THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD

 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. —Psalm 19:9-13

 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. —Psalm 119:133

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcE1di1Wtl0

            God’s Word is the mirror that reflects who we are (James 1:22-25) and gives us light to walk the right path (Psalm 119:105) and do what is right (Matthew 7:24-27). To listen to God’s Word and apply it to one’s life will keep a person from having sin “rule over them.”

            The Word of God “is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13). God’s Word speaks to our thought and attitudes. Now, as He speaks to us we are not only to listen, but we are to obey what He has told us. May we do so. To listen without application is self-deception.

Dear Father I thank You that You have given us the blueprint for life in Your Word.   May I not only read, not only listen, but may I do what Your Word says. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

KILLING KIDS IS SATANICALLY MOTIVATED

Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. —Exodus 1:15-17

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.” —Exodus 1:22

            Those who truly fear God will not kill children in the womb or after they are born. Even thought the mid-wives of Israel were commanded by the government to kill these children, they would not do it. When called to sin again these children and against God, they refused. When they refused to kill these newborns Pharaoh orders the Egyptians to kill these newborns. Only the hard-hearted and emotionally calloused could do such a thing— those blinded by power, the love of money and pride.

            How sick to burn a child to death or rip a child apart in the womb or to let a newborn of a botched abortion to die by itself and to be cast out as trash? It is satanically motivated (II Timothy 2:26). Satan loves to “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) and he holds captive his “servants of righteousness” to carry out his dirty work. “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (II Corinthians 11:14-15). These destroyers of God’s creation communicate that they are doing something good, but “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” and “.are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight (Isaiah 5:20-21). God sees— “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

God held Pharaoh accountable and He will hold every single person killing children accountable as well. In reality nobody is getting away with anything. They may think they are but they are not. Every person will die. Every person will appear before God. Those who have “called on the Name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13) and those who have not will be condemned forever (John 3:18, 36). That is reality— to be forgiven by Jesus and be saved from sin or die in your sin and be judged. There are only two ways to die— in Christ or in sin. Which will it be for you?

May those reading this who do not know Jesus trust Him now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&t=10s For us who know Jesus let us encourage others to trust Him too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY

Dear Father I am grateful to know You. Please intervene in the lives of those considering abortion. Lord may these children be adopted instead of being killed. Give Your church wisdom in this area by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus to do what You desire the church to do. May it be so.

CARRIED GUILT FORGIVEN!    

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ‘Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.  —Genesis 50:15-21

       Guilt eats away at a person. Confession clears it away. Joseph’s brothers carried this guilt with them for 22 years after they sold Joseph into slavery. This guilt is seen to be on the forefront of their minds—

“They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.’   Reuben replied, ‘Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.’ They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter” (Genesis 42:22).

            Even after they were now in Egypt for 17 years, up to the time of Jacobs’s death, they were still carrying this guilt. 39 years of carrying this guilt. Surely, they thought and talked amongst each other, Joseph will now get his revenge. But Joseph would not take revenge. Instead he would take care of them. Joseph did tell them that they did do evil to him, but he also understood God worked through the situation to put him in place to save his whole extended family from death. So he told them not to fear. Forgiven!   Now they knew Joseph had forgiven them and this guilt they carried for 39 years was finally gone!

            Are you carrying guilt? First bring it to our Lord and confess whatever it is to Him.   He knows already. He desires you to confess it to Him and He will forgive.   Then, are you carrying around this guilt because there is someone you need to go to and confess what you have done?   Well, then do so. Joseph’s brothers got up the courage and humbled themselves to go to Joseph to ask for forgiveness. Do the same and be released from the prison of guilt! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ZWEO36jok

Dear Father bring to mind any guilt I have that I would confess it to You and if there is anyone I need to go to, may I do so. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

CHARACTERISTICS GOD DESIRES IN OUR LIVES

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. —Psalm 15:1-5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27C4cQCb6mM

            What kind of people does our Lord desire us to be? Here are some characteristics He desires us to be living out.

• Walk blamelessly
• Do what is right
• Speak truth
• Do not slander
• Do no evil to your neighbor
• Reproaches not his friend
• Despises the vile person
• Honors those who fear the Lord
• Will keep his word
• Lives consistently
• Doesn’t charge interest
• Doesn’t take bribes against the innocent
• Won’t be moved

Are you and I living lives consistent with these characteristics that our Lord desires? May it be so!

Dear Father may it be so in my own life that I am living to be faithful to You in these areas by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus, Your Son.

GOD’S PLAN ALWAYS PREVAILS!

