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The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
[Colossians :26-29 NKJV]
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
[Colossians :26-29 NKJV]
I don’t know about you, but the sight of a beautiful view - preferably across the sea - always fills me with The Lord’s promise and a sense of His unfathomable greatness. My mother always said that having been brought up on the coast she needed to be near the ocean and smell the salt tang and the ozone - I understand that. The elements in which we live out our days must have a profound affect on who we are. They place something within us that becomes us. There is an overwhelming wonder at the vastness of the ocean; an amazement at the grandeur of great mountains, and who is not transfixed by the rising or setting sun.
The word that most often springs to mind when faced with the beauty of God’s creation in nature is ‘glorious’. But I have often wondered, “what is glory?” The word is defined as “high renown or honour won by notable achievements” or as “magnificence or great beauty.” Scripturally it means “dignity, honour, praise or worship”, but none of these seem to do the word justice. No word or set of words brings that awe-inspiring flooding with passion that we get from the word itself.
Then we read what Paul says in Colossians: that God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory. Almighty God brought forth in great power that passionate emergence of His glory into the world. Christ within you. Knowing we have that life is what brings the eternal spring of hope to us - the hope that we also will be absorbed into His glory.
The word that most often springs to mind when faced with the beauty of God’s creation in nature is ‘glorious’. But I have often wondered, “what is glory?” The word is defined as “high renown or honour won by notable achievements” or as “magnificence or great beauty.” Scripturally it means “dignity, honour, praise or worship”, but none of these seem to do the word justice. No word or set of words brings that awe-inspiring flooding with passion that we get from the word itself.
Then we read what Paul says in Colossians: that God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory. Almighty God brought forth in great power that passionate emergence of His glory into the world. Christ within you. Knowing we have that life is what brings the eternal spring of hope to us - the hope that we also will be absorbed into His glory.
“Christ In Us, Our Hope of Glory”
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Tuesday 7th July 2020
Zeal to serve God may be, and very often is, an insistence on God’s proving that I am right.
Tuesday 7th July 2020
Zeal to serve God may be, and very often is, an insistence on God’s proving that I am right.
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And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ’
“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
[Numbers 6:2-27 NKJV]
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ’
“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
[Numbers 6:2-27 NKJV]
How many of us have studied The Book of Numbers. Only a few of us perhaps. Although I have read it, I confess that that I know little of it. However, my ignorance of this portion of scripture has inexplicably not robbed it of amazing truth.
Verses most of us know - even if unsure where they came from are what has become known as “The Priestly Blessing”. These words were given to Aaron by the Lord God Himself. These are words of great power and cannot be dismissed.
God says that this is the way to blessing. To have these words prayed over us is to bring us closer to God; in fact to bring us into the Kingdom. So today may we accept the blessing of The Lord over our lives to bring us His gift of peace.
Receive the blessing, but also be the blessing, so that the Holy Spirit May fill you and the blessing becomes a gift to others.
Verses most of us know - even if unsure where they came from are what has become known as “The Priestly Blessing”. These words were given to Aaron by the Lord God Himself. These are words of great power and cannot be dismissed.
God says that this is the way to blessing. To have these words prayed over us is to bring us closer to God; in fact to bring us into the Kingdom. So today may we accept the blessing of The Lord over our lives to bring us His gift of peace.
Receive the blessing, but also be the blessing, so that the Holy Spirit May fill you and the blessing becomes a gift to others.
“The Blessing” (Symphonic Version) — Passion City Church
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Sunday 5th July 2020
God’s order comes in the haphazard and never according to scheming and planning. God takes a great delight in breaking up our programmes.
Sunday 5th July 2020
God’s order comes in the haphazard and never according to scheming and planning. God takes a great delight in breaking up our programmes.
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Now the famine was severe in the land.
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”
But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’
[Genesis 43:1-3 NKJV]
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”
But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’
[Genesis 43:1-3 NKJV]
Have you ever been in a group of people; maybe at work, in church, on an outing, or at a party; anywhere that people gather, and have thought “There is someone missing?” Where is young Whatsisname?” There is a sense of incompleteness, a feeling that we cannot move on until young Whosit or Thingummy turns up.
