YHWH

The Word Of God Fulfilled

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Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
Ezra 1:1-4

Second Chronicles ends with this same record of Cyrus’s declaration of building the house of the LORD God of Israel. This one has more details to it, however, chapter 36 and verse 21 tells us why the people of God were seventy years in captivity in this foreign land.

To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.  2 Chronicles 36:21

It could be that someone might be reading this and thinking, “I don’t believe in prophecy, so I don’t believe the bible is the truth.” You know what? It matters not at all what you think. It does matter what God says. If He said it; He will do it.

Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would be taken captive to Babylon, would be there seventy years, so that the land of Israel would make up the Sabbath days that were missed. The people of Israel and Judah were guilty of violating the Sabbaths of the LORD; because they had turned their backs to Him, and served other gods; which were no gods at all, but the works of men’s hands.

God’s word is true from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, not including the apocrypha, which is not reliable, not inspired, and cannot be the word of God. If God said it, it will come to pass, just the way He said it.

It is true of every thing it says about Jesus Christ as well. Jesus is the main character of the Old Testament. In the Revelation it is written, “…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” Revelation 19:10. That includes the Old Testament. Jesus existed before there was creation. He is seen many times in the Old Testament revealing Himself as the Angel of the LORD. He is the One who walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam. When Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit of the tree, and they hid themselves when they heard God calling out, “Adam, where are you?” That was Jesus, known as the Word of God (John 1:1-5).

If you deny what God says about His Son, then you also deny God. If you deny God, you deny His Son. If you deny God, and the Son of God you are still in your sins, and still need the cleansing and forgiveness of sin that only the death of Jesus Christ on the cross can give. He died, He was buried, and He rose again, coming out of the grave alive forever more.

Believe God. Trust in the finished work of Jesus, believing that only Jesus can deliver you from sin, death, hell and the grave.

Why Good Kings Fall

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In this study today I want to remember the words of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1:6; “…and has made us kings and priest unto God, and His Father…”  Only those who are in Christ Jesus have been made kings and priests through the cross of Jesus – His death, burial, and resurrection.

Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. vv. 3-5
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.  But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 15-16

Why do good kings fall? That is a question that is answered in looking at the lives of the good kings of Judah (There were no good kings in the northern kingdom of Israel), all the kings of Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

We look at King Uzziah today. He “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.” Verse five says, “…As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.” In verses fifteen and sixteen we read, “…He was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…”

We can look at this one king, and begin to see how we should live, as the kings and priests of the Lord Jesus. We also see how we should not live. In the first place we need to be continually seeking the LORD, to know Him better, to love Him more, and to be a better servants to God, and our neighbor.

In the second place we need to always remember that when God has prospered us, where that prosperity comes from. God prosper us.  Let us always thank Him for His blessings. When we are truly thankful to Him, then we will less likely to fall. Uzziah became full of arrogance and pride. He took on himself an act of service that he was fit for, and he ended up with the curse of leprosy on his body until the day of his death.

As a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, I must guard my heart and mind through the reading and study of the word of God with the guidance of the Spirit of God to do so. I must also remember that I am still subject to the Lord, and I answer to Him for any sin in my life. I am not beyond His judgment, or consequences of my sin in this life. That is why I am thankful that we are told, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Do you know God? Do you know His Son Jesus Christ? If you do not, you need to know that you are a sinner. You have sinned against God your Creator, and that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and me while we were yet sinners. He became sin for us, and gives us His righteousness when we come to Him. Jesus Christ died on a cross for us, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that grave alive forever more.

You can trust Him. Call on the name that is above every name – that name is Jesus. He will hear you and will deliver you from your sin.

When The Kings Of God Face Trouble

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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.’ ” (20:14-17)
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.”
2 Chronicles 20:14-17, 20

Jehoshaphat was king who did right in the eyes of the LORD (2 Chronicles 17:1-4), by  following the ways of David. He called on the people of Judah to seek the LORD God with all their hearts. Please read all of chapter 20.

