gives back more than it takes. Paul tells us again and again that being a good example will do more to attract those in need of salvation than preaching will. Let your life be your testimony.

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The greatest thirst; the hunger Psalm 42:1 As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.

A friend told me that he wants to be ravenous for the Word of God! He does not want to settle for lapping up the Word or sipping it like milk. He wants to be carnivorous for the meat of truth! Are you a carnivore for the Word of God? Are you passionate to sink your teeth into the marrow of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiness and mystery?

If you, like my friend Steve, are one of the passionate few be certain that you attend a Bible-believing church, understand your Spiritual gifts and study the Word with trusted friends. These are precarious times so stick together ...

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Sing to the Lord; rejoice Isaiah 44:23 Rejoice, heavens, for the Lord has acted; shout, depths of the earth. Break out into singing, mountains, forest, and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorifies Himself through Israel.

All creation will rejoice: God’s child Jacob and His children Israel will be redeemed, Jerusalem will scintillate like a crown jewel. The earth will shout deep and wide Every mountain peak will sing its praises Every forest and every tree will bow Jacob will be redeemed and Israel glorified …

Jesus Christ will reign, the Church will be His bride and Jerusalem the Father’s dowry.

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There is a method Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were 14 generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, 14 generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, 14 generations.

Rather than getting hung up on numerology, obsessing over sets and subsets, epochs and eons, God wants us to get totally hung up on Him. He is cosmic, He is orderly, and He brings direction into the chaos we call life. Our God is a consistent God ... a Creator God, and Father we can fully rely upon. Our God has a personal plan for every believer, one that is immaculately tuned for our good and His glory. We can lean on Him with complete confidence. He is our Thousand Foot Crutch. Yes, enjoy numbers like 1, 3, 7, 12, 40 & 144, but do not let these numbers create a spirit of obsession with them In Romans Paul tells us that Jesus died for the ungodly,“… at the appointed moment.” In Ecclesiastes we are told that that “He has made everything appropriate in its time.”

Trust Him.

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Esther takes the advantage Esther 5:3 "What is it, Queen Esther?" the king asked her. "Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you."

Esther was a practical and strategic woman who became queen of Persia under the reign of Xerxes. She inhabits a time frame between the release of the Jews from exile by Cyrus in 550 B.C. and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls by Nehemiah in 450 B.C. Xerxes reigned from 486-465 B.C. And while the Book of Esther does not overtly mention God, His presence is evident. Undoubtedly, books of this type, like Maccabees and others, demonstrate that without mentioning God by name He remains in the hearts of the Hebrews, and He protects them wherever they are. God’s providential and sovereign nature saturates all existence so that nothing is truly apart from Him. In that context it becomes clear that God placed Esther where she might do the most good for her people.

So it is with each believer and nonbeliever today. God’s purpose overrides all other purpose!

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The Book of life Daniel 12:1 At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.

Daniel is referring to “these times” of great distress to all peoples and profound challenges to the Jewish people. Those whose names are in the Book of Life will not be those who are dead, but those who are alive at the time of the tribulation and will turn their faces to Christ as Messiah.

The times we are in are the “birthing pangs” for what is to be birthed … the advent of the antichrist. We do not know the exact time, of course; only the father does. However, if the skies are dark and a wind is carrying the smell of rain, then it is pretty safe to assume a storm is coming. Prepare accordingly: Prepare for the rapture. This is my urgent plea!

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The woman and the scarlet beast Revelation17:3–6 So he carried me away in the Spirit to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and 10 horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile and with the impurities of her prostitution. On her forehead a cryptic name was written: Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was utterly astounded.

It is all cryptic for sure, but certain elements of this prophecy are clear. And could the woman sitting on the scarlet beast be the antichrist? We assume it is a man, but what if this whore is the precursor of Satan himself? What if the spirit of Babylon makes its way to Rome and establishes itself as Pope? This would be the first true violation of church tradition in the modern age. Sitting on a throne of gold in the third Temple would be an inevitable next step … one cleared by the world’s largest democratic faith institution … This is not to demonize people in any institution but it makes sense that where this all started it will come full circle and end. Peoples, multitudes, nations and languages will be brought together under one secular hand. This is the beginning of the end ...

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Do not judge Romans 2:1 Therefore, anyone of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.

In these mean times we would all do well to consider this passage before we open our mouths, not afterward. When we malign those who do not think, look, vote, smell, walk, or speak like us we should understand that the ones being judged are not the other individuals, but us! Think about it! Do you have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;heart condition?â&#x20AC;? No excuses ...

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Do the right thing Leviticus 19:11-14 "You must not steal. You must not act deceptively or lie to one another. You must not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God; I am the Lord. "You must not oppress your neighbor or rob [him]. The wages due a hired hand must not remain with you until morning. You must not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you are to fear your God; I am the Lord.

Funny that God’s concern about what is truly vile and dishonoring doesn’t necessarily line up with our list of worst violations of His commandments and our social mores.

We assume that homosexuality and murder are the worst of the worst, but in the “10” homosexuality is never mentioned and murder is pressed down under envy, deceit and blasphemy. So, where did we get these ideas? Hint … it wasn’t from God.

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The problems we face Matthew 24:6-8 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these events are the beginning of birth pains.

The challenges we do have are two-fold: 1.) consequences of our own actions 2.) the fulfillment of end times prophecy. What makes this all seem so overwhelming to us is that we are experiencing the consequences of our actions (both individually and as nations) and the fulfillment of prophecy simultaneously Are these signs of the [ending] times? Yes, I believe that they are. The Scripture passage from Matthew goes on to say that we are to take heed, be aware, and to behave in an upright manner, even as this era comes to a close. But we should not give up, or quit fighting, just because the odds seem overwhelming. I fact we need to fight harder together to make this a better place until the â&#x20AC;&#x153;kingdom comes.â&#x20AC;?

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Prophecy throughout Esther 9:1-2 The king's command and law went into effect on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar. On the day when the Jews' enemies had hoped to overpower them, just the opposite happened. The Jews overpowered those who hated them. In each of King Ahasuerus' provinces the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who intended to harm them. Not a single person could withstand them; terror of them fell on every nationality.

The promise behind the stealth and the strength of the Jews was God, of course. We know this because we have plenty of Biblical commentaries that tell us so. However, even if we did not have the commentaries history itself is the best evidence. Comprised of â&#x20AC;&#x153;inputs, processes and outputsâ&#x20AC;? we see the outcome of all that has unfolded, and there are only so many inputs and processes that create certain outputs. It is not that difficult to understand that if Jews are involved, their God cannot be far away. It is also clear that God can use unbelievers for His purpose. I am sure that Xerxes had the mistaken notion that he was the supreme ruler and the only guy in charge. Of course, he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been more deluded. At some point every knee will bend and every heart will bow to the One God, Yahweh. I think Esther knew that ...

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We cannot deliver ourselves Isaiah 44:20 He feeds on ashes. [His] deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?"

Idol worship is of no value and it has no value. In the same way one might take a pile of ashes, a burnt piece of wood, and worship it, Isaiah reminds us that the one who worships a false god has been deceived. While the ancients had rituals which they believed would give a piece of wood its voice, a burnt piece of wood is just a pile of ashes and cannot offer a relationship nor can it speak truth. If a pile of ashes speaks, (and it is not reconstituted or reanimated by God Himself) then it is the Devil speaking. The deceived worshipper cannot deliver himself and has only succeeded in opening himself up to the wiles of the Adversary. Truly, you are holding a lie in your right hand: man does not form a god; God forms a man. Worship only the Living God, Yahweh!

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He is the true Vine John 15:1-5 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”

Without God and His divine grafting none of us would stand a chance. It is because of His mercy that He recognizes the good fruit and has decided to harvest the best and burn the rest! He prunes that which is grafted in so that the good fruit it bears it produces in abundance. Remain in Jesus and season to season, year to year, you will bear delicious fruit for the soul. If you are cut off, you are either a dead branch or you were never compatible (not of the same species): evil or an unbeliever. No graft that is securely bound to the “one true vine” can be removed except by the vineyard keeper.

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Harvest time John 4:35-36 “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together.

Jesus is not talking about fields of grain in the literal language of agriculture, but is using a metaphor to describe the readiness of souls. He urges the listener to look at a very unique field of harvest … the harvest of believers for the kingdom.

The sower may be any one who planted the seeds of salvation in an unbeliever’s heart, but we are not the authors of salvation. The author of salvation is the Holy Spirit. The reaper is God, but more probably the responsibility of an archangel like Michael or Gabriel. Unlike terrestrial harvest, the spiritual harvest is perpetual and is not seasonal in the way we understand it. The season for gathering souls is all year long, and will last until God decides the harvest is over.

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God is just Psalm 92:12-15 The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courtyards of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare: "The Lord is just; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."

The upright ones will continue to thrive into old age just like the magnificent cedars of Lebanon or the redwoods on the west coast of the United States. They are planted in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s courtyard, and they bring Him great pleasure. Unlike fruit borne in our youth, the fruit borne of wisdom and life experience is not necessarily more abundant, but it is sweeter and more filling.

The roots we send out over a lifetime seek to wrap around the rock of our Lord Jesus and our stability is reliant upon Him.

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Grace part 1 Deuteronomy 21:18-21 "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father or mother and doesn't listen to them even after they discipline him, his father and mother must take hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown. They will say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he doesn't obey us. He's a glutton and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. You must purge the evil from you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid."

If we did this today the bodies would be piling up at a much greater rate than we could bury them. I am no longer convinced that stoning to death would be an adequate deterrent. Just a larger pile of corpses. I suspect that this is what God was beginning to notice. Thankfully belief purges the evil we are unable to purge on our own. Jesus on the cross has done what no amount of stoning will correct. Being an addict, it was finally Jesus who saved me, not the prospect of having rocks hurled my way. When Jesus died on the cross the stones were laid down and our souls were set free. The problem with stoning is that the real culprit is never dealt with: our cozy relationship with sin!

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Grace part 2 Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung [on a tree] is under God's curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.”

This is what Jesus did to be a propitiation for our sin: he was hung on a tree like a common criminal and received the full measure of God’s curse, His wrath, and His justice!

What we deserved Jesus took in our stead. What we do not deserve Jesus offers us without condition. He is the Lamb and we are the lions who even today feast upon His flesh when we take communion. Thank you, Jesus!

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Of God 3 John 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

It is clear. The one who is good does good because he imitates God; and the one who does evil is imitating Satan. We imitate what we are in love with. It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that is indeed true, then it is also the strongest signal regarding the eternal condition of your heart. However, doing good is not enough to get you into heaven. Only a relationship with Jesus opens that door.

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I AM and no other Deuteronomy 5:6-10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.

God is not jealous of anyone or anything. God is not jealous of us or other gods. God is jealous for us, which means He wants to love and protect. To appreciate the Ten Commandments as more than a cosmic laundry list of “don’ts” one must read the additional language surrounding the Commandments in their full context for clues about God’s character as a loving and always practical Father. God reminds His people to be grateful and remember that they (we) are free because of His hand. There is nothing we have done to earn or secure our freedom or His love. This is mercifully given in what we now know as grace. Because of Jesus Christ on the cross.

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It is coming Joel 2:1-2 Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the residents of the land tremble, for the Day of the Lord is coming; in fact, it is neara day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dense overcast, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people [appears], such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come.

The day of the Lord is coming … in fact it is near! How do we know? It will be … A day of darkness and gloom A day of clouds and dense overcast A great and strong people will appear like dawn spreading over the mountains … (unusual reversal of metaphor here) While this could be any invading army called upon to judge Israel, in the context of past acts of disobedience, it takes on a new spiritual gravity as we consider Israel surrounded, the sons of Ishmael rising, and the advancing darkness (being hailed as light) of a world in chaos.

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No righteous man Ecclesiastes 7:19-20 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers of a city. There is certainly no righteous man on the earth who does good and never sins.

Give it up to King Solomon who, in his wisdom, both reassures us of the supernatural strength of the spirit and impresses upon us the practical nature and the inherent shortcomings of the flesh. I once thought Solomon a very wise cynic, but no longer. I am now confident that he saw with a greater clarity the reality of our dichotomy â&#x20AC;&#x201D;flesh and spirit â&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the futile existence of life without God, without a purpose higher than our own. There simply must be more to us than us. Our efforts are futile without hope and remarkably short-lived without an eye on the eternal.

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Once useless, now useful Philemon 1:8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, I appeal, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, appeal to you for my child, whom I fathered while in chains-Onesimus. Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to both you and me. I am sending him--a part of myself--back to you.

Paul intercedes for Onesimus, the slave and property of Philemon, who has run away and has been given asylum. Paul not only authors the letter, but was the one providing a safe haven. Paul uses his considerable creditability to persuade Philamon to no only accept his slave back but to elevate him as a brother in Christ. Paul suggests he would love to keep Onesimus as his own, a son, but that to make things right he must return and make amends. Paul equates usefulness in this context not with an ability to serve as a slave in the secular sense (which he considers useless in the context as well), but to serve and come alongside as a brother in Christ â&#x20AC;Ś more or less a peer. For in Christ slaves are leaders and leaders but slaves.

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More bitter than death Ecclesiastes 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, her heart a net, and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

What is a fate worse than death? It is the lure of the sirenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s song!

For a man it is being torn between God and a goddess. It is the pinnacle of idol worship where the pleasures of the flesh take over and one is given over to both agony and ecstasy. Make no mistake, this can happen to a woman as well. It is the lure of the Don Juan or the Casanova. It is the temptation of being torn between God and a god.

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Do you love Me? John 21:15-17 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him. A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Shepherd My sheep,” He told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.

Over a second charcoal fire Peter is redeemed. Glory be to God the Father who loves us as His own!

“Peter, do you love Me more [than these]?” 3 times Peter affirms his Lord, and each time he responds with, “Lord, you know I love you,” one more sin of denial is systematically atoned for: finally erased 3 minus 3 = 0. First: Feed My lambs; Second: Shepherd My sheep; Third: Feed My sheep. Theologically, this is the affirmation of Peter’s calling. This is when his life took a sharp turn from fisherman to evangelist. It is at this time that he is transformed from an impetuous disciple into “Petra” the rock. Upon rocks like these the church would be built with Jesus as Cornerstone.

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And they will reign Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over these, but they will be priests of God and the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years.

For most the question of first and second resurrection is a moot point. For those who are students of the Book of Revelation it is a different understanding; though it is one which should not distract us from Christ as the source of all that is, was, and will be. Academics is great as a sideline, maybe even a life’s work for the called, but it should never take the place of those irrefutable truths that are truly “life and death.” My take: there are two deaths, the physical and the spiritual; as well, there are two lives or resurrections. My Bible says that the passage speaks into the resurrection of the martyrs and the faithful … I assume in spirit and in new eternal bodies. But, since there is no time frame for reference in eternity, the 1000 years will have little to no effect. For those who remain alive in the flesh, should that be the case, it will be a different story.

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Patience and understanding Proverbs 14:29 A patient person [shows] great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

I do love it when a passage speaks so loudly that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require the bullhorn of apologetics or exegesis â&#x20AC;Ś So it is when Wisdom proclaims herself in the public square and at the city gates!

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True wisdom Proverbs 3:1-6 My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being. Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Right teaching and right choices go hand in hand in creating right paths and right outcomes. What are these outcomes? Many days; A full life and well-being; Loyalty and faithfulness; Favor and high regard in the sight of God and man; [He will guide you on] right paths. Outcomes are not accidental; they are the direct result of our plans and core beliefs. What you believe will become you.

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The Ten and the Greatest Deuteronomy 5:6-21 The Ten Commandments 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Do not worship other gods. Do not make idols or graven images. Do not misuse My name. Remember the Sabbath. Honor your father and mother. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal Do not lie. Do not covet what is your neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Love God with all you heart, soul, strength and might. This is the greatest commandment. All of the Law and the words of the prophets are dependent upon this Commandment. Jesus says that Law and the prophetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; words literally hang on it. Rely upon this one and the one like it: love your neighbor as yourself ...

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Rejoice â&#x20AC;Ś always! Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Why do we rejoice? It is not for nothing â&#x20AC;Ś it is because we are confident that the Lord is near. He is near in the Holy Spirit but He is also near in His return. Prepare accordingly.

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A clear conscience? 1Peter 3:16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.

If we should suffer for righteousness, for committing to what is good, we should take this persecution in stride. Not that we like it, but accept it in the knowledge that our faith comes at a price as certainly as it did for our Rabbi, Jesus. There will be those who will denounce us for our passion and unwillingness to compromise. But, take heart, Jesus has overcome all of that!

