Jesus Christ

People Need The LORD

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“Therefore also now,” saith the LORD, “turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.  Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?’ ”
Joel 2:12-17

Our own nation (United States of America) needs the LORD now just as much as any other time.  Why?  Because even here lines are hard to see and confusing.  Even professing Christians are turning their backs on the LORD, not their face.  When you turn your backs on God’s word, no longer believing it is the holy, inspired of God, and infallible word of God; they have turned their backs on God.

When you have more confidence in science of men, or more confidence in your own abilities, than in God then You have shunned the LORD.

It is time for the LORD to work a work like Adam’s race has never seen.  We must be ready. Return to the LORD.

I need the LORD to continue to work in me.  You need the LORD as well.  All the people on earth need the LORD.

Come to the One who died on that old rugged cross, judged by His Father for our sins.  He was buried.  He rose up again, from the grave in which  He had been laid.  His return is imminent,  Are you ready.

The LORD Hates Hypocrisy…

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sI will also stretch out Mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; and them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for Him.
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, He hath bid His guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.  In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
Zephaniah 1:4-9

The LORD hates hypocrisy as it shows in the above verses.  He hates it, especially among His own people.

You can see that they were worshiping idols made by men, false gods, which are inspired by demons (Leviticus 17:7;  Deuteronomy 32:17; 2 Chronicles 11:15; and Psalm 106:37) for example.  You could also read Psalms 115 and 135 to see what the value and worth is of any idol.  It can do nothing for you, but keep you in the darkness of evil.

Judah was worshiping the heavenlies – the stars, sun and moon and other idols; and at the same time worship the LORD,  The worshiping of idols, and then in pretense worshiping the LORD on the Sabbath is hypocrisy.

You might say to me, “No one worships idols in our country,” but we do.  Power, prestige, money (a big bank accounts), science, government, etc..  I hope you get the point.

May we who are Christians come the conclusion that only GOD is to be worshiped, honored and feared (I do not want to offend Him in any way).  I want to live for Him; and the only way I can do that is through the gift of grace through Jesus Christ who paid my sin debt on the cross, was buried – carrying my sins away, leaving them there in the grave, then, He came out of that grave alive.  Because He did that for me, He alone deserves my allegiance completely; not partial, but wholly.

When Truth Fails

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And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.  Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment.  And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.  For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompence to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompence.  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.  And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 59:14-20

Judgment is not what a lot of people think it is.  If you go to court charged with a crime nobody really wants judgment.  They need mercy.  Judgment is receiving what one deserves.

Truth is a precious item.  It is very much needed in every age, every millennium, every century, decade, year and every day.  Truth is truth.  It is not whatever you think it is.  I do not  have my truth, and you do not have your own truth.  Truth is what God says is truth.  Jesus Christ Himself said, “I am … the Truth…” (John 14:6)  The truth is much needed in the twenty first century.  With shouts of death, and damnation to one another we need help, and our only help is Jesus Christ

Jesus gives us a new heart and mind.  We have His heart and mind.  When we give ourselves to Him, spending time with Him in His word, and in prayer we grow to be more like Him.  Some of us just got started.  Some of us are headed in the right direction.  We will never be complete until Jesus comes to take us Home to be with Him forever.

Do you know the Christ of Heaven?  His name is Jesus. He gave his life for you and me dying on that old cross.  He was buried.  He rose again.  Turning from your sin, call on His name and be saved today.

When truth fails the LORD puts on Righteousness as righteousness.  He sent His Son Jesus to make us righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).

One GOD of the Whole Earth

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Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.  For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54:4-10

God is speaking here of being kind and merciful to His people.  His mercy and kindness.  He shows that He will do what He says He will.  Using the promise He made with Noah that he would never destroy the earth again with a flood.

Neither will His peace be removed.

The wrath which God  gave rebellious Israel/Judah was not permanent, and was for the good of their eternal destiny.

So is it with the people of God today who are called Christians.  We are disciplined by God for our good, and God’s glory and because we are His children.  It is good for us to remember that He is loving, merciful, kind and gracious.

There is only one true God, and His name is Jehovah/YHWH Elohym, and His Son’s name is Jesus, and Jesus lives in His people by the Person of the Holy Spirit.  He is love.