The verses today are from Joseph’s story in Genesis. Joseph’s brothers have come before Joseph, who had become Pharaoh’s trusted High Steward, and yet they did not know who he was. They thought him dead. But Joseph knew them and realised that Benjamin, the youngest, was missing. Joseph refused to grant their request until his brothers were all present saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’
Reading this story again recently, I was struck by these words. The story can be seen on several levels, but never before had I seen that this expression is how The Lord views us His people. It is not His purpose to have one here and one there as He builds His church.
Our God has planned out exactly and to the letter, every name that will be a brother or sister in His fellowship, and He will not compromise. He will wait until ALL His chosen are gathered. It is His commitment to us; His promise that none shall be missing - not one sheep is going astray - His Church is not complete “unless your brother is with you”, and He Is endlessly patient. He is waiting for that brother. He could be waiting for you or me.
There is another aspect to God’s waiting. In Genesis, it was Benjamin who was awaited in the gathering. His name is translated as ‘son of the right hand’. Jesus Christ, the Son, now sits at the right hand of God. “unless your brother is with you” also expresses “unless Christ be in you”. He too, is your brother.
And the heading on the wall-hanging in the photo illustration above? It read “... with patience ... wait for The Lord”. He will deliver.
The verses today are from Joseph’s story in Genesis. Joseph’s brothers have come before Joseph, who had become Pharaoh’s trusted High Steward, and yet they did not know who he was. They thought him dead. But Joseph knew them and realised that Benjamin, the youngest, was missing. Joseph refused to grant their request until his brothers were all present saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’
Reading this story again recently, I was struck by these words. The story can be seen on several levels, but never before had I seen that this expression is how The Lord views us His people. It is not His purpose to have one here and one there as He builds His church.
Our God has planned out exactly and to the letter, every name that will be a brother or sister in His fellowship, and He will not compromise. He will wait until ALL His chosen are gathered. It is His commitment to us; His promise that none shall be missing - not one sheep is going astray - His Church is not complete “unless your brother is with you”, and He Is endlessly patient. He is waiting for that brother. He could be waiting for you or me.
There is another aspect to God’s waiting. In Genesis, it was Benjamin who was awaited in the gathering. His name is translated as ‘son of the right hand’. Jesus Christ, the Son, now sits at the right hand of God. “unless your brother is with you” also expresses “unless Christ be in you”. He too, is your brother.
And the heading on the wall-hanging in the photo illustration above? It read “... with patience ... wait for The Lord”. He will deliver.
“The Gathering” — Casey J
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Saturday 4th July 2020
Don’t let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.
Saturday 4th July 2020
Don’t let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.
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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
[1 John 2:15-17 NKJV]
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
[1 John 2:15-17 NKJV]
Sometimes The Lord sets your course for the day on an unexpected path. Friends arrived on our doorstep one sunny morning in October 2016. They had felt a leading to climb the ancient hill fort of Dunadd and pray for Argyll and Scotland.
So we did. We took communion using all we had with us - bottled water and oatcakes. We prayed and sang songs of praise and were lifted in The Spirit. We surrendered ourselves into His hands. When we do that, a confidence is built in us; a freedom found; a burden lifted. Thank you, Lord!
So we did. We took communion using all we had with us - bottled water and oatcakes. We prayed and sang songs of praise and were lifted in The Spirit. We surrendered ourselves into His hands. When we do that, a confidence is built in us; a freedom found; a burden lifted. Thank you, Lord!
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands
For it's only in your will that I am free
For it's only in your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands
For it's only in your will that I am free
For it's only in your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Songwriters: Anna B. Warner / William B. Bradbury
Jesus, All for Jesus lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
Jesus, All for Jesus lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
“Jesus, All For Jesus” - Robin Mark
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Friday 3rd July 2020
It requires the Almighty grace of God to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator.
