Thursday, April 16, 2020
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
The LORD is my Shepherd
Probably one of the most familiar psalms of all the 150 psalms in the
Bible is Psalm 23. This is known as the Shepherd's Psalm. Countless
sermons, books, and songs have been written about this psalm. It is said that the hymn "The Lord is my Shepherd" is Queen Elizabeth II's favorite hymn. It was sang at her wedding. It is often read at funerals and during times of trouble.
The LORD is my Shepherd
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Rev. 7:17 NIV Jesus taught us in John chapter 10 about the Good Shepherd. If fact, in verse 11, He declared, "I am the good Shepherd." He is my Protector, Defender, Provider, Guide and all that I need. Jesus commanded Peter to "feed My sheep". Then, when writing the 1st Epistle of Peter, he reminded the elders to feed the flock as examples to the flock so that "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away." I Peter 5:4
I shall not want
"O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him." Psalm 34:9 Just as the birds of the air need not plant a garden or sow a field, neither reap a harvest, because our Heavenly Father feeds them, even so, we are provided for by the Shepherd. "The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:15-16 NIV
He makes me to lie down in green pastures
I recently saw a teaching on green pastures and it completely revolutionized my understanding of this phrase "green pastures". We often picture these green pastures as something we would see in an English countryside. However, David did not live in Europe. He lived in the Middle East. And there in the Middle East, shepherds have to be familiar with the land, because grass is scarce. It usually pops up around the rocks after a heavy dew. The sheep must be dependent on the shepherd to know where this grass can be found.
He leads me beside the still waters (Contentment)
He restores my soul
The word in Hebrew used here for "Restore" is Sho'vav which comes from the root word, "Shuv" which means to turn around or more commonly known "To Repent". To paraphrase: He turns my soul around or He causes my soul to repent. When one is driving down the road and realize they missed the location, if they continue on, they will never arrive at their destination. They must turn around. This is what it means to repent.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake
There are a number of words in Hebrew that is used for path or way. The word used here is Ma'agol and the word is linked to the root word used for wagon or chariot. It has to do with the turning of the wheels. If you travel out west in the USA, there are places in the mountains and prairies that you can see the wagon trails permanently carved into the ground. This is the same for our journey as believers. If we walk on the righteous way it is made plain for us by those who have gone before us.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil
An old song says,"He never promised us a rose garden." In fact, Jesus said the opposite: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 If our faith stands in Him, we are more than conquerors. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." I John 5:4
You are with me;
In our darkest of hours, we need not fear for the great Shepherd is with us and is leading us in in the hour of darkness when we cannot see. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake.' So that we may boldly say, 'The LORD is my helper,' and 'I will not fear what man shall do unto me.'" Hebrews 13:5-6
Your rod and your staff they comfort me
The Shepherd's rod was more like a club that was used to defend the sheep against predators. The staff was not only a walking stick, but often held a crook at the top end which could be used to pull a sheep by leg when it was attempting to stray from the flock. David was declaring that not only was God's protection a comfort, but also His correction. Psalm 119:67 declares: "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept Thy Word."
After David had went astray and sinned with Bathsheba and sent her husband to be killed, God sent His prophet Nathan to the king to bring a rebuke. David penned the a plea for forgiveness in Psalm 51. In verse 8, he declared: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have broken may rejoice." As a shepherd, David remembered how often times when a sheep was rebellious and continued to stray he would have to brake the leg of the sheep so that it would humble itself. How often have we as sheep strayed from God's righteous path and when He would attempt to bring us back gently, we would only stray again and again? Then He would use more drastic measures to get our attention back to Him!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
I can remember, as I've read this in the past, picturing myself with a full Thanksgiving feast in front of me, while my adversaries had to sit watching me with slobbering jaws. Oh what a haughty spirit! This verse is actually about reconciliation.
If you are familiar with Middle Eastern customs, you will learn that when two parties are at odds with one another, a mediator will come and sit down with the two to mediate a truce. When a truce has been reached, they will share a meal signifying that there will be no further squabbles.
During the Last Supper, Jesus shared a meal with His betrayer sitting right next to Him. It was signifying that His divine love.
You anoint my head with oil
In ancient times, oil was carried in a hollowed out ram's horn that had be corked on both ends. When God sent Samuel to anoint Saul; and then later to anoint David, he uncorked the small end and poured oil/anointed the head of David. The Hebrew word for anointing is Ma'shi'ach or its anglicized rendering: Messiah. When the priest were anointed, they were messiah, just as with the kings. David declared in Psalm 133: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment (anointing oil) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
You can read in Leviticus chapter 8 of the anointing of Aaron and his sons as priests of the LORD. They were brought before the congregation and stripped of there regular clothes, washed and placed in holy garments, then anointed or consecrated for service to the LORD in the tabernacle. They were not to leave the tabernacle for seven days while they were anointed. During this time, two of Aaron's sons disobeyed the commandment of the LORD and brought strange fire to put on the altar. The Fire from the LORD came down and killed them. Aaron and his other two sons were commanded not to mourn for them: "And you shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." Lev. 10:7
My cup runs over
"I will raise the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the LORD." Psalm 116:13 In John the 4th chapter, we find Jesus having need to pass through Samaria. It wasn't that that was a faster route to Jerusalem, but the Father was sending Him on a mission. About 12 o'clock, Jesus sat down on the well when a woman of the town came out to draw water. He asked her for a drink. She replied that he was a Jew and she a Samaritan and it wasn't customary for this to occur as there were segregation and racial differences between the two classes of people. Jesus told her, "If you knew the gift of God, Who it is that said to you, 'Give Me a drink'; you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water." She responded: "You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from where then do You have this living water? Are you greater than our father, Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?" Jesus responded to her: "Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
I believe Jesus was referring to Isaiah's song: 'Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3 The Hebrew word for Salvation is YESHUA which is also the Name JESUS. When the angel came to Joseph and told him that Mary was with child from the Holy Ghost, he told him: "And she call bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus (YESHUA): for He shall save (YOSHIA) His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
During the Passover Seder meal, the Jewish people will fill their cups 4 times, but the second one (the cup of praise) is filled to overflowing. And as the plagues are read aloud, each person will dip there finger into the cup and drop it onto the plate indicating that although they are thankful for deliverance, their hearts are saddened by the suffering of their enemies.
Concerning Isaiah 12:3, the Jewish people recite this verse during the Havdalah service. This ceremony is the conclusion of the Sabbath day when at least 3 stars are visible in the night sky. The prayers used in Havdalah are full of references to Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah). Here is the first paragraph:
Behold, God is my salvation (Yeshu'ati); I will trust and not be fear. For my might and my praise is the LORD GOD and He was for me salvation (Yeshua). You will draw water in joy from the springs of salavation (Yeshua). Isaiah 12:2-3 To the LORD is salvation (Yeshua), upon Your people is Your blessing, Selah. Psalm 3:9 The LORD of Hosts is with us, a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob, Selah. Psalm 46:12 The LORD of Hosts, happy is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:13 Oh LORD, save! May the King answer us on the day we call. Psalm 20:10 For the Jews, there was light, gladness, joy and honor. Esther 8:16 So may it be for us! The cup of salvations (Yeshu'ot) I will raise, and the Name of the LORD I will invoke. Psalm 116:13
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The word for goodness in Hebrew that means GOOD is "TOV". When God looked on all His creation, He saw that it was TOV. In other words, it was functioning properly, just as He had designed it to function. Another way of saying this is, His creation was successful.
The word translated here as MERCY is not actually the usual word for Mercy, rather the Hebrew word is CHESED. There is no English equivalent to this Hebrew word. It is translated as many different things throughout the Old Testament: lovingkindness, compassion, love, devotion, devoted, righteousness, etc. My personal opinion is that this is the word Paul is referring to in I Corinthians 13 when he gives the definition of love:
The LORD is my Shepherd
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Rev. 7:17 NIV Jesus taught us in John chapter 10 about the Good Shepherd. If fact, in verse 11, He declared, "I am the good Shepherd." He is my Protector, Defender, Provider, Guide and all that I need. Jesus commanded Peter to "feed My sheep". Then, when writing the 1st Epistle of Peter, he reminded the elders to feed the flock as examples to the flock so that "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away." I Peter 5:4
I shall not want
"O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him." Psalm 34:9 Just as the birds of the air need not plant a garden or sow a field, neither reap a harvest, because our Heavenly Father feeds them, even so, we are provided for by the Shepherd. "The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:15-16 NIV
He makes me to lie down in green pastures
I recently saw a teaching on green pastures and it completely revolutionized my understanding of this phrase "green pastures". We often picture these green pastures as something we would see in an English countryside. However, David did not live in Europe. He lived in the Middle East. And there in the Middle East, shepherds have to be familiar with the land, because grass is scarce. It usually pops up around the rocks after a heavy dew. The sheep must be dependent on the shepherd to know where this grass can be found.