This king of Judah was warned of an approaching army, an enemy, yet descendants of Lot (Genesis 11:27 and 12:4). The Moabites and the Ammonites; who are descendants of Lot’s sons Moab, and Ammon (Genesis 19:30-38). When he hears of a great encroaching enemy he is fearful, and does what  any godly king should do when their people, their lives, and nation is at stake; and that is he prayed to the Creator of heaven and earth – the One true God.

When he had prayed the Spirit of God came upon a Levite by the name Jahaziel and told  the king, and his army, “You do not need to fight this battle. The battle is not yours but God’s”

The people of Israel went out to the battle singing and praising the LORD. The enemy attacked the people of Seir and defeated them, then turned against each other, leaving a mass of corpses  on the ground.

When an enemy comes against us as followers of Jesus Christ we too must do what King Jehoshapht did. We must humbly approach the LORD God, seeking Him with our whole heart. We also need to remember that His enemy is our enemy, and that He hears the prayers of those who are faithful to do His will.

All of those who know Him will be kings and priests unto the Lord our God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). We are in training, through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit at work in us as we live here, before we are glorified with Christ Jesus.

If you do not know Him you are yet His enemy. Christ died for us while we were yet His enemies (Romans 5:10), and if He loved us enough to become sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God, then the power of His resurrection is even greater.  Through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ an evil man or woman can be changed through His power. The changed one becomes a person that loves and respects others, and becomes a servant to them.

He will not fail to complete what He has began in us (Philippians 1:6). The Lord’s personal invitation to you today is “Come to Me.”

When Kings Trust The LORD

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And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.  And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee.”  So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before His host; and they carried away very much spoil….
2 Chronicles 14:9-13

Asa was now the king of Judah and Benjamin. He is the grandson of Rehoboam who is the son of Solomon.  Solomon was not faithful to the LORD, yet He loved him, and had mercy on him.

Asa was one that the Lord says that he did right in the eyes of the LORD, and we see it in the verses above, in his prayer tho Him. The prayer comes seeing the massive army from Ethiopia with a million man army. According to verse 8 of this chapter, King Asa has only an army of five hundred eighty thousand (580,000). The enemies numbers are almost twice the number, but King Asa prays to the LORD. The LORD hears Asa’s prayer, and He wins the victory.

Would it not be wonderful to have kings, presidents, prime ministers, and all leaders trust in the LORD God Almighty. If they would trust in the Lord through hearing His word, commitment, and faithfulness to God, then there would probably be less war mongering. Trusting in only the One true God who is the Creator of all that is – heaven and earth, and all that is therein.

The One true God sent His only begotten Son into this world to redeem all who would come to Him, by God’s grace through faith. If you do not come through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you do not come at all. The crucifixion of Christ Jesus is the only sacrifice for sin. If you know the Son, you know the Father; if you know the Father, you know the Son.

It would be wonderful too if you would call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, turning from sin to Jesus, and putting your full confidence and faith in Him. Do that right now.

According To the Word of the LORD

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Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which He spake by His servant Elijah. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
2 Kings 10:10-11

Jehu is a character of contradiction. I say that because he is chosen to be the next king of Israel, and he is ordained by God’s word to rid the population of Israel of their king Joram, a son of Ahab, an family that was doomed by the word of he LORD. Jehu does everything just as the LORD has told him, of the destroying of Ahab’s wife Jezebel, and his heirs. Just as the LORD had said.

I say Jehu is a character of contradiction due to the fact that he was also a man who never turned away from the path of Jereboam, who had set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (2 Kings 10:31).

Nevertheless, he did do the will and word of the LORD in his actions, but no heart for God. How is this possible? That is the part I cannot grasp.

The point I want to make with this post is that there  is not a word which the LORD God has spoken, that will fail to be fulfilled. Not one. There are many, and many may be reading this and thinking that the Bible is not the word of God, and there is no way you can prove that it is. How about the issue of these prophecies?

