Post by nicfos on Nov 23, 2007 9:51:52 GMT -5
Rom. 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honour and to His praise]. And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God.
Deut. 21:22-23 Any sin worthy of death is also cursed by God.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)
Praise the Lord He will continue to persuade them to repent
Heb. 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Isaiah 14:9 Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead) below is stirred up to meet you at your coming [O tyrant Babylonian rulers]; it stirs up the shades of the dead to greet you--even all the chief ones of the earth; it raises from their thrones [in astonishment at your humbled condition] all the kings of the nations.
Isaiah 14:8-10 (in Context) Isaiah 14 (Whole Chapter)
2 Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.
2 Timothy 3:1-3 (in Context) 2 Timothy 3 (Whole Chapter)
Hebrews 13:5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. not, not, not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!]
Hebrews 13:4-6 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole
Much of the worlds population will soon begin experiencing a major shift of values brought about by both internal changes and external pressures. Especially in the western world, things that were highly valued will become of very little value and things that seemed of little or no value will become highly valued.
Generally things pertaining to luxury, leisure life, personal pleasure, and adult play are currently highly valued in the Babylonian culture in the western world. Family values and family structure are at an all time low and undergoing strong attack from a segment of the culture opposed to godliness and biblical moral values.
Several studies by sociologists have looked at whether the effect of money on happiness results largely from the things money can buy (the so called absolute income effect) or from comparing one's income to the income of others (relative income effect) and concluded the latter is most important, even though economists usually only focus on the size of salaries.the "shocking fact" is that people in the West have become no happier in the last 50 years, despite being healthier, wealthier and better travelled.
A major internal shift toward spiritual life in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God has begun in an increasing remnant of the population. An internal love relationship with God has shifted the values of the remnant ekklesia people of God.
The kingdom of God is first internal and then external.
The kingdom is within and becomes collectively without as it spreads like yeast in a lump of dough or grows like a mustard seed from the inner life of a small seed to a great plant. As people see the pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in the field, values are changed and it becomes reasonable to sell all and purchase the pearl of great price or the land of hidden treasure. This is the great internal value shift that is coming to an increasing remnant of the world.
The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).
Righteousness, peace, and joy are internal qualities that become outworking into the world around us and affect everyone touched by the person walking in them. These are heavenly governing qualities of Christ that govern our personal life values and decisions affecting every decision and action of our personal life. As the people are internally governed by God’’s kingdom, the things around them over which they have authority or ownership become governed by heavenly kingdom qualities and principles. Thus the kingdom of God is governing in that portion of the world. As the kingdom spreads into more people, the governing of the heavenly kingdom covers more of the world. The kingdom is contagious and can be caught by others on contact. The predominant characteristic underlying righteousness, peace, and joy is God’’s love. All the kingdom qualities work by love. God is love. Joy cannot be contained and is highly contagious and very strengthening. The joy of the Lord is our strength to carry the love, righteousness, and peace to the world around us.
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God (Prov 9:10). The end or depth of wisdom is intimate love relationship with God in which there is no fear.
The beginning of the wisdom of knowing God often begins with the fear of God. The people of the world who have no respect for God and His ways are unwise. Those who do not turn to Him and His ways do not experience the internal value changes of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. They may be secular or religious, but they unwisely choose the fallen ways of Babylonian values and lifestyle.
God allows experience or external pressures that result from unrighteousness to bring inner turmoil and strife causing grief, despondency and despair. The increasing external pressures increase the internal pressures that eventually lead to despair, self-hatred, and despising of life. All this becomes outworking as well, and vile vicous people attack one another in their desperate state which makes things worse for everyone. The people and their nations suffer as the economy collapses, war is on all sides, the once luxurious life of play and plenty becomes a destitute attempt to sustain life in the midst of turmoil and strife.
Premature death, sickness, and disease are unchecked for lack of resources and the loss of God’’s protection.