The LORD God Will Be Exalted In The Earth

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He hath made in the earth.  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalm 46:1-10

This Song of praise was possibly written during the time of King Hezekiah, during and after the attempt to conquer Jerusalem; possible after God had won the victory for the city of David.

Today and everyday we as God’s children need to recognize where everything comes from.  God gives all good things, and sometimes; most of the time actually bad things come into our lives due to our sin; or it may be a test from God.

Let us recognize that we must know that God is God.  He created the heavens and the earth from nothing.  Reading the Scriptures I have noticed many times 63 times in Ezekiel; that it says, “That they might know that I am the LORD.”

The LORD will be exalted through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Most people on the earth have probably heard the name of Jesus Christ; however, there are many who use His holy name in cursing and swearing, and do not know Him.  He is one who surrendered His life for us so that, we might be saved and have eternal life.

Surrender your life to Him believing in Him, casting all of our sins away, because He sets us free from sins bondage; and to that we are free to serve Him and not sin. Today, will you call on His name.

For Redemption Recipients Only

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The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.   It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not:” behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.   No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:  and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:1-10

I hope you will be one of the recipients of God’s redemption available only through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let favor be shown to the wicked…

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Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for Thee; the desire of our soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee.   With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.   Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
Isaiah 26:7-10

The LORD’S judgments are in all the earth, the inhabitants of the world shall learn righteousness.   If favor is shown to the wicked, if they are not judged, then they cannot and will not learn righteousness.  The righteousness of GOD through the Lord Jesus Christ is given to all who will confess Jesus as Lord, and who believe that He has risen from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Who are the wicked?  The wicked are those who believe in God, but refuse to bow to Him in surrender of their lives.  It is all those who have no heart for God, neither to hear anything from God or about Him.

It used to be myself and the whole of Adam’s race (the human race).  However, I have received the free gift of grace which was given to me by Christ Jesus who became sin for me, taking the whole wrath of God the Father on Himself, and dying, and after three days He rose again.  That I might become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21),  This gift is available to all will believe Him and call on His wonderful name.  Call on Him now, and He will hear you, and give you His righteousness, and eternal life.

Who Can Stop the Purposes of GOD?

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The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, “Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: that I will break the Assyrian in My land, and upon My mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.  This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.  For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Isaiah 14:24-27

The short answer is; nothing, neither anyone, can prevent the words and purposes of the LORD of hosts.

Why do people of Adam’s race keep trying to subvert the plans and purposes of GOD?  Such a foolish endeavor.  When will we learn that God’s word is Truth, the only truth, and that every man and woman are liars when compared to God’s truth.

Jesus Christ said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me”  (John 14:6).  When an individual believes that there is God, and they refuse to believe God’s word, concerning His Son Jesus, then that is evil.

All of God’s word is true.  God’s word is inerrant, it is God breathed, and inspired by God.  His word and His purposes will not and cannot fail.

Believe the word of God and trust His Son Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

GOD’S People, and The Devil’s People

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“And it shall come to pass in that day,” saith the LORD, “that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: and I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: and I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.  And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.”
Micah 5:10-15

You may not like the title.  Many of you may not like the words of LORD God shared here today, but GOD does have His people and devil has his people.

This passage of Scripture from the prophet Micah to Judah, and also to the evil nations GOD is full of wrath toward His people as well as toward the nations (heathen).

His anger toward His people is because they have not kept their covenant with Him,  not obeying His commandments, statutes, judgments, His whole law.  They have been cruel and dishonest in their business practices.  They have charged interest to the poorer of them, taking the homes from them if they could not pay.  They were forsaking the widow and the orphan children.

Wait a minute!  Does this not in someways remind us of something?  It should remind us of some of God’s people today; one’s who call themselves, “Christian” yet are more like the heathen than we are like Christ.  If we are sons of God through Jesus Christ, the we need to be aware of His judgment when it comes, and know why it comes.  Just like with the people of Judah, GOD disciplined them, sometimes severely, He will also deliver us through their chastisement, and make us more  like the Master who is Jesus Christ.

