Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Stirred up to work


Exo 36:1  Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 
Exo 36:2  And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: 

The work was to build the sanctuary that Moses had been given the design from the LORD. The building of all that would make the sanctuary where the presence of God would dwell with man was to be built according to the Master's design. Wise hearted men were called, men of wisdom and understanding from the LORD. Those who God by His Spirit had gifted with wisdom, knowledge and skills. These were known gifted men to do the service of building the sanctuary, but there were others too. Included with the wise and skilled were those who the LORD stirred their hearts to come unto the work to do it.

If you are a member of a local church you probably have heard of work days. A time to do work around the church building, perhaps trimming plants or painting or maintenance. All are welcome to come, all that the LORD has stirred up to help.  There are spiritual needs of the church as well. It is a place of worship, so gifted skilled musicians are needed with a heart given to worship.. The pastor should be chosen of God, filled with the word of God in all wisdom and knowledge. Leaders in the church are anointed by God for service. Those who are not sure where to serve, but who are stirred up for service, these should make themselves available. If the Lord has called you, then he will equip you to fulfill the need. 

A final thought. Often we see things that are needed in the church, but instead of meeting the need, we complain that something needs to be done. Do not complain. If the Lord shows you something and he has stirred you up, then make yourself available. Sometimes the service is outside of the church: rest home ministry, visiting the sick, prayer and many things that are important to the Lord. Are you being stirred up for service?

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 



Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Obey God


Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 
Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 
Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 
Exo 19:7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 
Exo 19:8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. 

The LORD desired a covenant people who would obey him. He would then have them as a peculiar treasure unto himself. How many of us think of being a treasure for the LORD? We usually seek him for treasures of this world and blessings. He requires that we obey HIM. He knows what is best for us and obedience is the way of HIS blessings and better yet, that he may treasure us. Even though we who are Gentiles are not under the covenant to Israel, under the New Covenant we are God's treasure. He gave his only begotten son on a cruel cross to purchase us back from the devil. He loved us before we loved him. Now we respond to him in obedience and our life is in his hands. We are treasured as his adopted family. Obedience will make us a peculiar people apart from the world. The world has become perverted and we are called to be pure through faith in Jesus Christ. He paid for our salvation and eternal life. To follow him we must obey him. A final thought; put aside our hurts by forgiveness. Hurts can lead to a bitter heart and a bitter heart leads to rebellion. The LORD spoke through the prophet Samuel to King Saul.

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 

Obedience brings God's best life to us but, to rebel brings to us the spirit of witchcraft. Do we want to be controlled by an evil spirit, spirits of the devil?  See how important obedience is? Let us put aside  rebellion and obey the LORD. Who are we serving? A rebellious spirit serves self and the devil. An obedient spirit obeys God as a chosen son of God. We are to be like Jesus. To act apart from him is sin. In the Millennial kingdom, we who follow and obey Jesus will be kings and priests to the most high God. We are his spiritual born again people who have followed him in obedience to the very end of this age.


Saturday, January 20, 2018

Christ Crucified for our Salvation


Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 


Act 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Act 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 


1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 


1Co 2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 


Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 


Gal 6:13  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 


Born Again of the Spirit of God 


Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 


2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 
2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 
2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 


Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Hittite


Israel, spoke to his son's before he died concerning his burial place. He did not want to be buried in Egypt, but requested to be buried in the promised land with his fathers.

Gen 49:29  Then Israel gave them a command. He said, "When I die, I want to be with my people. I want to be buried with my ancestors in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. 
Gen 49:30  That cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought that field from Ephron so that he could have a burying place. 
Gen 49:31  Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried in that cave. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried in that cave. I buried my wife Leah in that cave. 
Gen 49:32  That cave is in the field that was bought from the Hittites." 