Friday 3rd July 2020
It requires the Almighty grace of God to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator.
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For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
[1 Peter 2:20-24 KJV]
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
[1 Peter 2:20-24 KJV]
Listen to any child speak and it will not be long before an unguarded remark is made. Often we find it amusing. Why? Because the child has yet to learn to put a filter on the things said. The Bible makes it clear that guile, or deceit is centred on the things we say. If it is not spoken, we are not ‘flattering to deceive’
In the book of James we read, But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. [James 3:8-10 NKJV].
This is the heart of it. No man can tame the tongue. My tongue is unruly because I am unruly. Only Jesus ‘the man’ speaks clearly and without deceit. Only His voice can be trusted completely, and truth can only fully come through us if His Spirit be in us. His truth cannot offend or upset.
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
[Psalm32:1-2 KJV]
In the book of James we read, But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. [James 3:8-10 NKJV].
This is the heart of it. No man can tame the tongue. My tongue is unruly because I am unruly. Only Jesus ‘the man’ speaks clearly and without deceit. Only His voice can be trusted completely, and truth can only fully come through us if His Spirit be in us. His truth cannot offend or upset.
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
[Psalm32:1-2 KJV]
“Voice of Truth” - Casting Crowns
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Thursday 2nd July 2020
“I will give you rest” — not a reasonable explanation, but the staying power of knowing that I am unperplexed.
Thursday 2nd July 2020
“I will give you rest” — not a reasonable explanation, but the staying power of knowing that I am unperplexed.
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Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it.
For the stars of heaven and their constellations
Will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.
“I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir*.
[Isaiah 13:9-12 NKJV]
For the stars of heaven and their constellations
Will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.
“I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir*.
[Isaiah 13:9-12 NKJV]
Reading these verses made me realise afresh that God is fully cognisant of the jeopardy we are in at this time. His answer is the same today as it was in Isaiah’s time - I will punish the world for its evil - and His solution beautifully everlasting - I will make a man more rare (the KJV says ‘a man more precious’) than fine gold.
We do not think of our God as cruel, but to those - the wicked, the proud and the terrible - experiencing His wrath, He will seem the cruelest imaginable. God will see what we have made of His creation as if it were a mosaic - a fractured thing; a man-made distortion of His reality - and His desire as The Creator is to repair the damage, to see it restored to His original vision. And so God made ‘a man more precious’.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. [John 3:16 NKJV]
We do not think of our God as cruel, but to those - the wicked, the proud and the terrible - experiencing His wrath, He will seem the cruelest imaginable. God will see what we have made of His creation as if it were a mosaic - a fractured thing; a man-made distortion of His reality - and His desire as The Creator is to repair the damage, to see it restored to His original vision. And so God made ‘a man more precious’.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. [John 3:16 NKJV]
“Take My Hand, Precious Lord” - Elvis Presley
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Wednesday 1st July 2020
I have no right to ask God for miracles when my next duty stands neglected.
Wednesday 1st July 2020
I have no right to ask God for miracles when my next duty stands neglected.
* The golden wedge of Ophir - The word (כתם kethem) rendered 'wedge' means properly "gold;" yellow gold; what is hidden, precious, or hoarded; and is used only in poetry. It indicates nothing about the shape of the gold, as the word, wedge would seem to suppose. 'Ophir was a country to which the vessels of Solomon traded, and which was particularly distinguished for producing gold; but respecting its particular situation, there has been much discussion. The 'ships of Tarshish' sailed from Ezion-geber on the Red Sea, and went to Ophir.
[from ‘Barnes Notes on The Bible’]
[from ‘Barnes Notes on The Bible’]
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By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
[Hebrews 11:11-12 NKJV]
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
[Hebrews 11:11-12 NKJV]
Sand is often mentioned in scripture, and with a variety of meanings. We read of “sand in the sea” and “sand by the sea” and “sand of the sea”. Each has its own nuance and aspect. Sand was obviously a major thing in the desert lands of the Middle East.
