The Supernatural

A wise teacher spoke saying, the supernatural happens in natural ways. I think of something that happened recently in our church during a worship service. A young man raised both arms in praise, he looked just like so many others with arms lifted in praise. The difference is that his arm and shoulder had been injured. He was undergoing therapy and the doctors had told him that it would be impossible to raise that arm high because of the damage that was done. A miracle happened but it just looked like a natural thing. 

We think of great miracles in the Bible like Elijah speaking to God and fire came down taking the sacrifice, and lapping up the water and even the stones.

1Ki 18:37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 
1Ki 18:38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 

1Ki 18:39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 

Some of us may have encountered an angel that made a difference in our life. Was it an angel that spoke to me in a dream when I was laying motionless in a hospital bed? My response was supernatural, being given new strength and power to witness. A friend was in a hospital not expected to live. I was asked to pray for him, I did and the Lord allowed him to recover and he lived two more years. When I had cancer with five recurrences, they tried every treatment but it did not go away. I was told to go home and not think about the cancer. I was a skeleton, but I kept busy and the Lord had mercy, healing me completely. This was in 1960. I forgot about the cancer, I wanted to live, the Lord knew this and I was given life. The goodness of the Lord is his supernatural blessings on those who trust in him. I do not think we need to make noise, shout, like the prophets of Baal, even cutting themselves with no help from their false god, Baal. Our God is real and true. His Spirit is in us and his angels minister to us. These are supernatural, the living presence of our LORD. We may ask anything in his name and he will respond.

Eaglewings Ministries

Cayuga

Randy the goose has relatives visiting. He is asleep on the far right. One stays alert to any danger.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

I wanted to see the black duck in daylight. It was mid day and most of the birds were napping.

After quite a search the black duck is probably a domestic breed called a Cayuga. They were bred from Mallards, but are larger in size. 

Cayuga tucks his beak under a wing for a nap. The gentle breeze ruffles his wing feathers showing their pretty green color. Things look better in the light.

Dan 2:19  Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 

Dan 2:20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 

Dan 2:21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 

Dan 2:22  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 

Dan 2:23  I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. 

Instruments of praise

Psa 150:3  Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 

A local group of brass players are getting together again to play Christmas music at the Mall this Sunday. Our first of two rehearsals was Friday. We had to tune our instruments and it made a big difference in the sound. Notes on various instruments in melody and harmony is quite a good sound. If the music gets in our emotions then it is projected to others emotions. Dull, uninspired notes do not make music. Much the same as in preaching, dull uninspired words are usually from the speakers own mind. The word of God is inspired in itself and when delivered with enthusiasm, God breathed, it is special. Lord help me to play with your breath, to praise you.


Lev 25:9  Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 


2Ch 5:13  It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 

Psa 98:6  With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.


Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

Possession

 In Christ Jesus we are blessed. The beauty of his creation we enjoy. The LORD is good and he wants to bless His people.

 To be Spirit possessed is a wonderful thing, if the Holy Spirit is in control but there are other spirits; fallen angels, demons.

 A demonic spirit may control you to do evil. The spirit of antichrist is a demonic spirit. This spirit is active now in these end times, removing every godly thing from society. He cannot remove the Holy Spirit from our hearts.

 Our ministry team went to McDonald's following the rest home service, The discussion we had was on the end times. Jesus could come at any time. The saints will welcome Jesus but the ungodly will curse him and try to hide.

Leaving the restaurant the sky was ablaze with color. I went for my camera that was in the car trunk and took these pictures of the sunset. I noticed that the music was not in the trunk so I went back to the rest home to get the music folio. I spotted the music on a chair. There were two women in wheelchairs in the room who had taken part in our praise service. One of the women mentioned a woman in the home that yelled obscenities continuously. "She is demon possessed." Down the hall I could hear an agitated voice. "She needs deliverance, some godly men need  to go in and drive out those demons." The tormented woman yells "get out, get out", when alone. I can imagine how difficult it must be for the caretakers to try to care for her. She swears at them and continues to say, get out, get out. I went to her room and saw a person who looked old like a meth user, but who may have been only 40. her drinking glass had been thrown across the room on the floor. I spoke the name of Jesus and prayed, asking that she be at peace. She wanted no part of Jesus and continued saying get out, get out. In spite of her obscenities hurled at me, I prayed and spoke the name of Jesus. I knew the scripture that said when a devil is cast out, if not replaced by the Holy Spirit, seven more would come. To cast out one spirit could bring seven times more. Prayer is needed.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 


Mat 17:21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 

I suggested to the woman in the wheelchair  that she continue praying for the tormented woman  and have others pray that God would give her peace and that she would be able to be delivered. 


Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

There are precious saints at that home who love the Lord and there are those who have no desire for him. The demon possessed lady needs our prayers. Her lack of peace depresses those around her. When we bring praise music and testimonies it brings life and hope and encouragement. LORD God, still the voice of torment and bring peace, in Jesus name, amen.

The Thankful Ones

Battleship Arizona Memorial

I was two years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked and we entered the second world war. The battleship Arizona was sunk with almost 1200 casualties. The survivors of this ship are few and old. Over thirty have returned to be with their fallen brothers in ash filled urns. So many young men died, but a few lived to be old men with thankful hearts.

 

One of last USS Arizona survivors returns to ship for last time - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

I am thankful that when I could have died of cancer as a young man that God allowed me to live to be an old man, young in spirit. I thank God for life and the new life in Jesus Christ. I thank God for a loving wife and wonderful children and grandchildren. I thank God for families and kin and the kinship of those in God's family. May we celebrate this Thanksgiving in the company of friends. Jesus is our best friend; thank you Jesus.Most of my friends are old in age but young in spirit. I do not look forward to a burial in an urn with my buddies, but I look beyond the grave to a place of life and goodness, joy and peace. I thank God that he came to me as a young man and although I went through some hard times, he was always near. We must look at life through our redeemed spirit. For greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world. Greater is the eternal spirit made alive in Christ Jesus, then the flesh body of the world.

Psa 100:1  A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psa 100:3  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psa 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psa 100:5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

Pipes

Often when there is an important event, there will be music to help celebrate the occasion. There were the sounds of instruments at the coronation of King Solomon.

At the dedication of the New Veterans retirement home I was honored to play with some of the most gifted trombone players. A full orchestra played the old familiar swing music for the WW2 veterans as well as patriotic marches, topped off with "The Stars and Stripes Forever" featuring a piccolo solo. A piccolo is a form of a pipe instrument.

1Ki 1:39  And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. 
1Ki 1:40  And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. 

Our Scottish WW2 allies supplied the stirring sound 
of pipes, bagpipes. This group was a firefighters bagpipe band.

Drums kept the beat and they added to the excitement.

1Ki 1:41  And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 
1Ki 1:42  And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. 
1Ki 1:43  And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. 

Psa 150:1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2  Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3  Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4  Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5  Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 

Twilight Reflections

On the road to the park on a church sign I read:

 "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.  (Psalm 24:1)."

 All belongs to the Lord and we are to give him the glory.

Sitting on a park bench a man plays his guitar.

Psa 47:6  Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 

A tree stretches itself up to sing glory to the Lord.

Isa 55:12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

The trees reflections in the pond bring glory to the LORD.

Psa 96:12  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 

The twilight reflections in the pool form an arrow. We are to keep going until the Lord comes for us. He has work for us to do. This is no time to give up. We are arrows in the LORD's bow, to be aimed at targets of his purpose for us.

Isa 66:18  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 

Isa 66:19  And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 

A young doe watches me from a distance. With my long lens I can bring the far things near. The LORD is not far from us, so let us draw near to him.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

As the light dims a beautiful sky reflects into the pool.

  The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

 (Psalm 24:1)

For the beauty of the earth

I had a lovely walk in the rain yesterday and this morning I awoke with a song in my heart: 

For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies,

Layered rain clouds, a most welcome sight.

For the love which from our birth Over 

and around us lies:

A fallen leaf on a lonely bench appears to be dancing.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.

These strange berries are on the pokeweed. Robins and doves eat them and spread them in my home garden. They are toxic to animals, but the pioneers boiled the young leaves to remove the toxins and used them in salads.

Amos 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

An oil slick on a puddle in the road forms a swan illusion. To me the illusion is the nations with the fighting and perversions. It is as the days of Noah in the world.

The LORD reveals his secret things through his word and the Holy Spirit. If we know the word of God in the Bible then we should know that we are in the end times.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

God made and loves his creation. 

A deer enjoyed the rain with me.

Mat 11:25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

The path we choose is up to us. There is God's way that leads to Jesus and everlasting life, or there is the way of man seeking to destroy life and ignore the God of creation. We can warn them, but not be of them, 

We are on another path.

What is revealed to us is by the Holy Spirit

and the scriptures. 

