"Drink"

October 27, 2010

“Drink”

Blessings Folk!

The county seat of our local community has a “wet/dry” referendum to be decided this election cycle.

As always, there are sharp lines of opinion...even (especially?) among professing Believers.

Most disconcerting to me is how folk will take the Word of God and twist it to align with their preferred opinion.

Often, a truth will be extrapolated to a statement of fact which the Word does not support.

Let’s just deal with the facts.

The Word says much about wine/strong drink.

It is clear that we are not to “be deceived”, “loveth”, “tarry long”, “look into”, “run to”...


Prov 20:1
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
KJV

Prov 21:17
17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
KJV

Prov 23:30-31
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
KJV

Prov 31:4-7
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
KJV

We are not to be drunk.

We are not to use drink nor food to excess.

Proverbs 23

20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
 21 For the
drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.


Proverbs 28

 6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
         Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
    
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
         But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
   
 8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
         Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

We are not to be drunk.

We are not to be gluttons...even be a companion with one…(I’m sorry...but I envision all the overweight methyphobians/dipsophobians I know...)

We are not to increase wealth by interest and usury...whoa!...we will discuss that some other time…let it be noted that I do not see major campaigns to close/restrict businesses/practices based upon usury…or driving usury out of the community...

We do seem to “pick and choose” our offense.

The bottom line...

Nowhere in the Word, that I’m aware, are we told that are to totally abstain from fermented drink (save for the Nazarite vow).

We are not to be given to much wine…especially leadership...

1 Tim 3:3
3 Not given to wine, ...
KJV

Titus 1:7
not given to wine, ...
KJV

1 Peter 4:3
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
KJV

Folk will color having a glass of wine as sin and the open door to destruction, while many of their flock live on prozac. They forget…

1 Tim 5:23
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
KJV

A little wine is much better for the stomach.
A little wine is much better than a pill to go to sleep then a pill to awaken.

We could ask the question, “what would Jesus do?”

Apparently, by His own testimony, Jesus drank wine.

Matthew 11 

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Now, I know. Many a tree has been sacrificed in the vast writings of folk who have sought to “prove” that the wine of Jesus’ day was non-alcoholic. This is simply not true.

Much fear-mongering takes place with statistics that “prove” this or that.

Here is my life observation. I have seen many, many more people grievously effected in a negative way by “prescription drugs” than I have by alcohol. Simple, personal observation.

I also strongly suspect that the things we ingest via McDonalds’ (love those fries), artificial sweeteners, varied “food supplements” and the like, cause far more harm than proper consumption of natural products.

Finally, we are told this...hang on…

Ephesians 5

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

We are not to get drunk.
We are to be filled with the Spirit.

Often those who equate “do not get drunk with wine” with “total abstinence” reject the understanding of being filled with the Spirit.

Certainly they acknowledge the Holy Spirit, but they get shaky on the “filled with the Spirit” thing.

I find it interesting that God mentions both in the “same breath.”

Read the balance of the passage…

Ephesians 5

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Rather than being drunk, we are to be filled with the Spirit and

  • speak to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
  • sing
  • make melody
  • give thanks for all things in the name of the Lord
  • be subject to one another in the fear of Christ

What about the local referendum?

I live outside the district...so no vote...but, I do like things the way they are.
I also realize that the majority will decide.
Whatever the outcome, it will not be “the end of the world.”

Do not be drunk.
Be filled with the Spirit.

Blessings!

"Halloween"

October 26, 2010

“Halloween”

Blessings Folk!

So, Halloween.

Halloween is primarily derived from Celtic occult practices.

On November 1 the Celts celebrated a festival unto Samhain, Lord of the Dead.

They believed that on that evening spirits from the netherworld had access to their world.

Much was done to fend off the spirits…
  • Celtic priests, Druids, had open air rituals
  • “jack-o-lanterns” carved from turnips...to keep evil spirits away
  • “trick or treating” (“souling&rdquoWinking to bring blessing or curse
  • “bone-fires”...bonfires...with sacrificed animals...and humans

Many years after the Gospel came to the area, the Catholic church moved its “All-Saints Day” from the spring to November 1. An attempt to sanitize the celebration of the Lord of Dead by remembering those who have gone before us.

October 31st became “All Hallow’s Eve” (“Hallow” means saints)
So, you can see how it became abbreviated “Halloween”.

Many believe that Halloween has strong Christian roots.
This is not true.
It has a false facade.
Its true nature is that of the evil one.