In the end, our lives, not our words, will speak with greater authority. Those who denounce us will be shamed and punished according to their blasphemous crimes. Let God be God; lift the cross high and higher! Preach with gentleness in the spirit; do so with a strong hand.

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Gaza and world news Amos 1:6-7 The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Gaza for three crimes, even four, because they exiled a whole community, handing them over to Edom. Therefore, I will send fire against the walls of Gaza, and it will consume its citadels.

God takes the long view. The fact that Gaza, a Philistine stronghold, is mentioned lends credence to what we see occurring today in the Middle East; it is by no means an anomaly. The conflict that captures the world’s conscience (and media) is the direct result of God’s prophecy unfolding “in His time.” The fact that Gaza will be punished and be “consumed by Israel” would easily support what Amos quotes coming from God’s own lips. We are angry with Israel; but that is because we are literate in secular politics, not in God’s word! God’s own creation has set itself against Him.

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Follow Me Matthew 4:18-20 As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. "Follow Me," He told them, "and I will make you fishers of men!" Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

If called would you follow Him? It sounds easy enough to pledge our allegiance to a commitment we have never had to make, or claim a lifestyle we have only studied in theory or as parable … but what if … A charismatic young preacher … Knocked on your door tomorrow Asked you to leave right then Dishes half done and meal partially eaten No idea where you are going No money in your pockets No idea why it has to be you Only the clothes on your back (But you are captivated and cannot say no)

His van sounds terrible There is a warrant out for his arrest Others in the van are not at all like you (But you are captivated and cannot say no).

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Teacher of lies Habakkuk 2:18-19 What use is a carved idol after its craftsman carves it? It is [only] a cast image, a teacher of lies. For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it and makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! or to mute stone: Come alive! Can it teach? Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.

I am convinced that we all trust in the idols we have created more readily than trusting in idols made by others. It makes sense that what we invest in we take stock in; we expect dividends. The more it costs the more it is worth â&#x20AC;Ś the more we expect from it. That is the working theory. But do we expect something more than we should from inanimate objects, even if we have created them? Can a thing save us or comfort us? Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wood and metal, rock and fiber, cold without spirit and speechless without the very breath of God? Does this mean that we have to actually carve an idol for it to be important to us? A thing, which is not God, is merely a teacher of lies and a shape which is full of darkness. What thing captures your eye and your heart?

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What can man do? Hebrews 13:5-6 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

He will never leave or forsake us and He asks only that we trust Him and put our faith in Him and our hopelessness on Him. Paul says that the grace of God (Jesus on the cross and resurrected) overcomes weakness, insult, catastrophes, persecutions and pressures. And yes, it overcomes physical and spiritual death. Be strong; find hope in Jesus Christ. Practice being hopeful with other believers, in your safe gathering places â&#x20AC;Ś and then when you are called, go out and practice this hope born of grace on the world around you. Remember, Jesus has already overcome the world!

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No fear 2 Kings 6:16 Elisha said, "Don't be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them."

One is greater than all numbers, and three is greater than all numbers combined.

Jesus has overcome the world. His grace is sufficient. There is no one greater than our God; He is above ALL gods! If our God is bigger than our biggest problem, and our God is above ALL gods, and our God in the flesh overcame the world on the cross â&#x20AC;Ś then no one outnumbers us even if the enemy has made his camp at the outskirts of our city and has us outnumbered one hundred to one. The One is greater than ALL!

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How He knows

John 7:14-17 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple complex and began to teach. Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How does He know the Scriptures, since He hasn’t been trained? ” Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t Mine but is from the One who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own.

Jesus tells us that if we want to know the truth all we have to do is “knock and the door will be opened.” Jesus claims only to be the humble messenger, not taking the place of God, but delivering God’s message with His authority. As a triune God (three manifestations in One God) all aspects have equal authority, because, in the end, they are God. If we are willing to believe, then doors will be opened and questions answered. Knowing that Jesus is Messiah, and trusting Him, answers every question and fulfills every prophecy. In comes down to belief and then faithful living. Sounds simple, but it is the hardest thing you will ever do. Yet, it is the best thing that will ever happen to you!

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Human trafficking Joel 3:3 They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.

“In the end, human life become a form of currency. Any value it had was negotiable … valued or devalued at will.

Looking back through the perfect vision of hindsight it was apparent that human trafficking had created an alternate monetary system, one that derived its value from the value of the flesh, pound for pound. There was no higher standard, only the highest bidder.” This might easily be how those who look back will evaluate our world, seeing this time and place in history as a watershed moment. One cannot help but draw comparisons to black slavery, but we must know that this is not where such things began. Enslavement has always been the prerogative of the powerful. Turn the tables and be a slave for Christ rising up to overthrow enslavement of the spirit.

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The feast of perpetual joy Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

‘nuff said … true is true. … and, Happy is happy, not is not! Misery and cheer are both self fulfilling. Which will you choose? It is, after all, a choice not fate or destiny … God never destined anyone or anything to be unhappy except by its own choice. Choose wisely, as what you and I choose in this life we also choose in the next.

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I love you John 15:9-12 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you.”

Jesus leads by example! He knows what love is, and it is not all warm and fuzzy. “Love is a battlefield” to quote Joan Jett. Love is keeping a covenant and the rules that keep it passionate and whole. And sometimes love is about help getting through to a better place than where we have been or even were we are. Structure today plays a big role in our later joy. If we do not build a strong foundation there will be nothing to build upon. God is our foundation and Jesus our Cornerstone. Keep the commandments Love as we have been loved Follow the example of Jesus When all else fails remain deeply in love.

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As a remnant Ezra 9:15 Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.

Here we stand, Lord God, before you with our sin. And yet, in Your mercy, you do not consume us in your purifying fire. Help us never to forget that we are a remnant, so very few, and that we survive, not because of what we have done, but because of what You have done â&#x20AC;Ś and undone. We know You are just, and we are grateful; but more so we are joyfully aware that you are a God of grace and a God of deep forgiveness.

We are a precious few; You protect and preserve us even in our unrighteousness. Lord God, if we received what we truly deserve, even Your precious remnant would be a vapor today and tomorrow a forgotten memory. Thank You for Your forgiving heart, Dear Father, and for the dismissal of our sin. Thank you for never forgetting us, always listening ...

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Only a vapor? Psalm 39:5-6 You, indeed, have made my days short in length, and my life span as nothing in Your sight. Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor. Selah Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow. Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain, gathering possessions without knowing who will get them.

Day two with the word “vapor” in the conversation. This is not to diminish but to give us hope, and a perspective, on the brevity of our lives. Brevity and vapor suggest something fleeting that must be captured while it is still visible or present. In this way we are urged to consider Christ in the moment if we have not yet given our lives over to Him. You would think that with billions of us living such short and chaotic lives that God would (or could) easily overlook us in the same way we overlook the ants at our feet or the gnats in the evening air. But He does not … He notices; He weeps with us, laughs with us and feels our pain and desperation. As God pays particular attention to the sparrow and the withering blades of grass, He pays eben greater attention to those created in His image. Selah ...

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Yeast wisdom 1Corinthians 5:7-8 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast, or with the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Yeast has a place and a purpose. It is not for every occasion. A little bit of yeast will go a long way affecting the whole batch of dough. And while yeast is often associated with sin, it is also a metaphor for anything small that has the ability to create widespread change. At the time of the Exodus the Hebrews did not have time to wait for the bread to rise; they had to get â&#x20AC;&#x153;outta townâ&#x20AC;? before Pharaoh changed his mind! In this way unleavened bread has specific symbolic importance, as does the lamb whose bones were unbroken. Use your yeast wisely. Apply sparingly ...

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Who can bring me down? Obadiah1:2-4 Look, I will make you insignificant among the nations; you will be deeply despised. Your presumptuous heart has deceived you, you who live in clefts of the rock in your home on the heights, who say to yourself: Who can bring me down to the ground? Though you seem to soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down.

God can bring us down if He sees a purpose in it. The purpose in this case concerns the Edomites, descendants of Esau, and enemy of Israel and Judah. An enemy of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people is an enemy of God. He is a protector with broad wings, sharp talons, and a mighty presence. If He has a will He can â&#x20AC;Ś Make [you] insignificant among nations; Make [you] deeply despised; Convict [your] presumptuous heart; and He will bring [you] low. Praise our protector God.

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An Unknown God Acts17:22–23 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it--He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.

Their unknown God was made known to them. To their credit, the Greeks and Romans were open to a plethora of gods and goddesses. In this way it provided an entre for Paul; however, adding a god was far easier than taking away a god. Today we face the same ancient problem: which gods do we put aside? The answer is simple and sure: We put aside all gods and goddesses except our One God Yahweh. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. Why is this an unpopular solution when it seems so obvious? Undoubtedly, because we have invested so much of ourselves and our resources in the idols we worship… our gods are people places and things which give us temporary pleasure and temporary comfort. We live in a microwave world. Belief and commitment are so “old school.”

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And He did not do it Jonah 3:8 –10 Furthermore, both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth, and everyone must call out earnestly to God. Each must turn from his evil ways and from the violence he is doing. Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish. Then God saw their actions-that they had turned from their evil ways -so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it.

God relented because the people in Nineveh repented, and Jonah was inconsolable! Why didn’t he want to see the Ninevites spared? Have you ever wanted someone to get what they deserved, especially if they have come against you or are very different than you? C’mon, be honest. Haven’t you secretly wanted those who either broke the rules, or were not your kind, to get “whipped good and proper?” We tend to adhere to the belief (as did Jonah) that as God’s favored we should be the exception to “the house rules;” that our closeness to God should give us an edge, a little something extra. Anyone who repents has the edge. It may not seem fair, but it is just.

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Do the right thing Ephesians 6:5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. Don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will from your heart. Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

We should do the right thing whether we are being observed or not. We should do the right thing whether we are rewarded or not. Doing the right thing should be its own reward. Yes, it should be ... That all sounds morally correct, and certainly rational, but we do not operate that way in the flesh. In our daily lives we respond to reward and we also respond to punishment in the same ways (and for the same reasons) we respond to pleasure and pain. To do what we do for the joy â&#x20AC;Ś well, that is something else, altogether. It is a paradigm shift to suggest that we might do something for its own sake rather than for a wage or some other incentive. Yet, Christ calls us to the ultimate paradigm shift: be slaves and be joyful for His sake!

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The fool says â&#x20AC;Ś Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, " God does not exist." They are corrupt; their actions are revolting. There is no one who does good.

The fool, is well, foolish. The fool is rebellious and stupid! I am reluctant to ever use that demeaning term, but in this case it is apt. Being obtuse, careless, brutish or unreasonable is not the same as being ignorant. Those definitions suggest choice in clear view of the truth. The fool in his or her world lives in a vacuum created by the absence of God and the fullness of self. That is like submitting a request to pump the oxygen out of a room and then complaining that we cannot breathe. That is why a fool can say that God does not exist; a fool is corrupt and cannot know truth or reason. He or she has accepted evil in the place of good â&#x20AC;Ś in the place of God.

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All have sinned

Romans 3:20-24 For no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed-attested by the Law and the Prophets --that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

There is no way we can control our urges, or successfully resist temptation, by ourselves. We are powerless over our sin: every man and every woman is powerless over sin. But with a belief in Jesus Christ, and the sincere desire to begin again with Him, we can live a life that is both manageable and productive. There are no steps that will save us without Jesus. Steps are guides on a road map to freedom; but by themselves they are just legalities which condemn us in the knowledge of our sin. Yet there is real hope in the knowledge that while all have fallen short there is the gift of grace. Everyone (yes, everyone) can have this gift if they are willing to accept it. In accepting grace we are immediately forgiven and we can begin a new way of life. It is never too late to confess our shortcomings and walk away from our old lives. This is repentance!

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Wars within

James 4:1-4 What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don't receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure.

If we are honest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and really there is no other choice if we want to quit being a slave to our sin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; then we will have to look into the wars and fights among us and within us. We must look into the areas of darkness and conflict within our own bodies and souls.

No matter what reason you have arrived at this point in your life you already know that the battle you have been unable to win is the one within your own soul. The reason you have not been successful is because you have not been honest about the inventory of darkness within you and the deficit of Light. The only real Light bearer is Jesus Christ; He is all love and all Light. Get honest for a change. Confess.

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Confess and make amends Numbers 5:7 The person is to confess the sin he has committed. He is to pay full compensation, add a fifth of its value to it, and give [it] to the individual he has wronged.

Yes, confession is good for the soul in the same way forgiveness is. It liberates us. God knows our hearts, but we take responsibility for our sin and make the choice to unload it. The trick is not to pick it all back up when we are on our â&#x20AC;&#x153;way outâ&#x20AC;? of the confessional. The passage from Numbers is a really interesting combination of confessing and making amends. Nothing we do stands alone in its impact; nothing we do is accomplished in a vacuum. There is always a cause and an effect. Sin is at the root, though in the end it is our own decision-making that has caused the pain We are confessing because we have done something to dishonor God, but most likely we have also dishonored another person and probably hurt them, along the way. Just because we have not had the law called, or an individual is not bleeding out in front of us, does not mean that what we have done is harmless. There is no such thing as a victimless crime!

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Our transgressions

Psalm 103:11-12 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

God is the only One who forgives sin and forgets sin. We know that Jesus died for our sins, and that the work of forgiveness is complete on the cross. But because we continue to sin there must be someone who can lift them from us each time we confess. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, the one left alongside each one of us in the absence of our risen Lord. The burning question is this: are you and I entirely ready to have our sin removed? It would seem like an obvious answer … but not so fast. We do not like to give up our areas of comfort and satisfaction even if they are bad for us. Am I right? Sin can be like an old overstuffed chair. It feels good, so good that even though it is destroying our will to live we just can’t lift ourselves out of it. It is way too easy to stay where we are and wait until tomorrow. Well, it’s a great plan assuming there is a tomorrow! Prepare today for what no one knows: the day or the hour.

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Making amends Psalm 86:1-6 Listen, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Protect my life, for I am faithful. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You. Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant's life, since I set my hope on You, Lord. For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abundant in faithful love to all who call on You. Lord, hear my prayer; listen to my plea for mercy.

The manner in which David writes this petition to God, in order to make amends for his own transgressions, is similar to what we would say to the person (or persons) we have harmed. Now, those we have offended may not be as open or as forgiving as God is. So, what about those who are unavailable, those we would be causing more harm to, or those who are dead? We need to understand that the individual that is most in need of our forgiveness is you and me. I am not suggesting that others do not require a formal apology; what I am saying is that if we are to move on we must forgive ourselves whether or not others are willing to do the same. Pray for forgiveness, confess your sins, repent and ask for a special blessing on those you have harmed. In this way you are being liberated from the bondage of a past that cannot be rewritten.

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I am with you always Isaiah 46:4 I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.

Matthew28:19-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Philippians 1:6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Sometimes the best way, sometimes the only way, to showcase Scriptural continuity is to allow it to speak for itself and to itself. In that way God is wrapping the whole of the Bible around us like a blanket of security and truth.

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Who is a man that does not lie? Numbers 23:19 God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?

God is the only one we can trust not to lie about the important things. If we should come to a place where we say that God is untruthful (lying) then we have lost all hope and all cause for it. Thankfully this is only rumination, and not a fact. God is not a man for all men lie. God cannot lie because all truth and light is in Him.

What has God said that has not been a promise or the fulfillment of one? Not one thing! All of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words are promises of hope.

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Faithfulness 2 Timothy 2:13 â&#x20AC;Ś if we are faithless, He remains faithful,

for He cannot deny Himself.

God is all that we are not and He is not what we are. Someday we will see this reversed and we will be all that God is and we will not be what He is not. God is faithful. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even pretend to be faithless like we do as a threat or to retaliate. He is not capable of such things, because God does not play games nor does He create a ruse to entrap us. If we are faithful we are free. God wants us to be faithful and to be free.

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Fools that we are Proverbs 28:26 The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

Sound advice that has remained true throughout the ages; in the vein that if one represents oneself in court one has a fool for a client. It is clear that if we cannot safely place complete trust in ourselves, then there must be One higher in Whom we may place our trust. In complete confidence. That One is God. Seek Him; trust Him.

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The City of David 1Chronicles 11:7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9 Then David took up residence in the stronghold; therefore, it was called the city of David. He built up the city all the way around, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding parts, and Joab restored the rest of the city. David steadily grew more powerful, and the Lord of Hosts was with him.

The most important things David ever did were with God. Sadly, he is most often remembered by the activities he engaged in that were in open rebellion to God. David made Israel a strong nation, united a divided kingdom, begat Solomon, and wrote some of humankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beautiful lyric poetry; yet he is instantly and forever joined to the memory of Bathsheba. Get to know one another by grace and not by sin.