The LORD had spoken through Elijah in First Kings 21:17-26, all that He would do to Ahab and Jezebel, and now we read that it happened just as Elijah had said. Do you realize that there are prophecies that have been spoken by God, that have not yet been fulfilled? There are probably hundreds that are yet to come to pass. They will in the LORD’S own time.

Many of those are of the second coming of Jesus Christ; His return to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14). Jesus said, “I will come again” (John 14:3). He said this before they crucified Him. His death did not stop Him from returning, it gives greater meaning to His coming again. Why? Because He did not stay dead. He rose from the grave with a new body that can never die. That is also what happens to everyone who has repented of their sins, by turning away from sin, toward Christ Jesus. When this body of flesh dies we too shall receive a new body that shall never perish.

Since the promises of the Old Testament were fulfilled, yet many of them have not been; then we must believe that they are being fulfilled, or they will be fulfilled just as GOD has spoken. The prophet Isaiah wrote,

“So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11

If we trust the LORD God, then we will trust His word, and His Son Jesus Christ.

O Altar, Altar

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And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.  And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; ‘Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.’ And he gave a sign the same day, saying, ‘This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; ‘Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.’ ”
1 Kings 13:1-3

This introduces us to an unnamed prophet who has gone from Judah to Bethel with a word from the LORD, to Jereboam. Jereboam his sinned grievously by setting up two golden calves; one in Dan, and the other in Bethel.

Jereboam is there offering sacrifice, and this prophet comes with the word of the LORD, which includes a prophecy of the birth of Josiah, a much later king of Judah. As a sign that this word from the LORD was the truth he says, “Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

In the verses that follow we see that is exactly what happened. God still proves His word to be true. As is said by Jesus many times, “He that has ears to hear; let him hear.” The problem with many who do not believe in God is they have no desire for Him. They love the life they have, and think all is well; but they are perishing in their self deceiving minds. They do not want God to tell them how to live their lives. So they do not want to hear.

I really imagine the Jereboam did not want to hear the word of the LORD from this Judean prophet. But he heard it whether he like it or not, and there was no change except in his rebellious hand, as he ordered the prophet to be arrested.

The word of the LORD from this prophet was to Jereboam, reminding him there was the LORD God who was in control, and had given him a promise to have a kingdom as long as he obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and having a heart for Him. He did not obey, and his family was destroyed (read 1 Kings 15).

Our message for today is that the word of the LORD is trust worthy, faithful, and true from the smallest letter to the largest. When God says  it; it will be done. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but My word shall never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). In Psalm 119 and verse 89 the psalmist wrote, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven,” and it does not do harm to the word of God if we do not believe it; it is still the truth of God and stands sure.

The word of God is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but has everlasting life” (John 3:16).

You are a sinner condemned to an eternity of torment. We were all born in a sinful  body, condemned to hell, and without some work of God, we would certainly go there. But God who is rich in mercy for His great love which He gave us in His Son Jesus will give light, and life eternal to all who will believe Him. In Him alone is the only way of eternal salvation.

Will you believe today? Will you call on His name? He is waiting.

This House

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And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
“Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I perform My word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.
1 KIngs 6:11-13

King David had a heart to build a house for the LORD. However, the LORD would  not allow David to build because he had been a man at war, and had shed much blood. God had told him, “Your son will build me an house,” and thus we see after Solomon is anointed King, that he begins to build that house.

The LORD is not so concerned with a physical house; as He is with the human heart. The heart of Solomon was what God wanted.

Could or would Solomon walk in the statutes of God? Would or could execute the judgments of God? Would or could he keep all the commandments of God? The answer to all three questions is; NO!

The house GOD wants to dwell in is the house of the human heart. That heart of the man or woman is corrupt and evil, unless that heart is changed by God Himself. Second  Corinthians 5:1through 2 speaks of this house. I leave the reference hear for you to investigate, and see for yourself.

GOD wants to make your heart His house to dwell in. He made that possible only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on a cross. He was buried, and He rose from that grave and is alive forever  more.

If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, your shall be saved. Will you do that today.