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. —Genesis 45:3

            Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his brothers because they hated him. They hated him for the dreams he had told them about of them bowing down to him.   Yeh, sure, that would never happen.   They wanted to kill him, the favored one of their father Jacob.

            Joseph spent 13 years between serving Potiphar and time in prison. At 30 years of age he was promoted to 2^nd in command of all Egypt (Genesis 41:41-46). Seven years of abundance came about just as Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. In the 2^nd year of famine is when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers (Genesis 46:1-7). Joseph understood that God had sent him ahead by using the evil his brothers served on him so they could be saved from the famine!

            So, 22 years later his brothers stand before Joseph… “terrified at his presence.” Can you imagine! Think of what they had done to him— sold him into slavery! Yeh, they were surely terrified, thinking they would now experience Joseph’s revenge, but that was not the case. Yes, Joseph was sold into slavery… but God was with him and His favor was upon him. Joseph realized this and there would be no vengeance. Instead, Joseph was going to have his whole extended family… the nation… taken care of… and he did so. What would we have done?

            Twenty-two plus years passed before the fulfillment of the dreams God had given to Joseph. Are you and I that patient for God to fulfill what He desires in our lives. Patience… God is working.

Dear Father I am so grateful that You always do what You say You will do. May I trust You fully by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.   So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQmsEE_2-s

OUR LORD’S STEADFAST LOVE IS AMAZING!

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. —Psalm 13:5-6

            I am trusting in my Lord’s love for me.   “We love because he first loved us” (I John 4:19).  Really, I do not understand why He would love me before I even acknowledge Him, before I even loved Him. I do not understand how the Creator and Sustainer of all things could love me, but I am so grateful that He does!

            I am trusting in my Lord’s salvation and I rejoice in His salvation. Again, why would He save me from my sin? Why would He take the penalty and punishment for me? Why would He leave the glories of Heaven to come to this sin infested, rebellious world to have His own creation kill Him? I do not understand except for this one thing— God is love and He desires us to know Him.

            I will sing to my Lord. He has dealt BOUNTIFULLY with me. Wow… has He ever! He saved me from being condemned to Hell forever. He saved me to a relationship with Him. He is preparing a place for me in Heaven. One day I will be with Jesus and all who love Him. I will sing to Him about that! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJg31komsak

Dear Father I am so grateful for Your steadfast love toward me. I am grateful for the salvation You have given me. I am grateful for dealing eternally bountifully with me. Yes, I will sing to You of these things for You are worthy. In gratitude may I live and love in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOFh9WFe6k

OUR HOLY LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death… What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also. —Genesis 38:7, 10

            People may think our Lord is some “wishy-washy,” Santa Claus, permissive grandfatherly figure who allows people to do whatever they want and will reward them anyway regardless of what they do. He is nothing like that at all. People who think like this have a wrong perspective of what sin is and a wrong perspective of the holy, righteousness of our Lord.

            In the passage above two brothers were “put to death” by our Lord for their wickedness. In reality our Lord is very patient with all of us. All of us have sinned against Him. All of us have done wickedness against Him. How merciful He is toward us. When we ask Him to forgive us He does.

            “Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won’t call me to account’?” (Psalm 10:13). People do not think they will be held accountable for their wicked actions.   There are many who think their goodness will be good enough to be accepted by God. This too could not be further than the truth. A very wrong perspective of themselves and God.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk Judgment is coming and there is no escaping that appointment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On-whMoulOM

            “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).   If you have not you would be wise to call on Jesus to forgive you and then live for Him. Death will meet you before you know it! Call on Him today! Right now!

Dear Father may I live faithfully for You. Thank You that I have been forgiven through Jesus. Now may I live the type of life You desire me to live and may this be done in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

KINGDOMS OF EARTH CRUMBLE, GOD’S KINGDOM LASTS FOREVER!

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” —Psalm 11:3

The LORD tests the righteous. —Psalm 11:5

 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. —Psalm 11:7

            Brother and sister when the foundations of a society crumble, what are you and I to do? Well, this will be a test of our faith. When the foundations are destroyed our Lord is still righteous. He has not changed and we are to remain faithful to Him to live and act rightly. That does not change for the follower of Jesus.

            In the United States our foundations have been crumbling for quite some time.   The follower of Jesus is still to be a witness (Acts 1:8) and is still to be a disciple-maker (Matthew 28:16-20).   During the testing of our faith we are to be maturing, not retreating (James 1:3). It is during these times, as well as others, that we need to draw near to God and be purified (James 4:8). It is during these times of testing that our faith is refined (I Peter 1:7). It is during these testing that the true shepherds and sheep will be known (John 10:11-16).

            Now, how are you and I reacting to this virus among us? What did your faith in Jesus look like in 2020? What will it look like in 2021? Let us be reminded of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were going through testing— “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). These three men were going to continue to serve God and not be pressed into a worldly way of doing things just to survive. Will we continue to serve God or be pressed into the worldly reaction and do what the world is doing during this time of the virus? Oh, let us continue to serve our Lord and God however He wants us to. You know, death can come to us at anytime in various ways. Let us be found serving our Lord until we take our last breath!   May it be so!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUxI-ynsTnM

Dear Father when the foundations crumble around me may I continue to serve You faithfully. I am so thankful I am in this Kingdom of Yours that cannot be shaken, that cannot crumble. I need not fear death! Yes, may I serve You for the rest of my life in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it!  

Let us have this attitude and not fear death (Hebrews 3:14-15). https://youtu.be/rgWkmyzmTMc?t=58

JESUS REIGNS!

The LORD is king forever and ever. —Psalm 10:16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jvsK798Lbs

            Jesus is Lord and King and He reigns forever and ever— “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Brothers and sisters we are part of a kingdom that can never be shaken so let us be thankful and worshipful (Hebrews 12:27-28). Those things that are created will be shaken and removed “so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” What is it that will remain? All those who will remain are those who have called on the Name of the Lord for salvation from sin and to a relationship with Him (Romans 10:13-15).

            Our world will be shaken! We see the trembling of it with what is happening now with this virus, but this is nothing compared to what will eventually happen. In the future billions of people will die in a short amount of time. Look how people are handling the deaths of those from this virus. What will it be like when the real shaking starts to take place? Peoples’ thinking and actions during this time are very questionable. What will it be when things really get bad?

            You can see how easily the human race can be manipulated by the very few.   Those in government and media can easily sway the multitudes. We have seen this with the present virus. A greater deception and manipulation will one day happen on this planet and the anti-Christ will be heading up that delusion — “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (I Thessalonians 2:9-12).

            Brothers and sisters let us rejoice that we belong to a kingdom that will never be shaken because Jesus reigns in it. Let us keep focus on that kingdom which we are part of. We are safe and secure regardless of what happens in this world. Yes, let us take great comfort in knowing that! One day the earth and heavens will be shaken and only that which is in His kingdom will not be shaken. We will not be shaken!

Dear Father I am grateful to be part of Jesus’ kingdom that will not be shaken.   Now may I encourage others to call on Jesus for salvation from sin to a relationship with Him that they too may be part of His kingdom. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKTqwBetI1I

WOMEN’S DESIRE FOR CHILDREN

When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” —Genesis 30:1-2

            There are those women who truly desire to have children and actually envy those who can have children. How sad it is for those who want to conceive, but cannot? Yet it is God who enables women to have children or not. In the verses above Jacob got angry with Rachel when she said, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Why did He get angry? She seems to be putting the blame on Jacob that she was not having children, but Jacob said, “Am I in the place of God.” She needed to look to God which apparently she did as we read in Genesis 30:6 that “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Instead of blaming Jacob she needed to cry out to God which we did and God answered and Dan was born. Not being able to have children is very emotional for women and as we have seen in this passage can bring conflict.

            Abortion today happens because people do not fear destroying what God is creating. They do not have a right attitude toward Him. They do not respect Him. They do not care what He thinks. They are more focused on their own selfish desires and reasons. There is absolutely no reason to destroy the life that God is creating.  Abortion is a direct assault on the God of creation and His creation.

            Can you imagine people destroying what you have created? Say you were carving a sculpture and after many weeks of working on a piece someone came by and destroyed it. Yeh, that would not go over well. Just think of anything that a person has created and intentional destroyed by another. Yeh, that caused conflict. How much more serious is it when someone destroys what God is creating!

            People can use all the reasons and excuses they want, but when it comes right down to what is happening abortion is the ending of life… the life of a person.   Abortion is intentional destroying what God is creating. That does not go over well with Him to whom people will give answer to. Let people give their reasons before an Almighty, Holy God and see how that goes.

            Again, for those who have had abortions there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He is merciful and gracious, comforting and compassionate. He will save and forgive anyone who calls upon Him (Romans 10:13-15).  

Dear Father may You open the minds of people to understand what abortion really is. Be pleased to intervene and hinder this wickedness that is taking place. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp6PVk-CCc0