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She has not drawn near Zephaniah 3:1 –2 Woe to the city that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! She has not obeyed; she has not accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she has not drawn near to her God.

Of course this was written about the Hebrew people who consistently fell away from (and were drawn back to) God, but isn’t it also applicable to nations and people today? We have not come so far that we do not need God. Most likely that was what Israel thought to themselves: “We have done well and we have prospered. We don’t need God the way our ancestors did. They were weak and stupid!”

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Knowing no shame Zephaniah 3:4-5 Her prophets are reckless treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction. The righteous Lord is in her; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.

This attitude of Jerusalemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rebellion interestingly is presented after the return from Babylonian exile, not before. Again, it would appear that we (humanity in general) have short memories and long histories ...

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Omnipresent God Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.

This proverbial saying is exactly what I remind folks of as they profess their undying faith and prepare to leave the church for home or wherever. And, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just God watching as they turn the corner out of earshot and eyesight â&#x20AC;Ś the devil is also watching with great anticipation.

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He saved us Titus 3:5-7 He saved us â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy,

through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly â&#x20AC;Ś

Not by works of righteousness According to His mercy

Through the washing of regeneration Renewal of the Holy Spirit He poured out this Spirit Abundantly

Jesus saved us by a complete regeneration and renewal; not by any construct of works! As He increases within us we increase, as well. And yet, we must decrease so He increases and overshadows our focus on self and works. This is also spiritual warfare.

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The Lord will fulfill and protect Psalm 138:7-8 If I walk into the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies.

You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me. The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me.

If we step out of the way God will indeed protect us, preserve us, and in us His purpose will be fulfilled. In the process, as we walk into dangerous places and incur anger from enemies, God is our ever present protector. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose, if we allow it, is the envelop of peace that we all desperately seek. Allow God to work without distracting him and the roads will be smoother, the blessings more abundant and the horizon brighter.

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Heaven has come near Matthew 10: 7-10 As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge. Don’t take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker is worthy of his food.

Heaven has come near, and in this proximity to glory the power of the Spirit is greater and the Light of the Son is brighter. In these ending times there will be dreams and visions, possessions and demons cast out; as we learned in Ecclesiastes, there is a time and a purpose for all of these things (and a specific purpose) under heaven. So go out to your mission field confident, travelling and resting, not taking too much baggage, relying on “the bread of life” for sustenance. If we work quietly, earning our way vocationally, we will be fed accordingly and our practices will be honored by God from His throne. As good kingdom citizens some of us will heal the sick, others will raise the dead, while others will cleanse diseased skin, and yet still others will drive out demons. This will be in the spirit and of the flesh.

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No death, ever? John 8:51 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death--ever!"

Believe it! Live fearlessly in the precious, live-giving, name of Jesus Christ. Be an overcomer ...

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Eternally ours Psalm 48:14 "This God, our God forever and everHe will lead us eternally."

This planet earth is but a proving ground for the believer. It strengthens us for the uphill climb, and then (at an appointed time) the spirit bursts forth leaving the flesh behind in a heap! God leads forever, and His spirit army follows Him into victory, glorious victory over death and the Adversary! This is forever ...

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Like meat in a cauldron Micah 3:1-3 Then I said: "Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren't you supposed to know what is just? You hate good and love evil. You tear off the skin of people and [strip] their flesh from their bones. You eat the flesh of my people after you strip their skin from them and break their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a caldron.”

As the faithful, the ones grafted in, aren’t we to know what is just and what is unjust? In our arrogance have we ever … Hated good and loved evil? Torn the skin off people? Stripped flesh from bone? Ate the flesh? Broken bones? Chopped them up? Have we? Think hard ...

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Do not be ashamed 2Titus 1:8-10 So don't be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Don’t be ashamed of Jesus, and the foolishness of the cross, even though you will one day be met with skepticism, harsh criticism or even outright hatred!. Paul tells Titus in a second letter that he (and we) should share in suffering for the “good news.” What good is the good news if it means nothing and motivates no one? Why should we share in suffering? Because in our suffering we might actually feel something beyond self.

“Go to the mat” for what you believe in; of what value is a life untested or a belief unapplied? Remember that death has been abolished!

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Swift and sure is best Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 Because the sentence against a criminal act is not carried out quickly, therefore the heart of people is filled [with the desire] to commit crime. Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him. However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God.

No matter what goes on around us; no matter how many times a criminal gets away with violating the law; or if a sentence is not carried out quickly enough to satisfy our righteous indignation, ...we must do good and believe in a God that is measuring twice and cutting once.

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Cease and desist Acts 4:18-19 So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it's right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

In the vernacular of current culture all I can say is “good luck with that!” What self-respecting believer would shrink from lifting up the name of Jesus or teaching as He taught? In fact, reverse psychology tells us that the more we restrict those who are passionate the more likely it is that we will get the opposite result. In other words, “The more you tell me not to, the more I’m gonna do it!” Sounds like a defiant child, does it not? Well, this is the one time you can be that defiant child and raise the roof! We who love our Lord are unable to stop speaking about what we know is true. If you had seen Jesus dead and then resurrected, what would you do? Would you really be able to keep your mouth shut?

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I am weary but choose truth Psalm 119:28-32 I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word. Keep me from the way of deceit, and graciously give me Your instruction.

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances [before me]. I cling to Your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of Your commands, for You broaden my understanding.

I am weary at times. There are days that I just do not know what to do nor do I have the desire of my own accord. Grief, of course, can make us incredibly weary. But grief is not the only aspect of life that makes us weary. Life in general can make us weary. The roads we travel can make us weary. Others, and their demands, can make us weary. So many things create weariness. Other words for this are fatigued, tired, weakened, worn out, weighed down, drained or depressed.

Yet through it all the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ lifts us high above these experiences so we can see that they are not bigger than God. These things happen to us, but they do not have to define us. Let God define you; do not let your grief define you.

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Inheritance to the sons Ezekiel 46:16 " This is what the Lord God says: If the prince gives a gift to each of his sons as their inheritance, it will belong to his sons. It will become their property by inheritance.

We find Jesus embedded in all Scripture. There is no word uttered that does not glorify Him. We may not recognize the reference or discern the meaning, but we must rest assured that God has a plan that makes us of every word and of every word removed. In this way the Bible is not without inherent human error, but is created to incorporate it. We are children of Light, sons and daughters of the Most High! Make no mistake, we have inherited the very being and Spirit of Christ Jesus! We have received His very image: it is emblazoned on our DNA. We are holy because He is holy. We are kingdom property, yes ...but we are also heirs to it. How many servants inherit the kingdom? Only those who serve Christ.

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He will not leave you; you will return Deuteronomy 4:29â&#x20AC;&#x201C;31 But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find [Him] when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.

When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, you will return to the Lord your God in later days and obey Him. He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them by oath, because the Lord your God is a compassionate God.

In the end, you and I can only have what we truly desire. All else will be cast off like old rags. Or it will be wiped away like dust from the roads we have traveled. If we desire God we will return to Him in due time. We are drawn to Him like a magnet draws steel unto itself. If we do not desire this, if we are not magnetic, there is no hope, whatsoever. We will fall away, oxidize and disappear. Only the magnet will remain.

If we choose to be steel, we are involuntarily drawn to the magnet which is God; if we presume to also be magnets, then it is very likely that we will be repelled by the greater magnet, and we will repel it.

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His will, not mine Acts 21:10–14 While we were staying there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us, took Paul's belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into Gentile hands.' " When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Since he would not be persuaded, we stopped talking and simply said, "The Lord's will be done!"

Yes, the Lord’s will be done! What the Holy Spirit tells us is what will be. If we are to be bound, gagged, and hauled up to the courts for prosecution, then so be it! There is no way that we can sidestep prophecy … not in this life or the next! Not believing in prophecy does not hold it at bay; it merely prevents us from preparing ourselves for its arrival in the spirit. What God has set in motion will unfold until it has fully bloomed and has borne its fruit. The Lord’s will be done!

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True inheritance 1 Kings 8:53 For You, Lord God, have set them apart as Your inheritance from all the people on earth, as You spoke through Your servant Moses when You brought their ancestors out of Egypt.

As Christ followers we are also grafted into this same vine which is Israel. We are not Jewish, but we have the same rights and privileges in the name of Jesus. Therefore, in Him we have been set apart and our inheritance awaits … we are different than any other peoples on the earth: God desires us and He is jealous for us. We are loved in ways indescribable. And, oh yes, we are God’s inheritance, too. Isn’t that amazing! We are not only heirs to the kingdom, we are an inheritance. Our peculiar status in etched in stone: we are the property of Yahweh, The Most High God. We think we have heard it all, and have read it all, until it dawns on us in the Spirit one morning that we really are blessed in fundamentally different ways than anyone else on the planet … or any planet for that matter. We are God’s own!

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Clouds are the dust Nahum 1:2-3 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against His foes; He is furious with His enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave [the guilty] unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

God is so vast and He is so mighty that even the clouds are mere dust beneath His feet. Obviously this is a metaphor, but not far from the truth â&#x20AC;Ś though the truth is much more grandiose, and far mightier, than mere words can describe. Worlds themselves are His footstools, and universes provide barely enough room for Him to stretch out. We serve a mighty big God!

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Planning and doing Isaiah 46:11 I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.

Our God is not an idle God nor is He frivolous. He is not anxious nor is He thwarted. What God has planned He will do. We must be faithful and believe that what He has prophesied He will fulfill in ways that glorify the Son. If we are faithful, and the Son is glorified, then it is right that we should expect our journeys to line up in ways that prosper us, bear fruit, and lead us out of our wilderness places and into the land of Canaan â&#x20AC;Ś into a land of milk and honey.

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Where the tree falls Ecclesiastes 11:1-3 Send your bread on the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it. Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or the north, the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Solomon evidently felt that investing financially was part of a healthy lifestyle. The reference to â&#x20AC;&#x153;bread on the waterâ&#x20AC;? is about investing across bodies of water (presumably maritime trade) and then waiting for the investment to multiply itself. Note the reminder to wait, to be patient: after many days you may find it. This type of financial investment, which is somewhat uncertain, is in stark contrast to the various natural occurrences listed which cannot be forecast but can be counted upon in some form. He calls them disasters. Solomon suggests investing, but not hoarding. A financial investment is considered a hedge against the unforeseeable but probable natural disasters which affect us all from time to time.

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Silence! Mark 4:39-41 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?" And they were terrified and said to one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Even with faith we are still fearful … I admit it. You should, too. Even when we are reassured time and time again we are still afraid when we run up against a threat to our person or a experience a strong spiritual storm. These events confound us and are alien to our understanding. I know, without hesitating, that if I were in that boat I would say to Jesus, “Lord, I have a little faith, but not even as much as a mustard seed.. Save me Jesus! Save me! I am still afraid of storms! I am just a child.” And, if I am sometimes afraid with Him it terrifies me to think about being afraid and not having Him nearby. So, it isn’t being afraid that is really unnerving; it is the thought of being without Jesus that scares me the most Yet, by His grace He is always nearby. All praises! All obedience! All glory to the King!

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Delights of the Father Luke 12:32 Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.

It is amazing that one message speaks to another through Scripture with such clarity in the Spirit. Both Gospel writers remind us that we no longer have anything to fear … nothing that can truly end our lives in the spirit or destroy our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. What comes before and after this passage is reassurance that we will have all of our needs met by God if we allow it. “The kingdom” means everything that is God’s is ours. We are no longer peasants, but a royal priesthood with all of the perks! We are royalty, children of Light: children of the Most High! We are heirs to a kingdom! His treasury is our treasure!

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Managers of the mystery 1 Corinthians 4:1 A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God’s mysteries.

We get caught up doing so much church “work” that we tend to forget our true purpose. Our purpose is to worship Him in “Spirit and I Truth.” Many of us believe that we are supposed to work ourselves to a frazzle, thereby pleasing God. As the theory goes, He will thank us for our selfless behavior at the foot of the throne. I am not so sure. We manage God’s mysteries by being faithful, being the evidence of things unseen … like the wind. We confound the wise by lifting up Jesus as Lord and God. In this way we take on a true spirit of mystery. We are made in the mysterious image of God. Be mysterious ...

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Why some of the good die young Isaiah 57:1 The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart; faithful men are swept away, with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil.

Rarely can we find the right words to speak into tragedy and pain. And yet, this passage from Isaiah contains possibly the only Biblical reference to the question we all have regarding why certain people are taken, especially children, before their time. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell us why the innocent and the righteous are taken from us, but it does give us a glimpse into Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercy. The understanding is that though taken too soon, those taken in this manner are swept out of the realm of greater evil and sadness. Our God is a protector God. We must trust Him even when we do not understand Him.

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One tenth Genesis 14:18 –20 Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and give praise to God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

I am pretty sure that most folks do not know where the notion of “ten percent” originated. It did not come from support of Temple priests or through an imposition by preachers to fund local churches. It was a way of honor, and was an established practice. The High Priest Melchizedek, King of Salem (which means Prince of Peace), blessed Abram in his defeat of the King of Sodom; and as a sign of reverence Abram kept nothing for himself but gave ten percent of the “booty” to the High Priest as was customary even in pagan religions of the time. Abram was simply following local tradition. Interestingly, this ten percent was captured and not earned so we may need to rethink what it means to give our “tithe.”

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An oath Genesis 14:22 –23 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand in an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.'

So, in an effort not to be beholden, or tainted in his victory, Abram did not keep any of the war booty for himself … only what his army had already eaten. Abram (Abraham) did not want the King of Sodom to say that he made him rich, he wanted to be able to say that God made him prosperous. It was a way of paying homage to Yahweh and not being tied back to pagans in any way. When we look at how we received our own prosperity it might be wise to use a similar approach. Would we like to be known for having earned our way or having acquired it through the lottery or in some other questionable fashion? We must ask ourselves these questions as we see opportunities that have moral “strings attached.”

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Which is easier? Matthew 9:3-7 At this, some of the scribes said among themselves, "He's blaspheming!" “But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? For which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --then He told the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home." And he got up and went home.

At the time Jesus was in physical ministry an act of healing, and His claims, were probably commonplace; there were other sorcerers and magicians who roamed the lands performing various “miracles” who undoubtedly made similar claims of divinity. As such, it was not the common folk who were offended, but the Jewish elite. Therefore, Jesus qualifies His actions by asking whether it is easier to physically heal or forgive sins ... knowing that the man was paralyzed both spiritually and physically. Jesus’ first concern is always the condition of one’s spirit; the frailties of the flesh will be corrected in glory.

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Few workers Matthew 9:36â&#x20AC;&#x201C;38 When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. " Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

No matter how great the harvest is, it will always be greater than the workers sent to harvest it. In reality the numbers are relatively small in comparison to those who are tares or non-producing wheat. Just look at the numbers of those saved or recovering in any form based on the total population â&#x20AC;Ś the numbers are miniscule by comparison. Truth is, we care called to go out but it is the Holy Spirit that does the harvesting. Thank you Holy Spirit for your perseverance in spite of the incredible odds ...

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Land in rebellion Proverbs 28:1-3 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing [them], but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures. A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

1.) Call it a conscience.

2.) Rebellion has its price. 3.) Spiritually destitute leadership is blind.

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Two more tablets Deuteronomy 10:1-3 "The Lord said to me at that time, 'Cut two stone tablets like the first ones and come to Me on the mountain and make a wooden ark. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you are to place them in the ark.' So I made an ark of acacia wood, cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and climbed the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.

Do you ever wonder what God was thinking, and what Moses might have been considering, when the task of new tablets containing The Commandments was required? Maybe for God: “I can see how this is going to go. Measure once, cut twice. Fortunately I have some decent kings and judges already in the wings. And Jesus, You know how this will end, right?” Maybe for Moses: “I hate to ask again … I really do. He’ll think I have no ability to manage these people … truth is, I don’t. I can barely contain my own anger after all of these years. It is a wonder God has not just burnt me to a crisp out of sheer frustration. This is humorous; Moses was probably in a foul mood, and God was not surprised,. He was, undoubtedly, concerned about His children’s short attention span.

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Be fruitful Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth."

What would we be doing (what should we be doing) if we are truly operating with “God’s image” as our guidance system? To begin with we have to understand a little something about what God’s image is and is not. God’s image is NOT a physical, or graven image; it is not one that imagines an old man with a long white beard half-naked conferring life to Adam from a cloud. God’s image IS the spiritual nature of God as He manifests Himself in the person of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This spiritual image is the holy and upright part of us that inhabits a fallen body. Indeed, we should go out and be fruitful physically, but more so in the spirit.