He leads me beside the still waters (Contentment)
This word, "Still" in Hebrew is M'nu'chot. The root of this word is the same as the root for the name of Noah or No'ach. It means rest or may favorite translation would be CONTENTED. I can't help but think of the old slogan for Carnation milk - "The milk that comes from contented cows." After Jesus had sent out His disciples two by two to preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out devils, when they returned, He told them, "'Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest
for a while,' because so many people were coming and going that they
didn't even have time to eat." Mark 6:31 ISV. Jesus promised us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NIV
He restores my soul
The word in Hebrew used here for "Restore" is Sho'vav which comes from the root word, "Shuv" which means to turn around or more commonly known "To Repent". To paraphrase: He turns my soul around or He causes my soul to repent. When one is driving down the road and realize they missed the location, if they continue on, they will never arrive at their destination. They must turn around. This is what it means to repent.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake
There are a number of words in Hebrew that is used for path or way. The word used here is Ma'agol and the word is linked to the root word used for wagon or chariot. It has to do with the turning of the wheels. If you travel out west in the USA, there are places in the mountains and prairies that you can see the wagon trails permanently carved into the ground. This is the same for our journey as believers. If we walk on the righteous way it is made plain for us by those who have gone before us.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil
An old song says,"He never promised us a rose garden." In fact, Jesus said the opposite: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 If our faith stands in Him, we are more than conquerors. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." I John 5:4
You are with me;
In our darkest of hours, we need not fear for the great Shepherd is with us and is leading us in in the hour of darkness when we cannot see. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake.' So that we may boldly say, 'The LORD is my helper,' and 'I will not fear what man shall do unto me.'" Hebrews 13:5-6
Your rod and your staff they comfort me
The Shepherd's rod was more like a club that was used to defend the sheep against predators. The staff was not only a walking stick, but often held a crook at the top end which could be used to pull a sheep by leg when it was attempting to stray from the flock. David was declaring that not only was God's protection a comfort, but also His correction. Psalm 119:67 declares: "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept Thy Word."
After David had went astray and sinned with Bathsheba and sent her husband to be killed, God sent His prophet Nathan to the king to bring a rebuke. David penned the a plea for forgiveness in Psalm 51. In verse 8, he declared: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have broken may rejoice." As a shepherd, David remembered how often times when a sheep was rebellious and continued to stray he would have to brake the leg of the sheep so that it would humble itself. How often have we as sheep strayed from God's righteous path and when He would attempt to bring us back gently, we would only stray again and again? Then He would use more drastic measures to get our attention back to Him!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
I can remember, as I've read this in the past, picturing myself with a full Thanksgiving feast in front of me, while my adversaries had to sit watching me with slobbering jaws. Oh what a haughty spirit! This verse is actually about reconciliation.
If you are familiar with Middle Eastern customs, you will learn that when two parties are at odds with one another, a mediator will come and sit down with the two to mediate a truce. When a truce has been reached, they will share a meal signifying that there will be no further squabbles.
During the Last Supper, Jesus shared a meal with His betrayer sitting right next to Him. It was signifying that His divine love.
You anoint my head with oil
In ancient times, oil was carried in a hollowed out ram's horn that had be corked on both ends. When God sent Samuel to anoint Saul; and then later to anoint David, he uncorked the small end and poured oil/anointed the head of David. The Hebrew word for anointing is Ma'shi'ach or its anglicized rendering: Messiah. When the priest were anointed, they were messiah, just as with the kings. David declared in Psalm 133: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment (anointing oil) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
You can read in Leviticus chapter 8 of the anointing of Aaron and his sons as priests of the LORD. They were brought before the congregation and stripped of there regular clothes, washed and placed in holy garments, then anointed or consecrated for service to the LORD in the tabernacle. They were not to leave the tabernacle for seven days while they were anointed. During this time, two of Aaron's sons disobeyed the commandment of the LORD and brought strange fire to put on the altar. The Fire from the LORD came down and killed them. Aaron and his other two sons were commanded not to mourn for them: "And you shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." Lev. 10:7
My cup runs over
"I will raise the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the LORD." Psalm 116:13 In John the 4th chapter, we find Jesus having need to pass through Samaria. It wasn't that that was a faster route to Jerusalem, but the Father was sending Him on a mission. About 12 o'clock, Jesus sat down on the well when a woman of the town came out to draw water. He asked her for a drink. She replied that he was a Jew and she a Samaritan and it wasn't customary for this to occur as there were segregation and racial differences between the two classes of people. Jesus told her, "If you knew the gift of God, Who it is that said to you, 'Give Me a drink'; you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water." She responded: "You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from where then do You have this living water? Are you greater than our father, Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?" Jesus responded to her: "Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
I believe Jesus was referring to Isaiah's song: 'Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3 The Hebrew word for Salvation is YESHUA which is also the Name JESUS. When the angel came to Joseph and told him that Mary was with child from the Holy Ghost, he told him: "And she call bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus (YESHUA): for He shall save (YOSHIA) His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
During the Passover Seder meal, the Jewish people will fill their cups 4 times, but the second one (the cup of praise) is filled to overflowing. And as the plagues are read aloud, each person will dip there finger into the cup and drop it onto the plate indicating that although they are thankful for deliverance, their hearts are saddened by the suffering of their enemies.
Concerning Isaiah 12:3, the Jewish people recite this verse during the Havdalah service. This ceremony is the conclusion of the Sabbath day when at least 3 stars are visible in the night sky. The prayers used in Havdalah are full of references to Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah). Here is the first paragraph:
Behold, God is my salvation (Yeshu'ati); I will trust and not be fear. For my might and my praise is the LORD GOD and He was for me salvation (Yeshua). You will draw water in joy from the springs of salavation (Yeshua). Isaiah 12:2-3 To the LORD is salvation (Yeshua), upon Your people is Your blessing, Selah. Psalm 3:9 The LORD of Hosts is with us, a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob, Selah. Psalm 46:12 The LORD of Hosts, happy is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:13 Oh LORD, save! May the King answer us on the day we call. Psalm 20:10 For the Jews, there was light, gladness, joy and honor. Esther 8:16 So may it be for us! The cup of salvations (Yeshu'ot) I will raise, and the Name of the LORD I will invoke. Psalm 116:13
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The word for goodness in Hebrew that means GOOD is "TOV". When God looked on all His creation, He saw that it was TOV. In other words, it was functioning properly, just as He had designed it to function. Another way of saying this is, His creation was successful.
The word translated here as MERCY is not actually the usual word for Mercy, rather the Hebrew word is CHESED. There is no English equivalent to this Hebrew word. It is translated as many different things throughout the Old Testament: lovingkindness, compassion, love, devotion, devoted, righteousness, etc. My personal opinion is that this is the word Paul is referring to in I Corinthians 13 when he gives the definition of love:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
This is not the love a mother has for her child or a husband for his wife. This word in Greek is agape love and it is the love God has for us.
* For other resources on Psalm 23, see A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Search the Scriptures
Today, as I was flipping through my Tanach (Hebrew Old Testament) by a Jewish publishing company, my eyes quickly fell on a portion of the Jewish blessing of the Torah. It is recited by the person called up to the Torah after the reading of the Torah. The translation of the blessing reads as follows: Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who gave us the Torah of truth and implanted eternal life within us. Blessed are You, Hashem Giver of the Torah.
Almost immediately, my mind went to a verse a Scripture that I had heard and read many times before. I knew it was somewhere in John around the sixth chapter. It took me a minute, but I found it in John 5:39. Yeshua (Jesus) was speaking to the Jewish leaders of His day and He declared, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." He was not in any way diminishing the authority or power of Scripture, but rather showing He was the fulfillment of those Scriptures.
The Scriptures were the signposts - the arrows pointing to Him. God gave the Jewish people a marriage contract (the Torah). But the contract wasn't the end. It was the means to an end. It was describing the Bridegroom and all the blessings that go along with the Groom.
Almost immediately, my mind went to a verse a Scripture that I had heard and read many times before. I knew it was somewhere in John around the sixth chapter. It took me a minute, but I found it in John 5:39. Yeshua (Jesus) was speaking to the Jewish leaders of His day and He declared, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." He was not in any way diminishing the authority or power of Scripture, but rather showing He was the fulfillment of those Scriptures.
The Scriptures were the signposts - the arrows pointing to Him. God gave the Jewish people a marriage contract (the Torah). But the contract wasn't the end. It was the means to an end. It was describing the Bridegroom and all the blessings that go along with the Groom.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Divine Synchronization
My focus, lately, has been on the phrase, "Our Father which art in heaven". This morning, as I prayed this part, I was reminded of the phrase from Psalm 113:5-6 Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! God is so awesome and so great that He has to get down on all fours and place His face against the ground to see what is in heaven and on the earth!!! He is so big that He declared through the prophet Isaiah, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55:8-9) It would be like a flea trying to think like us. Yet, God in His infinite love and mercy wanted to think like us and feel what we feel. When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:3-4) The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi and said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him the Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phillipians 2:5-11) He humbled Himself to behold the things in heaven and on earth!!!
As I began to move on in prayer, this morning, from praise to worship in the phrase, "Hallowed be Thy Name..." I began to declare with Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, "Holy, Holy Holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory" Suddenly I was carried away in the Spirit and could see the stars crying out to one another, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY", the galaxies, the planets, the black holes, and every celestial being crying out one to another "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY" The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. This is the Will of God, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!!!
Jesus told us to ask. The word ASK, can easily be interchanged with PRAY. This is the task He has given us and it is followed by a Kingdom promise, "Ask and you shall receive". When we are praying the Lord's prayer, we are asking that His name be sanctified on Earth as it is in Heaven. We are asking Him to let the nations glorify His Name, even as the galaxies, stars, planets and all the celestial beings glorify His Name. Suddenly, that same cooperation that happens in the heavenlies begins to be fulfilled in the earth.
It is Divine Synchronization. Ezekiel had a vision in which He saw the heavens and was carried to the very throne of God. He not only saw the beings that carry the throne, but he saw the very One Who is sitting on the throne! And in all this there was such synchronization. He saw more synchronization and precision than that of an atomic clock: And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the Spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the Spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. (Ezekiel 1:19-21) This is what that phrase means, "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN". When the Spirit moves, the wheels move. When the Spirit is lifted up, the wheels are lifted up.
This is the Will of God. That we move in precision with His will. Praising and worshiping Him Who sits on the throne. Walking in His Will. Operating in divine synchronization with His Spirit. And the only way to achieve it is to Ask; to pray in His Will, believing that He Who spoke it will bring it to pass.
As I began to move on in prayer, this morning, from praise to worship in the phrase, "Hallowed be Thy Name..." I began to declare with Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, "Holy, Holy Holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory" Suddenly I was carried away in the Spirit and could see the stars crying out to one another, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY", the galaxies, the planets, the black holes, and every celestial being crying out one to another "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY" The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. This is the Will of God, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!!!
Jesus told us to ask. The word ASK, can easily be interchanged with PRAY. This is the task He has given us and it is followed by a Kingdom promise, "Ask and you shall receive". When we are praying the Lord's prayer, we are asking that His name be sanctified on Earth as it is in Heaven. We are asking Him to let the nations glorify His Name, even as the galaxies, stars, planets and all the celestial beings glorify His Name. Suddenly, that same cooperation that happens in the heavenlies begins to be fulfilled in the earth.
It is Divine Synchronization. Ezekiel had a vision in which He saw the heavens and was carried to the very throne of God. He not only saw the beings that carry the throne, but he saw the very One Who is sitting on the throne! And in all this there was such synchronization. He saw more synchronization and precision than that of an atomic clock: And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the Spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the Spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. (Ezekiel 1:19-21) This is what that phrase means, "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN". When the Spirit moves, the wheels move. When the Spirit is lifted up, the wheels are lifted up.
This is the Will of God. That we move in precision with His will. Praising and worshiping Him Who sits on the throne. Walking in His Will. Operating in divine synchronization with His Spirit. And the only way to achieve it is to Ask; to pray in His Will, believing that He Who spoke it will bring it to pass.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Give Us This Day
So
often we pray the Lord's Prayer (or rather we SAY the Lord's Prayer)
without any concentration on what is coming out of our mouth. As I
have mentioned in previous posts, the Lord's Prayer is more of a road
map of prayer for me. It helps me to direct my concentration and
focus on the Lord during my prayer time. I often use each line as a
header, as I have taught in previous posts.
Recently, as I was praying through the Lord's Prayer, I came to the line “Give us this day...” I recognized it as a petition all by itself. Not a prayer for bread or food, but a prayer for accepting this day as it comes. I began to think of Scriptures referring to Today: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To Day” Heb 3:13. And Jesus gave us commandment not to worry about tomorrow: Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matt 6:34
Recently, as I was praying through the Lord's Prayer, I came to the line “Give us this day...” I recognized it as a petition all by itself. Not a prayer for bread or food, but a prayer for accepting this day as it comes. I began to think of Scriptures referring to Today: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To Day” Heb 3:13. And Jesus gave us commandment not to worry about tomorrow: Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matt 6:34
My
thoughts were drawn to a verse of Scripture I have often shied away
from: This is the day
that the LORD has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm
118:24. In the past, I have been superstitious in that whenever I had
declared this Scripture, it seemed that I was tested on it. But as I
was praying this line – give us this day, I realized that it was
casting all my cares (fears, superstitions, worries, anxieties) on
the LORD and recognizing that THIS IS THE DAY HE HAS MADE and we are
believing in Him to give us THIS DAY everything we have need to make
it through the day.
I'm
sure that I'll never pray through this line again the same way as in
the past.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Simply Blessed
Yesterday, I found myself in the lowest depths of depression. I hadn’t felt that low in years. It was the most hopeless of feelings. By the evening, I was wondering what was even the point of living another day. I decided to write a letter to God and tell Him how I felt. It seemed to help a little and I was able to pray through the Lord’s prayer and talk about things I need.
First, this morning, my Daily Light Devotional ended with the verse, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
This morning, when I got to work and open my email, there was an email from someone I had met last year at the senior center. Out of the blue she had emailed me to say that I have been on her heart yesterday and she had prayed for me. I sobbed like a baby. I knew it was from the Lord, letting me know He was near.
One of the things that has been heavy on my heart has been getting my sink faucet replaced. Today in morning meeting, one of my colleagues said that one of our nurse’s husband a plumber. I very rarely see her, however in a meeting today she came in to eat lunch where we were meeting and I was able to ask her about her husband fixing the sink. This evening she let me know he could do it for $80 which is way less than I have been quoted.
This evening, one of our former residents’— who passed away this year - daughter came by to say hello and give us a gift. It was a sign that reads Simply Blessed. Yet another confirmation that God is watching over every detail.
First, this morning, my Daily Light Devotional ended with the verse, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
This morning, when I got to work and open my email, there was an email from someone I had met last year at the senior center. Out of the blue she had emailed me to say that I have been on her heart yesterday and she had prayed for me. I sobbed like a baby. I knew it was from the Lord, letting me know He was near.
One of the things that has been heavy on my heart has been getting my sink faucet replaced. Today in morning meeting, one of my colleagues said that one of our nurse’s husband a plumber. I very rarely see her, however in a meeting today she came in to eat lunch where we were meeting and I was able to ask her about her husband fixing the sink. This evening she let me know he could do it for $80 which is way less than I have been quoted.
This evening, one of our former residents’— who passed away this year - daughter came by to say hello and give us a gift. It was a sign that reads Simply Blessed. Yet another confirmation that God is watching over every detail.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Seeing the Unseen
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for
the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which
are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
God gave us 5 physical senses to contact our physical world. They are: touch, taste smell, hear and see. If anyone of those senses are damaged, we call that person handicapped. As a person ages, all of these senses begin to diminish. Yet, God gave us another sense that we can use - not to contact our physical world, but to contact the spiritual world. That is the sense of FAITH. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to use this sense to not only our spiritual life, but also our physical. The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth, "For we walk by faith, and not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7. Anything that can be felt, tasted, smelt, heard or seen will decay; it will not last. But what is experienced by faith is eternal. We often think of faith as something that we just wish for, or believe intellectually with our minds, and may even be convinced of but it can be proven. But the writer to the Hebrews gave a much more concrete definition to faith: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. Because this was written in Greek, we look back to see what the word "Substance" means. In the Strong's lexicon it is # 5287: Hupostatsis (from a compound word #5259 = Hupo: under / #2476 = Histemi: to Stand, support. This word gives me the picture of a round table being held up by a strong pedestal underneath or of a tall house supported underneath by a firm foundation.
Anyone who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and been born into the kingdom of God is grafted into the family of Abraham. Abraham was the father of the FAITH. Paul gave a wonderful account of Abraham's faith to the Romans.
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 4:16-25
Abraham FELT old. He could look at Sarah's body and SEE that she was old and well past childbearing years. But he wasn't looking at the natural evidence. His faith was firmly fixed on the promise and he knew that the One Who gave the promise could give life to the dead and call those things that are not as though they were.
Paul was referring to a single line in Genesis that records: And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6
This word, "believed" in Hebrew is "Amen". For thousands of years, when a Jewish man prays in the presence of others, when he concludes the prayer or blessing, the hearers respond, "Amen." In many Christian churches, when a man is preaching and says something that the congregation identifies with, they respond with, "Amen". They are thereby joining themselves to this truth as if they said it themselves.
This word, "Amen" is found in another passage of Scripture. Isaiah prophesied, "And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house" Isaiah 22:23 This word, "Sure place" is Amen (Strong's Hebrew #539: to build up or support, to be firm/faithful). My home was built in 1910 and the insides are overlaid with plaster, rather than sheetrock. If I want to hang a picture on the wall, I have to be very careful that I am driving the nail into a wooden stud. Otherwise, the plaster simply crumbles around the nail and the nail falls out with a very light amount of pressure. But God is promise to fasten "him" as a nail in a sure place "AMEN".
When Abraham AMEN'ed or believed in the Lord, he was in a sure place in the Lord. It didn't matter what his physical eyes could see or how he felt, he knew God was going to bring His Word to pass. And as spiritual sons of Abraham, if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of circumstance, regardless of what we see, hear, feel, taste, smell, then it is also counted to us for righteousness.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
The Power of the Secret Prayer
And when He had sent the multitudes away,
He went up into a mountain apart to pray:
and when the evening was come,
He was there alone. Matt 14:23
Probably, one of the hardest things for the Master to do was to find time alone. We often seek the solitude of an evening to watch a show or read a book - something that relaxes our minds or takes us away from the reality of our daily lives. However, Jesus used this time to talk with God. It was during this time that He probably sought the Father for the coming day's schedule or "to do" list (The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what he seeth the Father do... John 5:19). But throughout the Gospels, we find Him going by Himself alone or to a deserted place.
When He taught His disciples how to pray, He said, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matt 6:6 There is a great reward to be found in the secret prayer. Jesus knew this power of secret prayer, as we find in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Each chapter that emphasizes His going to pray in a secret place, we find that great healings and deliverances took place. For instance, in our heading text found in Matthew 14, we read at the end of the chapter: ...and brought all that were diseased; and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matt 14:36
We find a similar scenario in Mark chapter 1, only the sequence is reversed:
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered no the devils to speak, because they knew Him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:32-35
We find another place where Jesus' secret prayer wrought great power in Luke 6:
And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ...and a great multitude of people...which came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all. Luke 6:12;17-19
In my life, my greatest times of prayer have been when I awoke very early in the morning, before the sun arises. It seems to be when I hear the clearest, what God is saying to me.
In March of 2007, I felt led to fast sleep instead of food for three days [Not that I gave up a whole night of sleep, just an extra hour]. I set my clock at 5am to get up and pray. The first day was wonderful and fully charged with power in prayer. The next day, however, when the clock went off, I reset it and went back to bed. But just as I was about to doze off the Holy Spirit spoke to me an said, "It depends on if you want a temporal inheritance or a spiritual inheritance." Needless to say, I threw back the covers and dove into prayer.
About a month ago, God spoke to me, "Watch and See". We modern Westerners think of watching as looking intently, but the ancient Easterners thought of watching as guarding, keeping watch - especially during the night. I felt the Lord wanted me to keep the Watch of the Lord. I tried on that Friday night, but gave up even before 10:30pm. The next night, I made it till about 12 or 1am. But I was trying to do it in myself. The Holy Spirit dealt with me to wake up at 4am. So that Tuesday, at 4am, I arose and began to pray - it was more of an intercession in the Spirit for souls.