We are looking at “sand by the sea” here. It is plain from the context that the ‘sand by the sea‘ is similar to, if not the same as ‘the stars in the sky’. In other words it refers to a great number, as we see in Genesis:
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
[Genesis 22:15-17 NKJV]
As noted above there are other types of sand - in the sea and of the sea, but there is also ‘desert sand’, and each has a relevance based on what The Lord is saying to us.
Without going into this in too much detail, while desert sand blinds you to the truth (as in a sandstorm), seashore sand is truth revealed; each grain aspires to be dry land or solid ground. In the words of the song “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
Returning to Abraham; his descendants were to be as the sand by the seashore - which is each of us who believe. Found in those descendants of Abraham is ‘the remnant’:
For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
[Isaiah 10:22 NKJV]
That remnant, which is The Lord’s chosen people, chosen before the beginning of time, are His special treasure ...
They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.”
[Deuteronomy 33:19 NKJV]
We are looking at “sand by the sea” here. It is plain from the context that the ‘sand by the sea‘ is similar to, if not the same as ‘the stars in the sky’. In other words it refers to a great number, as we see in Genesis:
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
[Genesis 22:15-17 NKJV]
As noted above there are other types of sand - in the sea and of the sea, but there is also ‘desert sand’, and each has a relevance based on what The Lord is saying to us.
Without going into this in too much detail, while desert sand blinds you to the truth (as in a sandstorm), seashore sand is truth revealed; each grain aspires to be dry land or solid ground. In the words of the song “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
Returning to Abraham; his descendants were to be as the sand by the seashore - which is each of us who believe. Found in those descendants of Abraham is ‘the remnant’:
For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
[Isaiah 10:22 NKJV]
That remnant, which is The Lord’s chosen people, chosen before the beginning of time, are His special treasure ...
They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.”
[Deuteronomy 33:19 NKJV]
“Lord You Have Come To The Seashore” - Tim Lewis
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Tuesday 30th June 2020
If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.
Tuesday 30th June 2020
If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.
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And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
[Luke 4:17-18 NKJV]
Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[Matthew 5:1-2 NKJV]
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
[Luke 4:17-18 NKJV]
Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[Matthew 5:1-2 NKJV]
Here is Jesus showing us that His Word - good for Isaiah, good centuries later for Jesus Himself, and good for us in today - is an eternal word, liberating us from present troubles and releasing us into the eternal now of His Kingdom. Jesus - as a young man, began His ministry by quoting Isaiah in the synagogue, but with an authority that came from His being ‘the anointed one’.
This blend of Isaiah 61 and Matthew reveals that His word does not change. Something to meditate upon.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the meek;
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
And a final word from Matthew 5: ...
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This blend of Isaiah 61 and Matthew reveals that His word does not change. Something to meditate upon.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the meek;
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
And a final word from Matthew 5: ...
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“The Beatitudes” - Robert Powell as Jesus, in Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth”.
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Monday 29th June 2020
Jesus said “Go ... and make disciples” (RV), not converts to your opinions.
Monday 29th June 2020
Jesus said “Go ... and make disciples” (RV), not converts to your opinions.
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Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”
So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour!”
[Esther 6:10-11 NKJV]
So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour!”
[Esther 6:10-11 NKJV]
The character of Haman in the Book of Esther is a ‘type’ for what scripture calls ‘the flesh’; the way we are when we are all out for self. In Esther 6 and 7 - with the destruction of Haman - that this nature in us will be put to death by coming before the King and serving Him. In 1 Samuel 2:30 we are told, But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honour Me I will honour,, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
In our reading Mordecai is honoured by the King - a man whom the King delights to honour - because of his servant’s heart. In John’s gospel we read:
But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.
[John 12:23-26 NKJV]
God will honour those who put themselves aside to serve Him. The King will honour him with the robe of righteousness (God’s covering) and set him on a horse (power of mastery over the flesh nature).