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Be fruitful a second time Genesis 8:15-17 Then God spoke to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you. Bring out every living thing of all flesh that is with you-birds, livestock, creatures that crawl on the ground-and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."

This was the second time God asked man to multiply and cover the earth. The first time did not go well. Instead of destroying man the second time, however, He chose to destroy His Son, Jesus, instead. In our stead. Time for a little gratitude â&#x20AC;Ś

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The tower Genesis 11:1-6 At one time the whole earth had the same language and vocabulary. As people migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, "Come, let us make oven-fired bricks." They had brick for stone and asphalt for mortar. And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth." Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

We have great and powerful possibilities if we direct our strengths, gifts and talent toward good and God. It is when we amass our collective will, and redirect our proclivity for evil, that we get into big trouble. Brick for brick I doubt that the individuals assembling the tower, were looking much beyond each workday and the rest at the end of it. However, as they began to talk among themselves it became clear that they had the power to challenge God. It is then true for men that absolute power corrupts absolutely ...

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Third day (1) Hosea 6:1-2 Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn [us], and He will heal us; He has wounded [us], and He will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence.

Before God revives us from woundedness there is a waiting period. There has always been a waiting period. Even Jonah had a waiting period. As children we say we cannot wait, that our excitement has the best of us, and this is true for a child. But, we are not children any longer. Jesus Himself proved that God’s best and most complete work, even in resurrection, required the third day. It appears that “the right time” required to make us whole is the number of fullness or divine perfection … 3.

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Third day (2) Matthew16:21-23 From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, "Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to You!" But He turned and told Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's."

Since we cannot imagine anyone doing what Jesus did, it is hard for us to believe, at times, that He even went to the cross.â&#x20AC;Ś that it really happened. We simply cannot fathom it. We can intellectualize it, but we cannot identify with it. That may be why it is so hard to believe in Jesus for so many. He is just enough like us, and yet so unlike us, that we cannot capture Him; He eludes us. He is like a firefly just out of reach.

What Jesus did for us was (and is) impossible, and so we find it impossible to relate to Him or anyone like Him. Who would do such a magnificent thing? Jesus is so familiar at a glance, and yet is so unlike the flesh He wears; even His own disciples cannot not accept His words. Peter was not in denial as much as he was in utter disbelief. Jesus was the only glue they knew spiritually speaking. My take: Beneath it all His Disciples were afraid of being alone. Satan tempts us, and distorts our faith, when we are isolated.

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Third day (3) John 2:16-19 He told those who were selling doves, "Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!" And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for Your house will consume Me. So the Jews replied to Him, "What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?" Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days."

Bring down the Temple of Herod and God will raise it back up. What took 40 years to build will be accomplished in just 3 days. Of course this was a metaphor for the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus â&#x20AC;Ś but the Pharisees did not know that this was a word puzzle. To those listening, such a ridiculous claim was just another reason to write off this itinerant rabbi as a madman. Do not so easily write off those who prophesy today in the name of our mighty God, YHWH! When you hear such a truth, no matter how outlandish, embrace it, covet it, and then lift it high!

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Many schemes Ecclesiastes 7:29 I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes."

In view of the various political campaigns we have been exposed to over our lifetime, it is fair to say that we have seen countless candidates come into the process with awesome intentions and pristine ideals; and then we have seen them “pursue many schemes.” They get sidetracked by special interests and seduced by the siren song of money and fame. I think we can identify. Good men and women still eat the fruit “of the tree” believing they can be wiser than Solomon and more powerful than God.

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The Daniel fast Daniel:12–16 "Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king's food, and deal with your servants based on what you see." He agreed with them in this matter and tested them for 10 days. At the end of 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king's food. So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.

This is what we honor when we do the “Daniel fast.” It harks back to what we see in Genesis and Isaiah in lessons to follow. We tend to forget that God wanted us all to live in a place that was unified, balanced and serene. Obviously, we do not live in that place. If we want to know what sin brought into the world, then we must look at God’s intended and then the outcome. We see that Daniel, and his fellow exiles in Babylon, not only ate the prescribed holy diet, but they thrived and outshone their Babylonian courtiers. Daniel’s righteous risk-taking is a huge testimony to the protective nature of God’s original intention and what happens when we distort His will to satisfy our desires.

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Peaceable kingdom Isaiah 11:6–9 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox. An infant will play beside the cobra's pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake's den. No one will harm or destroy on My entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.

The original cover of the book The Peaceable Kingdom (hardback) by Jan de Hartog always comes to mind when I think of lions and lambs lying down together. The Quaker reference to anti-slavery and nonviolence is inevitable, but I think this reference must go far deeper than a novel … it is a spiritual connection for all Christ-followers to go out and proclaim the good news of the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth … to practice nonviolence and make slaves of no man. And then to go even deeper: keep alive the theme of God’s original desire that we do not eat our warm-blooded (and cold-blooded) friends. Read the passage very closely. Not only do predators and prey comingle, but children pick up vipers and are not harmed. There was no fear or danger in God’s original plan. Sublime as defined, “excellence, grandeur, and beauty,” is the Garden of Eden.

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The Sixth day Genesis 1:27–30 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth." God also said, "Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth-everything having the breath of life in it. [I have given] every green plant for food." And it was so.

And finally on the sixth day God completed His masterpiece and “it was good.” It would have remained that way, but our God is a gracious and merciful God. Knowing full well that we would make poor decisions, and that we would attempt to destroy this masterpiece, he dropped us right into the middle of it! There is a way to reverse this destruction one square foot of real estate at a time: plant a garden! If you can’t plant a garden, then plant a flower or a tree. Plant something that other creatures can feed on or find refuge in.

It is an act of worship when we put our hands in the dirt. It is good for the soul and for the soil …

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No love for God John 5:42-43 but I know you--that you have no love for God within you. I have come in My Father's name, yet you don't accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

The world today is no different than it was when Jesus walked among us. Those who see the cross as foolishness are hostile toward the Christ and His message of love. We gratefully accept those with far less substantial credentialsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; sports figures, the politically inclined, movie and TV celebrities as well as authors and lecturersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;giving them far more of ourselves than we have ever thought of giving to Jesus! Just for today, how will you give Jesus higher status than you give your favorite rock star or sports hero? Pray and be creative ...

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The foreigner on God’s heart 1 Kings 8:41-43 Even for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your namefor they will hear of Your great name, mighty hand, and outstretched arm, and will come and pray toward this templemay You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all the foreigner asks You for. Then all the people on earth will know Your name, to fear You as Your people Israel do and know that this temple I have built is called by Your name.

Even as far back as King Solomon it was clear that God’s arms were open to anyone who sought Him. “Even for the foreigner” is a foreshadowing of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All Gentiles have come distant lands in a spiritual sense, so we should not over analyze the vine or being grafted.in. Far earlier than the Apostle Paul it was clear that Yahweh was God to all … those who would serve Him.

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Wise men Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."

These wise men were indeed wise as they were able to interpret the signs of their times. They read the stars but did more than astrology. They knew what that particular sign in the heavens meant. They had knowledge and wisdom.

If we see signs of things prophesied, do we recognize them and do we respond to them? What are you doing with the signs of our times? Are you just â&#x20AC;&#x153;pooh poohingâ&#x20AC;? them as more astute media coverage or do you see the bigger picture? Is your camel ready for the journey?

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What is inside matters more Luke 11:39-41 "But the Lord said to him: "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil. Fools! Didn't He who made the outside make the inside too? But give to charity what is within, and then everything is clean for you.

Is this a riddle or some kind of complex dinnerware theology? It is neither. Jesus is using a very practical, and very literal, approach to illustrate spiritual cleanliness. He launches this statement back at the Pharisees when accused of not doing ritual washing before dining with them. It is also launched at each one of us if we should get hung up on religious ritual and neglect the condition of our souls.

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Wake up, wake up! Joel 1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you wine drinkers, because of the sweet wine, for it has been taken from your mouth.

For some of us drunkards the sweet wine has been taken away because we misused it. Sweet wine is to be savored, not gulped. Do not treat your faith like another secular program or religious ritual.

Wake up and know that Jesus is to be consumed with the reverence of a communion or last supper; He is not to be treated like a dollar-abottle cheap social lubricant! Wake up or your sweetest wine will be taken from your mouth.

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Like the stars Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse [of the heavens], and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

It does make a difference what we do with our lives in the name of Jesus. If we are wise, and behave like wise men and women, we will shine brightly on earth and in heaven. Bright as stars we will be beacons to others who are looking for the high road, the narrow path, the illuminated way. We are called to be disciple-makers. We are called to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;glow in the darkâ&#x20AC;? people!

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Jeremiah’s calling = our calling Jeremiah1:4–5 The word of the Lord came to me: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

So it goes for each of us who are called to serve The Lord, Our God. God knew us, He named us, and He called us, before time was time. This doesn’t just apply to Old Testament prophets; it touches each of us who are called to evangelists, shepherds, apostles, pastors and teachers. A call is a call. No man can stop you and no piece of paper can certify you. If God is in your heart. Take courage: He has overcome the world.

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Christ and Him alone Colossians 2:8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.

If your beliefs are not based upon the person of Jesus Christ, then what you have is a philosophy or a religion, but it is not a faith! Faith is established in truth and is the actual evidence of things unseen. With faith the size of a mustard seed you and I can move mountains. Philosophies and religions cannot even move molehills.

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Adam was the prototype Romans 5:12-14 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.

Adam was the prototype before the fall.

Jesus is the new Adam. â&#x20AC;Ś the perfect One.

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One man’s obedience Romans 5:19-21 For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The core of this, and all of the New Testament, is the passage, “But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more …” In the person of Jesus Christ sin could not, and cannot, outdistance, overcome, or outlast, grace. This is the Good News!

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Give free of charge Matthew 10:7-10 As you go, announce this: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge. Don't take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts, or a backpack for the road, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker is worthy of his food.

Why would Jesus tell His disciples to go out with so little? He wants us to go out in faith, be willing to work along the way, and to become a part of the communities we serve. Jesus was confident that if we give we shall receive. As ministers we are not entitled, and we do not demand. The bodies we serve should do their best to take care of their own; however, it is not unusual that pastors and ministers might have vocations to support themselves. Paul was the perfect example of a missionary who gave spiritually, but also profited commercially to survive.

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Value? Psalm 49:20 A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.

Anyone with a pile of â&#x20AC;&#x153;stuffâ&#x20AC;? and no common sense will perish along with the stuff.

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The revelation of Jesus Christ 1Peter 1:6-7 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We are distressed: we experience various trials and spiritual refinement when we let our light shine in the darkness. This is to be expected! As eye-catching, and as beautiful as it is, refined gold is but a temporary thing … a physical element … a rock. It, along with the flesh, serves us for only a very short time this side of glory. The real prize that awaits the believer is eternal life. This “forever” with God is our reward for perseverance under difficult circumstances. God knows our struggle to praise, glorify and honor Him day in and day out. It is not easy to stay on track He remembers us when we fight the good fight in His name.

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I was saved Psalms 18:3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.

By calling on His perfect name we are saved from our enemies. I think this was indeed literal, and not simply a metaphor to invoke dramatic. David knew better than most how persistent and numerous oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enemies could be. Though, make no mistake â&#x20AC;Ś this passage does not suggest that we should flaunt our God nor encourage battle in an effort to leverage Him to punish an enemy. This is about protection at the right time, and under the right circumstances, so that Yahweh is glorified. Note: think spiritual protection first.

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Compassionate Savior Matthew 9:35-36 Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.

Making disciples for Jesus Christ is an act of compassion, not a stab at statistics or a jewel in the crown. All that is done, all that matters, glorifies Jesus and is modeled on His example. Compassion literally means with passion, and the passion Jesus had was one of purest love, the genuine article.

If we are to be remembered it is not we who will be named. It will be Jesus who is high and lifted up! If we are forgotten, left in the dustbin of history, and He is remembered, then our mission is accomplished. We will be remembered in the Book of Life â&#x20AC;Ś that is the only legacy that matters. Oh, and, it is worth repeating: Sheep without a shepherd are dead sheep ...

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Jesus knew John 6:64-65 " But there are some among you who don't believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who would not believe and the one who would betray Him.)

He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted to him by the Father."

If, as a soldier, you knew that most of the people you were fighting for didn’t give a “tinker’s damn” about your commitment, would you still be willing to lay down your life. What if it was to save only one person? Would you still do it?

I think we believe that we would do whatever it takes for our cause, for our side; but I am not sure that most of us have the will. Jesus had the will of God, yet even He asked one last time if the cup might not be taken from Him. We have a powerful and merciful God.

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A cautionary tale Judges 2:1-5 The Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, "I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your fathers. I also said: I will never break My covenant with you. You are not to make a covenant with the people who are living in this land, and you are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed Me. What is this you have done? Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap to you." When the Angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. So they named that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

Does this sound like your life … the consequences of your decisionmaking? Which of these apply? 1.) God brought us out of a bad place and promised us His undying love and protection … His covenant. 2.) God gave us boundaries for our own protection but we disobeyed. We kept the altars of our former gods and had other maters we worshipped. 3.) God asked us about this and we acted like we didn’t know what He was talking about. 4.) God honored our choices and left certain things in our lives to be thorns of disobedience. 5.) We wept loudly, promised never to do these things again, and even gave up things we said we valued to show our love and sacrifice. But we forget, don’t we? We go back to our old lives until we are again confronted … and then we plead forgiveness until the next time, and the time after that. We are no different than the Israelites! What have you and I learned from this holy recycling program? 246

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God uses King Cyrus of Persia Ezra 1:2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem."

King Cyrus may not have worshipped the God of the Hebrews, but he certainly respected His power. King Cyrus may have seen himself as the mightiest earthly powerbroker, but he was aware that his power did not extend beyond that. This kind of self-awareness is generally lost upon the powerful today, Many of the kings and nation builders of today operate in a complete power vacuum where they, and only they, are the most powerful. Of course, we know that this is a delusion, and in time, we all come face to face with the inevitable and the most powerful.

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Think about it Haggai 1:5-7 Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: "Think carefully about your ways: You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner [puts his] wages into a bag with a hole in it."

The Lord of Hosts says this: "Think carefully about your ways.

Think carefully about your ways and ask yourself:

Why have I over-planted and my silos remain empty? Why do I eat more than I should and I am still starving? Why do I drink until I am drunk and yet I never sleep soundly? Why do I put on layers of clothing but still shiver in the heat? Why is it that income beyond all of my needs is never enough?

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Consequences for unbelievers Jude 1:4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;6 For certain men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, though you know all these things: the Lord, having first of all saved a people out of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe; and He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling.

Often we, as believers, get hung up on the consequences of unbelief; truth is â&#x20AC;Ś we should dwell on the consequences of believing. God has prepared a place for those would rebel and those who would take up arms against Him. For the believer there is a far more pressing issue at hand. We must proclaim the precious name of Jesus, proud and out loud! We know that God is aware of unholy stealth, and that He has already prepared a place for them. Our focus on evil only distracts us from the practice of proclaiming. Do not be distracted.

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Strong words 3 John 1:9â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us. This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

Sometimes Satan even weasels his way into our churches. He may come disguised as a visitor or in possession of a congregant. He may even be a member of the hospitality team. He uses unkind (malicious) words, but he is not satisfied with that. He will make others feel unwelcome, and go so far as to drive those away who have a heart for the church. This is unacceptable! We must not imitate evil, and if we are we must repent, turning from those practices immediately. If there are those among us who operate in this manner, they must be admonished and the darkness sent packing!

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What is futility? Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it. This too is futile and a great wrong.

For what does a man get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors with under the sun? For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Solomon can be downright depressing if what he says is not understood in the broader context of a life with, and for, God. Life, as we know, can seem futile even under the best of circumstances. Each day we feel thwarted in our efforts to do better, to live better, to love better. The list is endless. Truth is: every effort is futile if it is not accomplished with God in our hearts. However, with Him even our most flawed and tragic moments are moments of glory.

God notices the small stuff, the futile stuff ...

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He planted a vineyard, and then ... Genesis 9:20-23 Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backwards, they covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked

Noah, as faithful as he was, did the right thing and honored God with a burnt offering; and then, not unlike ourselves … planted a vineyard, fermented the grapes, and proceeded to get blind drunk passing out naked (uncovered).

How often have we gone to church, made peace with God, made our sacrificial offering, and then gone right out and dishonored Him in every conceivable way? Everyone of us ... too many times to count. It is the desire of our flesh to have our cake and eat it, too. The message here is a universal one of personal atonement gone predictably wrong. We believe that if we balance our offering and our rebellion, that somehow they cancel one another out … our account is “balanced.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. Only Jesus cancels debts and balances the scales.