1 Samuel 2:12 The sons of Eli were base and worthless; they did not know or regard the Lord.
The sons of Belial will be punished; the house of Eli is doomed, the glory of Moab is finished.
1 Samuel 3:12 On that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
1 Samuel 3:11-13 (in Context) 1 Samuel 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 Samuel 3:14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for or purged with sacrifice or offering forever.
1 Samuel 3:13-15 (in Context) 1 Samuel 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 Kings 2:27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar [descendant of Eli] from being priest to the Lord, fulfilling the word of the Lord which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
1 Kings 2:26-28 (in Context) 1 Kings 2 (Whole Chapter)
2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation their descendants shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord forever,
Deuteronomy 23:2-4 (in Context) Deuteronomy 23 (Whole Chapter)
Isa 59:2: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
The prophet said, your iniquitys have separated you from your God. The kingdom of darkness will rule everywhere that the kingdom of light with its righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit does not rule.
Isaiah 14:5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the [tyrant] rulers,
Isaiah 14:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 14 (Whole Chapter)
Isaiah 26:14 They [the former tyrant masters] are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. Therefore You have visited and made an end of them and caused every memory of them [every trace of their supremacy] to perish.
Isaiah 26:13-15 (in Context) Isaiah 26 (Whole Chapter)
The first spark of godly wisdom comes in the recognition that the favour of God has left and the hedge of His protection is gone. This can lead to the first light of wisdom, the FEAR OF GOD.
Psalm 89:40 You have broken down all his hedges and his walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
Psalm 89:39-41 (in Context) Psalm 89 (Whole Chapter)
Isaiah 5:5 And now I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be eaten and burned up; and I will break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down [by enemies].
Isaiah 5:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 5 (Whole Chapter)
This is the external pressure that will cause multitudes to turn and seek the kingdom of God. This is the chastening of the love of God bringing a fallen world to repentance and change of their internal values.
In the day of your great trouble, return to Me and I will return to you.
Mal 3:7: Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts.
The remnant of a maturing kingdom people of God is arising.
All the world is groaning with birth pangs waiting for the sons of God to come forth bringing the salvation of healing and restoration to a planet suffering from the ways of fallen mankind. The world has been deceived by a cunning enemy who has devised a huge false system of rule in the world that leads to destruction. There are two major parts to this great deceptive system. One is secularism and the other is religion. The great overriding system is anti Christ. The whole matter is the replacement and deformation of Christ Jesus who is God incarnate and King of the world.
The end is the beginning. The end of the great Babylonian deception is the beginning of the reality of Christ Jesus and His kingdom being restored to Planet Earth.
The great harlot system that has brought massive modern pseudo prosperity and rich lifestyles of fleshly pleasure under the religious and secular control of the anti-Christ plan of Satan will come down. The glorious rule of the New Jerusalem Bride of Christ in the presence of God dwelling among His people.
The many secular philosophies of life denying God and elevating man to become his own god will come to its end as man sees the true God manifesting in love and power destroying all the pride and loftiness of man that exalts itself against Almighty God. The religious worship of false gods, along with the adulterous forms of Christian religion having a form of godliness but denying the power of God, will be purged by cleansing fire destroying everything that is not of God.
Isa 2:12: For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up; And it shall be brought low. the full work of the cross will come into view.
All who have scorned the love gift of God and refused the redemption purchased for all mankind will come to an end of their folly. All who have devised other gods will see their weak and useless gods dissolved in the power and glory of the one true God. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
This is not the destruction of the planet. It is the cleansing of the planet. The work of the cross of Christ has been completed, and God is only waiting for the sons of God to mature on earth to lead the cleansed people of God in the establishment of the ways of God, the New Jerusalem Bride of Christ lifestyle. The love and holiness of God shall prevail over disobedience and rebellion in the hearts and lives of the people on earth as it is in heaven.
Gracious Souls Take Notice Of God's Hand
"In everything that befalls us we ought to see and own the hand of God; whatever is done is of His performing; in it His counsel is accomplished and the scripture is fulfilled."