Sin Against God Affects Us All

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And David said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said unto David, “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:13-15

There are many people whom I have heard say something like this after they have been confronted about some sin they have committed; “I am hurting nobody, but maybe myself. I am not hurting anyone else.” O, what a lie is that.

King David had committed adultery with one of his faithful soldiers wife. Uziah’s wife became pregnant by David, and David tried to cover up the possible scandal that would occur. He ends up sending Uziah back to the battlefield, and to certain death, thus by his order murdering his soldier. There he has killed a man, after he has adulterated his wife. There is two others affected by one man’s sin. Joab, David’s General over the battle is also affected by David’s scheme to cover his sin.  Then, the baby dies as a result of David’s sin.

For all practical purposes David deserved to die. David confesses his sin, and Nathan the bold prophet who confronted the king about his sin, gives him God’s message, “The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Nathan has told him already what his sin will do in his family, and against him in verses 11 through 12, of this same chapter. In the verses above the sin of David, the LORD said would give cause for his enemies to blaspheme God.

My sin, and your sin always affects others. The next time you think you are getting away with something that you did wrong. You had ought to think again, because it does affect others, and maybe those closest to you. When your sin is exposed, and it is known, then it will cause many others to take a dim view of God, and will blaspheme the name of God.

Even things done in the privacy of a bedroom with the wrong person with or without the opposite sex. Your sin will find you out, and you will give an accounting to GOD for it.

The good news is, that there is forgiveness for all who fall on their face before the LORD in repentance, for one who is already a follower of Christ (1 John1:9). For the one who does not yet know Jesus Christ He will forgive your sins, and cleanse you, and give you eternal life with Himself. Repent – turn away from your sin – and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ believing He died on a cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again. Will you call on His name today? He is waiting.

Promise of a Prosperous Pursuit

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And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.  And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod.” And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.  And David enquired at the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
1 Samuel 30:6-8

Giving a little background information. David and his men had been given the city of Ziklag for he and his men to dwell in. This was a Philistine city which the ruler of the Philistines had given them. David, and his men were serving that ruler, or so the ruler supposed, while David and his men never attacked any people of Israel, as David told Philistines that he was.

On a day the ruler told David they were going to war against Israel, he asked David to join him, and David agreed. They got to the site of their troops, and the lords of the Philistines did not like that, David, and Israelite with a reputation of killing ten thousand to Saul’s thousand. So, Achish the ruler of the Philistines sent him back to Ziklag.

When David and his men returned to Ziklag ravaged, their wives and children gone. All the people of Ziklag had been taken by marauding band of Amalekites. Upon finding the city ravaged, their wives and children taken, and all their things, their stuff taken, there was talk among the men of stoning David. David was grieving as well as the other men.

In verse six of the above text we read, “…But David encouraged himself in the LORD.” I can hear him praying, singing psalms, praising God Almighty, and giving an offering of thanksgiving. Doing so will encourage the wounded heart.

Then David asked the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” He is no longer discouraged. David is ready for action, and he asked to LORD, before he just in a hap hazard fashion takes after them without the LORD’S counsel. The LORD’S counsel is “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

Now David has God’s word of assurance they will be victorious. They will get their wives, their children, and all that was taken, they will get it all back, just as the LORD had said.

How does this apply to the Christian of today?  First of all we all have days when it seems like those around us – family, friends, fellow workers at our place of employment, and enemies even – are against us. Remember David’s own men were talking of stoning him. Yet, David knew the LORD, and strengthened himself in the LORD. You and I can do that as well. We do not need a therapist. We need Jesus Christ. He is our healer, and He is our Help.

When you are discouraged, or depressed pick up your Bible, and read it. If you, as a Christian are down, in despair, and doubt, then read the Psalms. Begin thinking about the many blessings the Lord has given you. Be reminded of God’s wonderful, marvelous love, mercy, and grace. Also be reminded of His greatness, power, His holiness, and righteousness, and that He still cares for us.

Jesus Christ who died on a cross to free us from sin, from death, and from hell is also the wonderful counselor. He is Lord of all, and He is our Savior.