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Not over yet Micah 7:77-79 But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the Lord's rage until He argues my case and establishes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His salvation.

All we need to know is contained in the last two lines of this prophetic poem. After all is said and done, by us and by our enemies, our God will bring us into the light and we will see His salvation! We can go out each day confident in the knowledge that as we put on our full armor, and as we fight the good fight, our God is with us and for us. No one can be against us. We have sinned, but Jesus paid the price; we have fallen, but Jesus lifts us high; we have been seated in utter darkness, but Jesus overcomes the darkness; God is angry at our sin, but Jesus finds no evidence of it!

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God does not tempt

James 1:13-14 No one undergoing a trial should say, " I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone.

But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.

And, for the record … the Devil didn’t “make you do it!” The only one accountable for what you do is you. Will you be honest enough to accept responsibility for what you have done (or refused to do); will you repent and turn your life around? The world says we are weak when we confess that what we wanted, and paid dearly for, hurt many. But, I am telling you that it takes incredible strength to admit that what seemed like a good idea at the time came to no earthly good. We confess ... James had it right. We can blame God, and we can blame Satan, but in the end, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

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Redeemed 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

The only fuel, the only redemption we can rely on for our new lives, is the red gold we know to be Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shed blood! His blood is the perfect solution to our old way of life. We know as believers, that there is no other way to have our sins wiped away. Get whitewashed in the blood!

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The horsemen Zechariah 1:8-10 I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. I asked, "What are these, my lord?" The angel who was talking to me replied, "I will show you what they are." Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the Lord has sent to patrol the earth."

The ones who patrol the earth are involved in world governments; and while the symbolism is not well understood, it is believed that the red represents war and the white, victory. Like the horsemen who will come at the end, they are most likely prosecuting world leadership to see what they “are made of.” In Job, Satan played a similar prosecutorial role. So it may be that … Red 1 = Angel Gabriel leading Reds = War and vengeance/blood of Christ Sorrels (speckled) = Mixed events or an unknown outcome/alternate choice Whites = Final victory/purity … they will patrol until the end.

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Oppression Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

It may seem hopeless, and the litany of current events dire. However, with God such acts of oppression can be prevented from being played out on an endless loop. What Solomon submits to the reader is a life without God; he paints a grim picture for the unbeliever. The only admiration for the dead is envying those who have died and have gone to glory. For the living and the believing there is plenty of life upon which to feed.

Live a life for Jesus and get out of the rut of oppression.

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Who do you say that I am? Luke 9:18-20 While He was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am? ” They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.” “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am? ” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah! ”

Who do you say that He is? The answer will forever define you and your relationship with God. As C.S. Lewis said so eloquently: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.” (Mere Christianity)

If He is a reincarnation of John the Baptist or Elijah, or one of the prophets of old, He is but a man. If He is a man He cannot save souls or forgive sins. Jesus can only do these things (the things we need the most) if He is indeed God.

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All things? Philippians 4:13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

All things can be accomplished through Jesus Christ who gives His strength, body and blood, for the cause of this life. For the believer there is even more: forever strength and eternal joy! There will be no more burnout, no more spiritual fatigue.

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The source; the war within James 4:1-3 What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don't receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure.

James has it so right. He obviously had a very special insight into the hearts of men. Men and women can claim the same source for the cravings of the flesh that spawn the spiritual diseases of coveting, murder, and warring for the things we cannot ever obtain. If we would quit fighting long enough to let the dust settle, and take a look around, we would see the carnage, the stench of it, and realize we are no better for it. We do not have more of anything of value; in fact we have much less because we have been robbed of our peace and our souls are in torment. We are killing one another because we do not have the courage to come to God and repent!

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Matthew is called Matthew 9:9-11 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him. While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Our Jesus eats with sinners because we need Him. Jesus called Matthew in the same way He called on the lame to walk, to get up and carry their mats, and do something about their unfulfilling lives. Most of the time our disabilities are not physical, but spiritual. Paul said that even in prison he was free ... free to be an ambassador for Christ.

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A holy sanctuary? Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. The whole building is being fitted together in Him and is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit.

We are a holy sanctuary; are we truly living up to that billing? If we are no longer foreigners as Jews and Gentiles, then as members of the same society shouldn’t we behave less like foreigners to one another? It seems that our foreign nature is not spiritual, which is ultimately the most divisive, but the result of superficial characteristics like skin color, voting characteristics, anomalous gender, etc. If God can love us, in this state of undeniable depravity, shouldn’t we be able to at least give “overlooking the small stuff” a try?

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Precious promises 2 Peter 1:3-4 For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.

When we are called by the glory and goodness of God we are not called to live small lives. I have never heard anyone suggest that we should go out and live “small.” On the contrary … we are called to go out and “live large” proclaiming the name of Jesus from the rooftops and in the alleyways, showing others that a life in Him is a joy and a true liberation from self. The precious promise is this: we can live and love in this corrupted world and not fall prey to the corruption. Peter tells us that we escape the corruption because we now share in the divine grace that is the presence of God Himself. Our desire is for Jesus and not for the world.

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It follows Amos 3:3-7 Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured [something]? Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing? If a ram's horn is blown in a city, aren't people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn't the Lord done it? Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.

It follows that if there is an effect, then there is a cause. If even “nothing” happens for a reason, then “something” must claim its cause, its source. Of course the cause of all things, large and small, is God Himself. Can we begin to wipe the scales from our eyes and see that even the most remote and disconnected things have God at their source? Can we begin to see that there are causes and consequences for all activities? The web of influence we see, and can no longer deny, is God! Lions and birds get it! Why can’t we? 264

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Even today Esther 9:1–2 The king's command and law went into effect on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar. On the day when the Jews' enemies had hoped to overpower them, just the opposite happened. The Jews overpowered those who hated them. In each of King Ahasuerus' provinces the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who intended to harm them. Not a single person could withstand them; terror of them fell on every nationality.

So it is today! The tables have been turned on Israel’s enemies! Take note of the way the wind is blowing. We know that when the wind blows a certain direction a storm is on the way. Make no mistake … a storm is on the horizon!

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The day of the Lord is coming Joel 2:1-3 Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the residents of the land tremble, for the Day of the Lord is coming; in fact, it is neara day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dense overcast, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people [appears], such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come. A fire destroys in front of them, and behind them a flame devours. The land in front of them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland; there is no escape from them.

The prophet Joel is telling the people of Zion that unless they turn from their wicked ways the most recent destruction will not be their last! This clarion call to repent is as compelling today as it was 3000 years ago. A locust plague may indeed be the least of anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worries if ungodly ways persist. As a pastor I am far less concerned with wholesale repentance by cities or countries than I am with individuals sold out for Jesus!

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Stuff is not the solution James 5:1-3 Come now, you rich people! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you. Your wealth is ruined: your clothes are moth-eaten; your silver and gold are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days!

1.) Death comes to all. Those who placed value in material wealth have no eternal hope in it â&#x20AC;Ś their expectation comes to nothing. The flesh rots and the spirit will die. Silver & gold will corrode. 2.) Wealth gained by fraud will see continued losses, and will never see significant gain; however, what little is earned by honest means will be multiplied many times over by the Lord. 3.) A house inhabited by the righteous is a wealthy house and a healthy home. However, trouble will always follow a thief!

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Seeing God in love 1 John 4:11-13 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us. This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given to us from His Spirit.

If we are the only versionof God that some ever see, how then will He be remembered? Will our behavior help or hinder? Will we be the straight and narrow road for a person seeking Jesus or will we be an obstacle on it?

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The Lord is righteous 2 Chroniocles 12:5-8 Then Shemaiah the prophet went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is what the Lord says: 'You have abandoned Me; therefore, I have abandoned you into the hand of Shishak.' " So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The Lord is righteous." When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, the Lord's message came to Shemaiah: "They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them but will grant them a little deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize [the difference between] serving Me and serving the kingdoms of the land."

Sometimes simply knowing the difference is the difference.

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Be Holy 1Peter1:14–16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; “for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”

We struggle with being “good enough.” So, being holy in any sense of the word sounds impossible; it is beyond our reach, beyond our comprehension. Where is this written? It is from the book of Leviticus 11:45 in the Old Testament or Torah. So, while God has inspired Peter to remind us of our anticipated spiritual condition, it is a message that has deep roots going back to the time of the Exodus. This is just one more illustration of how God has not changed, and why the Old and New Testaments must be considered One and not Two.

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Bottomless pit Ecclesiastes 6:7 All man's labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.

Are heavier people more satisfied than skinny people? Does eating more actually fill a person up? Nothing fills one up except the very word of God!

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Wealth and trouble are connected

Proverbs 15:6 The house of the righteous has great wealth, but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

It is no wonder that topics about wealth are always within a stone’s throw of topics about fraud and corruption. Keeping wealth has become an obsession, and prosperity is seen as an end rather than a blessing with a divine purpose. It would seem that getting rich isn’t the hard part … staying rich is! Choose the wealth that you can hold on to, not one that will slip through your fingers ...

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What is indifference? Revelation 3:14-17 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked …”

Indifference is the worst possible position to take. The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. The opposite of passion is not being dispassionate, but being indifferent.

Out Lord in Revelation says that he would rather we be hot or cold … but never lukewarm or indifferent. Why? It is disgusting. It is tasteless, and it will make one vomit. It is the result of serving two masters: serving hot and cold will make us tepid, not both hot and cold. It ruins the character of both the hot and the cold. God can work with passion; He knows indifference breeds apathy and destroys motivation. Lukewarm does not embody cold or hot … in its desire to embody both, it embodies neither.

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Fear = Reverence Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.

‫יראה‬ yir-aw'

Feminine fear; morally reverent Going back to root words in Strong’s definition, both suggest to fear or to frighten; but more emphatically, to morally revere, though by inference to pay homage, to respect and follow. It is also worth noting that the specific use is feminine, and gender specific, which may actually be a reference to the Holy Spirit. Wisdom in the Old Testament is generally personified in the feminine and named Sophia in the Greek. Again, I believe this is a reference to the spiritual nature of God. Recognizing God’s will as perfect and supreme means accepting the fact that we are “where we need to be” as a result of our journey, and that acceptance of His will and purpose puts us squarely in a place of greater wisdom and truth. Now, we can begin to make sense of His purpose. It is a new beginning.

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People of God Genesis 12:1-3 The Lord said to Abram Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

I am convinced that God is the greatest Poet Laureate bar none. When we look at the Bible, and much of its narrative style, we discover lyric poetry. Whether music as in Psalms (songs), wisdom in Job and Proverbs, sensuality in The Song of Solomon, instruction through Lord’s Prayer, or Mary’s gratitude in The Magnificat, we see unequaled beauty and cadence throughout Holy Scripture. We see the same in Genesis when, through Abram, the People of God were called through one man … one man called to pack up and leave his place of comfort; called to go to a place he did not know. Where are you called to?

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Unidentified Flying Objects Ezekiel 1:16-21 The appearance of the wheels and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same form. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. Their rims were large and frightening. Each of their four rims were full of eyes all around. So when the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

It is easy to see how a case can be made for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ancient Aliensâ&#x20AC;? theory. These writings from the prophet Ezekiel are fantastic. However, we must realize that God came first, not these incredible manifestations of beryl and wheels within wheels with rims full of eyes. When we get caught up in believing that God is an afterthought, dependent upon our vision and our understanding, it is easier to believe these even more incredible UFO theories. We must be discerning as believers, able to separate television entertainment from truth. Nevertheless, this is how God presented Himself to Ezekiel. It would have been a statement of purpose that would have riveted the attention of even the most stubborn individual. How did God get your attention?

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Sending a prophet Ezekiel 2:1-5 He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you." As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the One who was speaking to me. He said to me: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites [and] to the rebellious nations who have rebelled against Me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against Me to this day. The children are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them: This is what the Lord God says. Whether they listen or refuse [to listen] -for they are a rebellious house-they will know that a prophet has been among them.

What characteristics does God abhor? 

Open Rebellion

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Unrepentant Transgression

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Being Obstinate

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Hardheartedness

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Unwilling to Listen

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Rejection of God’s Prophets

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Sanctuary Exodus 15:17–18 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your possession; Lord, You have prepared the place for Your dwelling; Lord, Your hands have established the sanctuary. The Lord will reign forever and ever!

Do you know what a sanctuary is? Do you have a place that you call a sanctuary? I went on the internet to look up the meaning and found all kinds of stuff related to the word: there is a TV series with that name, there is a song by that name, and … there are also a nightclub and a clothing line by that name. There were 127 million references on Yahoo alone. What does it really mean? The definition in the dictionary is what you might expect: a sacred or holy place; a place of safety, refuge and asylum. Isn’t that why we are here at The Gathering? Don’t we want to be protected, warm and safe? There is an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee that claims to be “the nation’s largest natural habitat refuge.” These elephants, “live out their lives with the freedom to roam the natural habitat of the Sanctuary, making new friends and special relationships as the years pass.” Sounds great doesn’t it? I now have second thoughts about being an elephant ... (excerpt from my first sermon written in 2008)

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Called to freedom Galatians 5:13-15 For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Wow! No one can accuse Biblical writers of being bland in their language or imagery! So, at some point, if we allow biting and devouring of one another, it can easily turn into something far worse: being completely consumed by one another. I doubt that there is a Scriptural passage any more applicable to our current western culture than this one. We have allowed all shades of freedom, and increased our sensitivity to our differences, to the extent that we are far less tolerant than we were 50 years ago. We have come to believe that having no standards will somehow provide a higher universal standard.

To the contrary; we have not only succeeded in developing a new lower standard for acceptable social response to our differences, we now condone mean, hateful, violent, all-consuming behaviors. We are being consumed by one another ideologically and spiritually ...

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Love your neighbor Matthew 5:43-46 "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

This was radical thinking then and it is now. We can hardly muster a decent word for those we disagree with over the most petty issues let alone love them. How will you begin to find a loving word or a caring emotion to substitute for damaging words and angry outbursts? Old Testament Scripture tells us that a kind word can lift up a soul while an unkind word can lay waste to whole cities ...

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The same yesterday and today Deuteronomy 6:4-8 "Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.â&#x20AC;?

What does Jesus tell us? He says to Love God and love your neighbor. On those words hang the words of the prophets and the tenants of the Law. Moses and Jesus are connected in a message that spans almost 1450 years. See Matthew 22:36-40. Moses tells the Israelites to put the words in their hearts, repeat them to their children, talk about them, and bind them to themselves. These words are something we can also heed as Christ-followers. As believers we do this; we wear crosses on our necks and we cross ourselves with our hands to seal, to consecrate and to protect. I do not suggest that this is the same, but that the activities of true believers bear striking similarities to the Judaic tradition â&#x20AC;Ś because we worship the same God, the Great I AM: Yahweh. Moses spoke of the truth and Christ fulfilled it. The connection between Old and New Testament Scripture is undeniable. It is a fact. Jesus was a practicing Jew. He came not to abolish but to transform.

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Practical knowledge Leviticus 19:29-30 "Do not debase your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity. You must keep My Sabbaths and revere My sanctuary; I am the Lord.â&#x20AC;?

I selected this because it seems so obvious to us that we should not sell our children or defile sacred sanctuaries, but such was not always the nature of the ancient world. Monotheistic worship for the Hebrews changed all of that. God chose His people, and wanted so much to preserve them that He provided a plethora of practical laws for their protection. Those laws have been translated into many of the legal systems most civilized societies live by today. Even the Islamic model has, at its base, the same built-in protective and theocratic societal umbrella. This is no accident as Islam also recognizes Abraham as founding father. Jesus takes the old and makes it brand new â&#x20AC;Ś literally. The sanctuary which is Jesus Christ remains open to the public, rain or shine, 24/7, 365.

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Poured out, finished 2Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

I need to have God carry me across the finish line. I have strength and will run, but I am not enough to take me very far ... And the definition of “far” is always the distance required for a true walk in faith that is greater and further than we had counted on and trained for.

No walk of faith is accomplished alone, not if it involves more than a few steps. A wise man knows this to be true, but a fool denies it saying his life is his own, and in no way depends upon God’s strength and guidance. Be wise and invite God along on your journey.

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A reputation 2Samuel 8:13-15 David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The LORD made David victorious wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

The Edomites are today’s Syrians. David conquered tens of thousands, but at a price. Psalm 60 written in conjunction with this particular engagement, suggests that while a victory, David’s heart seemed uncertain. For he writes in verse 5, You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion. It is not known whether this was written before or after the battle, but no matter how victorious, the cost of victory can be enormous. Of course David was blessed and a man after God’s heart; that much we know, but rather than yielding to God he had begun to believe in himself in ways that sowed the seeds of arrogance. As we know, even the most blessed individual can begin to believe what he hears, and may attribute his success to his own ability rather than honoring God’s power and will. It is an easy thing to get caught up in. It is always a dangerous game. And David’s son Solomon fell prey to the same arrogance late in life.