Why would GOD judge the nations?  They have tormented the people of GOD.  They have mauled, murdered, and committed mayhem with the LORD’S people.  They have been very violent and evil in the eyes of the LORD.  The word of the LORD is true.  What He speaks will be done.  All those who reject the  word of God, His Son Jesus and refuse to believe GOD, are children of the devil.

There is still hope and promise for all who will believe Him, repenting of their sin, believing Jesus died and has risen from the dead, and confessing Him as Lord shall be saved.

The LORD Is Salvation

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Just wanted to let you know why I am jumping around seemingly without purpose in these words that I share.  I am reading a Chronological Bible and reading it through by the end of the year, and reading three daily readings most of the time.  If you have ever read the Bible chronologically then, you will know what I am saying.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:2-3

The LORD is my salvation.  I hope and pray that you who read this have experienced the joy of knowing Jesus and the heavenly Father.  If you know the Son, you know the Father.  If you know the Father, you know the Son.

The LORD Ain’t Finished With the People of Israel, Yet

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“Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto Me, O children of Israel?” saith the LORD. “Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?”
“Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” saith the LORD. ” For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.  All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, which say, ‘The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.’ ” es
“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by My name,” saith the LORD that doeth this. “Behold, the days come,” saith the LORD, “that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.  And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.  And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them,” saith the LORD thy God.
Amos 9:7-15

There are many people who are against today’s Israel, and denying them their God given right to the land called Israel.  The people who call themselves “Jews” are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  I do not know this to be so; but I think they have more knowledge of where they came from than most of us Gentiles do concerning their genealogy.

Present day Israel is only a small portion which the LORD has given them.  The time that Amos is speaking of in Amos 9:11-15 has never been fulfilled.    God will always fulfill the words that He speaks.  Not one jot or tittle will fail to come to pass,

If you will, note verse eight  above, where God says he is going to destroy “the sinful kingdom.”  Then He says, “I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob.”  He remembered His everlasting covenant.  He is sifting them to bring them to Himself through the Messiah to come.  The Messiah has already come, and Jewish religious leaders hated Him.   His name is Jesus.  “He came unto His own and His own received Him not” John 1:12.

The LORD, who created all things in heaven and earth does not give up.  When He begins a work he completes it and we Christians have that promise in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…”  Philippians 1:6.  When God starts a good work He will complete it too.  That is for the Christian and the Jew, and anyone who will totally give themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins, our transgressions, and iniquities.  He died on that wooden cross as my substitute for sin, and for yours.

His promises do not fail.  If Jesus tells us that “Whoso ever believes in Him (that is Jesus) shall not perish, but will have everlasting life,” then you can trust that that is true.

Know this – If “God ain’t finished with His people Israel, yet,” then because of what Jesus has done for us; we can trust and believe that He will complete what He has started.

When We Prepare Our Way Before the LORD

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Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.  Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.  He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:1-6

Jotham was king Uzziah’s son who followed his father as king of Judah, and the Chronicles tells us, “…He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, except he did not go into the temple of the LORD.”

Jotham’s father had gotten a bit arrogant, and saw himself as a priest of God, went into the temple.  Because of that act of pride the LORD gives him leprosy, which is a bad skin disease.

Jotham did what was right because he prepared himself to do God’s will.  He was a man with faults, weaknesses, and sin in his life.  It was because of his preparation that Jotham became mighty, and the LORD blessed him.

There is only one way to prepare our ways before the LORD, and that is God’s way.  First of all you need to realize that you are lost, condemned, dead, and dying because you are not  in the ways of the LORD.  Then you need to know and realize that Jesus Christ came to dwell among His people, and gave His life in death, on the cross, and that He was buried, and that He rose up and came out of the tomb alive.  Then confessing Him as your Lord and Savior.

Second, after you surrender to the LORD, you will desire to know God better, and there is no better place to learn about God, but from His own word.  For new believers I recommend the Gospel of John, then the three Epistles (Letters) of John.  Then you will begin to see Jesus for who He truly is you  can follow where your new wants want you to go in your reading of Scripture.  He will bless your life.

Are you prepared to meet the LORD God?

Unseen Warriors

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And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?”  And he answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17

This is an event in the life of Elisha, a disciple of Elijah,  and he even witnessed the fiery chariot which carried him away.