Abraham, Isaac and Israel were promised an eternal inheritance from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates river. The only land that Abraham had acquired of the promised land was a burial cave that he bought from Ephron the Hittite. I was wondering if there were any other dealings with the Hittites?  Remember Uriah the Hittite? He was the husband of Bathsheba. David had lusted after her and she had become pregnant by David. He summoned Uriah home from battle to lay with his wife, but he was more honorable, giving his allegiance to his duty as a soldier. David had him placed on the front lines and there he was killed. When David died, Solomon a son of David and Bathsheba was on the throne of a still united Israel, with his mother Bathsheba beside him. This is how a Hittite became in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ, the anointed son of the family of David. Jesus from Mary and who was the only begotten son of God. All of the bloodline of Adam had sinned. Jesus had no sin, having the pure blood from his Father, Almighty God.



Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The Importance of Good Companions


Reading the story of "righteous" Lot, who chose to cast his tents toward Sodom and Gomorrah, was not a pleasant read. Lot's family moved into the city that God was about to destroy for it's extreme wickedness. Abraham pleaded with the LORD to not destroy the city, if there be but ten righteous people in it. The LORD sent two angels, who looked like men, into the city to take Lot and his family out, before the LORD would destroy the cities with fire. Abraham offered his daughters to a lust filled crowd beating at his door to ravage the two men that were strangers. These were the angels sent to rescue Lot. 

Gen 19:8  Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 

The two men angels blinded the lust filled demonic people and pulled out Lot and his family. Lot's wife looked back as the fire came down and she became a pillar of salt.

Abraham was wiser than Lot, hearing clearly from the LORD he showed his obedience. He was willing to give up his own son to the LORD, but not to allow satan to corrupt the promised inheritance. When his son Isaac was of marrying age, Abraham sent his servant back to his own people to find a bride for Isaac. He did not want Isaac to marry a wife from Canaan, a cursed nation from the time of Noah. Now, the point is, that we need to be around God fearing people who hear him. We should associate with people of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to bear one anothers burdens, for we cannot rely on the comfort of friends of the darkness. The nation has been going downhill and the morals are being changed. The friends of God who love and obey his word, have become the targets of those would have the devil's agenda played out. We have read the end time prophecies, we know there will be a short time of the wicked world wide rule of Satan in a false Messiah.  Now is a time for us to gather with people of faith. Be in a local church and seek smaller Bible study groups. I prefer the small groups, like our Eaglewings ministry group. You can start a home Bible study with people of faith. The goal is to be a strong witness and to strengthen the body of Christ. Our prayers together are holding back the darkness. We also should listen to the needs of those around us. We are to hear God and also hear him in the lonely heart of another person.





Friday, January 5, 2018

A covenant of a multitude


Gen 17:21  But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. 
Gen 17:22  And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 
Gen 17:23  And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. 
Gen 17:24  And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 
Gen 17:25  And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 
Gen 17:26  In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 
Gen 17:27  And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him. 

Circumcision was a sign, or a token of the Abrahamic Covenant. It represented a clean heart in obedience tio God. Ishmael was told that he would be the father of a multitude, but they would be wild and would fight amongst themselves.

Gen 16:12  And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren. 

The promise of a multitude  of people and a land was passed on to Isaac, even before he was born. Isaac would be a miracle child because both parents were very old. The sign of the covenant was a reminder to obey God. Blessings would come with obedience and curses with disobedience. The LORD also said that any nation that would bless the promised people of God would be blessed and any nation that cursed them, they would be cursed. The covenant promise would be to Abraham, his son Isaac, and his son Jacob (Israel.) Israel is the covenant people of God. Throiugh Israel would come the word of God, his prophets and the promised Messiah.


Thursday, January 4, 2018

Possessions


It was raining and the traffic was on the go as I returned from our weeekly Bible study and prayer breakfast. Most of us in the meeting are retired and not out trying to earn money to buy property or to acquire a retirement nest egg. We gather to praise the Lord, to have a Bible lesson and for prayer. We are looking forward to the dwelling place that Jesus is making for us.