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Compiling an accurate narrative Luke 1:1-4 Many have under taken to compile a nar r ative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

The gospel of Luke, and also Acts, were written as instructional letters that could be reviewed as needed to assure that proper doctrine was being taught in a rapidly changing social, geographic, political, and spiritual environment. Thus Luke, as a physician and a man of detail and fact, wanted to be sure that the events surrounding Christ’s ministry were recorded while many of the eyewitnesses were still alive. Luke was a Gentile, so it was important that he conveyed this good news of Jesus Christ in a manner that would touch the hearts of other Gentiles. Luke contains strong parallels to Matthew, and as such, they are thought to have had a common source. This common source is the basis for the belief in a Quelle or “Q” Gospel. Quelle in German means “source.”

Theophilus, to whom the Gospel is addressed, is not known although there is much scholarly speculation. The name means “lover of God” and he is referred to as “most excellent.” This might suggest a person of right-standing or possibly the code for a specific faith community.

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A divided Christ 1 Corinthians 1:9-13 God is faithful; by Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe's household, that there are quarrels among you. What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ." Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul's name?

Doctrinal differences aside, we have many issues that threaten to create divisions in the body of Christ. Most of the problems for the church are influences that are secular by definition. Ironically, the very separation we clamor for between church and state is where we find ourselves the most divided and ungodly. Claims for moral correctness, and ideological righteousness, have created an â&#x20AC;&#x153;us and themâ&#x20AC;? mentality in our modern culture that has blurred the lines between the political arena and the places we hold most sacred: our churches and our belief in God. Paul tells us that we are to be united in Christ if nothing else.

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The Ark of the Covenant Exodus 37:1-9 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out and made a gold molding all around it. He cast four gold rings for it to be on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark for carrying the ark. He made a mercy seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat, one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim [of one piece] with the mercy seat, [a cherubim] at each end. They had wings spread out, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.

If you ever wondered about the Ark of the Covenant, and whether it looked like the one in the Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, here is the opportunity to make a mental comparison. I would say that generally it is pretty close in the way that it is described, although in Exodus the dimensions are much more rectangular in shape, and somewhat larger, than what is generally illustrated in the movie.

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Prophecy of Isaiah I Isaiah 14:1-2 For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will choose Israel again. He will settle them on their own land. The foreigner will join them and be united with the house of Jacob. The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess them as male and female slaves in the Lord's land. They will make captives of their captors and will rule over their oppressors.

In so many ways this prophecy has come to pass and is being fulfilled in our time. In 1948 the nations of the world did the unthinkable, and for the first time in 2000 years., Israel became “the homeland.” David Ben-Gurion pronounced the words “We hereby proclaim the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine, to be called Israel.” She again defined her permanence in 1967 at the close of the Six day War. Out of the ashes, and from dry bones, she rose to proclaim herself whole ... I believe we should take Biblical prophecy seriously, prepare for an end to these secular conflicts, and ready ourselves for the rapture of the church universal.

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Prophecy of Isaiah II Isaiah 14:12-15 Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground. You said to yourself: "I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the [gods'] assembly, in the remotest parts of the North. I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit.

Satan: even though we know that the context is Babylon, and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;shining morning starâ&#x20AC;? is the person of King Nebuchadnezzar, it is pretty obvious that the reference also clearly points to the fall of Lucifer, the angel who was light bearer and the most beautiful. The comparison is hard to dismiss for good reason. The consequence of pitting oneself against God has severe and lasting consequences .

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Prophecy of Isaiah III Isaiah14:24-27 The Lord of Hosts has sworn: As I have planned, so it will be; as I have purposed it, so it will happen. I will break Assyria in My land; I will tread him down on My mountain. Then his yoke will be taken from them, and his burden will be removed from their shoulders. This is the plan prepared for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out against all the nations. The Lord of Hosts Himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way? It is His hand that is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

Assyria (Syria): whenever you read this meditation know that my thoughts reflect the destruction of Syria culminating in 2016 â&#x20AC;Ś a result of the Arab Spring and the terror spread by ISIS like a modern-day plague of locusts. While we do not completely understand why there must be so much destruction; why there have to be so many refugees fleeing the country, displaced and in fear for their lives, we can take some solace in knowing that God has a plan that included this from the beginning. All of this will fulfill prophecy and glorify God before it concludes â&#x20AC;Ś before Jesus returns for His bride, the church.

The destruction has begun. What was built in defiance of God will fall.

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Prophecy of Isaiah IV Isaiah 16:5 Then in the tent of David a throne will be established by faithful love. A judge who seeks what is right and is quick to execute justice will sit on the throne forever.

Jesus Christ: Merciful Savior slow to anger, but strong to defend!

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Predestined

Romans 8:29â&#x20AC;&#x201C;30 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Here is the method for those drawn to Christ and accepting of His Lordship: God knows everything God has a plan God knows His children by name God wants conformity to the cross God has a model for that conformity: Jesus God calls His children to Him by name God justifies His children Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children are a royal priesthood God will be known by His children The children of Light and the children of darkness will be separated at the rapture God has a masterplan.

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Useless idols Jeremiah10:5 Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them for they can do no harm and they cannot do any good.

The imagery in Jeremiah’s prophecy is second to none. It is clear that any idols, any gods, and any foul spirits have no spiritual value, and should not be honored or worshipped. They are “like scarecrows in a cucumber patch.” They cannot harm and they can do no earthly good … they are, in fact, totally useless. The most foolish among us who worship God are wiser than the most intelligent pagan.

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The belly of a fish Jonah 2:1-2 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish: I called to the Lord in my distress, and He answered me. I cried out for help in the belly of Sheol; You heard my voice.

What is your place of distress, your “inside of the fish” or “belly of the dead?” Do you feel swallowed up by your life and all that is required of you? Are you overloaded with information, some useful, most useless? Do you feel trapped inside a life you cannot find your way out of; do you cry out from a place of life that feels more like hell itself? Pray and God will come, but leave the door open wide and be willing to accept God on His terms. He is a big God, bigger than fishes and death itself.

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God’s work is complete Amos 6:11 For the Lord commands: The large house will be smashed to pieces, and the small house to rubble.

What causes me discomfort is how Amos begins the chapter: Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and to those who feel secure on the hill [of Samaria] … I realize that I am taking a very specific view, no doubt out of context, but it struck me that we could substitute a few key words and we have a message for our times … Woe to those who are at ease [in America] and to those who feel secure on the hill [of Washington D.C.] …

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Renewal Jeremiah4:3–4 For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; do not sow among the thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish [it] because of your evil deeds

The image of broken ground evokes planting for renewal or revival. Atoning for their rebellion is the only way the men of Judah and Jerusalem could possibly appease the Lord. He is looking for action, not simply words that are hollow falling like ashes to the ground. When God’s people worship other gods their hearts grow hard toward their one true love. To make the soil of the heart fertile again it must be dug up, broken, the rocks removed and tares uprooted. Spiritual nourishment and obedient care must also be included if the soil of one’s heart it to again bear fruit.

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Who? Romans 8:31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

This is all we need to go out assured, covered and fearless. And by fearless, I do not mean foolish. I mean that we go in the footsteps of our Lord who has already blazed the trail, born the burden and felt the pain. That is our assurance! Now, whom shall we fear ,and who is against us that is bigger than our GOD?

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Firstfruits Nehemiah 10:37 We will bring a loaf from our first batch of dough to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the firstfruits of our grain offerings, of every fruit tree, and of the new wine and oil. A tenth of our land's produce from our lands belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns.

A tenth of what? A tenth of increase, generally related to various harvests (grains, wine and oils), processing and butchering. This relates to a man’s very substance or material wealth. It is not to be ill-gotten or by fraud. It is not meant to diminish personal prosperity. Generally it was not strictly monetary as exchange was often done by bartering, not by cash for goods as we practice it. What is a freewill offering? These are things given freely above and beyond the requirements of the Law. What is a personal contribution? This would appear to be another way of saying freewill or any giving above and beyond. What is a dedicated thing? Things consecrated or blessed and purified for sacred use. Some portion of these things, by Law, were freed up as “second tithes” to be used for food for priests, not just sacrifice for atonement. What is a first fruit? It is exactly what it suggests: the first of the harvest, fruits, grains, new wine and olive oil … generally the best and most abundant. Is Tithing in the Ten Commandments? No. Under the New Covenant Jesus says to “Love your God and love your neighbor.”

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Rich young man Matthew19:20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;22 "I have kept all these," the young man told Him. "What do I still lack?" "If you want to be perfect," Jesus said to him, "go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Jesus wept ...

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The camel and the eye of the needle Matthew19:23-26 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "I assure you: It is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, "Then who can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Following up on the conversation with the rich young man, the Disciples who were evidently within earshot, now wondered who could make it to glory if such a righteous person could not. Who? Me? Yes! You!

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Not extortion 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not an extortion. Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart--not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

God is not extorting us and neither should church leadership. Preachers and other leadership should be honest about the nature of giving, lay out the practical needs in a cash-based culture, and find ways that the community can survive without demanding a set monetary percentage from the congregation. Be creative; find ways for members to serve that utilize spiritual gifts as well as their resources; connect reaping and sowing in concrete terms, and be an example of joyful giving by illustrating it as an act of obedience.

Never tell only the story you want to tell, sowing the seeds of guilt; tell the whole story of Biblical giving, the origin of the tithe in Genesis, and most certainly how the Acts 2 church behaved. Giving must be its own reward.

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Alpha and Omega Revelation 22:12-13 " "Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

The end is near, the One who holds the beginning and the ending in His hands is right around the corner â&#x20AC;Ś about to enter our world for the second time. Are you prepared? It will be quick and I doubt that you or I can count on a deathbed confession to save our bacon!

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Genealogy and the hand of God

Ruth 2:1-3 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side named Boaz. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech's family. Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, "Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone who allows me to?" Naomi answered her, "Go ahead, my daughter." So Ruth left and entered the field to gather [grain] behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech's family.

The story of Ruth is one of humbling and service followed by the recognition and love of a benefactor. In this case the benefactor was Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law. He is named in the genealogy of Jesus by way of Jesse and King David. Obed, the son of Ruth and Boaz, was the grandfather of King David. Ruth is a complex story of life under the Law for a foreigner in a land that despised her and her people. And yet she was redeemed. Ruth’s story hinges upon a technicality of the Law of inheritance … one that illustrates how God does brings good out of the complexities of our lives, out of what may appear to be an impossible situation. For man these things are impossible, but for God all things are possible.

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Cycle of rebellion Judges 2:10-12 That whole generation also died, and the next generation forgot the LORD and what he had done for Israel. Then the people of Israel sinned against the LORD and began to serve the Baals. They stopped worshipping the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the God who had brought them out of Egypt, and they began to worship other gods, the gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and made the LORD angry.

The timeline for Judges is roughly between 1380 and 1050 B.C. The period began after Joshua had died, Mosaic leadership declined, and Egypt was all but forgotten as the Hebrews were settling into Canaan. The narrative is built around a cycle of spiritual rebellion by God’s people, judgment by Him, the peoples’ cry for help, and the Lord’s response of raising up Judges to deliver them. Much of the judgment that came to the Hebrews was in the form of military attack rather than famine or sickness. Evidently this form of attack had a more profound effect on their sense of well-being, and jolted them out of their pagan ways for a season.

God in His mercy sent 12 of these rescuing Judges whose duration of leadership lasted for as few as 6 years, and as many as 80 years. In similar fashion we have fallen away, begun to serve Baals, and are being jolted back to reality by acts of terror and economic decline. God is preparing for His Son’s return. Who are judges in our modern day culture? Who are our prophets?

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Foolishness? 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.*

Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish? Christ’s message is founded on such basic principles that we often overlook their potential. We gloss right over the obvious. He said that we are to “Love God with all our being and love our neighbors as we would want to be loved” … that if we adhere to these basics, then the right behaviors and consequences occur naturally. The framework of this approach is so profound, yet so brilliantly simple, that it actually seems too good to be true. It is not! Christ has stumped the experts since day one The more avidly the philosophers and scholars debate His existence, the more absurd the debate becomes. Accept Him, there is no need to debate or intellectualize Him.

*What was written can be found in Isaiah 29:14

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You will not see them again

Exodus 14:13 But Moses said to the people, " Don't be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD's salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again ...â&#x20AC;?

Israelites were not building pyramids for the Pharaoh; but it is good bet that they were being worked in the Land of Goshen where granaries and storage facilities were located. The chosen people had multiplied and were by then considered a large non-indigenous population of potential consequence. They were probably segregated and put to work in the years following the reign of Joseph to reduce the potential for a grassroots rebellion. Are you and I free even while we toil at our jobs, or engage in serving our communities, churches and clubs? I would say that we are truly free if we are freed in God no matter where we are or what we are doing. We are free because in God there is hope and hope is never lost in Him.

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What makes Jesus different?

Matthew 4:23 Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Records show that Jesus was not the only one healing people in the ancient world. So what made Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work noteworthy? What was it that gave Him the staying power and historical significance? Jesus was not performing magic; he was offering holistic healing that came from God, not spirits or personal charisma. The other aspect was this: Jesus did not take credit for the healing nor did He use it for personal gain. Even today what differentiates a healer from a charlatan is often the expectation of personal prosperity. And then, there is the wellness of the spirit that accompanied Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; healing. We see that in the healing of the madman in the tombs. Again, today we can tell the difference between healing and magic because true healing ultimately focuses on the condition of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirit and glorifies God in the name of Jesus Christ. The truth never changes ...

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Vision of the end Daniel 12:9â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13 He said, "Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days. But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, then rise to your destiny at the end of the days."

So, no matter the signs or the season, the wicked will continue to be wicked. Most of us would like to believe that once it becomes obvious that God is who He says He is, and that His prophets are tracking as foretold, that there would be a wholesale change in behavior! But, such is not the case. The real burden to remain string in the Lord will be upon the believer and the convert. The wicked have made their choice and they are sticking to it come â&#x20AC;&#x153;hell or high water.â&#x20AC;? Saving the wicked is a grand idea, but in these times supporting the believer is numero uno!

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Yeast of the Pharisees Matthew16:5-8 & 11-12 When the disciples reached the other shore, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus told them, "Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." And they discussed among themselves, "We didn't bring any bread!" "Aware of this, Jesus said, "You of little faith! Why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread? ... Why is it you don't understand that when I told you, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,' it wasn't about bread?" Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the yeast in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Watch out for false doctrine. Jesus made it clear that we can often tell what is coming our way if we have visible signs (like the weather) but that it is harder to be sure how to prepare ourselves when we do not have visible indicators. Such is the case with false doctrine. Like yeast that may have gone bad and will not rise. Adding false doctrine to our lives has a similar effect: our expectations are unmet and we are disappointed. It would be like professing to be Christians but leaving Jesus out of our theology. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about bread!

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Parable of the yeast Matthew 13:33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds of flour until it spread through all of it."

In this parable yeast is a positive element added to flour to create a much needed and relied upon food. This is what Jesus wanted the Disciples to understand, but because He used figures of speech, His message was often misunderstood, especially when the metaphor could be used with either a positive or negative connotation. Our faith and passion, like yeast, can have both positive and negative consequences if added incorrectly to the recipe of our faith journey. The bread we bake as believers will be consumed by others, not just by you and me. And, unleavened and leavened bread have different purposes. One is for daily use and the other is for sacred use. Today we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appreciate a hearty sandwich constructed using unleavened bread (unless we ordered a quesadilla), nor would we expect Passover or Seder to be celebrated using leavened bread. We can be the yeast in a world that is 50lbs of flour. We can make it rise ...

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Yeast and firstfruits Leviticus 23:17-18 Bring two loaves of bread from your settlements as a presentation offering, each of them made from four quarts of fine flour, baked with yeast, as firstfruits to the LORD. You are to present with the bread seven unblemished male lambs a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, a fire offering of a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Unleavened bread is most often associated with Passover and the haste required of those exiting Egypt.

Exodus 12:39 The people baked the dough they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves, since it had no yeast; for when they had been driven out of Egypt they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves.