The Kingdom of darkness celebrates the time.

Put simply, that which is represented and celebrated in Halloween are things which are to be avoided by the Believer.

Witches
Spirits
Deception
Fear
Sacrifices
Darkness
Necromancy
Witchcraft
Divination

The only encounter we are to have with spirits is when the Lord uses us to cast them out of people...but, most refuse to believe that...much less participate. (We will address this at another time&hellipWinking

“But,” it is said, “can’t we dress the kids up in cute outfits? It is only for play...make-believe.”

Why deceive the children?
Why open their spirit to the designs of the evil one?

Why do we “celebrate” Halloween?
Why do we provide “substitutes”?

Hear the Word of the Lord…

1 Thessalonians 5 

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

 22 abstain from every form of evil.


Ephesians 5

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
 
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
 
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
 
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
 
11
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.


We are not to participate in the things of darkness.
We are to expose the things of darkness.

A couple of more...give heed…

2 Corinthians 6

 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

Deu. 18

 9 "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you,
you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.
 
10
"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
 
11
or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
 
12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.
 
13
"You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.

Spiritism is to be avoided.
Witchcraft detested.
Necromancy rejected.

A final word…

Romans 12

 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
 
2 And do not be conformed (
do not put on the mask) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let us be separate from the world.

We know this.
Many don’t want to “trick-or-treat” on Sunday.

Why not set it totally aside and pursue holiness?

Blessings!

"Inconsistencies"

October 25, 2010

“Inconsistencies”

Blessing Folks!

Well...let’s just dive into it.

So much of what we do as the Body of Christ really has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God.

We will spend the next few days dealing with a couple of things that reveal inconsistencies in the Body of Christ.

Halloween
Drink

Y’all love me now...correct? LOL Happy

What brings these issues to the forefront now?
  • the season
  • the local political issue

I was struck (with laughter) the other day when I saw that “trick or treat” time was to be moved to Saturday, October 30...by proclamation of the mayor.

Why?

Why of course, Halloween is on Sunday. Therefore, we have to move the date.

I have had folk say “I just can’t do that on Sunday”.

Do what?
Why are you “doing it” anyway?

We will explore some…

Locally, the “wet/dry” issue is to be decided voted on.
For those of y’all distant…”wet” means that a community has decided to sell/allow alcoholic beverages, “dry” means they can not be sold/possessed.

In our area one can possess such, though with some usual restriction (open container and the like), but sales are denied. Therefore, the oft-quoted moniker of “damp.”

You can imagine the debate…well, let’s not use that word...not much debate/dialogue happening. There is much print/verbal grenade throwing and a tremendous amount of ignorance of the Word and the law being revealed.

Therefore, we will look at the Word and see what God says.

First...

Do we truly believe the Word?
Do we truly desire to live by the Truth of the Most High God?

Are we willing to lay aside our ideas, our thoughts, our desires?
Are we willing to set aside the rules and regulations of man?
Do we really want to walk in the freedom and liberty of Christ?

If so, God will reveal His Truth.

Now, think on these...

What does the Word say about “Halloween”?
Obviously, as far as the word “Halloween” goes, the Word says nothing.
But, much is said related to Halloween-type activities.

What does the Word say about food?
What does the Word say about drink?

Now, with all these questions as a preface, meditate upon this...


Philippians 4

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Press on!

"Learning...Standing..."

October 21, 2010

“Learning...Standing…”

Blessings Saints!

We have been examining the prayer of Daniel found in Daniel 9.

We are seeing how we are to pray, especially for a people and nation that have sinned, been wicked, committed iniquity and turned their back on the commandments of God.

Just as we have.

There is another prayer/praise/proclamation that reveals much, Nehemiah 9.

First, some context is needed.

The people had been led by Nehemiah and Ezra (the scribe) to rebuild Jerusalem.

In Nehemiah 8 Ezra read the law to the people.

The people realized that they needed to give heed to the Word.

Nehemiah 8

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law.
 14 They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.

The Feast of Booths.

They celebrated for the first time in many years.

Nehemiah 8 

17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day and there was great rejoicing.
 18 He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

A few days after the Feast of Booths….

Daniel 9

 1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt upon them.
 2 The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
 3 While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
 4 Now on the Levites' platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

Give attention to what the people did.
May we do likewise, especially now.

They assembled together.
They humbly gathered - sackcloth and ashes - not in pride nor arrogance.
They separated themselves from the world.
They stood and confessed their sins.
They confessed the iniquities of their fathers.
They stood and read from the Book of the Law for 1/4 of a day (3 hours? 6 hours?)
They stood and confessed and worshipped the Lord for 1/4 of a day.
The Levitical leadership cried with a loud voice to the Lord God.

What might the Lord do if we were to humbly do the same?
What might the Lord do if His leadership were to humbly cry out to Him?
His people?

Let’s do so as we approach election day.

Blessings!

I’ve completed posting videos of lesson 1 of our most recent Bible study, “Passing the Mantle”.
The can be viewed here - http://alabamaprecept.blip.tv
or here - http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=58DA590A113CBDB1

Adding a video a day on average...check ‘em out.






"While I Was..."

October 20, 2010

“While I Was…”
Blessings Folk!!

Daniel’s prayer found in Daniel 9 reached a crescendo with an outcry of…
“Oh Lord…
  • turn Your anger and wrath away
  • listen to my prayer
  • incline Your ear and hear
  • open Your eyes and see
  • hear
  • forgive
  • listen
  • take action”

LIttle did Daniel know what God was already doing.

Read carefully…

Daniel 9

20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,

Note when...while Daniel was speaking, praying, confessing, presenting supplication…
Note what...praying, confessing, supplication

 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.

Gabriel appeared. A messenger from God.
Interrupted prayer. Happy
Daniel was weary...was at the end of the day.

 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.
 23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.

Gabriel gave Daniel instruction.
Gabriel talked with Daniel
Gabriel came forth to give Daniel insight with understanding.
A command was issued by the Most High God at the beginning of Daniel’s supplication.

Gabriel was to come and to tell Daniel some things.

First, “you are highly esteemed.”
Is there anything greater that the Lord could say of us?
Highly esteemed in the sight of the Lord.

Second, Daniel…

  • give heed to the message
  • gain understanding of the vision

Still, Daniel had no idea what he was about to learn.

The Lord was about to reveal to him that which no man had understood to that point, that which has been somewhat veiled until recent years.

Third...well, we will look at the balance later.

For today, know that the Lord hears.
Who knows what the Lord might do when we pray the way Daniel did?

Perhaps the Lord will give us…
  • insight
  • understanding
  • revelation and enlightenment

What might the Lord desire to release for His Body through you?

Let us humble ourselves and see.

A couple of quick notes...
  • Many of you receive these communiques via email. Keep me updated with your most current email. Invite others to join.
I also post on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/dalealanmoore
  • I post videos of our ongoing Bible studies…adjusted the format slightly with this course… check it out… http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=58DA590A113CBDB1
  • you can access all my stuff from http://www.dalemoore.tv
  • this week we are beginning a new course in the local Bible studies. Join us. Those of y’all online...we will be there in a few weeks...the online studies lag a little behind the local. Happy

Blessings!

"Calamity"

October 14, 2010

“Calamity”

Blessings Folk!

Daniel continues his confession unto the Lord.
Israel had sinned.

Daniel states what the sin was and the fruit thereof.

Daniel 9

11 "Indeed all Israel has
transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him.
 
12 "Thus
He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem.
 
13 "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet
we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth.
 
14 "Therefore the
LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.
 
15 "And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day--
we have sinned, we have been wicked.


Israel had…

  • transgressed the Lord’s law
  • turned aside
  • not obeyed the voice of the Lord
  • sinned against God
  • been wicked

Therefore, God…
  • poured out the curse upon them
  • along with the oath written in the Law of Moses
  • confirmed His Word by bringing great calamity upon them

The Lord had told them to choose blessing rather than curse.
The Lord gave tremendous detail in the law as to how to live.

Still, the response of Israel was to…
  • not seek the favor of God
  • not turn from iniquity
  • not give attention to the Lord’s truth
  • not obey His voice

The Lord had brought His people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty Hand.
The Lord had made a name for Himself, yet, He would not withhold judgment.

The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.

His judgment is perfect.
His righteousness beyond reproach.

We know the calamity to come...i.e. Revelation et. al.

One man was interceding by prayer and supplication on behalf of the people.

May we do likewise, in like manner.

...continued...

Blessings!





"Righteousness/Mercy/Forgiveness vs. Confusion of face/sin/rebellion"

October 13, 2010

Righteousness/Mercy/Forgiveness
vs.
Confusion of face/sin/rebellion

Blessings Folk!

Daniel was confessing and acknowledging the truth before the Lord.

Today the truth remains.

We have sinned.
We have committed iniquity.
We have done wickedly.
We have rebelled.
We have departed from the precepts and judgments of God.
We have not listened to the Word of the Lord through His servants the prophets.

Daniel continues praying and declares a profound juxtaposition…

Lord=Righteousness/Us=confusion of face (open shame)

Lord=Compassion/Us=rebellion

Daniel 9

7 O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
 
9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
 
10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

We do likewise.

We are living in open shame/confusion of face.
We have sinned.
Our leaders.
Our fathers.
All.
We have rebelled.
We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord
We have not walked in His laws, His teachings, His precepts.

May we repent of such...now...this moment.

Remembering that the Lord is..

  • Righteous
  • Merciful
  • Forgiving

Do not forget the bigger picture.
Daniel was praying for the people of the Lord.
May we do so.

Blessings!

"Yes! We Have..."

October 12, 2010

“Yes! We have…”

Blessings Folk!

We continue to read and meditate upon a prayer of Daniel found in Daniel 9.

This is a model for how we are to pray for a people.

(See previous posts if needed… Happy Happy )

Daniel set his face toward God.
Daniel sought God by prayer and supplications with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
Daniel first confessed the greatness, the wonder, the glory of God.
Daniel bases his prayer upon the Covenant Nature of God.

Daniel then acknowledges sin.

Daniel 9

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.


Note that Daniel includes himself.
He does not say “the people have sinned”.

I need not give explanation of each term.
We know.

What is interesting is the cause of the sin, iniquity, wickedness and rebellion.

They had departed from the precepts and judgments of God.

So have we.
These words apply to us.

Let’s take these words before the Lord together...pray this...now… Happy

Lord,

We have sinned.
We have committed iniquity.
We have done wickedly.
We have rebelled.
We have departed from Your precepts.
We have departed from Your judgments.
We have not listened/given heed to Your servants the prophets.

The Lord had sent His Word through the prophets.
The Word came to all...the Kings, the princes, all the fathers and all the people of the land.

Yet, they had not heard.

God had allowed them to be taken captive.

Yet, they had yet to repent.

What might the Lord do if we truly mean this prayer?
What might the Lord do if we turn to Him rather than our ways?

The Word of the Lord is before us.
The Truth is proclaimed by His Body (prophesying…”speaking out&rdquoWinking

Boldly repent.
Boldly prophesy.

Blessings!





"Great and Dreadful"

October 11, 2010

“Great and Dreadful”

Blessings folk!

So, Daniel had learned that the time of desolation of Jerusalem was about to end (see previous posting)

The Medes had defeated the Babylonians and now ruled.
Daniel knew that the 70 year period revealed by Jeremiah was about to end.

What was Daniel’s response?
A loud proclamation of victory and rejoicing to the people?
Packing?

No.

He set his face unto the Lord God.
He prayed.
He fasted in sackcloth and ashes.
He confessed.

Daniel knew that though the time of punishment from the Lord might be drawing to an end, the heart of the people was still far from God.

In this prayer, Daniel 9:4-19, Daniel confesses his and the people’s sin.

For today, I want us to see how Daniel began this prayer.

Daniel 9

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
 
4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

Daniel assumed a posture of humility before the Lord...fasting, prayer, ashes.

Daniel did not approach the Lord by any position of power or the flesh. He acknowledge that though respected among the people, a leader in the pagan government, that he was unworthy in and of himself.

Daniel confessed.

Daniel’s first confession was a proclamation of the wonder and glory of God.

God is great.
God is dreadful (awesome).
God keeps His covenants.
God keeps His mercy (lovingkindness).
God keeps His covenant and mercy to those who…
- love Him
- keep His commandments

Daniel begins his prayer and supplication with a declaration of faith and belief based upon the character of God.

This is foundational.

Too often we approach the Lord with a litany of requests, burdens, prayers, etc. etc.

We would do well to begin...dare I say continue to live?...in an attitude of constant worship and wonder of the Most High God.

Take a moment to declare the great and awesome wonder of the Lord...unto Him.

Remember, He keeps His covenant.
Remember, His mercy is without end.

Love Him.
Keep His commandments.

Blessings!


"Understood by Books..."

October 9, 2010

“Understood by Books…”

Blessings Folk!

Daniel 9 gives us detailed insights into how we are to pray.

We will spend some time here.

Daniel 9

 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Note what Daniel was doing.

He was reading the book that had the Word of the Lord given through the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah and Daniel were contemporaries, Jeremiah being some half-generation older.

Daniel was likely reading the following…

Jeremiah 25:10-12 (King James Version)

 10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
 
11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
 
12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

The Lord had warned the people.
The Lord told them what was to occur.
Jeremiah proclaimed it through voice and pen.

Now, Daniel was reading it.
Understanding was coming to him through the Word.

Watch what the Lord says here.
God tells them how to live during the time of displacement.
God tells them what He will do afterwards.
God even gives them a time-frame.

Jeremiah 29

4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
 
5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
 
6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
 
7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
 
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

 9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
 
10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

God tells them to make a home in the place of captivity.
Build houses.
Plant gardens.
Raise families.
Live life.
Increase there.
Don’t be looking for something greener in a day yet to come.

They were to seek the peace of the city where the Lord was carrying them.
They were to pray unto he Lord for those who held them captive...the path of peace.
Hummm….

The Lord told them to beware the prophets and diviners in their midst who would say otherwise...believe not their dreams. We have so many who speak/lead falsely today. They are usually the ones who are counted as “successful”.

Then, the great Promise.

After seventy years the Lord would visit and perform His good Word.
He would cause them to return home.

This is what Daniel read.
This is what brought understanding that led to his going before the Lord.

One last thing.

We are very familiar with the next verses in Jeremiah 29, but now we know a little more context.

Read and rejoice…

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
 
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
 
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Immerse yourself in the Word of the Lord.
Gain understanding.
If you are a true believer, your captivity has been turned away.
Live in the liberty and freedom of the Lord.






"Rechabites"

October 8, 2010

“Rechabites”

Blessings Saints!

Well….have the computer back… Happy Happy
Sorry about the down time.

I think we would do well to immerse ourselves in the Word of the Lord as we draw near to the time of election next month.

We need to hear the Lord.
We need to walk in obedience.

In upcoming days we will look at how to pray.
Some of you “old folk” will remember this from previous times together.
To others it will be new.
To all, it will be refreshing.

But today, I ask that you take a few minutes of time to read a passage.
This is a passage which has been abused through the years.
This is a passage that speaks strongly to us today.

Do make the time to read it.
Ask the Lord to speak to you...I’ll have a few comments afterward… Happy

Jeremiah 35
 
1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
 
2 Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.

3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;

4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:

5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.

6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:

7 Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.

8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;

9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.

12 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
 
13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
 
14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.

15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
 
16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:

17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
 
18 And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:
 
19 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

Here is what occurred.

The Word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah…

  • call the Rechabites together in the temple
  • set wine before them

Jeremiah did so.

The Rechabites rejected the wine.
Why?

There father Jonadab gave them instructions (more than 200 years before) to
  • drink no wine
  • build no houses
  • sow no seeds
  • plant no vineyards, nor have any...no vineyards, no gardens, etc.
  • dwell in tents.

They lived a nomadic lifestyle in obedience to the word of a father spoken centuries before.

The only reason they were in the city of Jerusalem was due to the Babylonian armies in the land.

The Word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah…
  • Word to men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem
  • Why do you not receive the instruction of the Lord?
  • The Rechabites obeyed the word of their father, yet you do not obey My Word?
(Apparently the commandment of Jonadab was not a “thus saith the Lord”. It was a command of a father. It did the Rechabites no harm.)
  • The Lord had sent prophets with warnings.
  • The Lord spoke to them, yet they did not listen.
  • The Lord called them, yet they responded not

I suspect that the same is true today.

So many obey the commandments and precepts of man...often good things, things that do no harm...yet, we do not listen to the Lord. We do not respond to HIm.

So many in the Body of Christ are battling over the “commandments of the father”, yet we hear not the instructions, commandments, Word, calling of the Lord.

The Rechabites were rewarded due to their faithfulness...they would not be without a man standing before the Lord forever. They honored the word of their father. This is good.

Those of Judah/Jerusalem would receive all the evil that the Lord have pronounced against them.

God had spoken to them and they did not listen.
God had called them and they did not answer.

We know what happened to them.

What is to happen with us?

Choose today who you will serve…

Blessings!

I’ve made some of my instrumental interpretations of hymns available for free download.
Go here - http://www.reverbnation.com/dalemoore
You will see the songs in the middle of the page. Just click “download”.
You can also go to the store (right column) to purchase entire projects or other individual songs.