"Every creature is that to us which God makes it to be, and from Him our judgment proceeds. As we must see the events that shall occur in the hand of God, so we must see the hand of God in the events that do occur, and acknowledge Him with thankfulness when we have reason to call it His good hand."
"Gracious souls take notice of God's hand, His good hand, in all events, which turn in favour of them." -
"If where ministers have been wanting, the vacancies are well supplied, let us ascribe it to the good hand of God, qualifying them for the service, inclining them to it, and opening a door for them."
"If God gives us His hand, we are bold and cheerful - if He withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it."
Oh! How we need "the hand of the Lord" to be in operation in our every day lives.
Is it in yours?
In Isaiah 59:1, the Prophet said - "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save..." Then we find in Isaiah 50:2, the Lord asking the people of God - "...Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?..." In both of these verses of Scripture, the "hand" is an emblem of strength. To the Orientals, a long, stretched-out hand was an emblem of power; whereas, a shortened hand was an emblem of weakness. In essence, what God was inquiring was this - "Can any limits be set to Omnipotence? Have I no power to deliver you? Am I unwilling or unable to save you?"
"The church's salvation comes from the hand of God, and that has not waxed weak nor is it at all shortened. Has the Lord's hand waxed short?...No, it has not; He will not have it thought so. Neither length of time nor strength of enemies, no, nor weakness of instrument, can shorten or straiten the power of God, with which it is all one to save by many or by few."
As the church, we need to get a hold of this truth. Our salvation does indeed come from "the hand of God." And this hand or power has in no way been lessened, straitened, or abridged. Neither time, the devil, nor you yourself can shorten or take away from the power of God.
God wants us to be cognizant of "the hand of the Lord" on a daily basis.
How does it manifest itself in our lives?
In 2 Chronicles 30:12, we read - "Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. " In this situation, God, by the power of His grace, inclined the hearts of Judah and several of the other tribes to an unanimous compliance with King Hezekiah's and His will to keep the passover. His "hand" gave them one heart in the matter. It caused them to be all of one mind.
In Ezra 7:6, "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him." In Ezra 7:9, "For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him."
It is time to proclaim a fast;
Ezra 7;21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Ezra 7:28, "And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me."
Ezra 8:18, "And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen."
In the first instance, "the hand of God" brought favour to Ezra in disposing the king to grant him everything he desired. The second verse relates how "the hand of the Lord" directed, provided for, protected, defended, and brought Ezra and his company to their journey's end - Jerusalem. The third verse once again reiterates how "the hand of God" influenced the king to aid Ezra in his attempt to beautify the house of Jehovah. And, lastly, we see the "good hand of God" furnishing Levites for the task at hand. It qualifies them for the service, inclines them to it, and opens a door for them.
In Ezra 8:22, we read a very interesting statement given by Ezra - "For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him." What he was saying was that "the hand of God" protects and defends from all evil all those who pray to...serve...and worship Him. His power and provision is over them. They find themselves safe under His wings.
In two instances, Nehemiah mentioned "the hand of God" - "And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me" (Nehemiah 2:8) and "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work"(Nehemiah 2:18). In the first instance, he recognized "the hand of God" at work in having the king send the provision that he requested. In the second instance, he testified to the Jews how God so far prospered his undertaking by moving on the king's heart to show favor and grant him his request. He attributed all this good fortune to "the hand of my God" being in operation.
In 1 Kings 18:46, we read how "the hand of the LORD" enabled Elijah to outrun Ahab's chariot at least sixteen miles enroute to Jezreel. The spirit of strength from the Lord - identified as "the hand of the Lord" - came upon him giving him more than common strength of body to accomplish such a feat.
In 2 Kings 3:15, after Elisha requested that a minstrel play, it is recorded in Holy Scriptures that - "the hand of the LORD came upon him." In this case, "the hand of the Lord" can be equated with the spirit of prophecy for it was at this time that Elisha received a word from the Lord for the kings.
We see "the hand of the LORD" as a constraining power and influence leading into a prophetic word in Ezekiel 1:3 and Ezekiel 3:14 - "The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him" and "So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me."
"The hand of the Lord"
Is it in operation in your life?
So many want to attribute their happenings to luck or happen chance. However, different characters in the Bible readily attributed their good fortune or uncommon influence, strength, or power to "the hand of the Lord."
We can either have "the hand of the Lord" in operation in our lives or "the hand of the devil."
Which will it be in your case?
Psalm 107:2 says - "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." "The hand of the enemy" is the power of the enemy, just as "the hand of the LORD" is the power of God.
The "redeemed" acknowledge that it is "the hand of the LORD" in operation in their lives. They know from whence all their success, prosperity, and favor is coming.
"The hand of the LORD" in your life can have many manifestations as exemplified in this message.
Why not be like Nehemiah and Ezra and boldly take notice of God's hand in all your events?
Make it a practice to see "the hand of the LORD" in all your events. Acknowledge Him with thankfulness for having a reason to call it His "good hand." When you do, you will show to others that you are indeed walking under the "umbrella" of His wonderful grace.
The Purified Bride: Eyes Only for Jesus
Ephesians 5:25b - 27
The Apostle Paul instructs us in the words of our text that Jesus so loves His church that He gave his very life for her in order that He might sanctify and cleanse her. The ultimate purpose for Him doing this was that He might one day “…present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish”. It has always been the plan of the Lord to possess a called out people that would be His for eternity.
Often in the scriptures the relationship between God and his church is likened to marriage. E.g., Ephesians 5:30-32.
On that glorious day when the Lord Jesus returns, the true church of God will be joined to him as a bride is to her groom on the wedding day. Revelation 19:7 validates this. It says, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready”.
As believers our brief stay here on earth is compared to the ancient oriental practice of betrothal. The custom of betrothal as practiced in Bible days by the Jews involved much more than our present day Western custom of engagement. It normally lasted a year and was culminated with the wedding of the bride and groom. So serious was it that it could only be severed through divorce. And if one partner was found guilty of infidelity he or she was liable of the death penalty according to Deut. 22:20, 21.
Paul grieved over the Corinthian Church for evidently they had been seduced away from their betrothed husband Christ. (see 2 Corinthians 11:2, 3). The man of God was all too aware that the chief ambition of the devil was to entice believers away from a pure single-hearted devotion to Christ. This was his method in the Eden and is still his method to this day. Paul calls the manner the devil uses to effect his cause “subtility”. In the Greek it is an interesting word which literally means “to stir to a place elsewhere.” Satan’s plan is to distract the focus of our love and affections away from a simplistic [single-hearted] devotion to Christ to whom they are due to things of lesser or no importance.
During the days of the Prophet he evidently achieved this goal among the vast majority of God’s people: “How the faithful city has become a harlot…” (Isaiah 1:21). In the New Testament Paul said this would happen once again to some of the people of God. He declared, “…some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits…” (1 Timothy 4:1).
The Bible is emphatic that as Christians we have been called to serve God with undivided affection and unadulterated devotion. To do otherwise constitutes spiritual adultery. Jesus stated, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24; See also James 4:4).
Beloved the Bible commands believers “…be ye holy…” (1 Peter 1:13). The Biblical Greek word for holy is hagios. Its'etymology suggests something or someone that is “not of the soil or earth.” The following passages clearly teach that our passion and focus in life is to be directed after the spiritual (Philippians 3:18-20; Colossians 3:1, 2).
Imagine a bride that informs her husband that she married him for material gain per se. How would that man feel? Surely he would feel taken advantage of. Yet this is the way we treat the Lord all too often! The irony is that if we would give the Lord the preeminence in our lives all other needs would be met! "...and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Mt. 6:33 NLT).
Let's be a people with eyes only for Jesus!