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Bookends Hebrews 1:1-3 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Everything is about Jesus Christ. He is the beginning and the end and everything in between. That’s what God tells us in this passage. (Open your Bible and read John 1:1-3 as companion Scripture: they are bookends) This is a compact version or a simple creed. It is what we believe as Christ-followers. Christ and Christ alone now sits at God’s right hand as judge in the fullness of His mercy and grace. We are told that while Jesus was brought “low” He now is lifted “high.” He knows how it feels to be human and to be God, and this is why He understands us so well … why He loves us. Jesus had to die on the cross to sit down at God’s right hand. Our salvation could only have happened if Jesus suffered as a human being and was resurrected bodily ... a final sacrifice that overcame sin and death once and for all. Resurrection means to be brought back to life from death. Jesus’ physical body was raised up on the day we celebrate as Easter, a Sunday, the third day.

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Not afraid Joshua 1:6-9 " Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

What are Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instructions for Joshua? What are the rewards God promises to provide? Instructions: Be strong and courageous Do not be afraid or discouraged.. Carefully observe the whole instruction. Do not turn from [it] to the right or the left. [The book of instruction] must not depart from your mouth, and You are to recite [it] day and night.

Outcomes: I [God] swore to provide an inheritance to their [Hebrew peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] fathers. You will have success wherever you go. You will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ..

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Good as His Word Acts 1:4-5 While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promise. "This," He said, "is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Not only is Jesus as good as His word, He is the Word. Christ is referring, in this particular passage, to the day of Pentecost. Our God takes a bunch of confused, fearful, men and women, and transforms them into passionate risk-takers. In this passage Christ is keeping His promise by reminding the followers of His own baptism by His cousin, John the Baptist; and He is affirming what John, the beloved disciple, tells us about this journey we are on being a spiritual one. Christ also specifically references the impending gift of God’s Holy Spirit … One who will be provided to guide and counsel us as members of the body we call the Church. The Church is Jesus Christ’s body on earth until He returns.

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About to disappear Hebrews 8:6–7 & 13 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, no opportunity would have been sought for a second one. By saying, a new covenant, He has declared that the first is old. And what is old and aging is about to disappear.

What is old and aging was about to disappear, and it has—leaving the new out front to lead, stronger in its newfound grace, and ready for a fight! This warfare is not bloody fists and swollen lips, but a resistant and revolutionary determination which defies the enemy to take “one more step” against the church! Jesus has a superior ministry, a better covenant and a better promise. The battle lines are drawn and Jesus is already declared victor, a title He shares with the believer.

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Sounds familiar Hosea 4:2 Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

We would like to believe that somehow either through civilization or technology, we are better, more refined now. But some character traits remain with us no matter how much changes on the surface. On the outside we look pretty good. On the inside we remain unclean â&#x20AC;Ś much as we have always been.. We lost our moral compass so long ago, and as a result new blood is being spilled every day. This is prophecy; and while it may pertain to a specific time and place in the past, all prophecy has more than one layer. I believe it is more than ample evidence that we are closing in on the end of days. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just one prophetic utterance, but many, that create a confluence that speaks to a greater truth â&#x20AC;Ś one that is eminent and grand in its scope, and in its finality.

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David was stressed Psalm 22:14-21 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me. They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing. But You, Lord, don't be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my very life from the power of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the lion!

This sounds like the complete textbook … a laundry list of the things that ail us humans … from the environmental to the physical to the emotional to the spiritual: fatigue, being over-extended, depression, arthritis, heartache, heart disease, fear, anxiety, gambling, gangs, persecution, paranoia, crucifixion, starvation, theft, dehydration, and more, I am sure. Point is … none of this is new, and God can handle it separately or together. He is a good God; He is a big God!

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The turning away Jude 1:4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;6 For certain men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, though you know all these things: the Lord, having first of all saved a people out of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe; and He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling.

These men are not men at all, but dark angels who pose as men (demons and antichrists). They come to misdirect, misinform and mislead â&#x20AC;Ś to be promiscuous in the faith.

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Nineveh overthrown in 40 days? Jonah 3:8-10 Furthermore, both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth, and everyone must call out earnestly to God. Each must turn from his evil ways and from the violence he is doing. Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish. Then God saw their actions-that they had turned from their evil ways -so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it.

We know that God’s prophecy can be overturned if those who are prophesied against respond to Him. It means that we not necessarily doomed “by our fate.” We have every opportunity to repent. Our own lives as believers indicates this: we chose to heed God’s warning and our path to destruction was re-routed to heaven, a place of eternal refuge and sanctuary. However, we like Jonah, sometimes want to see others get what we think they deserve. It makes us feel privileged and special. We do not want others to be special. It takes away our distinction as God’s chosen people. We have all taken secret joy in seeing outsiders “getting what is coming to them.” For this we should repent and seek forgiveness, but we must not heap burning coals on our own heads.

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Why are you angry?

Jonah 4:1-4 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. He prayed to the Lord: "Please, Lord, isn't this what I said while I was still in my own country? That's why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from [sending] disaster. And now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." The Lord asked, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

Truth is, Jonah secretly wanted the Ninevites to be punished. He thought they deserved it because they were pagans and they were his enemies. God had other plans. God, unlike us, is far more merciful and consistently just. Have you ever wanted someone who wronged you to get what you think they deserved? Of course you have â&#x20AC;Ś so have I. They problem with that line of thinking is that we get to be prosecuting attorney, judge and jury. We are just not capable of handling that kind of responsibility with mercy and righteousness. We get caught up in wrath and outrage. We are not objective in any sense of the word. A prophet would have to be an upright individual with a pure heart and nerves of steel! Not many qualify ...

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Do You care more about a plant than 120,000 people? Jonah 4:9-11 Then God asked Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" "[Yes,]" he replied. "It is right. I'm angry enough to die!" So the Lord said, "You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night. Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?"

Have you ever been “angry enough to die” like Jonah said? What was it that brought you to a place of unbearable anger? Was it because of some thing you had no control over in the first place; or was it some one who disappointed you?

This is twice that God has asked Jonah if it is right to be angry! Jonah thinks that it is ok to have a righteous anger , especially at people who are not Hebrews … who undoubtedly deserve to be punished. He has far more sympathy for a plant than for thousands of people who do not yet know God. I know that all of us have found ourselves far more outraged at the loss of a possession than at the loss of a life, especially the life of an individual who does not share our values. Are our values misplaced?

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Do the right thing Colossians 3:18-24 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and don't become bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won't become discouraged. Slaves, obey your human masters in everything; don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord--you serve the Lord Christ.

Honor the Lord and all of the crazy puzzle pieces of our lives will begin to fall into place. If we submit to God, and to one another, we will honor Him and one another. When we obey our Father, and do not intentionally exasperate one another, things go easier.

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Not shaken Hebrews 12:28â&#x20AC;&#x201C;29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.

As believers our eternity is secure in Jesus Christ. Therefore, since it cannot be shaken loose or taken from us, we might decide to go fearlessly into areas of the unknown or into areas of ministry that create personal discomfort. When we have an anchor the stormy seas are far less treacherous; when we have a rock upon which to cling, we are far less concerned about being dashed against it; when we have a mighty God we are far less threatened by the forces we once considered mighty. We are neither shaken nor stirred â&#x20AC;Ś we are unbreakable ...

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The forgotton Way 2 John 1:7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves so that you don't lose what we have worked for, but you may receive a full reward. Anyone who does not remain in the teaching about Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works.

These are those times. Our whole culture is deceptive and so willing to be deceived. As it stands, Jesus is now the most forgotten way, even though He tells is in no uncertain terms that He is â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Way, the Truth and the Life.â&#x20AC;? As we watched the Las Vegas shooting play out in real time on TV it became clear that in its aftermath the real clergy in out post-Christian culture are the news anchors and not the pastor or the priest.

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The power of God Jeremiah4:23-26 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty. [I looked] to the heavens, and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills shook. I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the sky had fled. I looked, and the fertile field was a wilderness. All its cities were torn down because of the Lord and His burning anger.

The time has arrived. I would say that the prophecy of Jeremiah is reaching its fullness in our lifetimes. Of course I cannot say when the end will come, but the “if” is a foregone conclusion. Keep in mind that prophecies often have multiple layers of context: past, present and what is to come. That is why these Scriptures speak so specifically into Jeremiah’s time and to our own.

And sometimes it is not an actual event that is prophesied, but the parable or metaphor that resonates. This kind of prophecy resonates with the Spirit … within us and all around us. The kingdom vibrates with truth and authenticity!

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I will gather all nations Joel 3:1-3 Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there because of My people, My inheritance Israel. The nations have scattered the Israelites in foreign countries and divided up My land. They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.

We are already there! We have been there since 1948 â&#x20AC;Ś May 14th to be exact. The nations are constantly attending to whatever is happening in Israel and in the Middle East. Her status, while contested, is no longer a question mark on an historical timeline. Her fortunes are restored as prophesied and the nations are gathered over her. The point of all this focus on prophecy is not to create fear but to articulate the accuracy and timeliness of their words. Heed them â&#x20AC;Ś The Messiah is near.

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What can man do? Hebrews 13:1-6 Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Man can do nothing; but beware the One who can destroy the body and the soul!

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Children of grace 1 John 3:4–7 Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law. You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. Everyone who remains in Him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.

While the law is not the final judgment of the believer, it is clear that if we violate the law we are probably sinning, as well. I am aware that there are times when violating certain laws may be the right (and righteous) thing to do, but I submit that these are the exceptions and not the rule! If we are in Christ our sin is taken away, and no longer defines us … and yet … because we are not perfected, we continue to sin. This brings us once again, face to face, with the unpleasant reality of laws.

Laws are instituted by God for the purpose of order. Order, in and of itself is a good thing, however, is not enough! We need Jesus (who is more than enough) so that our inclination is right, and the law no longer serves to condemn!

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He’s crazy and demon possessed John 10:17–21 This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life that I may take it up again. " No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father." Again a division took place among the Jews because of these words. Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and He's crazy! Why do you listen to Him?" Others were saying, "These aren't the words of someone demonpossessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

Out of context, I am sure that Jesus sounds like He is insane. Out of the context of grace and being God, Jesus sounds delusional. And yet, when examined there is and was nothing to suggest that Jesus was anything but healthy in every respect. C.S. Lewis made the case that if Jesus was not God, of course His claims were ridiculous and completely mad. However, if He is God, and He is the awaited Messiah, then all that He says is not just fact, but absolute truth! Now, it comes down to a decision for or against Him. If He is not God then find another savior; but if He is God, then get closer than close, consume every word that He speaks because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life … His flesh is our food and His blood our drink!.

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On the third day Hosea 6:1-2 Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn [us], and He will heal us; He has wounded [us], and He will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence.

He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, Lord of lords God of all gods The Lion and the Lamb! Prophecy does not lie. It is the drumbeat that calls us, reminds us, convicts and comforts us! Our Lord has risen and He is alive!

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Without a leader Judges 2:18-19 Whenever the LORD gave Israel a leader, the LORD would help that leader and would save the people from their enemies as long as that leader lived. The LORD would have mercy on them because they groaned under their suffering and oppression. But when the leader died, the people would return to the old ways and behave worse than the previous generation. They would serve and worship other gods, and stubbornly continue their own evil ways.

Why did the Israelites so quickly turn their attention away from God and the leadership of His choosing? As leadership comes and goes will we remain faithful to God? For the Hebrews the short term benefits of pagan Canaanite worship was highly attractive. Not only could they satisfy the desires of the flesh, but they could do it while honoring the tenants of their faith. The best of both worlds, right? Worship of Yahweh, The One True God, does not always offer short term satisfaction. That frustrates us, especially in an age of â&#x20AC;&#x153;microwave magic.â&#x20AC;? He meets our needs but not always our desires, not immediately. And yet, if we give Him time both our needs and our desires are met in His fullness.

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Wine betrays Habakkuk 2:5 Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied.

As one who has been healed, I can say with certainty that wine betrays. But do not be so quick to condemn the wine. Habakkuk goes on to say that it is our arrogance that allows for the wine to do its damage. Our appetite for pleasure and self-absorption is seemingly endless. Like death itself, it appears that our capacity is without measure â&#x20AC;Ś no height, depth or breadth of it is enough. That is the death of us. Seek the life of us â&#x20AC;Ś seek Jesus Christ!

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Where he lies Psalm 41:1-3 Happy is one who cares for the poor; the Lord will save him in a day of adversity. The Lord will keep him and preserve him; he will be blessed in the land. You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed; You will heal him on the bed where he lies.

God will heal us wherever we are. We will be blessed with protection and grace. And â&#x20AC;Ś just so we do not get all wrapped up in works, the command isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to save every poor person, which is an impossibility, but to take us out of ourselves. It is only then that we can begin to see God, self and others in a new light, the Light which is Christ. Even the darkness of self cannot separate us from the love of Jesus, if but take a single step. The Psalmist knew that when we are closed off we are unhealthy, but when we reach out we begin to heal. God never asks to do something impractical or unproven. The reason we will be blessed in the land is because we have made the land a little better and our enemies have new respect for us.

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Everlasting to everlasting Psalm 41:11-13 By this I know that You delight in me: my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. You supported me because of my integrity and set me in Your presence forever. May the Lord, the God of Israel, be praised from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.

Lord God, we thank You and praise You for your mighty presence, Your unending favor and Your delight in us. We know full well that we deserve none of this, and yet, You have come to our rescue once again just in the nick of time! No weapon formed against us, no enemy towering over us, and no injury to us can separate us from You as children of God Most High. You, Lord are from beginning to end, from beyond the east to beyond the west, and everlasting to everlasting. You reign! Amen.

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Called like Aaron Hebrews 5:1-4 For every high priest taken from men is appointed in service to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this, he must make a sin offering for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Priests are appointed by the Holy Spirit. No man can call another man to service, but God! Why, you ask? Because he cannot be any man; he must know Jesus well, and contain the Spirit of God Himself. He must be able to love and to teach those who do not know a Savior.

He must be able to offer up, out of his weakness, confession and assurance. No one can do this unless, like Aaron, they are called by God!

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Testify against Me! Micah 6:1-3 Now listen to what the Lord is saying: Rise, plead [your] case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Listen to the Lord's lawsuit, you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, because the Lord has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel. My people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Testify against Me!

God had a case against Israel and, if not for Jesus, He would have a case against us, as well! God asks, in exasperation, presumably, what has He done to drive His people away? He has made complete His prophecy, provision, and protection. Yet even that was (and is) not enough it seems. What does it take to satisfy the flesh … the soul … of man? The rocks cry out and the mountains will testify against the unbeliever! Worship in the high places and the high places will call you out … because … God created the high places, too ...

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He is his brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; keeper Genesis 47:1-4 So Joseph went and informed Pharaoh: "My father and my brothers, with their sheep and cattle and all that they have, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in the land of Goshen." He took five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh asked his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants, both we and our fathers, are shepherds." Then they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live in the land for a while because there is no grazing land for your servants' sheep, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please let your servants settle in the land of Goshen."

After all that Joseph had been through he continued to look after his brothers and his father. Joseph went well beyond simply being a brother and took it upon himself to be his brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; keeper. If he were a less Godly man he might have sent them off with a little more than enough, and bade them farewell; but he did much more. He presented his estranged family to Pharaoh, found favor at the highest level, and established protection until the famine subsided. A brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keeper holds no grudges ...

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When was time complete? Galatians 4:1-7 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father.

In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, " Abba , Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Time was complete when Jesus said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is finished,â&#x20AC;? on the cross. Everything else is prelude or epilogue ...

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Remember mercy Habakkuk 3:2 Lord, I have heard the report about You; Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds. Revive Your work in these years; make it known in these years. In Your wrath remember mercy!

Lord, I have heard the reports about You â&#x20AC;Ś and they are all true! Lord, I stand in awe of You; Lord, Your deeds are beyond compare; Lord, revive Your work in this time; Lord, make Yourself known today â&#x20AC;Ś do not tarry; Lord, in Christ you temper Your wrath with mercy and grace! Lord come! Amen (+)

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Children of the free woman Galatians 4:28â&#x20AC;&#x201C;31 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the Scripture say? Throw out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never inherit with the son of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

This is a reference to Isaac and his mother Sarah. Remember that the two children of Abraham, those of note, are Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother was Hagar and she was a maidservant, a slave. Because we were born out of a covenant established by God through a free woman, we are also free. We are slaves only to Christ to whom we are bound in grace and mercy and not by cuffs, manacles or irons ...

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No favorites? Acts 10:34-36 Then Peter began to speak: "In truth, I understand that God doesn't show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. He sent the message to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all.

If Peter can break free from his religiosity, and his well-publicized failures, then surely we can be set free, as well. Peter is not above us. In this way, in the kingdom, there are no favorites, only the favored. Being a favorite is the construct of man, while favor is conferred by God alone. This way no man may boast or see himself above another. Who are the new sons of Israel? Why, we are of course! Go out a be a proclaimer!

