A crust of bread

Digital photography truly has some great features. I was able to take pictures of Randy, the wounded goose, in late light that film cameras could not compete with because of the limitations of the film speed. At a setting of 1600 my ten year old digital camera did quite well. Randy swam by, alone as I captured his image from the fishing dock. The LORD's eyes are not limited by technology. He sees his creation, knows our problems and he cares for us. Inasmuch as we are hearing God, then we respond by his eyes of direction to accomplish his good will.

Randy is at the shore where he sleeps on one leg in the safety of the shallow water.

This time I remembered to bring a crust of bread that I tossed into the water. Three hungry male Mallard ducks quickly eat up the bread.

Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 
Mat 10:41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 

Mat 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

What is this? Randy has returned for a snack. He reminds me of a cat I once had. If I opened a can of cat food, she was there at my feet, no matter if she was asleep or far away, she just knew.

He eats a portion of the offering. The ducks and geese usually forage for themselves, but when someone shares bread, they are grateful. That is how it should be for birds and for humans too. God designed them to work and to go out and get their own food, not to be dependant. God can bless his people as he chooses, but government seeks to make slaves of people. It is God who gives us the ability to work or to find help as needed. We give God the glory for all we receive.

Two black Scoters are always diving for their food. They do not come for handouts. God has given them the ability to take care of themselves and they do not get too near humans. God made all creation and he supplies their needs.

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. 

2Ch 29:6  For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. 

Pro 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 

Psa 34:15  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 

Feed Me

European Starling - Whatbird.com

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 
Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

 In a harvested field of grain, the Canadian geese land to glean the seeds left on the ground. Other geese graze in the grass of a nearby park. The Robins have their fill of Persimmons until the Starlings arrive. Then they strip the fruit from the tree. There squeak toy sound alerts the flock to join in the feast.  They are provided for, certainly we shall be provided for. Here in America there is abundance, no one should go without. Those with the heart of Jesus should reach out in someway meeting the needs of others. 

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Feeding the needy is as feeding Jesus and blessing him. There are missions, and churches giving aid to the needy. Sorry to say that many people are provided for, but throw their money into satan's collection plate. Many are addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, cigarettes, and other sins. These steal away God's provisions given to them. Don't be stressed out with concern, take your needs to God in prayer, trust him and he will bless you. Remember the ability to work is also his provision for you.

Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

If you are unable to work, take your needs to the LORD.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

We become slaves to who we depend upon. We are to be bond slaves of Christ, free people choosing to serve him. The starling feasted on what was left of the persimmons, but I had first pick to share the abundance. We should be diligent to use the provision given to us, without waste so that we lack no good thing. I suppose in our nation there are too many starlings and not enough fruit pickers? I see this both in the natural and in the spiritual. Ultimately all good things come from our heavenly father, we give Him all honor, glory and praise, with thanksgiving.

Our Sanctuary

 

 

Complaining is not a spiritual gift.

1Pe 3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

eschew : turn aside from

 

 There is much that is wrong in our world, but it must not be allowed to seep into our hearts, polluting our thoughts and stealing our joy. Turn away from evil. Where could I go but to the LORD? He is our hiding place, our Comforter, our sanctuary. Let us be found in Jesus our righteousness. Instead of complaining to others, defiling them, take your hurts to Jesus in prayer. We do not want to take on evil words and actions. There is no evil in our Lord. Abide in him and be in peace.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

The Branch

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Millennial king.

Jer 23:5  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

He had other names:Emmanuel, God with us and Jesus, Saviour.

Mat1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

Act 13:22  ... he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Act 13:23  Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
Act 13:24  When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 

Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 
Isa 11:10  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 

Our hope and rest is in the righteous Branch of David.

The Righteous

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Being faithful is important, and being called, we are enabled to do His work by his grace. God called the twelve disciples, and equipped them for ministry.

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Paul was the last of the apostles to be called.

1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Tim 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Thinking he was serving God by being zealous for his law keeping, he destroyed God's children, in ignorance.

1 Tim 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Our righteousness is by faith in Jesus.

1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

If Saul can be saved, so can we. We should not write people off, but rather pray for them, that they might hear and receive the word of faith and be accounted as righteous in Christ Jesus. Paul was given a ministry to the Gentile nations and with the calling was the promise of suffering with God's grace. The faithful will also suffer and be persecuted and more so in days to come, for Jesus is coming back for his righteous and  faithful Church.