Mat 6:10: Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
Deut. 21:22-23 Any sin worthy of death is also cursed by God.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)
Praise the Lord He will continue to persuade them to repent
Heb. 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Isaiah 14:9 Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead) below is stirred up to meet you at your coming [O tyrant Babylonian rulers]; it stirs up the shades of the dead to greet you--even all the chief ones of the earth; it raises from their thrones [in astonishment at your humbled condition] all the kings of the nations.
Isaiah 14:8-10 (in Context) Isaiah 14 (Whole Chapter)
2 Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.
2 Timothy 3:1-3 (in Context) 2 Timothy 3 (Whole Chapter)
Hebrews 13:5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. not, not, not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!]
Hebrews 13:4-6 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole
Much of the worlds population will soon begin experiencing a major shift of values brought about by both internal changes and external pressures. Especially in the western world, things that were highly valued will become of very little value and things that seemed of little or no value will become highly valued.
Generally things pertaining to luxury, leisure life, personal pleasure, and adult play are currently highly valued in the Babylonian culture in the western world. Family values and family structure are at an all time low and undergoing strong attack from a segment of the culture opposed to godliness and biblical moral values.
Several studies by sociologists have looked at whether the effect of money on happiness results largely from the things money can buy (the so called absolute income effect) or from comparing one's income to the income of others (relative income effect) and concluded the latter is most important, even though economists usually only focus on the size of salaries.the "shocking fact" is that people in the West have become no happier in the last 50 years, despite being healthier, wealthier and better travelled.
A major internal shift toward spiritual life in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God has begun in an increasing remnant of the population. An internal love relationship with God has shifted the values of the remnant ekklesia people of God.
The kingdom of God is first internal and then external.
The kingdom is within and becomes collectively without as it spreads like yeast in a lump of dough or grows like a mustard seed from the inner life of a small seed to a great plant. As people see the pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in the field, values are changed and it becomes reasonable to sell all and purchase the pearl of great price or the land of hidden treasure. This is the great internal value shift that is coming to an increasing remnant of the world.
The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).
Righteousness, peace, and joy are internal qualities that become outworking into the world around us and affect everyone touched by the person walking in them. These are heavenly governing qualities of Christ that govern our personal life values and decisions affecting every decision and action of our personal life. As the people are internally governed by God’’s kingdom, the things around them over which they have authority or ownership become governed by heavenly kingdom qualities and principles. Thus the kingdom of God is governing in that portion of the world. As the kingdom spreads into more people, the governing of the heavenly kingdom covers more of the world. The kingdom is contagious and can be caught by others on contact. The predominant characteristic underlying righteousness, peace, and joy is God’’s love. All the kingdom qualities work by love. God is love. Joy cannot be contained and is highly contagious and very strengthening. The joy of the Lord is our strength to carry the love, righteousness, and peace to the world around us.
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God (Prov 9:10). The end or depth of wisdom is intimate love relationship with God in which there is no fear.
The beginning of the wisdom of knowing God often begins with the fear of God. The people of the world who have no respect for God and His ways are unwise. Those who do not turn to Him and His ways do not experience the internal value changes of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. They may be secular or religious, but they unwisely choose the fallen ways of Babylonian values and lifestyle.
God allows experience or external pressures that result from unrighteousness to bring inner turmoil and strife causing grief, despondency and despair. The increasing external pressures increase the internal pressures that eventually lead to despair, self-hatred, and despising of life. All this becomes outworking as well, and vile vicous people attack one another in their desperate state which makes things worse for everyone. The people and their nations suffer as the economy collapses, war is on all sides, the once luxurious life of play and plenty becomes a destitute attempt to sustain life in the midst of turmoil and strife.
Premature death, sickness, and disease are unchecked for lack of resources and the loss of God’’s protection.
1 Samuel 2:12 The sons of Eli were base and worthless; they did not know or regard the Lord.
The sons of Belial will be punished; the house of Eli is doomed, the glory of Moab is finished.
