LISTEN TO OUR LORD!  LISTEN! “What are you doing here, Elijah…?  And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper… And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” –I Kings 19:9, 12, 13 “Do whatever he tells you.” —John 2:5             Quiet… shhhhh… listen…  Take the time to listen.  Be in a still place.  What is He saying to you?  Will you listen and obey?  Obedience to that voice, that is top priority.  Are you taking the time to be quiet and listen.  It is His still…

GOD PROVIDES “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath,…

I’M A CHILD OF GOD! The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. —John 1:9-13              Let us not be surprised when Jesus is not received by people.  There are those who just don’t…

GOD ALONE OPENS MINDS TO UNDERSTAND HIS WORD! Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures… And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. —Luke 24:45 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. —John 16:13 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…

JESUS— GREATER THAN THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON WHICH HE GAVE! And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her… the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon… —I Kings 10:3-4 Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.  And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. —I Kings 10:23-24 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded…

THE MOB GOES AGAINST THE INNOCENT/BLAMELESS Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”  But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)  Wanting to release Jesus,…

TO DIE IS TO BE WITH JESUS! —for all who believe! And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” —Luke 23:34 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me…

WISE LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED IN OUR DAY! Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall…

DEATH COMES TO US ALL! When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their…

REJOICING OR MOANING ACCORDING TO WHO IS IN AUTHORITY The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. —II Samuel 23:3-4             Those who rule “justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.”  What a joy to see— The…