Broken Pipes

I found an outdoor faucet at the home that has been spraying water from a broken pipe. In the winter we try to wrap the pipes, but this one is old. The plumber is coming tomorrow. 

I received a water bill from the closed business that is four times normal, it could be another broken pipe, but not seen. It is harder to find a broken pipe in the ground or under concrete. Now what is God saying in this?

Jer 2:11  Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 
Jer 2:12  Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 
Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 

Are we leaking water from our own cistern of old unfresh water or does living water flow from us? Are we seeking the things of God or are we worried about the world's problems?

Let's turn to Jesus this Christmas with thanksgiving. Lord you are not in the way of Christmas, you are the reason for Christmas. For many of the world, Jesus is a stumbling block or a bump in the road, for those after their own lusts. Let Jesus be who he is, our Lord and master, our salvation, our redeemer and God Almighty come in a man. If he isn't these to you, stop what you are doing and turn to him in prayer.

Revival

2Ch 29:1  Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2Ch 29:2  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.
2Ch 29:3  He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
2Ch 29:4  And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
2Ch 29:5  And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.

 

We certainly can apply this to our own homes, churches and our nation. First we are to be sanctified, personally cleansed of sin. Idols torn down and the presence of the LORD sought through prayer and obedience to his laws and the word of God. Repentance begins in the temple of our body. First comes personal repentance and sanctification, being set apart unto God for his service. Then get to work removing the sin from the church, the family. These are the starting places for a national revival.

 

Luke 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luke 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

Power to do all this is not of the flesh but of the Holy Spirit of God. You must have the baptism of Jesus in the Holy Ghost, the infilling of His presence.

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 

The Holy Spirit is a gift from God through Jesus. It is not earned or learned, but received by faith.

Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

We are not a threat to a nation, but a blessing. Those seeking truth, mercy and goodness will welcome a revival.

Thorns

The thorn of blending in with the heathen

Jdg 2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
Jdg 2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

 Jdg 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

The people of Israel were told to destroy the altars and false idols, to kill and to drive out the heathen nations in their new promised land, but many of the tribes did not do this. It was a choice that they made, because God was with them to drive them out as a mighty wind would blow the autumn leaves, but they were not willing to do this. Because they took up with the heathen people, their women and their Gods, the LORD stopped helping them. He will not go before us if we are not separated unto him. We as God's people cannot expect the LORD to open doors for us, removing satanic forces if we are in the world, not separated unto him and content with the heathen idols.

A crown of thorns: Jesus took our curses to the cross

Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Thorns on the head, a mock crown that brought blood to heal our heads. His cursed thorns removed our curses. In Jesus we are blessed. Our thoughts are cleansed, our minds become the mind of Christ. Thank you Jesus for healing us by your wounds taken for our salvation and healing.

Paul's thorn in the flesh

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

What was Paul's thorn? A messenger of satan, a fallen angel? A demon that buffeted him?

Some say it was bad eyes or a disease.

Strong's concordance definition for buffeted:

1) to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist

2) to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely.

It seems that the messenger of satan was able to inflict pain. I think perhaps it was the false Jews, those who were of the synagogue of satan, the religious people who tried to silence his message of grace by persecution. We too will experience persecution if we are separated unto Jesus Christ. Or are you one who will blend in with the world? Perhaps you will take the mark of the beast as well to escape persecution and hunger? I think not. If we suffer with Christ, his grace is sufficient for us. We are to stay separated, holy unto God through Jesus Christ. Our mind is to be renewed by reading and meditating on God's word with prayer. His grace goes with us and we are a blessed people.