If you are down and discouraged today, and you do not know Jesus who died for you, here is how you can be delivered from sin, and have help for your discouragement. “If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Gideon’s Sons

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And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Judges 9:53, 56-57

In order to know what is going on with these verses you will need to read all of  chapter nine of the book of Judges.

Abimelech is one of the 70 or so of Gideon’s sons. Gideon is also known as Jerubbaal. Abimelech has a desire to be king even though his father has said the he, nor his sons would rule Israel (Judges 8:23). He kills all the other sons of Jerubbaal, except one who is named Jotham.

In chapter nine is parable spoken by Jotham warning Abimelech and Israel his evil leadership, of his life’s end. The parable is about trees searching for a tree to rule over them; they go to the olive tree, the fig tree, and are rejected. They are rejected by all the trees until they get to a bramble bush who accepts the invitation.

In our text above we see Abimelech being killed by a woman who has thrown a mill stone down on his head, then he cries out to another man to finish him with a sword, because he did not want it said, “Abimelech was killed by a woman.”

It was an evil thing that Abimelech had done in the murder of 70 of his own brothers, and out of a lust for power. The main message here is that God watches over His people, and carries out His word, and the curse of Jotham was fulfilled.

God’s word stands sure. It should be the Christians confidence, our encouragement, and draw our strength from God in the reading, study, and personal application of the word of God in our lives. The books of the Old Testament – the Law, the History, the Wisdom books, the Major Prophets, and the Minor Prophets are the word of God. The books of the New Testament – The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts, the Epistles of Paul, and all the rest through the Revelation are the words of the Lord. We must learn them, hear them, and do them. Especially as we see the day of the LORD drawing nearer.

The written word of God shows us who Jesus is. He was before Abraham, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8:58). So Jesus Himself is declaring that He is God. He is also our Lord and Savior who died on the cross for our sins, becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). When He died, He was buried, and three days later He rose again, and walked out of the cold ugly tomb. Through Him there is Life, and Life Eternal with Him.

How Big Is GOD?

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And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.  If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”
Numbers 14:6-9

The title of this post is “How Big Is GOD?” He is as big as His word; in that not one word He has spoken will fail. He keeps His word.

Joshua and Caleb knew how big the LORD is. When they went with the other ten men to survey the land, and check it out they saw the Promised Land. The other ten saw trouble. Joshua and Caleb believed the LORD, and were full ready to go into the Promised Land. Their GOD, was a big GOD, fully able to conquer the people’s of Canaan.

Those of us who are in Christ Jesus we are not working for victory, but working in the victory Jesus Christ gave us in His death on the cross,  His burial, and resurrection. We know the enemy has already been defeated, so what do we have to fear. The victory is already ours

Do not rebel against the LORD, but believe Him and trust Him from the victory that is His. Do not look at how big the trouble, the problem, the sickness, or whatever you are facing is. Look at God, and remind your enemy how big God is.

Jesus Christ came in love, mercy, and grace to accomplish our salvation, by becoming sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God, in Him. In becoming sin for us He died on the cross, being a perfect, sinless, sacrifice for sin. When He was dead they laid Him in a tomb, and three days later He walked out alive forever more. Believe Him and call on His name.

The Goodness, Mercy, and Grace of the LORD

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And He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”  And He said, “Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
Exodus 33:19-20

Moses had just asked the LORD, “Show me Your glory, ” and ends by tell us that no man can behold the face of the LORD, and live.

We read in verse 11 that Moses talked with God face to face, as with a friend, and we are told in the last verse of the chapter, “…but My face shall not be seen.” Seems like a contradiction, and I am not sure I can grasp the full meaning of that, but say,  when Moses was speaking to God face to face it was in a cloud, a veil or sorts, and when GOD shows Himself (His glory) there is no veil, but only His hand that guards Moses from death, and that Moses saw only the LORD’S back.

This revelation of Moses getting to view the glory of the LORD shows us that God is truly good, merciful, and gracious. It especially shows us that God can be seen.