In our reading Mordecai is honoured by the King - a man whom the King delights to honour - because of his servant’s heart. In John’s gospel we read:
But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.
[John 12:23-26 NKJV]
God will honour those who put themselves aside to serve Him. The King will honour him with the robe of righteousness (God’s covering) and set him on a horse (power of mastery over the flesh nature).
Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.
Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
"Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.
[Psalm 35:26-28 NKJV]
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.
Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
"Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.
[Psalm 35:26-28 NKJV]
“Let There Be Glory and Honour and Praises” - Kent Henry
OSWALD CHAMBERS - RUN TODAY’S RACE
Sunday 28th June 2020
God engineers everything; wherever He puts us, our one great aim is to pour out a wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work. “Whatsoever thy hand finder to do, do it with thy might.”
Sunday 28th June 2020
God engineers everything; wherever He puts us, our one great aim is to pour out a wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work. “Whatsoever thy hand finder to do, do it with thy might.”
- Published on
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.”
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
[Isaiah 6:6-8 NKJV]
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
[Isaiah 6:6-8 NKJV]
There is a burning away of things that are in us before we are ready to be The Lord’s. Once that burning takes place then the fireworks happen. There is an awakening, an explosion within that is The Lord’s purpose.
Apostles are ‘sent ones’ and that really is what Isaiah was - sent of God. Are you or I sent? Maybe we would like to be, but most of us are not. We need not be concerned; The Lord has us where He wants us - just keep hearing. If we are called to service, He will speak.
Remember the five fold ministry - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. It is five-fold to show the grace of God to us, but pastors and teachers are really one ministry - and the most numerous.
Be content where the Lord has placed you; He will call on you for greater service when or if you are ready. Do not feel passed over if you are not called; for every service, large or small in our estimation, is of inestimable value in the kingdom of our Lord. He loves us all in a way we cannot comprehend. We will, when at the end, we are with Him.
It is enough - our Lord says so - that we say “Here am I! Send me.” But for how long ...
And He said, “Go, and tell this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
“Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate,
[Isaiah 6: 9-10 NKJV]
These are strange verses, but really we are being encouraged to persevere. It is a wonderful example of The Lord knowing our perverse nature. “ You don’t have to believe it; don’t understand if you don’t want to ... it doesn’t make it not so!”
Hang in there. God has it covered and He knows how it all works out. Whatever He has for you, just believe in it - even it you don’t know what it is yet! He will reveal it - and send you to it.
Apostles are ‘sent ones’ and that really is what Isaiah was - sent of God. Are you or I sent? Maybe we would like to be, but most of us are not. We need not be concerned; The Lord has us where He wants us - just keep hearing. If we are called to service, He will speak.
Remember the five fold ministry - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. It is five-fold to show the grace of God to us, but pastors and teachers are really one ministry - and the most numerous.
Be content where the Lord has placed you; He will call on you for greater service when or if you are ready. Do not feel passed over if you are not called; for every service, large or small in our estimation, is of inestimable value in the kingdom of our Lord. He loves us all in a way we cannot comprehend. We will, when at the end, we are with Him.
It is enough - our Lord says so - that we say “Here am I! Send me.” But for how long ...
And He said, “Go, and tell this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
“Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate,
[Isaiah 6: 9-10 NKJV]
These are strange verses, but really we are being encouraged to persevere. It is a wonderful example of The Lord knowing our perverse nature. “ You don’t have to believe it; don’t understand if you don’t want to ... it doesn’t make it not so!”
Hang in there. God has it covered and He knows how it all works out. Whatever He has for you, just believe in it - even it you don’t know what it is yet! He will reveal it - and send you to it.
“Here I Am, Lord”
OSWALD CHAMBERS - RUN TODAY’S RACE
Saturday 27th June 2020
The Bible characters fell on their strong points, never on their weak ones. “Kept by the power of God” - that is the only safeguard.
Saturday 27th June 2020
The Bible characters fell on their strong points, never on their weak ones. “Kept by the power of God” - that is the only safeguard.