Since then, He has helped me to awaken at 4am every Tuesday. It's not always prayer, but lately has been more a time of praise and worship, then praying in the Holy Spirit. But the fruits of answered prayer and revelations that flow, during this time, have been wonderful. I don't like to share about my personal devotions, as I do not wish to boast or brag, but I feel that it gives a personal example of God's dealings with us in our modern day and time.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
The New Song of the Lord
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Eph 5:19
And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear and shall trust in the Lord. Ps 40:3
O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord,
all the earth. Ps 96:1
And they sang as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts,
and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty four thousand,
which were redeemed from the earth. Rev. 14:3
Many years ago, I had the privilege of going to a campmeeting in Ashland, VA. This campground and meeting had been held annually for more than 40 years. It started in June and went for 10 1/2 weeks. They also had a shorter version of a campmeeting in the month of February. It was through the teaching on praise and worship, through Sister Ruth Ward Heflin, who was the leader of this campground, that I learned about the new song.
Some years later, I went to live in Jerusalem and through Sister Nancy Bergen, (Sister Ruth's Associate) I was trust into the new song. Every day from 1-2 or 3 we would gather in the chapel at Mount Zion Fellowship and sing the new song of the Lord. Often, I would be playing the piano and be compelled to lead.
What is is the new song? Well, it's when the Holy Spirit comes and inspires a word or song in your spirit and you begin to sing it. It's when you begin to sing a song that you've never learned before. It often comes a single phrase that you may sing over and over until God drops another line in.
I have many times had God drop new songs in my spirit driving down the road, standing on a platform leading the people in worship, walking through the corridors of a nursing home where I work or in the midst of prayer. Lately, the Lord has redirected me to sing a new song during my prayer and devotions time.
I start off just singing a tune to Hallelujah, Praise the Lord and with a rhythm and tempo that I can dance before the Lord to. Then a new line comes I start to sing it - He is worthy, worthy, He is worthy to be praised; He is mighty, mighty, Mighty is our God; I will dance before the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised.... and on and on until He leads me into a gentle Spirit of Worship.
On 8/18/18, I had been flowing in the Spirit when He dropped a new song into my heart: "In the glory realm. In the glory realm, in the Presence of the Lord." Later, I was driving to work and He gave me another line: "Holy fire, Upon the altar. Holy fire upon the altar of the Lord." The next day, I received another line: "In the throne room of Your glory, In the throne room of the glory of the Lord."
This morning, after a long time of dancing and praising before the Lord, He gave me a new line to that tune: "In the secret place, I can see Your face, As Your glory fills this place." "In the secret place, there's perfect love and grace, when I stand in this holy place"
Singing a new song does two things for you. It teaches you how to concentrate on God and it teaches you simplicity. It is possible to be singing a chorus you know well and, at the same time, be planning a menu. You can't do that with the new song. You'll lose it. You have to concentrate on the Lord to sing the new song. Then, we need that simplicity so that we can repeat it the next time around. { Taken from the book by Ruth Ward Heflin -- Glory}
Saturday, September 15, 2018
And He walks with me...
Earlier in the week, my sister had asked me to walk with her at a park that I like to go to. Although my weekend schedule already felt crammed, I agreed. Then she asked me if I could meet her at 7:30 am, rather than eight. I reluctantly agreed.
When I awoke this morning, I awoke singing, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me and He talks with me and tells me I’m His own.” I knew immediately she would not be there to walk with me, that she would oversleep, but that God had ordained this time of fellowship and communion. He reminded me of the scripture from Mark chapter 1: In the morning, while it is was still very dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place and prayed there. Mark 1:35
All the way up, the Holy Spirit just kept singing and speaking to me. When I got there, I waited for a few minutes and called her, sure enough she had overslept. I told her that I would walk and then meet her when she got there.
Halfway through the walk, the Holy Spirit reminded me to look at my blog Hitbodedut. It was from Sunday, September 11, 2016. (Just two years ago and one day apart as this is Saturday.) http://torahgoy.blogspot.com/2016/09/hitbodedut.html
Once she arrived, and we walked, there was such a peace and serenity that was present. The birds, crickets, and even little squirrels were serenading us on our journey through the forest. As I took a picture of sunrays coming through the clouds, there was a beautiful blue-ish rainbow that was present in the picture just over the sun rays , we could not see it before. It was just as in the book of Ezekiel 1: As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Eze 1:28
 |
| The first picture didn't even show the rainbow. |
 |
| Notice the brightness of the
rays and the blue rainbow
|
God reminded me how earlier this week He had spoke to me about walking with Him. Every night, the new song that I received from the Lord had to do with: Walk with Me. Follow Me. He was telling me not only to walk with Him in the spirit, but to walk with Him in the natural as well. What a joy it is to walk by faith! To be led by the Spirit! It truly is the peace that passes all understanding.
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