1 Samuel 3:12 On that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
1 Samuel 3:11-13 (in Context) 1 Samuel 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 Samuel 3:14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for or purged with sacrifice or offering forever.
1 Samuel 3:13-15 (in Context) 1 Samuel 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 Kings 2:27 So Solomon expelled Abiathar [descendant of Eli] from being priest to the Lord, fulfilling the word of the Lord which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
1 Kings 2:26-28 (in Context) 1 Kings 2 (Whole Chapter)
2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter)
Deuteronomy 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation their descendants shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord forever,
Deuteronomy 23:2-4 (in Context) Deuteronomy 23 (Whole Chapter)
Isa 59:2: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
The prophet said, your iniquitys have separated you from your God. The kingdom of darkness will rule everywhere that the kingdom of light with its righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit does not rule.
Isaiah 14:5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the [tyrant] rulers,
Isaiah 14:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 14 (Whole Chapter)
Isaiah 26:14 They [the former tyrant masters] are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. Therefore You have visited and made an end of them and caused every memory of them [every trace of their supremacy] to perish.
Isaiah 26:13-15 (in Context) Isaiah 26 (Whole Chapter)
The first spark of godly wisdom comes in the recognition that the favour of God has left and the hedge of His protection is gone. This can lead to the first light of wisdom, the FEAR OF GOD.
Psalm 89:40 You have broken down all his hedges and his walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
Psalm 89:39-41 (in Context) Psalm 89 (Whole Chapter)
Isaiah 5:5 And now I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be eaten and burned up; and I will break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down [by enemies].
Isaiah 5:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 5 (Whole Chapter)
This is the external pressure that will cause multitudes to turn and seek the kingdom of God. This is the chastening of the love of God bringing a fallen world to repentance and change of their internal values.
In the day of your great trouble, return to Me and I will return to you.
Mal 3:7: Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts.
The remnant of a maturing kingdom people of God is arising.
All the world is groaning with birth pangs waiting for the sons of God to come forth bringing the salvation of healing and restoration to a planet suffering from the ways of fallen mankind. The world has been deceived by a cunning enemy who has devised a huge false system of rule in the world that leads to destruction. There are two major parts to this great deceptive system. One is secularism and the other is religion. The great overriding system is anti Christ. The whole matter is the replacement and deformation of Christ Jesus who is God incarnate and King of the world.
The end is the beginning. The end of the great Babylonian deception is the beginning of the reality of Christ Jesus and His kingdom being restored to Planet Earth.
The great harlot system that has brought massive modern pseudo prosperity and rich lifestyles of fleshly pleasure under the religious and secular control of the anti-Christ plan of Satan will come down. The glorious rule of the New Jerusalem Bride of Christ in the presence of God dwelling among His people.
The many secular philosophies of life denying God and elevating man to become his own god will come to its end as man sees the true God manifesting in love and power destroying all the pride and loftiness of man that exalts itself against Almighty God. The religious worship of false gods, along with the adulterous forms of Christian religion having a form of godliness but denying the power of God, will be purged by cleansing fire destroying everything that is not of God.
Isa 2:12: For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up; And it shall be brought low. the full work of the cross will come into view.
All who have scorned the love gift of God and refused the redemption purchased for all mankind will come to an end of their folly. All who have devised other gods will see their weak and useless gods dissolved in the power and glory of the one true God. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
This is not the destruction of the planet. It is the cleansing of the planet. The work of the cross of Christ has been completed, and God is only waiting for the sons of God to mature on earth to lead the cleansed people of God in the establishment of the ways of God, the New Jerusalem Bride of Christ lifestyle. The love and holiness of God shall prevail over disobedience and rebellion in the hearts and lives of the people on earth as it is in heaven.
Gracious Souls Take Notice Of God's Hand
"In everything that befalls us we ought to see and own the hand of God; whatever is done is of His performing; in it His counsel is accomplished and the scripture is fulfilled."