The trees are so loving the rain. The moss grows and the dry summer trees have a new fall and winter coat.

Peace on earth and joy in heaven: Lord of all to thee we

raise This our hymn of grateful praise.

My Dorcas

Pro 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

 

My wife is such a woman, she fears the LORD and honors him. The fruit of her hands: hundreds of crocheted afghans and many lap quilts she has made with her hands and most were given away anonymously.

 

Act 9:36  Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: (Gazelle) this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Act 9:37  And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
Act 9:38  And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Act 9:39  Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
Act 9:40  But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Act 9:41  And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
Act 9:42  And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

 

My wife has been through a lot of trials. Her hands are twisted with arthritis, and yet she continues to weave many colored afghans as fast as a gazelle; a labor of love. She is a loving wife and I am blessed.

Holy, Holy, Holy

God is a holy God we are to come to him with thanksgiving and praise in Christ our righteousness.

 

Isa 6:1  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Isa 6:2  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isa 6:3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 6:4  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Why three holies?  My thoughts were that God is in three persons, that some refer to as the Trinity. The Bible says that three are one God.

 

1Jn 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Last Sunday the brass ensemble that I was with played the beautiful hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy with a full; choir. It was beautiful to worship God in this way. This sharing about the holy Trinity is not to argue doctrines and words, but to glorify God with his people. We are to come together as one body of Christ to worship him in Spirit and in truth. Psalm 150, the last Psalm is to wake us up to Praise God with all that we are.

 

Psa 150:1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2  Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3  Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4  Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5  Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

Let every thing that has breath , praise the LORD!

 

 

Sound of a Trumpet

 

 

A trumpet will call God's people together and we will worship and praise him. It is time to praise the LORD! About twenty years ago I played in a Brass group who would perform in various churches. This Summer I have been playing in a Brass sextet the old hymns. We are to play at a Church this Sunday for the first time. God's people need to praise the LORD!

 

When The Trumpet Of The Lord Shall Sound - YouTube

 

Psa 47:5  God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Psa 47:6  Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
Psa 47:7  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Psa 47:8  God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
Psa 47:9  The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

 

The LORD has gone up to heaven and he is coming back to reign in Jerusalem with the shout of a trumpet. Sing praises to the king.

 

Psa 34:3  O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psa 69:34  Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

Psa 86:12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Psa 150:6  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. 

Worship Music

Worship is between you and God. It is personal and deep from the heart. I love the old hymns and their anointed messages. Some of the newer hymns are beautiful. One of my favorites for worship is "As the Deer"

 

As The Deer - YouTube

 

Ps 42:1 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.

Ps 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 

 

This was one of my first web pages...

 

http://www.ilovejesus.com//worship/mpj/

 

When we are in God's presence the entire creation will sing in worship and praise.

The Gift of Music

We went to the Alzheimer wing of a nursing home for church and the old hymns were played. Many joined us there including family visiting. Bob sang a popular hymn from the 1950's. 

 

THIS OLD HOUSE by STUART HAMBLEN - YouTube

 

I love the old hymns. Most are messages from the Bible. I have been making instrumental parts for a Brass Sextet that I was asked to join. Many of these great hymns of the faith are no longer played. Some in our group are from the old time denominations, Christian Churches that still sing the old hymns. There are beautiful new hymns as well.

 

Psa 33:1  Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

I understand a new song as music coming from the heart, making it new. Just like the word of God if it is spoken by the Spirit of God it takes on new life in the hearer. An old hymn can take on new life if played and arranged in harmony pleasing to the ear.

 

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

 

Some by the Spirit speak in tongues, while others speak music from their heart or preach from his Spirit new incites to make the Word of God come alive.

 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Thank you LORD for the gift of music to minister grace to the hearer.

 

What is in the Temple?

 Zerubbabel's Temple Dedication

There was something missing from all the temples in Jerusalem after Solomon's temple was destroyed; the indwelling presence of God. What good is a temple without God's presence? It became a place of sacrificing animals and rituals, but also a place of prayer.

Ezra 6:16  And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

Ezra 6:17  And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Ezra 6:18  And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

 Compare this to the dedication of Solomon's temple.

 

2 Chr 7:5  And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

2 Chr 7:6  And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

 

2 Chr 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Zerubbabel's temple was smaller and did not have the Ark of the Covenant which was the place of the presence of God's Spirit. The Ark was destroyed or missing and according to Ezekiel the presence of God had left the Ark and the temple, before it was destroyed by the Chaldean's because of the idolatry of God's people.

 

Ezek 10:18  Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Ezek 10:19  And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Ezek 11:23  And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

 

The glory of God went to the place where Jesus would ascend up into the clouds. This is the very place where Jesus would return again according to Zechariah's prophecy.

 

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

What purpose is a temple without the presence of God? It became a place of rituals. Animals were killed to cover the sins of the people. They kept a Sabbath and the feasts, these were outward rituals.  I can imagine that there are churches and synagogues today that are just places of rituals; religion without the presence of God's spirit. How could they bring the presence of God back to the temple? Jesus answered this question when he was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well.

 

John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Seek the truth in the rituals, read the scriptures, they are where God speaks to us. He also inhabits our worship and praise. The spirit of God no longer dwells in a box, God has left the Ark here on earth. He is not in a temple made by hands, he is in his creation, but more importantly he now is in the temples of our bodies through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith, we receive his grace. When he departed from our presence, he sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be the presence of God in the temples of our bodies. The Spirit loves the Word of God and praise to God He also helps us to pray in the will of God in words or in groanings not understood. Yes the presence of God has returned, not to a house made with hands, but in the temple of your body, if you are in Christ Jesus. We meet together, this is church. We together are the church and the presence of God.

Tears shed for Jesus?

I remember when I was in the hospital about to go to the operating table for cancer surgery. I was surrounded by family who loved me. I  felt their love and support and it gave me peace. What of those who have no one to shed a tear for them? Jesus experienced this himself as he suffered on the cruel cross. He was always from eternity with God; he is God the Son, full power and authority. the Lord of Hosts and now he was to humble himself to be a man. He had no sin, and he did not deserve to be the one who all of our sins would be heaped upon, but the love of the Father and love for us brought him for this purpose (Phil 2:4-11)

Psa 22:1  To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psa 22:2  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

He experienced pain, rejection, mockings and worst of all, his father in heaven turned from him. He was stripped naked and stripped of all that he was in that brief time on the cross. He took the punishment for our sins and sin separates us from God. Jesus cried when others mourned for Lazarus, but he died alone and almost no one seemed to mourn for him. He had already shed many tears agonizing in prayer at  the Garden of Gethsemane, while his disciples slept.The Mary's were faithful to him in the end and there was faithful John, in the midst of a jeering crowd. Your tears for the lost are as tears for Jesus. He cares about the lost and so should we. Think of all the people that you know who have not received the forgiveness of sins, that was paid for on that cross. they may be all alone.

Psa 22:3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4  Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

When we feel separated and alone, then we should praise God; sing praises, for he inhabits the praises of his people. Pray and praise to him. Think now how Jesus was stripped of all that he was on that cross. We are to put aside our old self and put on the new self in Jesus Christ. We are to be resurrected with Jesus in his fulness. We are to become spiritual people, the children of the most High God. His love for us gave us a new eternal life. No need to shed tears for Jesus now. He is our eternal Lord and savior and we love Jesus are to be the bride of Christ for intimate fellowship. Thank you Jesus for taking and making. You took my sins to the cross and by faith you have made me a son of God. Praise your holy name.

Let Children praise Him

Mat 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 

Mat 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
Mat 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

The chief priests and scribes saw the miracles that Jesus did with envy and unbelief. They heard the children crying out, Hosanna (praise) to the Son of David and they were angry with them, wanting to shut them up. Jesus pointed out that they were more scripturally correct than they were.

Psa 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

The enemies were the highest rulers in the temple. May we never be in the way of truth and the freedom of others to worship. The children of the devil will try to prevent the children of God from worshiping the true God, we ought to obey God first and always. We are required to give God glory from holy hearts.

Psa 29:1 A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Psa 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Jesus loves the little children, for as such are the kingdom of God; they are trusting and dependent on the LORD. Is anything so lovely as a child singing "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so?" I was told a personal testimony of a child who was badly abused in an evil home who was wandering in a wilderness place and came upon a stranger. The stranger taught her to sing Jesus loves me. Years later when she was led to the Lord through our Internet ministry, she cried tears of joy receiving this Jesus that she knew only in a simple song. Jesus loves the little children and they should not be prevented from coming to him.

Luk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Give Jesus the glory

Luk 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Luk 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Luk 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

The enemies of God will try to silence our praise and worship. Bring the children to church and Sunday/Sabbath school. Let them learn to praise his name. We are not to prevent them; the government is not to prevent us from our freedom to worship our God, so be bold in your worship and praise.