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It is good 1 Timothy 4:4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8 For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

God said it is good and it is good. I am convinced that God still sees the good because He is literally looking through Jesus â&#x20AC;Ś as such God is blind to the evil â&#x20AC;Ś blind in grace but not unaware! What is the difference and what should you stay away from? Irreverent and silly myths. Stick to the truth found in Holy Scripture, and to the discernment of truth which is found within your faith community. Also, seek out and adhere to the words of those who are wise, and those who have Spiritual authority. You know them; your heart knows them ...

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1000 years completed Revelation 20:7-10 When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation is a very complex, and sometimes murky, prophecy. It may appear cyclical, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t jive with the rest of the Gospel narrative. Here are the key points:

1000 years of peace completed Satan is released from prison and deceives once again Satan gathers the nations, readying for battle The nations surround the New Jerusalem God sends fire to consume them Satan thrown into the lake of Sulphur and fire The beast and false prophet are already there There will be torment day and night for the adversary and his cohorts. What this proves is that Satan is unrepentant, and will finally be consigned to his personal torment from which there is no escape.

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Prophecy Revelation 11:1-2 Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: "Go and measure God's sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don't measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

View your communities and your churches, measure them, and it will be clear those who are there to worship “in the sanctuary and at the altar,” and those who are merely attending or “in the courtyard.” Revelation tells us that this is the natural order. My study Bible says that there will be persecution … that those within will be protected, while those in the courtyard will endure great suffering. Be in the sanctuary; be protected.

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A new way Romans 6:1-4 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

We are baptized into a new way of living. It sounds at first read like we should never sin again because we are in Christ â&#x20AC;Ś but we know that it is not possible this side of glory. So what gives?

We walk in a new way, indeed, but we are still sinners. So what is the difference between today and yesterday? The difference is this: we sin, but we are no longer comfortable in it. We know Jesus, we cannot un-know Him. He knows us and has taken up residence in our hearts. We cannot ever go back to the old ways without heartbreak. That is the difference.

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It is the same for us all Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 Indeed, I took all this to heart and explained it all: the righteous, the wise, and their works are in God's hands. People don't know whether [to expect] love or hate. Everything lies ahead of them. Everything is the same for everyone: there is one fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner, as for the one who takes an oath, so for the one who fears an oath.

This is a good place to demonstrate the continuity of Old and New Testament Scripture, specifically Mathew 5:45:

“... so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” It is the same for us all. Real change affects our lives now and for eternity. But, make no mistake … our decision-making also impacts the lives of countless others. Do you want to make a difference? Choose Christ! Choose the difference.

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Dangerous ones Jude 1:12-13 These are the ones who are like dangerous reefs at your love feasts. They feast with you, nurturing only themselves without fear. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn-fruitless, twice dead, pulled out by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever!

Jude does not hold back, and his imagery is timeless! Do you know any dangerous ones? They are probably those closest to you, even family. How will you know? They are waterless clouds; They are fruitless trees in late autumn; They are wild waves foaming with shameful deeds; They are wandering stars. Stay your course, for God reserves a special place for those who would torment the children of The Most High.

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Teach the truth 2Timothy 2:15-18 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. And their word will spread like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning the faith of some.

False doctrine is always a problem, and it is not accidental or a â&#x20AC;&#x153;misread.â&#x20AC;? Satan misdirects to cause Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children to stumble. Deviation and empty speech was an issue for Paul in the early church, and it remains an issue for modern Christians. False doctrine was probably pretty obvious in the early church; in modern times it is remains but is far more subtle. Beware of those who water down Biblical truth, discard grace for judgment, remove the Cross, or reduce Jesus to nothing more than a pile of flesh. You will know because your believing heart will ache. Run from them; do not walk!

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It is we who create the hardship Lamentations 3:1-5 I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God's wrath. He has driven me away and forced [me] to walk in darkness instead of light. Yes, He repeatedly turns His hand against me all day long. He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones. He has laid siege against me, encircling me with bitterness and hardship.

So, who is it that first drew Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrath and ire? It is not God but we who create the hell we sink into. Yes, Satan has a hand in it, but even he cannot do what we are against in the name of Jesus! Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judgment is the consequence of our own action, not the cause of it. God takes no joy in watching His children suffer. No good father ever does ...

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The purpose of genealogy Ruth 4:13-22 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Praise the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name be famous in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and took care of him. The neighbor women said, "A son has been born to Naomi," and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Now this is the genealogy of Perez:Perez fathered Hezron. Hezron fathered Ram, who fathered Amminadab. Amminadab fathered Nahshon,who fathered Salmon. Salmon fathered Boaz,who fathered Obed. And Obed fathered Jesse,who fathered David.

The whole point of Biblical genealogy is not to bore us to death, but to establish credibility through history. Of course, it also serves to point out the specific bloodline of Christ a real and verifiable. As such there is a pathway, a lineage; its purpose is to connect Old Testament prophecy with its fulfillment in New Testament gospel. This good news, or gospel in the flesh, is the person of Jesus Christ. Even in Ruth we see the bloodline pointing to David out of which emerges our Messiah, Jesus the Christ! The author of Ruth knew of the Messiah, but did not know Him, did not know His name.

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A thing we do not do well 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Rejoice Be encouraged Be of the same mind Be at peace Greet one other with a holy kiss … Can you manage more than one of these at a time? As we know, it is hard enough to locate even a modicum of peace in our everyday life, in a world full of discord; but how are we with adding rejoicing, encouragement or holy kisses to the mix? Even as Christ-followers we simply do not do “Christian” all that well. Embracing one, or even two of these attributes at any given time requires practice. We must increase our capacity , but how? Practice, practice, practice.

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The day is come: like lightening Nahum 2:3-4 The shields of his warriors are dyed red; the valiant men are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariot flash like fire on the day of its [battle] preparations, and the spears are brandished. The chariots dash madly through the streets; they rush around in the plazas. They look like torches; they dart back and forth like lightning.

Do our spirits flash like lightening? Do we don our full armor and brandish the sword of justice? Do we prepare for war against our personal strongholds and against the greater strongholds of injustice, prejudice, hatred and greed? Like Nineveh of old, a seemingly impregnable stronghold, those who openly rebel against God will be overrun and destroyed by their enemies. The time to flash like lightening, to shimmer like children of pure light, is now. Darkness hides in plain sight and must be struck down wherever it is found in the mighty name of Jesus!

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Hallelujah! Psalm 150:1-6 Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness. Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dance; Praise Him with flute and strings. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

Cry out! Praise our God! If you do not the rocks will!

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A meek and humble people Zepheniah 3:12-13 I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will trust in the name of Yahweh. The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or tell lies; a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. But they will pasture and lie down, with nothing to make [them] afraid.

That time has not yet come when Israel, and those grafted in, will do the right thing or stop lying. Because it will be a remnant that will display the humility and obedience that have so long eluded them, it will come after the rapture and during a time of tribulation.

This appears to prophesy the fate of the 144,000 who would be converted to Messianic Judaism in the second half of the Tribulation. I believe they will lay down their lives and be accorded the status of saints. With this example it is possible to get ahead of the curve, so to speak, and to honor this humble pathway in our own lifetime. We can be warrior saints by laying down our lives and taking them up again in the name of Jesus by .... Doing right Telling the truth Having no deceit Being unafraid Claiming Jesus as Lord and Savior.

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Rome Revelation17:7–9 Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again. "Here is the mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.

Surprised are we? John suggests in his Revelation that those who have chosen unbelief, or certain established beliefs, will be surprised to learn that the woman and the beast have lied to them. The location is Rome and what sits on it is now the Vatican. Is that the woman? Has the Vatican itself become the seat of the one world order? Revelation seems to suggest that the persecution of Jesus began there and will presumably end there. In John’s time this would have seemed inevitable and undeniable; in our time the Catholic Church has been installed in and on a place that would have probably horrified John. Remember that “the Church” is not a place ...

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Confession Hebrews 4:12-14 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account. Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens--Jesus the Son of God--let us hold fast to the confession.

The word of God opens up all things to His understanding â&#x20AC;Ś all things are exposed to His righteousness.

In His presence our souls are penetrated by His two-edged sword so that the ideas and thoughts of the heart might be judged according to His perfect will. God can open us like an oyster, if He desires, with a simple turn of His wrist. He is able to expose either our precious pearls or irritating grains of sand. In this way it is right to confess from the beginning rather than being pried open like a shellfish. God knows where we are on our journey and He knows our sin. We must give an account. In this way confession is good for the soul.

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The tongue James 3:7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10 For every creature--animal or bird, reptile or fish--is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way.

We have a pretty good idea what is going on in a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head and heart by what rolls off the tongue. If actions confirm, then we can be sure that what we see, and what we hear, are the essence and the substance of the person no matter how loudly he or she may protect or plead to the contrary. The Word of God is a two-edged sword as is the tongue of man. Both penetrate but only one is capable of doing harm.

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An open grave Psalm 5:7-9 But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You. Lord, lead me in Your righteousness, because of my adversaries; make Your way straight before me. For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.

Do not be deterred even though there may be those who are against you; even if there are individuals who do not believe you, we worship a God who believes us and knows the very condition of our hearts. If you are trying to do what is right, God in His incredible love, knows your heart and protects it with His own. On the other hand, if you are lying about your beliefs or intentions, God also knows that. We may be teased for the right reasons and loved for the wrong reasons, but God knows the truth. Jesus loves us not for who we are or what others may believe; He loves us for â&#x20AC;&#x153;whoseâ&#x20AC;? we are. We are His ...

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Peace to you John 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! Just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

"After saying this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

In Christ we are given a great commission and great power. As we know, in Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own words, this incredible power is transferred to the believer by Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own breath which contains the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not something we can see, but the evidence of it on a human being is similar to the effect the wind has on a tree. Peace, and forgiveness of sins are not only big deals, they are miracles. Jesus gives us the power to go out and perform miracles.

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A right time and procedure Ecclesiastes 8:6-8 For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man's troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen, because who can tell him what will happen?

No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; there is no furlough in battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape.

No one but God can tell what will happen â&#x20AC;Ś so true. But in our brief lives we gain a strong understanding of cause and effect. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Preacherâ&#x20AC;? paints what at first glace seems to be an existence wholly dependent upon fate and circumstance. And yet, as believers we know that his challenge is met by God Himself in Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us that He has authority over the winds (He causes storms to cease), that He has authority over death (He rose again to conquer death and sin), that we can indeed find peace (not by a furlough, but by embracing Jesus in the midst of battle), and that there is an escape from wickedness if we choose to move on (repentance in the Spirit by the blood of Christ on the cross). Ecclesiastes asks the questions which Jesus answers.

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What is faith? Hebrews 11:1–3 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by it our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.

This question either has been, or will be, tackled in every sermon and in every Bible study that ever was and ever will be. Preachers preach it, councils define it, and congregations work it out ... but in the end we are all left to come to terms with it in our private places. It goes like this: “am I being faithful?” What is it exactly? It is the reality of what is hoped for. (are you hopeful?) It is the proof of what cannot be seen. (what is your proof?) Through faith we know that God is God (do you believe this to be true?)

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Return to Me Malachi 3:7 "Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept [them]. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of Hosts.

Return to God and He will return to you. Truth is … God never went anywhere. In our returning to Him He has already returned to us. God is always there, was always there. As Jesus reassures us, “Where two or three are gathered in My name I am there with them.” The dynamic is this: where we gather in His name He was already there waiting. That is the intimate and healing nature of our God!

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High standards Romans 13:12-14 The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

I have a plan: Let’s discard the deeds of darkness; Let’s put on the armor of Light; Let’s walk with decency; Let’s not carouse or drink; Let’s not be sexually impure; Let’s not be quarrelsome or jealous ... Let’s put on Jesus Christ; Let’s not be tempted by the flesh. Sound like a plan? It’s God’s plan. Let’s do this!

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Crucfixion of the flesh Galatians 5:24-26 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

By our very belonging to Jesus, repentant and saved, we put to death the desires of the flesh. We do this every day. Are we successful every day? No, but in Christ the flesh will no longer get in the way of our salvation or worship. Jesus Christ conquered sin and death. We need to take it one step at a time. We deal with the reality of sin because we are not dead yet.

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Taste and see Psalm 34:4-8 I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard [him] and saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Yes, taste this new life and see that our God is a good and merciful God! I know for a fact that this life tastes a whole lot better than my old life tasted! How do I know? Because I cannot completely forget the taste of vomit. God rescued this dog from returning to its own vomit. Sounds really nasty and it is â&#x20AC;Ś truth is good but not always pretty.

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Can God speak in dreams? Job 33:14â&#x20AC;&#x201C;17 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber on [their] beds, He uncovers their ears at that time and terrifies them with warnings, in order to turn a person [from his] actions and suppress his pride.

How many times has God spoken to you and you have either not noticed or simply ignored Him? Has God found other ways of getting your attention? How? What is your story? Has he spoken to you in dreams; has he given you a special sign or vision? Have you acted on it or shared it with anyone? Has He uncovered your ears at a time when there was a message you needed to hear and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even in a sermon? God will persist but it is your job not to resist! He will not demolish a wall you have built without your consent and your help. Help Him!

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Returning to vomit 2Peter 2:20-22 For if, having escaped the world's impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, "a sow, after washing itself, wallows in the mud."

Well, what do you know â&#x20AC;Ś here is the passage on vomit! It is so important to be aware that Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truth prevails no matter how many authors and preachers have used and abused it!

God is consistent, practical and straight with us. His word reinforces itself and is aimed directly at the sinnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart. Thank Him for whatever it took to deliver you from going back and dining on the vomit of a past life. Believe it or not Satan has a special way of making vomit look like a T-bone. Do not be fooled!

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Nearer? James 5:8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.

He is near â&#x20AC;Ś can you feel it? This warning is not a metaphor or a confusing utterance; it is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

Can you feel it?

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One voice, one Spirit Romans 15:3-6 For even the Messiah did not please Himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me. For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice.

This, in my opinion, is the last great command, our greatest hope, as the end draws near: â&#x20AC;&#x153;May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Jesus Christ, so that you may glorify God the Father with a united mind and voice.â&#x20AC;? Take it like a medicine and give it like a balm ...

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Me and you Genesis16:4-6 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has looked down on me. May the Lord judge between me and you." Abram replied to Sarai, "Here, your slave is in your hands; do whatever you want with her." Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.

Have we ever off-loaded our responsibilities rather than making the difficult choices? Have you ever said, “it’s not my job” or “it’s above my pay grade?”

Abram (to become Abraham) certainly did that with Hagar, and it put her in a terrible predicament. Had Abram been obedient, and handled it like a man, I am convinced that his authority as a patriarch would have meant a great deal to a slave woman who was used and abused, having no civil power or standing. There are those times when we may not be able to alter an outcome completely or at all, but we can certainly lend credibility to our position, to the church, and bring glory to God ,if we do the right thing and accept our responsibility. How do you think this scenario would have turned out had Abram stepped up?

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Full of days and blessing the latter part Job 42:12-17 So the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the earlier. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named his first [daughter] Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch. No women as beautiful as Job's daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance with their brothers. Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. Then Job died, old and full of days.

We end this collection on a high note â&#x20AC;Ś one of redemption and fulfillment. Job was never in a losing position, no matter what his wife, his friends, or Satan, may have been thinking. And while Job could never regain what he had lost in his lifetime, he was blessed with ample return for his struggles. We must read this with new eyes ... eyes that see through the material gains (children, cattle, real estate, and money) and focus squarely on the treasures of our hearts. What are these treasures? They are Jesus crucified, died, buried and resurrected; salvation by grace; eternal life; hope in a hopeless place; peace that passes all understanding; agape love; a faith community and ____________________ ________________ & ________________.

Fill in your personal blessings and you will know the fullness of Job.

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Finally

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.

Consider your options â&#x20AC;Ś I have. We are either with Him or against Him; we either gather or we scatter. With Him means everything; without Him is less than nothing.

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Afterward I pray that this work has been, and will continue to be, a daily blessing. I trust that the individual devotions are both fresh and timeless in their language and in their content. Over the years it has taken to put this collection together I have grown â&#x20AC;Ś maybe not always detectably, but I have grown. I do hope that this is evident. The Scriptural selections are not necessarily sequential nor are they seasonal or categorical. You might ask why â&#x20AC;Ś and that is fair. The reason for this approach is to prove that no matter what is used or said, every thing, every utterance, does tie backward and forward to the person of Jesus Christ.

I am confident that these devotions will speak into your daily life no matter where you begin or end. God has no beginning or ending, and it appears that He likes it that way. I will take that as a nod to my effort, also. Thank you for reading, and please recommend Jesus to a friend, or preferably, an adversary. Always in the name of Jesus (+)

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