Life and Death Considered

We all must give an account to God for our lives. The will of God is that we accept his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Are we faithful to the Lord? Perhaps our greatest task is to keep going, to stay faithful and to keep sharing the way of life through Christ Jesus until that day when we shall see the Lord, face to face.

Isa 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

Death of this flesh body is going to happen to all of us. It is an evil time in the world, but there are those in the righteousness of Christ, that witness and shine for his glory. They may not be popular in an evil land, they may even be persecuted. Some of the best witnesses are gone, or are near death. We need them, but the LORD will raise up new witnesses. Some could be taken away to spare them from the evil to come and some may be martyred. Some are rewarded for a life time of service with a long life and a peaceful death; others, like Isaiah suffer death at the hands of evil men.

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

When Peter was told that he must die a martyrs death, he asked, what about John?

John 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

All in Christ Jesus are received into glory and will return to rule and reign with the Lord in his kingdom; some go in peace, others at the hand of man; but to be eternally with Jesus is our reward.

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Psalm 1

We are NOT to love this world. Just what that means to me is that we are to love God more and His word above the thoughts and ways of the world. The world is disobedient, seeking it's own way. The child of God seeks to obey the voice of the Father and Jesus our savior from our sins. We do not go the way of the worldly.

 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
 

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psa 1:4  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

Verses one through three speak of the way of the righteous, the godly man. He doesn't hang out with the world's ungodly people. The ungodly people change the truth of God to what they think is right in their own eyes. This brings separation from God. They are as the chaff of wheat, blown about by every strange wind. Contrast this to the one seeking the way of God. He meditates on the word of God day and night. Everything he does prospers. He is like a tree planted by rivers of water. Out of his innermost being flows the Living water of God's Holy Spirit. He is on a journey to God's kingdom, a journey by faith in the promises of God. I know my redeemer lives and that I will go to him. Can we depend on fantasies and delusions? No, of course not. I want truth and the way of God. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

Healing and the bronze serpent

The Old Testament had many types and shadows of the New Covenant We are not to worship shadows but we are to worship the true God of Israel and his Son Jesus Christ. This lesson about King Hezekiah shows how a good follower of God removed the stuff, the junk idols that got in the way of worshipping God. We are to get beyond the useless "stuff" of life and worship our God in Spirit and in truth.

2 Kings 18:1 Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel.

2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

3 He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

4 He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and knocked down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had begun to worship it by burning incense to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.

5 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was never another king like him in the land of Judah, either before or after his time.

6 He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses.

7 So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. (NLT)

I wish to focus on the bronze serpent, a type of healing and a type of Jesus on the cross. The symbol of a physician healer is the serpent on the pole. Jesus was lifted up on the pole or cross to heal our soul and body.

Isa_53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Nehustan, a thing of brass. It was also called a fiery serpent in Numbers 21.

Num 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Num 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Num 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

The problem was that the brazen serpent became an object of worship, instead of God who is our healer. The people would come to the serpent to be healed; it became an idol and people were burning incense to it. So when king Hezekiah was cleansing the land by removing the idols, he cut up the brazen serpent. The serpent was mentioned by Jesus as a symbol of his own death to bring healing of the soul and body.

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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.

There is no greater healing than to have our sins forgiven and to be translated into the kingdom of God. His death was also for the healing of our bodies. Sure, we all must die someday, but until the appointed time, God will heal us. God may also use a physician in our healing, but all healing comes from God.

Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
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.

Follow God's word, obey him and he will respond and bless you. Last night I heard that a dear missionary teacher and friend, sister Wilma, was taken to the hospital. We were asked to pray for her. The effectual prayer of faith is a prayer to the true God, not an idol and through the name of Jesus. A fervent prayer is a prayer focused and with passion, not with a double mind. We pray knowing that God hears our prayer. The prayer of a righteous person, is a prayer of one who trusts God with all their heart, praying on the authority of his word.

Hezekiah cleared the nation of idols and trusted the promises of God. This was counted to him for righteousness. We who have our hearts cleansed by the blood shed on the cross by Jesus, may come to God by faith, removing the junk from our hearts and he will hear our prayers. Pray with me for those you know who need prayer this very hour and pray for sister Wilma to be healed and filled with God's spirit. In Jesus name, amen.