"Every creature is that to us which God makes it to be, and from Him our judgment proceeds. As we must see the events that shall occur in the hand of God, so we must see the hand of God in the events that do occur, and acknowledge Him with thankfulness when we have reason to call it His good hand."
"Gracious souls take notice of God's hand, His good hand, in all events, which turn in favour of them." -
"If where ministers have been wanting, the vacancies are well supplied, let us ascribe it to the good hand of God, qualifying them for the service, inclining them to it, and opening a door for them."
"If God gives us His hand, we are bold and cheerful - if He withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it."
Oh! How we need "the hand of the Lord" to be in operation in our every day lives.
Is it in yours?
In Isaiah 59:1, the Prophet said - "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save..." Then we find in Isaiah 50:2, the Lord asking the people of God - "...Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?..." In both of these verses of Scripture, the "hand" is an emblem of strength. To the Orientals, a long, stretched-out hand was an emblem of power; whereas, a shortened hand was an emblem of weakness. In essence, what God was inquiring was this - "Can any limits be set to Omnipotence? Have I no power to deliver you? Am I unwilling or unable to save you?"
"The church's salvation comes from the hand of God, and that has not waxed weak nor is it at all shortened. Has the Lord's hand waxed short?...No, it has not; He will not have it thought so. Neither length of time nor strength of enemies, no, nor weakness of instrument, can shorten or straiten the power of God, with which it is all one to save by many or by few."
As the church, we need to get a hold of this truth. Our salvation does indeed come from "the hand of God." And this hand or power has in no way been lessened, straitened, or abridged. Neither time, the devil, nor you yourself can shorten or take away from the power of God.
God wants us to be cognizant of "the hand of the Lord" on a daily basis.
How does it manifest itself in our lives?
In 2 Chronicles 30:12, we read - "Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. " In this situation, God, by the power of His grace, inclined the hearts of Judah and several of the other tribes to an unanimous compliance with King Hezekiah's and His will to keep the passover. His "hand" gave them one heart in the matter. It caused them to be all of one mind.
In Ezra 7:6, "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him." In Ezra 7:9, "For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him."
It is time to proclaim a fast;
Ezra 7;21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Ezra 7:28, "And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me."
Ezra 8:18, "And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen."
In the first instance, "the hand of God" brought favour to Ezra in disposing the king to grant him everything he desired. The second verse relates how "the hand of the Lord" directed, provided for, protected, defended, and brought Ezra and his company to their journey's end - Jerusalem. The third verse once again reiterates how "the hand of God" influenced the king to aid Ezra in his attempt to beautify the house of Jehovah. And, lastly, we see the "good hand of God" furnishing Levites for the task at hand. It qualifies them for the service, inclines them to it, and opens a door for them.
In Ezra 8:22, we read a very interesting statement given by Ezra - "For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him." What he was saying was that "the hand of God" protects and defends from all evil all those who pray to...serve...and worship Him. His power and provision is over them. They find themselves safe under His wings.
In two instances, Nehemiah mentioned "the hand of God" - "And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me" (Nehemiah 2:8) and "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work"(Nehemiah 2:18). In the first instance, he recognized "the hand of God" at work in having the king send the provision that he requested. In the second instance, he testified to the Jews how God so far prospered his undertaking by moving on the king's heart to show favor and grant him his request. He attributed all this good fortune to "the hand of my God" being in operation.
In 1 Kings 18:46, we read how "the hand of the LORD" enabled Elijah to outrun Ahab's chariot at least sixteen miles enroute to Jezreel. The spirit of strength from the Lord - identified as "the hand of the Lord" - came upon him giving him more than common strength of body to accomplish such a feat.
In 2 Kings 3:15, after Elisha requested that a minstrel play, it is recorded in Holy Scriptures that - "the hand of the LORD came upon him." In this case, "the hand of the Lord" can be equated with the spirit of prophecy for it was at this time that Elisha received a word from the Lord for the kings.
