JESUS’ PRAYER AND EXPECTATION FOR US I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also…

THE GODLY WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION (II Timothy 3:12) Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention. Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’” But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD. Thus Joash the king did not remember…

HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will…

NEEDED— TEACHERS OF GOD’S WORD AND JUST LEADERS! Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of…

HEARTY OBEDIENCE BRINGS MATURITY IN JESUS! For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. —II Chronicles 19:9 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” —John 14:21             You want to have strong support from our Lord?  The “eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth.”  He is seeking “those whose heart is blameless toward him.”  Are you and I one of…

START WELL, LIVE WELL AND FINISH WELL! They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.  —II Chronicles 11:17 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. —II Chronicles 12:1             How sad when people start out well, but do not continue or finish well.  When Rehoboam first started to reign, he and the people “strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for…

BEWARE OF THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him… —John 13:2 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” —John 13:11  But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ —John 13:18             Jesus knew who would betray Him.  He knew it when He chose the Twelve as mentioned in John 6:70-71— “Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of…

HE, UNABLE TO BE CONTAIN BY THE HEAVENS, TOOK ON A BODY! But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! —II Chronicles 2:6             Look up in the night sky.  He has created it all, the whole universe which we can never grasp the enormity of it.  Look around the earth.  He has created it all and we get to see or understand some of it in our lifetime.  He is so awesome and His works are a reflection of Who He is.             As we look at all He…

I LOVE JESUS, BUT MANY HATE HIM Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. —John 19:1-2 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. —John 19:9-11…

BE WISE AND DISCERNING, FOLLOWING OUR LORD WHOLE-HEARTEDLY! …for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. —I Chronicles 28:9 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” —I Chronicles 28:20 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace…