God Resides in Praise

Grace and an abundance of peace, from the Father and our LORD Jesus Christ, What do we do as Christians when at times we feel perplexed at life’s stressful events and we perhaps feel uncertain? Often times we do not feel like praying, because of lack of energy.

This is a wonderful time to praise His Holy name the Bible declares, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”(Psalm 22:3) It is your praise that God will indeed “inhabit”.

According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary INHAB’IT is defined as (To live or dwell in; to occupy as a place of settled residence.) Wild beasts inhabit the forest; fishes inhabit the ocean, lakes and rivers; men inhabit cities and houses. It is the praise from your lips that your God will inhabit, God takes up residence and dwells with you, in your moments of turmoil.

The same God who dwells in eternity, will reside in your perplexing circumstances.
“Thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity” (Isaiah 57:15)
The result of your praise beloved is deliverance. Notice what is said right after Isreal praised our Father,  “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst “deliver” them.” (Psalm 22:3-4)

They trusted God, praised His name and they were delivered. This is precisely what our dear Jesus knew. He understood that it is the glorification in your praise, that will produce breakthrough. I pray beloved Saints of God, that we too, will honor God with the fruit of our lips and give Him the glory, the praise He deserves and as a result, Father will reside with you in your most vulnerable moments.

 

The Word of God Cannot be Quenched

Grace and peace from the Father and our LORD Jesus Christ, There have been many attempts to suppress the Word of God throughout history. Christians have been maliciously persecuted for the faith given to us by our Father in heaven.

Unbelievers have foolishly thought that they could snuff out the Living Word by the sword and fire, or other means of tortured, but the Bible declares, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

In A.D. 303 the Roman Emperor Diocletian issued an edict to destroy Christians and their Bible. The persecution that would follow were insurmountable and grievous. Over a burned and extinguished Bible, Diocletian built a monument on which he wrote these triumphant words, “Extincto nomene Christianorum” (the name Christian is extinguished). However some twenty-five years later, Diocletian was dead and the new Emperor Constantine commissioned fifty copies of the Bible to be prepared at government expense.

“Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)

In the year of our LORD 1776 a world renowned French philosopher by the name of Voltaire announced, “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker.” One hundred years later Voltaire was dead, and it is said that Voltaire’s house was used as a repository (storage) for Bibles by the Geneva Bible Society.

The first edition of Voltaire’s work sold for eleven cents in Paris, but the British government paid the Czar of Russian one-half million dollars for an ancient Bible manuscript.

“But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:25)

Let us remember that the Word of God has and will continue to endure from everlasting to everlasting despite opposition. Allow this to comfort you beloved of the Father and may you be blessed by the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Jesus Is Who the Bible Says He Is

Shalom beloved of God, There is a question about our LORD that many stumble on and I would love to shed some light on it by the grace of God if I may. Now the question is, “Why did JESUS tell His disciples many times NOT TO TELL OTHERS that HE was the MESSIAH? [See Matthew 16:20]

In Matthew 16:20 we read, “He (Jesus) commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.” Many people hold that Jesus told His disciples to be untruthful making our LORD out to be a liar. This is simply a huge error in their theology since we should understand clearly that Jesus, “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

When we study the text closely we can discern why Christ told them this command. The scriptures themselves testified about Jesus, and if the people did not believe the Holy Scriptures concerning the Messiah and the mighty works He performed by the power of God, then they most certainly would not believe His (Jesus) disciples.

One of the greatest prophets, John the Baptist, testified as to who Jesus was.
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

When Christ was baptized we know that the Father spoke from Heaven in the hearing of those who were assembled there. “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Jesus also told those who were blinded that in all their studies they still had no understanding of who was indeed standing in their midst. Jesus said to them you “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Jesus wanted these unbelievers to come to a realization of divine truth based on Biblically sound evidence resulting in true faith. There was evidence of who Jesus “is” all around them yet they did not believe, Jesus makes this sweeping statement about them, ” Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13)

It is clearly seen that Jesus is the Christ and “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John1:3).

God bless you and may the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ increase your faith, I ask this in Jesus name Amen.

 

 

It is Not About the Bunny, It’s About the LAMB”

Today is Maundy Thursday. The name comes from the Latin “mandatum”, the first word in the Latin rendering of John 13:34, “A new commandment (Mandatum novum) I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

Maundy in Latin is (Mandatum) meaning “commandment”, So Maundy Thursday is the Thursday of the commandment.

So what was this new commandment anyway? I mean if we read Galatians 5:14 it already states “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Jesus is giving us a new and greater example on love, He Himself “IS” love and a perfect example on how to love perfectly. Remember (John 15:13)
” Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”.

This life is a life of sacrifice to those you love and to others Father has placed in your journey. The Apostle John states this “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16)

So as we go about our day let us recall this “Mandatum novum” or new commandment and live the life of selflessness and sacrifice. I pray that Father will strengthen us all, so we may live like the Lamb of God Jesus Christ, to Him be the glory forever and ever Amen!!

 

Holy Week ” Spy Wednesday “

Today in Holy Weeks marks “Spy Wednesday” this is when the Sanhedrin desperately wanted to kill our Messiah, even before Passover (Pesach).
While it is said that our LORD spent time in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper and as they reclined at supper, Mary anointed Jesus with a extremely expensive oil called spikenard (Mark 14:3)

Costly was this oil indeed, it was a “years worth in wages” which was upsetting some of Jesus’ followers they said, “For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor” (Mark 14:4–5). Our LORD deflected that outburst and said “She has done a beautiful thing to me,” Jesus said. “She has anointed my body beforehand for burial” (Mark 14:6, 8).

Here is where we can discover mutiny against the Messiah, in the face of Judas Iscariot who was obsessed with money and was the treasurer for the congregation. Judas loved money more than he loved the LORD so we find Judas offering up our Savior for thirty pieces of silver.

This is a tragic reminder of some of our churches today and it’s “Prosperity Gospel”. We see many so called leaders who are blinded by greed and wealth at the expense of the “Children of God”.

I pray that you will see your worth in the face of an all powerful God, and that perhaps you will discern that the Kingdom of God is infinitely more valuable than anything you can attain on earth.

Matthew 19:24
“And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”.

 

LORD, What about Her?

Often times we are concerned about our friends and family members when it comes to our walk with God. Perhaps we are afraid that they will be left alone in this world defenseless. Jesus tells us not to be afraid, because He has a divine plan for their lives as well.

If you trust Him, then you ought “Follow Him”, knowing that He is the Master of all things, yes even your loved ones.

The Apostle Peter had this problem and had asked about John, and what would become of him. John 21:21-22 (NKJV)

“Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Come Closer Saints of God

Come closer to our Heavenly Father, for there is no better way to spend your days. Studying His word, reciting them throughout your day, literally walking in the spirit. The closer you come, the more revelation you will receive.

James 4:8(NKJV)
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”.

The Talons of Fear

If we really understand scripture, and the mighty God whom we serve, then fear would have very little to do with the saints of God. Fear would not clasp us in it’s nasty talons. Study Beloved so you may know your Father, which is heaven.

Isaiah 43: 1-2 (NKJV)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you”.

Alone Time With the Father

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together:

Whoever cannot be alone should be aware of community. Such people will only do harm to themselves and to the community. Alone you stood before God when God called you. Alone you had to obey God’s voice. Alone you had to take up your cross, struggle, and pray, and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot avoid yourself, for it is precisely God who has called you out. If you do not want to be alone, you are rejecting Christ’s call to you, and you can have no part in the community of those who are called.

The word community is thrown around quite a bit in Christian circles today. But our gatherings can be toxic if we do not spend time alone with God. I’ve been in many groups where people share their insights. The problem is not only that our insights are not as profound as we think they are, but that we’re so eager to share thoughts originating in our own minds, when we have a God who says,

          My thoughts are not your thoughts,
               neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
          For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
               so are my ways higher than your ways
               and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9)

I want to know the thoughts of God. I want to gather with people who have been reading God’s words, people who have prayed and interacted with him. I want to fellowship with those who fellowship with God. I couldn’t care less if you have a doctorate in theology or sixty years of life experience. I would rather talk with a fifteen-year-old who has been in the presence of God. ~ Francis Chan

What are You Praying?

The text was 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, in the middle of all those genealogies. This is the first and last time we ever hear of Jabez. He is a virtual nobody in Biblical history. But if you were going to get only a two-verse biography, what would you want written of you? Let it be this.

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested”.