We see "the hand of the LORD" as a constraining power and influence leading into a prophetic word in Ezekiel 1:3 and Ezekiel 3:14 - "The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him" and "So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me."
"The hand of the Lord"
Is it in operation in your life?
So many want to attribute their happenings to luck or happen chance. However, different characters in the Bible readily attributed their good fortune or uncommon influence, strength, or power to "the hand of the Lord."
We can either have "the hand of the Lord" in operation in our lives or "the hand of the devil."
Which will it be in your case?
Psalm 107:2 says - "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." "The hand of the enemy" is the power of the enemy, just as "the hand of the LORD" is the power of God.
The "redeemed" acknowledge that it is "the hand of the LORD" in operation in their lives. They know from whence all their success, prosperity, and favor is coming.
"The hand of the LORD" in your life can have many manifestations as exemplified in this message.
Why not be like Nehemiah and Ezra and boldly take notice of God's hand in all your events?
Make it a practice to see "the hand of the LORD" in all your events. Acknowledge Him with thankfulness for having a reason to call it His "good hand." When you do, you will show to others that you are indeed walking under the "umbrella" of His wonderful grace.
The Purified Bride: Eyes Only for Jesus
Ephesians 5:25b - 27
The Apostle Paul instructs us in the words of our text that Jesus so loves His church that He gave his very life for her in order that He might sanctify and cleanse her. The ultimate purpose for Him doing this was that He might one day “…present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish”. It has always been the plan of the Lord to possess a called out people that would be His for eternity.
Often in the scriptures the relationship between God and his church is likened to marriage. E.g., Ephesians 5:30-32.
On that glorious day when the Lord Jesus returns, the true church of God will be joined to him as a bride is to her groom on the wedding day. Revelation 19:7 validates this. It says, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready”.
As believers our brief stay here on earth is compared to the ancient oriental practice of betrothal. The custom of betrothal as practiced in Bible days by the Jews involved much more than our present day Western custom of engagement. It normally lasted a year and was culminated with the wedding of the bride and groom. So serious was it that it could only be severed through divorce. And if one partner was found guilty of infidelity he or she was liable of the death penalty according to Deut. 22:20, 21.
Paul grieved over the Corinthian Church for evidently they had been seduced away from their betrothed husband Christ. (see 2 Corinthians 11:2, 3). The man of God was all too aware that the chief ambition of the devil was to entice believers away from a pure single-hearted devotion to Christ. This was his method in the Eden and is still his method to this day. Paul calls the manner the devil uses to effect his cause “subtility”. In the Greek it is an interesting word which literally means “to stir to a place elsewhere.” Satan’s plan is to distract the focus of our love and affections away from a simplistic [single-hearted] devotion to Christ to whom they are due to things of lesser or no importance.
During the days of the Prophet he evidently achieved this goal among the vast majority of God’s people: “How the faithful city has become a harlot…” (Isaiah 1:21). In the New Testament Paul said this would happen once again to some of the people of God. He declared, “…some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits…” (1 Timothy 4:1).
The Bible is emphatic that as Christians we have been called to serve God with undivided affection and unadulterated devotion. To do otherwise constitutes spiritual adultery. Jesus stated, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24; See also James 4:4).
Beloved the Bible commands believers “…be ye holy…” (1 Peter 1:13). The Biblical Greek word for holy is hagios. Its'etymology suggests something or someone that is “not of the soil or earth.” The following passages clearly teach that our passion and focus in life is to be directed after the spiritual (Philippians 3:18-20; Colossians 3:1, 2).
Imagine a bride that informs her husband that she married him for material gain per se. How would that man feel? Surely he would feel taken advantage of. Yet this is the way we treat the Lord all too often! The irony is that if we would give the Lord the preeminence in our lives all other needs would be met! "...and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Mt. 6:33 NLT).
Let's be a people with eyes only for Jesus!
Mat 6:10: Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen