“You Will Discern…”
“You Will Discern…”
Blessings folk!
The father continues to speak to the son.
The Father continues to speak to us.
Hear the Word of the Lord related to Wisdom!
Pro 2:1-5
My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
Give heed to what we are to do.
Make your ear attentive to wisdom.
Incline your heart to understanding.
Cry for discernment.
Lift your voice for understanding.
Seek Wisdom as silver/treasure.
If we will do this, then what occurs?
We will discern the fear of the Lord.
We will discover the knowledge of God.
How many Believers have truly done this?
I suspect not many.
Listen to how we talk.
Give consideration to how we think.
Do you hear the wisdom/knowledge/understanding of the Most High?
Or, the “wisdom/knowledge/understanding” of man?
Do you see the fear of the Lord, or the fear of man?
Fear of man is rampant in the professing church?
Most are walking in fear of situation and circumstance rather than in the fear of the Lord.
It does not take much discernment to determine the difference.
Which do you live in?
Wisdom?
The ways of man?
The knowledge of the Lord?
The fear of man?
The fear of the Lord?
“Listen to Wisdom”
“Listen to Wisdom”
Blessings folk!
Proverbs 1 has shown us about wisdom.
What happens when people reject wisdom.
What happens when people receive wisdom.
The chapter closes with a synopsis…
Pro 1:28-29
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
“They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices.
“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
“But he who listens to me shall live secure
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
Reject wisdom?
- She will not respond when you call upon her
- Even when you diligently seek, she shall not be found
They brought it on themselves.
- They hated knowledge
- They did not choose to fear the Lord
- They would not accept the counsel of the Lord
- They spurned the reproof of wisdom
So…
- They eat the fruit of their own way
- They are satiated by their own devices
- They kill themselves
- They destroy themselves
But, the one who listens to wisdom…the one who receives wisdom…
- Shall live secure
- Will be at ease from the dread of evil
Are you living secure?
Are you free and at ease from the dread of evil?
If not, seek the wisdom of the Lord.
“Wisdom Laughs and Mocks"
“Wisdom Laughs and Mocks"
Blessings folk!
“Wisdom” continues to speak in the first Proverb.
Pro 1:24-25
“Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
Wisdom called.
They refused.
Wisdom stretched out her hand.
No one paid attention.
They neglected the counsel of wisdom.
No one wanted the reproof of wisdom.
Therefore…
Pro 1:26-27
I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
Wisdom’s response?
Laugh at your calamity.
Mock when dread comes your way.
Laugh/mock at distress and anguish.
The chance was given.
It was refused.
How are you listening to wisdom?
To what are you listening?
“Wisdom Cries! Turn!”
“Wisdom Cries! Turn!”
Blessings folk!
In Proverbs “wisdom” is personified as “she”.
Give heed to “wisdom”…
Pro 1:20-23
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
“Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Wisdom is not bashful.
Wisdom is not shy.
She shouts in the street - publicly.
She lifts her voice - in the town square.
In the midst of the cacophony of life she cries out.
What does she say?
“How long will you be naive?”
“How long will you be simple-minded?”
“How long will you be a scoffer delighting in scoffing?”
“How long will you be a fool hating knowledge?”
She cries…
“Turn to my reproof”
She promises…
“I will pour out my spirit on you.”
“I will make my words known to you.”
So, what is your response?
Will you turn to wisdom?
Or, will you remain a scoffing fool?
“Gain By Violence”
“Gain By Violence”
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday that we are not to consent to the enticement of sinners.
There is more…
Pro 1:15-19
My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,
For their feet run to evil
And they hasten to shed blood.
Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;
But they lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;
It takes away the life of its possessors.
Believers are not to walk in the way of sinners.
We are to keep ourselves away from their path.
Why?
Because they run to evil.
We are to run to righteousness.
They hasten to shed blood.
We are “covered by the blood”.
We are to preserve life.
They seek gain by violence, by ambush.
The Word is clear.
Those that gain by lying in wait…
Those that gain by violence…
Will have their life taken away.
Such saps life away.
Be forewarned.
Walk not in the path of sinners.
Listen not to the words of sinners.
Listen to the Most High God.
“Do Not Consent”
“Do Not Consent”
Blessings folk!
Hear the Word of the father to the son…
Pro 1:10-14
My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait for blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
Throw in your lot with us,
We shall all have one purse,”
Learn this truth.
Live this truth.
If sinners entice you, do not consent.
We will see more as we progress through Proverbs of the varied ways that sin entices.
Do not consent.
Today, sinners entice Believers to do things which are harmful.
Do not consent.
1 Co 6:18-20
Flee immorality.
Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body,
but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body.
Guard your body…the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Reject the way of the sinner.
Do not consent.
Remember.
If you are a true Believer, you have been bought with a price.
Therefore, glorify God in your body.
Do not consent.
“Concealed Matter”
“Concealed Matter”
Blessings folk!
We, the Body of Christ, are in much need of the wisdom, instruction and insights of the Lord.
Yet, we refuse, by our actions, to receive such.
The Lord has given us an abundance of wisdom and knowledge through His Word. Yet, how many truly seek it?
How many dig it out?
Pro 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
The Proverbs of God given through Solomon provide so much for us!
Hear the Word of the Most High God…
Pro 1:8-9
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck.
The next series of proverbs are a man teaching his son.
Here, he exhorts his son to give heed to the father’s instruction, to not forsake mother’s teaching.
May we do likewise.
May we be “fathers/mothers” who know/speak the instruction and teaching of the Lord.
Search out the concealed matter of the glory of God.
Live it.
Teach it.
“Proverbs of Solomon”
“Proverbs of Solomon”
Blessings folk!
We need the wisdom of the Lord.
We need the knowledge of the Lord.
We need the instruction of the Lord.
We need the understanding of the Lord.
We gain such, and more, through the Spirit and the Word.
Hear the Word of the Lord…
Pro 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Proverbs of Solomon are giving to us…
- to know wisdom
- to know instruction
- to discern understanding
- to receive instruction in
- wise behavior
- righteousness
- justice
- equity
- to give prudence to the naive…simple ones
- to give knowledge to youth
- to give discretion to youth
- to increase learning in the wise
- to give wise counsel to a man of understanding
- to understand
- proverbs
- figures
- words of the wise
- riddles
Forget not!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge!
Do not be a fool and reject wisdom and instruction!
Being with the Proverbs…
“Wise”
“Wise”
Blessings folk!
The last verse of Psalm 107 asked a question?
Who is wise?
Psalm 107:43
He Who is wise?
Let him give heed to these things,
And consider the loving-kindnesses of the LORD.
The wise one is the one who gives heed to the Word of the Lord.
The wise one is the one who considers the loving-kindnesses of the Lord.
The Lord tells us much about wisdom in His Word.
Consider:
Pro 1:1-2
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
The proverbs of Solomon had many purposes.
The first listed is to know wisdom.
Pro 1:3-7
To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Proverbs instruct us in wise behavior.
A wise man will hear.
A wise man will increase in learning.
A wise man will hear the word of the wise.
A wise man will walk in the fear of the Lord, knowing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
A fool - the unwise - despise wisdom and instruction.
A fool walks not in the fear of the Lord.
A fool walks in the fear of man, situation, circumstance.
Many professing to be Believers are manifesting themselves as fools.
They walk in fear rather than faith.
Mat 7:20
“So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Much is being revealed.
Rom 1:22
Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Which are you?
Wise, walking by faith in the fear of the Lord.
Fool, walking in flesh in the fear of man.
“Who Is Wise?”
“Who Is Wise?”
Blessings folk!
The end of Psalm 107…
Psa 107:41-43
But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction,
And makes his families like a flock.
The upright see it and are glad;
But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
He Who is wise?
Let him give heed to these things,
And consider the lovingkindnesses of the LORD.
Remember this.
Trust this.
The Lord sets the needy securely on high away from affliction.
He make the needy His flock.
He rescues.
He provides.
The upright rejoice!
The unrighteous shut their mouths.
So, who is the wise?
The one who gives heed to all these things.
The one who considers the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.
Review these things.
Read Psalm 107 again.
Rejoice!
“He Pours Contempt…”
“He Pours Contempt…”
Blessings folk!
We are drawing to the end of Psalm 107, a Psalm that has much to say to us for today!
As we saw yesterday, God will bless and multiply those that turn from wickedness to Him.
Psa 107:38
Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly,
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
Still, the enemy will seek to come against us.
Fear not!
The Lord will deal with it.
Psa 107:39-40
When they are diminished and bowed down
Through oppression, misery and sorrow,
He pours contempt upon princes
And makes them wander in a pathless waste.
When we are “diminished and bowed down through oppression, misery and sorrow” the Lord will move.
He will pour contempt upon “princes” (“nobles&rdquo
that do such.
He will make them wander in a pathless waste.
We are about to see this manifest even more.
The hand of the Lord will protect His people.
The hand of the Lord will reveal the evil of man and the enemy.
As we will see in the closing verses, all unrighteousness will be shut up.
Press on.
Choose patience in the Lord.
Trust in the Lord.
Fear not.
Reject the anxiety of the world.
Reject the “solutions” of the world.
“The Lord Changes, Makes, Blesses”
“The Lord Changes, Makes, Blesses”
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday what the Lord does to the land of the wicked.
But, what if the wicked repent?
What if they turn to the Lord?
Ah, yes!
Psa 107:35-38
He changes a wilderness into a pool of water
And a dry land into springs of water;
And there He makes the hungry to dwell,
So that they may establish an inhabited city,
And sow fields and plant vineyards,
And gather a fruitful harvest.
Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly,
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
The Lord changes.
He changes the wilderness into a pool of water.
He changes the dry land into springs of water.
The Lord makes.
He makes the hungry to dwell there, so as to establish an inhabited city.
So that they may sow fields, plant vineyards, gather a fruitful harvest…not just a harvest.
A fruitful harvest.
The Lord blesses them.
The Lord multiplies them greatly.
The Lord does not let their cattle decrease.
They prosper in the Lord.
Lord!
Make is so with us!
“Because of the Wickedness of Dwellers”
“Because of the Wickedness of Dwellers”
Blessings folk!
There is such much to be learned and gleaned from the Psalms.
They are much more than a collection of pretty poems.
We continue in Psalm 117.
Look at what the Lord does to nature where wickedness prevails.
Psa 107:33-34
He changes rivers into a wilderness
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
A fruitful land into a salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
As an example, consider California.
Have you seen California lately?
Seriously.
I remember back in the 1980’s a popular book came out describing California as a “bell-weather” state.
The idea was/is that what happens in California is a foreshadowing for the balance of the nation.
States such as California and Florida were “twenty years ahead” of the rest of the nation.
The rivers, lakes and reservoirs in California are nearly totally dry.
Fields of produce are plowed under.
God changes rivers into wilderness
God changes springs of water into thirsty ground.
God changes the fruitful land into a salt waste.
All because of the wickedness of those who dwell upon it.
Seek the Lord and His Kingdom.
Reject wickedness.
Pray for the land of the wicked…it is not “too late”.
“Give Thanks. Extol. Praise.”
“Give Thanks. Extol. Praise.”
Blessings folk!
One more thought on the seamen mentioned in Psalm 107.
Remember, they were caught in a storm, tossed about by wind and wave.
They cried to the Lord in their distress.
The Lord answered.
The Lord caused the storm to still.
The Lord caused the wave to hush.
The Lord guided them to their desired haven.
How did they respond?
They were glad.
Then…
Psa 107:31-32
Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.
They were to give thanks…
- to the Lord for His lovingkindness
- to the Lord for His wonders to the sons of men
They were to extol Him in the congregation of the people.
They were to praise Him at the seat of the elders.
We should do likewise.
Give thanks to the Lord!
Extol the Lord!
Praise Him!
“He Caused. He Guided.”
“He Caused. He Guided.”
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday that Psalm 107 describes how sailors cry out to the Lord in times of trouble and turmoil on the sea.
They cry to the Lord in their distress.
The Lord answers them.
How?
Psa 107:29
He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
Think on that!
The Lord stills the storm.
The Lord hushes the waves.
He did.
He still does.
He did in the natural.
He does in the natural.
The natural seen realm.
The natural unseen realm.
How do they then respond?
Psa 107:30
Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
They were glad when the storm and sea were quiet.
Ya reck’n?!
Not only did the Lord calm the situation, He then guided them to their “desired haven.”
He does the same for us.
When the storms come, He will quiet and calm…in His time. LOL
He will guide us…if we let Him.
Be glad.
Trust Him.
“Up and Down”
“Up and Down”
Blessings folk!
We continue in Psalm 107.
Note the next group that “cried out to the Lord.”
Note why they did so.
Psa 107:23-28
Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
They have seen the works of the LORD,
And His wonders in the deep.
For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,
And were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
Sailors!
Seamen!
They have seen the great waters.
They have seen the works of the Lord.
They have seen the wonders in the deep!
They have experienced the stormy wind.
They have experienced the lifted up waves.
The detail description of this poetic Psalm brings queasiness!
Up to the heavens.
Down to the depths.
Soul melting away.
Misery.
Reeling.
Staggering.
At their wits’ end.
Then they did what?
Cried to the Lord in their trouble.
What did the Lord do?
Brought them out of their distresses.
He will do so today!
“Give. Offer. Tell”
“Give. Offer. Tell”
Blessings folk!
Thank you for the extended time yesterday.
Heard from several of you.
Keep praying!
Now… Psalm 107…
Remember the last verse we read…
Psa 107:20
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
By the Word of the Lord the fool was healed.
By the Word of the Lord a fool is healed.
The Lord sent His Word.
His declaration by Word of the prophet.
His declaration by the Manifest Presence of the Lord Jesus - the Word!
He delivers by His Word.
What should be the response of those who are thus delivered from “their destructions”?
Psa 107:21-22
Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.
Give thanks to the Lord.
- For His lovingkindness
- For His wonders
Offer sacrifices of thanksgiving.
Tell of His works with joyful singing.
Yes!
Joyful!
Yes!
Singing!
“Prayer for Physical Healing”
“Prayer for Physical Healing”
Blessings folk!
Nothing “of God” and “by God” is by happenstance.
Bear with me today.
This is long.
Take the time to read.
Take the time to implement.
Several years ago I went to a meeting to visit with our friend Jack Deere.
He was the speaker.
I met someone there - Sylvia Gunter.
She is an amazing servant of the Most High God.
We had an interesting extended conversation.
I purchased several of her books.
I recommend them all.
The following excerpt is “Prayer for Physical Healing”.
I was taken today by the “happenstance” in my life.
I am working through Matthew on the daily podcast - in chapter 21 now.
She mentions chapter 21
I am blogging on Psalm 107.
She mentions Psalm 107.
Perhaps the Lord is saying something.
So, take the time to read.
Even more-so, take the time to pray.
I have done so for two particular situations.
One a nearby close friend named David.
The other a distant man who has taught me much in recent years through his writings/recording, Mike.
Insert the name of those on your heart…
Now, from Sylvia…
Prayer For Physical Healing
"My house will be called a house of prayer…"
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple,
And he healed them.—Matthew 21:13-14
About a third of the gospel stories about Jesus while He walked on earth were about physical healing. Is He not the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8)? Theologically, we say we believe that Jesus can heal. Where is the breakdown between the theoretical concept that He can and the positive boldness to ask Him, "Jesus, heal me now—today." How have we missed these two verses from Matthew 21 laid side by side? His house is a house of prayer, and the blind and lame are healed. Is it possible that we have not because we ask not?
Hebrews 4:12 is often quoted about the power of the Word of God. It is living and active, quick and powerful. The words active and powerful are the Greek words energes meaning energy, but it was used almost exclusively in classical Greek of that day as a medical term referring to successful medical treatment. Is Hebrews 4:12 saying, "The Word of God is effective medicine?"
The psalmist said, "[God] sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions" (Ps. 107:20).
His word is forever settled in heaven (Ps. 119:89).
In calling on the Healer to heal, however, we must always ask with a surrendered heart that His answer might be "No, because I have other purposes that you do not know, to get greater glory for Myself another way. Further along, you'll understand why." Always relinquish your will to His. In His Presence Can we not plead the promises of God the same today as yesterday? As God leads you, will you boldly bring physical needs to the throne of His grace?
Pray this way: Dear Father,
We hear Jesus say, "Come," as we get out of the boat of the present medical "facts" as we've been told them and walk on the water of faith toward the Healer for ________'s complete healing.
On the basis of Your covenant name and character as healer:
God, in Your word You demonstrated Your character as Healer. You revealed Yourself as Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals (Exo. 15:26). We praise You as the One who heals all our diseases (Ps. 103:3). The gospels continually demonstrate the healing power of Jesus, and You have not changed (Heb. 13:8). Dr. God, will you be ______'s attending physician?
On the basis of Your ownership:
________ belongs to You. You made ________ and bought ________ at the price of the death of Your Son on the cross. You call ________'s physical body the temple of Your Holy Spirit. We trust You to take care of what is Yours.
On the basis of Your covenant mercy:
________ lives at Your pleasure and under Your grace, and You delight to show mercy (Titus 3:5). Your Word says, "There is no god like You, keeping Your covenant and showing mercy toYour servants who walk before You with all their hearts" (1 Kings 8:23 NKJ). ________ walks before You with a totally surrendered heart. Please, Lord, have mercy.
On the basis that You care individually:
You are touched by the feeling of our infirmities. You saw the multitudes like sheep distressed and in need, and You stopped to personally minister Your healing virtue to one woman who touched the hem of Your garment. Let us with ________ touch the hem of Your garment for complete healing. Because healing is consistent with Your holy, sovereign character:
You are strong and sovereignly able. Your compassion is infinite; Your mercy never ceases. Your faithfulness is steadfast and without question. Your resurrection power is unlimited. Show Yourself strong on ________'s behalf.
Because of Your unchangeable purposes:
Your purposes are unchangeable for ______'s life. Please give ________ every year You have writ-ten in Your book for him/her to fulfill Your purposes in this generation (Ps. 56:8b, 139:16).
Because You are a God of order:
Disease is dis-order in the cell structures of the body. We ask You as Lord of the universe to command every cell in ________'s body to bow to Your word of command and come to order.
Because You have done it before:
You are no respecter of persons. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You've healed before. Oh, God, please do it again now for ________.
Because You delight to answer prayer:
You are good and give good gifts to Your children (James 1:17). Father, hear our prayers, hear our tears. Receive them as liquid intercession which You store up in Your presence (Ps. 56:8a).
Because You are a mighty Warrior:
Contend with those forces of darkness and death who are contending for ________'s physical life (Isa. 42:13, Ps. 35:1). Give ________ and the family stillness of heart, while You fight for him/her (Exo. 14:14, Ps. 46:10). The battle is the Lord's (1 Sam. 17:47, 2 Chron. 20:15b).
Because You love him/her:
You will never take Your love from ________ (Rom. 8:35,38-39). You delight in him/her (Zeph. 3:17, Ps. 18:19). Your love for us was settled at the cross. Because You are due thanksgiving:
We thank You for the years of life You have given ________. We thank You for giving ________'s family their beloved one. We thank You for the reflections of You that ________ has shown to so many people. We thank You for ……. (add your personal thanks). We know with certainty that all this is for Your glory, so that Your grace will cause thanksgiving to overflow to You (2 Cor. 4:15). As we intercede, many will give thanks on ______'s behalf for the gracious favor granted him/her in answer to our prayers (2 Cor. 1:11).
Because You delight to reveal Your glory:
Jesus prayed, "Father, glorify Your name!" Your voice came from heaven, saying, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again" (John 12:28). So we are asking You to do what glorifies You the most in ________'s body. Father, in Jesus' name, bring glory to Yourself by revealing that You are still a God of miracles. You are compassionate, able, and strong. We are merely clay pots who hold this Treasure; all that counts is Jesus. So, Jesus, we ask for Your resurrection power to do far abundantly beyond what we are able to ask or imagine, according to Your power at work in ________ (Eph. 3:20-21). We know whom we have believed and are convinced that You are able to guard ________ whom we have entrusted to You (2 Tim. 1:12). We thank You for Your covering of Your sweet presence and peace that passes all under-standing for _________ and his/her family. All glory to Your holy name, Amen.
In His Presence
One of the names of God is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord your healer, but the ways of God are mysterious when it comes to healing. Healing is completely under the sovereignty of God. He has the power to heal; He can heal at His discretion—will He?
The body of Christ divides into two extremes:
- those who give God a medical report and ask Him to give the doctors wisdom to deal with the illness. Surely we should make use of every medical means and pray for the medical staff, but does this kind of prayer alone place more faith in doctors than in God?
- Those who teach that it is God's will to heal everybody in every case. The healing ministry of Jesus confirmed that He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with the power of God to work miracles of healing (Acts 10:38). Although the power to heal is in the blood of Jesus, will He always apply that provision? Obviously not every time. Jesus did not heal every sick person in the world in His time on earth, and, taking this position to its logical conclusion, would anybody ever die? Our physical infirmities are ultimately the result of the Fall and the resulting curse. Jesus healed because He had compassion (Matt. 14:14, 20:34; Mark 1:41, 5:19; Luke 7:13). It is important to ask God for His prayers according to His will and then pray for healing as He leads and trust His sovereign will and purpose. James 5:14-16 links healing with prayer, anointing with oil by the elders, the name of Jesus, the prayer of faith, and confession of sin. There are well over 130 Scripture references to healing. Study from your Bible what God says about healing. You might begin with these: Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 32:39, Job 5:18, Psalm 30:2, 103:2-3, 107:20; Isaiah 53:5, 57:18, 58:8; Jeremiah 17:14, Matthew 8:16, 17, 9:21-22, 35, 15:30; Mark 5:28, 16:18; Luke 9:2, 6; John 11:4, Acts 4:10, 5:16, 10:38; 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, 12:9; 1 Peter 2:24, 3 John 2. Let God lead you as you dig deeper about His healing for today. Two good books on the subject are Joy Dawson's Some Of The Ways Of God
Gunter, Sylvia. Prayer Essentials For Living In His Presence, Vol 2 . The Father's Business. Kindle Edition.
Sylvia Gunter Book Page
https://thefathersbusiness.com/
“He Sent His Word…”
“He Sent His Word…”
Blessings folk!
Yesterday we saw this about the fool…
Psa 107:17-19
Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
Their soul abhorred all kinds of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
Yeah!
The Lord saves!
But, wait…there is more…
Psa 107:20
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
The Lord sent/sends His Word to the fool.
Think on this!
Are we the vessel the Word of the Lord for someone?
The Lord healed/heals the fool by His Word.
That is the reason that the enemy fights to undermine the Word.
It brings Healing.
But, there is more!
The Word of the Lord delivered/delivers the fool from their destructions.
There is Hope.
The fool self destructs.
The Lord heals and delivers the fool…by His Word.
Jhn 1:1
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
“Redeemed. Prisoners…Fools”
“Redeemed. Prisoners…Fools”
Blessings folk!
We press on through Psalm 107.
I am seeing something here…a pattern.
Ps 107:1-9
The redeemed of the Lord had wandered, gone hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble.
He heard.
He delivered them from all their distresses.
They gave Him thanks.
He satisfied them.
Ps 107:10-16
There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death.
They were prisoners
God humbled their heart with labor.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble.
He heard.
He saved them from their distresses.
They gave Him thanks.
He broke the chains.
How exciting!
“But”, one might say, “I’ve been a fool…”
Hear the Word fool!!
Psa 107:17-19
Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
Their soul abhorred all kinds of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
There is hope for the fool!
The fool that was rebellious.
The fool that committed iniquities.
The fool that bore affliction due to his foolishness.
The fool that abhorred all food…ascetic…
The fool that nearly starved himself to death.
The fool cried out to the Lord in their trouble.
The Lord heard.
The Lord saved them out of their distresses.
It is never too late.
Cry to the Lord.
He hears.
He will save you!
“Give Thanks”
“Give Thanks”
Blessings folk!
We continue through Psalm 107…
The people cried out to the Lord.
He heard them in their distress.
He saved them from their distresses.
Psa 107:13-14
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
The Lord brought them out of darkness.
The Lord brought them out of the shadow of death.
The Lord broke their bands…their chains…their bondage of fear.
What was the response of the people?
What should our response be?
Psa 107:15-16
They shall give thanks to the LORD for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.
Give thanks to the Lord.
Give thanks for His mercy.
Give thanks for His wonders
Give thanks because He shattered the gates of bronze.
Give thanks because He cut off bars of iron.
Give thanks because He has set us free!
“Rebelled. Rejected.”
“Rebelled. Rejected.”
Blessings folk!
We continue through Psalm 107.
Read carefully.
Listen carefully…to the Word…to the Spirit.
This is a Word for us today!
The Body of Christ must hear!
Psa 107:10-13
There were those who lived in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and chains,
Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And rejected the plan of the Most High.
Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
What did the Lord speak to you?
Nothing?
Read again.
Ask Him to reveal…
Ok…
There are many who live in darkness…
There are many who live in the shadow of death…
They are prisoners of misery…
They are prisoners of chains…
Why?
Because they have rebelled against the words of God.
Because they have rejected the plan of the Most High.
Read that again.
This is the status of much of the “western church”.
They have rebelled against the Word.
They have rejected the Plan,
What will God do?
He will humble them/us.
With labor…forced labor…captivity.
With stumbling.
With no one to help.
Until, we cry out to Him in our trouble.
He then saves from distress.
Repent folk.
Cease rebelling and rejecting.
Turn to the Lord and His ways.
Learn His Plan.
Reject the plans of man.
Embrace the Lord!
“They Cried Out to the Lord…”
“They Cried Out to the Lord…”
Blessings folk!
We continue through Psalm 107…
Psa 107:4-9
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region;
They did not find a way to an inhabited city.
They were hungry and thirsty;
Their souls felt weak within them.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
He also had them walk on a straight way,
To go to an inhabited city.
They shall give thanks to the LORD for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.
Note the state of the folk…
- wandering in desert
- did not find a city
- hungry
- thirsty
- weak of soul
Note what they did!
- they cried out to the Lord…we will see this repeated.
What did God do?
- He saved them from their distresses
- He had them walk on a straight way…to an inhabited city
- He showed mercy
What did they do?
What should we do?
Give thanks!
- for His mercy
- for His wonder
- for His satisfaction
- for His filling
The Lord provides Good.
Rejoice!!
Fear not!
Cry out to the Lord in time of trouble.
“He Is Good!”
“He Is Good!”
Blessings folk!
I meet with a group of men on a weekly basis for a time of breaking bread (break-fast) and prayer.
Some of us decided to read through the Bible together.
Today’s reading was Psalm 107.
This Psalm has some serious things to say to us.
Let’s spend some time in it.
As we will see, one of the themes of the Psalm is that the Lord will rescue His people.
But first, know this…
Psa 107:1-3
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
The redeemed of the LORD shall say so,
Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.
We are to know some things.
We are to know that the Lord is Good.
We are to know that the Mercy of the Lord is everlasting…without beginning, without end.
We are to do some things.
We are to give thanks to the Lord.
We, the redeemed, are to speak forth His redemption.
We are to speak forth of the Goodness of the Lord.
We are to speak forth of His gathering together from all places.
Begin here.
Give thanks!
Speak forth the Goodness of the Lord.
“Transformity…”
“Transformity…”
Blessings folk!
Fear is not of God!
Believers are not to walk in fear.
Yet, so many who profess to be true Believers are consumed by fear.
I am not speaking of the “fear of the Lord” and the awe of His holiness.
Rather, fear of man, circumstance, etc.
Such should not be.
So, what is the deal?
First, many who profess to be Believers are not.
They are not saved.
They are religious.
They are likely “good”.
Still, they are not in right/correct relationship with Father.
They are of the world.
Second, many are truly Believers, yet they do not know the freedom and liberty of the Lord.
They do know the bondage of evil via fear.
They consider “fear” to be a “normal” part of life.
It is not “normal” for the Believer.
Know this.
The Lord will set you free from fear.
Hear the Word of the Lord…
2 Ti 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,
but of power and love and discipline.
The Lord has not given us a spirit of timidity=cowardice=fear.
He has given us a Spirit of Power!
He has given us a Spirit of Love!
He has given us a Spirit of Discipline!
Start here…
If the Lord reveals to you that you are not a true Believer, then repent and be saved - Today!
If you are a true Believer, then drop the ways of the world.
Consider this…
Rom 12:1-2
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.
And do not be conformed 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.
Do not be conformed to this world - Greek word for “conformed” is “syschēmatizō” - means “to be fashioned like”, “to be pressed into the mold of”, “to conform oneself as”…to put on the mask of!
Do not masquerade as the world.
You are not of the world.
Rather, be transformed - Greek: “metamorphoō”…yeah, you know that from middle-school biology.
Which will you walk in?
The conformity of masquerading as the world?
The transformity (yeah, I know…no such word LOL) of the life of the true Believer?
Choose wisely.
“God of Hope”
“God of Hope”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God.
Give close heed to this verse.
Read it several times…slowly.
Paul is drawing to the end of a letter he was writing to Believers in Rome.
Consider this.
What do we learn about God?
What do we learn about the Holy Spirit?
What do we learn about Believers?
Rom 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God is The God of hope, in contrast to other gods (which do exist&hellip which are hope-less.
The Most High God, the God of Hope, will fill Believers with joy and peace.
Joy!
Peace!
If you have not Joy and Peace, or lack the fulness thereof, then seek the Lord and He will provide.
He wants Believers to abound in Hope.
How?
By the power of the Holy Spirit!
So, think this through…slowly…
The God of Hope…
Wants to fill ever Believer…not false Believer, not religionist, etc. …
So that…to the purpose and goal…we will about in Hope…
That we will abound in Hope by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
We must live this way.
We must not quench the Spirit of Power which desires to fill us with Hope, Joy and Peace.
Choose the God of Hope and the Power of the Spirit.
He is the only Source.
“Great Revelation”
“Great Revelation”
Blessings folk!
A great revelation is taking place.
It is two-fold.,
- The depth of evil in the structures of man is being revealed.
Evil of a degree that most of us have never even considered.
We see it in the political and corporate structures of the world.
We see it in individuals.
More will be revealed.
Wait until you see.
Most will be amazed.
Many will refuse to believe.
Yet, fear not!
There is Hope.
Another great revelation is evident.
(2) The “church” is powerless.
The religious organizations of our society are being revealed to be powerless, play-toys of man.
The “church”, as a whole, is clueless.
They grapple for strategies to “reach the world”.
They struggle with “plans”.
They seek to be “relevant” (some even giving themselves that name).
All the while they boldly and consistently reject the Word of the Lord.
They do not pray.
They do not seek the Mind of the Lord.
They do not function/live in the pattern that the Lord has given.
And we wonder “what went wrong…”.
I feel the need to keep ever before us this truth…
Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1Th 1:5
for our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
The Power of God.
We must live in the Power of God.
Nothing else.
Therefore…
Mat 6:33
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
Only the Power of God will empower/enable us to stand strong against the evil of the day and that which is coming.
If you refuse to consider the plan/teaching/doctrine of the Lord, then be not surprised at your powerlessness.
But, seek/learn the Way of the Lord, and fruit will come forth.
There is Hope.
Better days are ahead.
But only in the Lord!
“Sanctified"
“Sanctified"
Blessings folk!
Now, let us finish the complete thought at the beginning of 1 Timothy 4…
1 Ti 4:1-5
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
For everything created by God is good,
and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
Look again at the last two verses.
We saw previously that God has created food that is to be gratefully shared.
Shared by those who believe.
Shared by those who know the truth.
Now the Word tells us that everything created by God is good.
Everything!
Nothing is to be rejected - if it is received with gratitude.
We reject much.
We reject due to ignorance.
We reject due to fear.
We reject due to pride and hubris.
When we receive with gratitude it is is sanctified.
Sanctified…set apart…made holy.
Sanctified by the Word of God.
Sanctified by prayer.
Rejoice in what the Lord has created to be shared.
Reject the deceitful spirts/doctrines of demons that perverts the good of God.
Selah!
“The Spirit Explicitly Says…”
“The Spirit Explicitly Says…”
Blessings folk!!
Difficult days are coming.
But know this!
Those who know God will shine as the stars in the firmament and bring many to righteousness.
Dan 11:32
“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant,
but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
Dan 12:3
“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven,
and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
But some will not shine.
Some will fall/turn away.
They will listen to deceitful spirits.
They will learn doctrines/teachings of demons.
1 Tim 4:1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith,
paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
Such is increasing.
So much deception.
So much demonic doctrine.
Much from “evangelical pulpits”.
So, what to do?
Finish the sentence and see if you gain any insight…
1 Ti 4:2-3
by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
Those propagating the deceit and doctrine of demons are liars.
They are hypocrites.
They are rampant.
If they are not addressed according to the Word, then their destruction will continue.
I could give you example after example after example…
These men create their own rules, their own “laws”.
“Forbid marriage”.
“Abstain from certain foods”.
They forbid things which God has created to be gratefully shared.
Shared by those who believe.
Shared by those who know the truth.
This might be a good definition of a “religionist”.
They think nothing of lying.
They think nothing of plagiarizing (the latest revelation that the Lord is using to purge and purify).
They think nothing of creating hypocritical rules and doctrines.
(Yet, as an example, they throw a fit is someone partakes with thanks, of an adult beverage.)
We will see more tomorrow.
For today, reject the life and teaching of such hypocrites.
Believe.
Live in Truth.
Share gratefully.
“God’s Purposes”
“God’s Purposes”
Blessings folk!
Difficult times are ahead.
More so than now…much more so.
2 Ti 3:1
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
A sad element of this is that many professing believers will be the source of difficulty.
They do not know the Word of the Lord.
They do not have the Mind of the Lord.
They simply live in the mind of man.
Many are not true believers.
They are religious…many very faithful to their religion.
Yet, they are not saved.
Many will speak the mind of the adversary and not know it.
Peter did so…
Mar 8:33
But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said,
“Get behind Me, Satan;
for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but on man’s.”
Peter thought he was saying the correct thing.
Peter thought he was defending the Lord.
He was not.
He was speaking the word of the enemy.
His mind was not set on God’s purposes.
His mind was set on man’s purposes.
Do not succumb to the lies, strategies and ignorance of others.
Have the Mind of the Lord.
Set your mind on God’s purposes.
Seek Him for wisdom and understanding, not the lying voices of the world.
Encourage OneAnother.
Exhort OneAnother.
Find those with Truth.
Stand strong in the Truth, even as lies come our way from friend, family and foe.