To recap what has happened prior to this we see the king of Syria planning an attack on Elisha.. Elisha knew just about every  move the king of Syria made so the king of Israel knew of any attack coming against them.  So the Syrian kings answer was to get Elisha out of the way.

Elisha’s servant had risen from sleeping through the night to go out at early light and saw the Syrian troops on the hills around them.  He runs and tells Elisha, and Elisha sees an even great army than that of Syria.  Then Elisha prays to the LORD to open the eyes of the servant.  The LORD hears his prayer and opens the servants eyes so he can see the massive Unseen Warriors of the LORD of hosts.  They are otherwise known as angels of the LORD.  Angels are here to serve us, and that is exactly what they are doing for Elisha.

I have at least one angel watching over me.  NO!  I do not know his name; and in fact I may have more than one.  One thing for which I am certain is that God watches over me and you.

“Open his eyes that he might see” was his prayer to the LORD, and God heard and the servants eyes were opened to see the Unseen Warriors – seeing the unseen.

LORD God Almighty always keep me alert spiritually to the work You do around me.  Sometimes I know I am blind to many things in Your word.  So I ask You Lord, today, to open my eyes that I might see.  I know that You are with me.  Help me O LORD to glorify Your most holy name.  Amen.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

A Battle To Watch The LORD Win

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And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.  Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; and he said, “Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, ‘Thus saith the LORD unto you, ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.'”
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.  And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
2 Chronicles 20:13-19

Three nations had, not conspired together to come against Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat was king.  He was a king that loved the LORD.  When he heard that these three kings were coming against him he called the people to fast and pray.  He had, first of all, sought the LORD, then he prayed.

As they were gathered together, and king Jehoshaphat had prayed, Jehaziel, received an encouraging word from the LORD.  They would have victory without fighting the battle, and by singing and praising the LORD.

What does this have to do with you and me?

First, we show humility and trust when we take our fears, and burdens to the LORD.  Second, we can learn how to pray, and trust the Lord with our whole lives.  Be sure to read all of 2 Chronicles 20.

In this event in the history of Judah and Israel we have the LORD turning the enemy against themselves.  One of the Proverbs says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes his enemies to  be at peace with him”  Proverbs 16:7.

We are a weak and sinful people apart from God, and would be forever condemned to Hell were it not for the grace of God displayed for all the world to  see on a cross over two thousand years ago.  That is the greatest battle He has won for us.

Have you accepted this wonderful gift of grace – eternal life – with Jesus Christ; now and through eternity.  This battle against sin, death, and hell has already been won, by Jesus’s death on the cross, His burial, and resurrection.  All we need to do is change directions.  We are all on the same road.  Some of us are headed in the direction they have chosen but it is the way of sin and death.  Turn to Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and He will save you, sending you to eternal life with Him.

According to the Word of the LORD

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 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.  And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.  And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
1 Kings 16:29-34

Since the beginning of the kings of the northern kingdom of historical Israel the kings have it said of them “… did evil in the sight of the LORD.”  Ahab was the worst.  He had even married a woman who was just as wicked as he was; or worse.

I find that it is with great purpose this event with Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho being ignorant of Joshua’s curse (Joshua 6:26), or did not believe it.  He lost His sons to death; which could mean he no other sons.  His eldest son died during the building of its foundation; and the youngest died in the raising of the gates.

What purpose does this serve here?  There is a very wicked king who hates the LORD, Ignores the word of the LORD, and commits acts of murder in the worship of idols (demons) because of child sacrifice, and so many other things.

We who read this today ought to lift up our eyes to the truth of God’s word, and stand in awe of how amazingly wonderful it is.  God fulfills every word He has spoken, even the words of judgment.

That would definitely include the words He spoke through the Lord Jesus Christ.  All the words Jesus spoke are the word of God.  Jesus is the Living Word of God.  Believe Him when He says, “My Father and I are One,” and when He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the end.” Believe Him and trust His work and great gift of the cross (death), burial, and resurrection, turning from your sin to Him.

Don’t Kill The Messenger

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And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, “Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.  Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, He delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
2 Chronicles 16:7-10

King Asa was the third king following Solomon.  Solomon’s son Rehoboam was a king who did not do right in the eyes of the LORD.  Abijah was Solomon’s grandson and he was similar to his father.  Then along comes Asa, of whom the Bible says did right in the eyes of the LORD.