God was seen by men when Jesus was on earth as a Man; God veiled by human flesh. Jesus Himself said, “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).

The LORD God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy; and He will be gracious to whom He will be gracious. I pray He will be merciful and gracious to you so that you will come to Him through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He also told us, “I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:3).

Will you call on His name today?

“You speak with us”

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And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.  And they said unto Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”  And Moses said unto the people, “Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”  And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:18-21

In order for the people to know and believe that Moses received the word from the LORD, God had instructed Moses to have the people come to the foot of the mountain called Sinai. They would not be allowed to come near  the place where God was, but near enough to hear the voice of the LORD.

In the reading of chapter 20 of Exodus the above verses follow the giving of God’s law called the Ten Commandments. They are given in the hearing of the people, and their response is given above.

The people see and feel the quaking, rumbling, and smokey mountain at the presence of the LORD, and are quite afraid.  They tell Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear: but do not let God speak with us.” The people of God ought to want to hear the voice of the LORD.

We have people today who say they hear God’s voice, but much of what they say is contrary to the written word of God. God does not contradict Himself. Moses heard, listened, and heeded the word of the LORD. Moses went into the darkness where God was, and talked with Him.

I do not fully understand God being in the darkness, but this is not the only place where it speaks of His darkness. In Genesis 15:12 a “horrible great darkness” fell on Abraham from which God came and spoke to him.

First John 1:5 tells us that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. That may seem like a contradiction, but is more of a paradox that a contradiction. Meaning that darkness and light come along side one another to show the truth.

Because we humans are sinful beings God is unapproachable while we are in sin. God is light for those who come to Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

As Moses went into the darkness “where God was” is because he had already been with God before, and God had cleansed him, and provided his redemption.

One final thought: If you desire to hear the voice of the Lord, open the pages of God’s holy word – the Bible – and read it. Start with the Gospel of John, and there you will meet Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God, who is God the Living Son.

The One Who Made All That Is

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He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by His understanding.
When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures.
Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.  They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
The Portion of Jacob is not like them; for He is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: the LORD of hosts is His name.

Jeremiah 51:15-19

O God, Do Not Be Still

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Keep not Thou silence, O God: hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.  For, lo, Thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.  They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.”  For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against Thee: the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: who said, “Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.”
O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.  As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; so persecute them with Thy tempest, and make them afraid with Thy storm.  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Thy name, O LORD.  Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: that men may know that Thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83:1-18

God’s Way Is The Only Way

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And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, and said unto them, “Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 15:11-15

The City of David

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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, “Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:” thinking, David cannot come in hither.  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.  And David said on that day, “Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain.” Wherefore they said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
2 Samuel 5:6-10

The LORD Delivers

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And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.  And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.  There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:43-45

The LORD Hears The Voice Of A Man

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So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.  And the LORD said unto Joshua,
“Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.  And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.  Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.”  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.  And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.  And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
Joshua 10:7-15

There Is No God, But Israel’s God

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There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky.  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, ‘Destroy them.’ Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also His heavens shall drop down dew.  Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency, and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Deuteronomy 33:26-29

I Will Not Go Away From You

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And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.  And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.  And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.  And it shall be, if he say unto thee, “I will not go away from thee;” because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.  It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Zealous Against Sin and Evil

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And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses,
“Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.”
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, “Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”   And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Numbers 25:1-9

Like A Refiners Fire

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“Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come,” saith the LORD of hosts.  “But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me,” saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1-5

The LORD is my God

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“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow,” saith the LORD of hosts: “Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones.  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land,” saith the LORD, “two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, ‘It is My people:’ and they shall say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”
Zechariah 13:7-9

Let Your Hands Be Strong

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Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.’
“Thus saith the LORD; ‘I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the Mountain of the LORD of hosts the Holy Mountain.’
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; ‘There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.’
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; ‘If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in Mine eyes?’ saith the LORD of hosts.
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; ‘Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.’
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; ‘Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.’ ”
Zechariah 8:1-9