When radio was our entertainmernt I remember sitting on the floor as a boy listening to a very interesting radio program entitled "Favorite Story." One progtam I remember was of a man who was to be given all the land that he could walk around in one day. He started out early in the morning walking and running to encompass as much land as he could walk  around before sunset. He was greedy and ambitious. As the story continues it is almost sundown and the man is returning to his starting place. A nartrator finishes the story. "The only land this man will need is six feet". (He was dead.)

Abraham was given great wealth and covenant promises from the LORD. The Covenant was unconditional, He was promises a multitude of descendants and he was promised land, the promised land of Israel.

Gen 15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 

Abraham himself never had yet acquired the promised land. The only land that he had in the land that is now called Israel, was a burial place. Just how much land did God promise to Abraham and Israel?


You can see by the map showing the boundries that Israel is to have a much larger area of land than it currently holds. When you see politicians trying to negotiate a peace treaty with Israel, they usual ask them to give up land. God gave them the land and his word is not broken.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Our Faithful LORD


Gen 8:22  As long as the earth continues, there will always be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night on earth." 

God is faithful; wars come and go and yet the sun arises and sets faithfully. We remember that God is faithful to bring cold, and here in the summer, he brings hot. His laws are faithful for planting and harvesting, both in the earth and in the spirit. 

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. 
Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 
Gal 6:10  So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. 

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Have great awe and respect to the LORD. We are to love him and love each other and always look to bring out the best in others. Be a doer of good works as a child of God. Be faithful as he is faithful to His word.




Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Receiving a Mark


The weather has been mild enough so that there are lemons on our lemon tree. A lemon used to be a term for a reject, usually a car that had problems was called a lemon. Are people lemons? How about Cain who killed his brother Able?

Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 

What was the mark?Job speaks of himself being a mark.

Job 7:20  I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? 
Job 7:21  And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. 

David speaks of the perfect and upright man as being marked for God's peace. Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Psa 37:37  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Ezekiel speaks of those who are upset with evil as being marked by God.

Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Looking ahead we are warned to not take the mark of the beast.

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 
Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. 

Then there is the mark of God on the forehead of 144,000 Jewish men.

Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 
Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 

A mark can be a target or a seal of ownership.We are sealed unto God by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Those apart from God may some day be marked with the mark of the beast, which shows that he has corrupted them and there is no repentance from this. Now is the time of salvation; do not put this off. Jesus is calling you to turn to God and receive the free gift of salvation from sins, paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood of Able cried out to God for justice and the blood of Jesus was his eternal answer. In Christ we are marked for eternal life in the love and presence of God.

What seal did Cain have that kept him from harm by other people? I ask another question? Have we marked someone with unforgiveness or bitterness? If so we only end up hurting ourself, because this will come back at us. Let God be the judge of the living and the dead. Perhaps it was God's grace that gave Cain a chance to repent? 




Monday, January 1, 2018

A Good Start


Gen 1:11  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

On my walk I saw a tiny maple tree growing from the trunk of a mulberry tree. It had been planted in the wrong place. Now, are we some place where we are not growing to our potential that God has for us? It is a year of growth, of strength and moving forward in God's plans.

I started this new year with a morning walk and the beginning of reading through the Bible. Last night at church, people were giving short talks about their vision for the new year. Some of these I will share here.

Be bold to speak the word of God. Do not remain in the past, seek the Lord. Be aware of God's presence. Don't go to the past but do something new.

Act 4:29  And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, 
Act 4:30  while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 
Act 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 

Arise, stand tall; God's army arise, put on your armour, move forward, Christ in you has supernatural power.

God speaks to ears that hear. Young Samuel learned to hear and answer God when he spoke to him.  Many have lost loved ones this year. Strengthen what remains and move forward.

The church verse for 2018

Luke 17:21  neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you. 

(Col 1:26  even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, 
Col 1:27  to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: )