Asa was  so committed to seeking the LORD, that he cleaned the land of Judah all its demon worship (idols), and while he was king many people who were of the Northern tribes came to live in Jerusalem while he reigned.  Asa was God’s catalyst for bringing in peace for Judah for thirty years. When he did have a battle he called on the name of the LORD, and the LORD helped, and they got the victory.

In a final battle King Asa gets full of himself, and when Israel the Northern kingdom was attacking the cities of Judah to keep their people from coming back to Jerusalem, Asa hires Syria to attack Israel

That is when the prophet Hanani comes with the above words reminding of an much greater army God had given him the victory over.  Why would a king that had done good, suddenly hire and enemy of them both to attack his brethren?

This did not please the LORD, and He sent the seer, the prophet with those words that made angry; so angry that he had Hanani locked in prison; and he began oppressing some of the people.

We can learn from this that we need to always trust in the LORD.  No matter what comes our way, as Christian people ought always be in the Lord our God.

We can also see what happens when we do not submit to the word of the LORD, and we get angry with the messenger.

So DON’T GET ANGRY WITH THE MESSENGER.  Hear the truth and submit to the LORD.

A Gift From God

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Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.  For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Did you know that all good things come from God?  Do you practice recognizing this?  Do you know that God is good all the time?

Where does greed come from?  It comes from a rebellious heart, against everything that God does, and everything that He says.  The heart of wicked men say, “I am going to tear down my old barns, and build bigger  and better ones so that I can accumulate all that I desire.” The story is in Luke 12:18-21.

Solomon was a wise, wealthy, and troubled man.  As a king he was an example for the people to follow.  Ecclesiastes is almost a journal of his life of wisdom, wealth and knowledge.  In chapter five and verses 18-20 we see Solomon having the wisdom to recognize the gift God gives us for our labors.  If you and I have food on the table, or in the pantry or in the field you have a gift from God.

Solomon is telling us that God gives us His gifts that we might have some personal worth.  Our labor is a gift of God.  Some people believe that work is part of the curse since the Garden of Eden.  It is not.  The curse is upon the land, and it requires harder labor than it would have been without sin coming into the world, through Adam.

Enjoy the blessings, the fruits of your labor.  Yes!  Be sure you know the One who gave it to You.  His name is Jesus Christ.  He died for our sins on a cross, was buried, and He rose from the dead, and He is alive forever more.  From the bondage of sin, turn to Him and receive  eternal life.  Thank You Jesus.  Thank You Jesus Christ Son of the Living God.

When The LORD’S People Pray

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And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; 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.  Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.
2 Chronicles 7:12-16

Though these words, spoken by the LORD, were spoken to Solomon and the nation of Israel they are valuable for the Church – the body of Christ.  The Church regenerated is made up of believers, followers of Jesus Christ, and Jesus gives us power in prayer.

We, the people, who wear the name of Jesus,  and call ourselves Christians; for the sake of our neighbor, our nation and the rest of the world need to heed the message God give us in verses 12-16 above.  We first need to humble ourselves here in the United States of America; and in humility pray, seek the face of God, turn from our wicked ways.

Conservatism neither Liberalism will save our nation; only God can; but He will not unless Christians submit to God and His word, repenting, and in faith believing He can and will deliver us.  Our nation is in trouble. Let us humble ourselves before LORD,  seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then we can stand back, and watch what God can do.

The only hope for the U. S. of A., my nation and yours; and for all the nations of the world is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God who is the Maker of the heavens and the earth.

The LORD’S Countenance Beholds The Upright

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In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain?”  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalm 11:1-7

There is none who are righteous, so there is none who are upright;  except One.

That One is the ever living Son of God who paid the price for our sin.  The costs of our sin is death, and in the death of Jesus Christ the Righteous One, He became sin for us; He became our unrighteousness, so that we  might become the righteousness of God.

How can that be?  The holy, righteous, sinless, Son of God was born as a babe in a manger, so that He became flesh, like we are, yet without sin; because He was God Incarnated and cannot sin. Yet, when He was nailed to that cross He was everything that God hated, and the Father poured out all His wrath on our sin, the wrath that should have been mine and yours.

We are saved by grace through faith in the gift of the cross, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  So we must call on His name by faith in Him, confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believing that Jesus was raised from the dead we will be saved.  Being made the righteousness of God, we shall see the countenance or the face of God.

Fear Of The LORD

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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.  If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Proverbs 9:10-12

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 10:27

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Provoerbs 14:26-27

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 15:33

Our loving the LORD means that we fear Him, and we trust Him, because He will always do what He says He will do.  His positive as well as His negative promises will come to pass, just as He has said.

Someone has said, “If we fear GOD we need to fear nothing else.”

Hate What God Hates

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The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Proverbs 8:13, 35-36

Proverbs eight and nine personifies wisdom, and she is speaking of the need, for we descendants of Adam, to possess her.  She is mentioned in chapter one verses 20 through 33; and she says quite a bit there for us to hear.

Wisdom is a gift from God, that comes with knowledge, and understanding.  In chapter six we are given seven things which God hates.  I do not believe this is an exhausted list, but that each of these evil things include all the evil that we do; and God hates it.

As you can see in verse 13 of chapter 8 above, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.”  Wisdom is telling us that we are to hate everything that the LORD hates.

God hates sin and evil so much that he sees us in the bondage of wickedness of evil, and knows we cannot defeat it on our own.  So seeing us in the condemnation of sin, evil, wickedness, sent His holy,  ownly begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die in our place to purchase our salvation.

Jesus died on that old wooden cross as the propitiation for our  sins, by becoming sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.  When we turn away from sin to Christ Jesus that is repentance and faith, then we are no longer in condemnation.  We are freed from the bondage of sin and evil.

The wisest thing we can do is to find life through Him.  The greatest evil you can do is to reject wisdom and turn down God’s greatest gift.  That is the mind of a fool.

Loving God and His Word

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PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed forThy commandments.
Look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy name.
Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep Thy precepts.
Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes.
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy law.

Psalm 119:129-136

The writer of this part (PE), one of what is the seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Each eight verse section begins with a letter in the Hebrew text.

Notice the love the Psalmist has for the word of God.  Notice, also his love for his fellowman; “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy law.”

We  need a great love for God and His word – commandments, etc; and great love for our fellow man.

You LORD, Have Helped Me

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I will extol thee, O LORD; for Thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me.
O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.  For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  And in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”
LORD, by Thy favour Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled.  I cried to Thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise Thee? Shall it declare Thy truth?
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be Thou my helper.  Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever.

Psalm 30:1-12

This is a Psalm of David which  was sung at the dedication of the house of David.

David was a man greatly blessed by God, who was the first and only king of Israel whom the LORD referred to him, “As a man after my own heart.”

This is a song of praise.

Christians are followers of Jesus Christ alone.  We are to worship Him and praise Him with our mouth and with our lives; loving Him, and living for His glory.

Because He Is Great, The LORD Is Holy

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The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people.  Let them praise Thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.  The king’s strength also loveth judgment; Thou dost establish equity, Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy.  Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name; they called upon the LORD, and He answered them.  He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept His testimonies, and the ordinance that He gave them.  Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, though Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

Psalm 99:1-9

It could also be said, “Because our LORD is holy, He is great.”

The LORD God who is holy is worthy of our praise and worship.  Why because He is holy.  There is no god; but the LORD He is the only God.  That is why He is holy, and because there is no wickedness, evil, neither uncleanness in Him.

The LORD God even tells His people, “Be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45; 1 Peter 1:16).

How can we be holy?  First of all we must realize that we are unholy, and separated from holy God.  The only way we can be  holy is through Jesus Christ, God’s holy and only begotten Son, and believing in Him, confessing Him as Lord, and believing that God raised Him up from the grave alive forever more.

“You be holy, for I am Holy,” saith the LORD.

Treacherous Friends, and The Caring LORD

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He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  But Thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in Thee.

Psalm 55:20-23

Sometimes you cannot count on trusting your friends; but God cares for you and me.  The apostle  Peter by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has said, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Friends cannot always be counted upon; but God loves you and me so much that He sent His only begotten Son to pay our debt of sin by becoming sin for us, and dying for us.  All He ask of us to to call on His name by faith, turning from our sin to Him, believing Him forever.