Giving Jesus the Highest Place

 “My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:46-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How much does Jesus’s death and resurrection mean to us today?  Jesus said that the Pharisee didn’t take the time to anoint Jesus’s Head with fragrant oil, like the woman with the questionable reputation did as she anointed Jesus’s Head and Feet with the finest perfume, for she  knew that she had been forgiven of all her many sins, so she showed Him extravagant love. But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love Jesus very little.  In fact, the death and resurrection of Jesus will have no value to them, they depend on their own righteousness before the Holy God like the Pharisee did.  This is the Gospel of grace in the new covenant that we give Jesus’s finished work on the Cross the highest esteem.  Let’s love Him by spending time with Him, resting in His bosom like the disciple whom Jesus loved!  Let’s express our love for Jesus by loving others around us!  Thank You Jesus for Your grace and love!

God’s Favour Surrounds Us as a Shield

 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭5:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David in the old covenant knew to trust and rejoice in God.  Here he sings to let them all be glad, those who turn aside to hide themselves in God. May they keep shouting for joy forever! David asks God to overshadow them in His Presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of God’s Name  will burst forth with endless joy. David asks the Lord to wonderfully bless the righteous. God’s favor wraps around each one and covers them under His canopy of kindness and joy.  In the new covenant of grace, through the death and resurrection of the Son of God, we were made righteous.  So we inherit all the blessings of the righteous.  God’s defence against the wiles of the enemy, His protection, favour, provision and restoration are all ours through the Lord Jesus’s Blood sacrifice.  Our part is to trust in God’s covenant Word and rejoice with all of our being.  Thank You Father for our inheritance as joint heirs with Christ!

Restored to God’s Image & Likeness

 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is explaining that we are a colony of heaven on earth as we cling tightly to our Life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our humble bodies and transfigure us into the identical likeness of His glorified body; and using His  matchless power, He continually subdues everything to Himself.  We were made in the image and likeness of God until Adam and Eve lost it.  Only through the Blood sacrifice of Jesus and through faith in the finished work of the Cross we are restored back to the image and likeness of God.  The Holy Spirit was sent specifically to bring about this restoration, not only in our spirit, but our soul and our body too.  All because the Lord Jesus subdues all things to Himself.  Thank You Jesus!

God’s Glory is His Goodness

 “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33:18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses asked the Lord to show him God’s glorious Presence.  The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.  God’s glory is His goodness.  The heavens declare th glory of God and His glory covers the earth.  All humanity from the beginning never had to buy the air we breathe, nor the sunshine that we get freely!  It is God’s goodness!  God’s goodness today is seen at the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ where He freely gave us the forgiveness of sins, cancelling the iniquity against us that stopped us from coming to Him.  He chose us to give us this free gift of righteousness, showering His goodness on us.  Through faith in Christ’s Cross on our personal behalf, we receive the goodness of God which is His glorious Presence.  Glory to God!

Believing the Gospel of Grace

 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; “that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:5-7 KJV‬‬

Paul shared the Gospel of grace to the world when he wrote to his spiritual son Titus.  Here he wrote that Jesus came to save us, not because of any virtuous deed that we have done but only because of God’s abundant mercy. He saved us, resurrecting us through the washing of rebirth. We are made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom God poured over us richly by Jesus, the Messiah, our Life Giver. So as a gift of His love, and since we are faultless— innocent before His  face— we can now become heirs of all things, all because of an overflowing hope of eternal life.  The Gospel is not by anything we have done or can do, but only by His immeasurable, overflowing, abundant, extravagant grace, the finished work of the Cross.  Everything for everyone of us and in every way was settled at the Cross.  Let’s believe this truth of the Gospel of grace.  Thank You, Jesus!

Youth Renewed

 “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the psalm of David blessing the Lord in his later years, having personally experienced the Lord’s compassion on himself.  David thanks God for satisfying his every desire with good things and supercharging his life so that he soars again like a flying eagle in the sky!  What an awesome personal experience.  The good news is that this promise becomes ours through the Blood sacrifice of the Son of David.  Simply by believing in the new covenant of grace, we may appropriate this promise and walk in divine health.  When we partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus as often as we can, our youth is renewed and supercharged.  Let’s remember His death and bring His Life into ours and be supercharged to proclaim the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus!  Glory to God!

Knowing God’s Perfect Will

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is explaining to us to stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around us, but to be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how we think. This will empower us to discern God’s will as we live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.  Our greatest enemy is not the devil, but an unrenewed mind.  It is only by abiding in the Word that our mind is renewed, we are designed in this way!  As we dwell in Scripture, revelation comes to know God’s perfect will for us.  That’s when we walk in the Spirit and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  If we live after the flesh, we shall die: but if we through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Let’s renew our mind by abiding in the Word, being perfected in the will of God to be mature sons of God as we are led by the Holy Spirit.  Hallelujah! 

Holy Spirit Inspired Gospel Preaching

 “and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This vision of the prophet Joel was spoken when Judah, the temple, the priests and the people were in the throes of corruption and false worship.  So Joel prophesied of the day of the Lord, of darkness - the consequence of rejecting God.  Then Joel prophesied of restoration through the pouring of the Spirit upon humanity, even upon servants and maidservants.  This is the promise of our Lord Jesus that He would send us the Holy Spirit.  At Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first came upon the 120 disciples, Peter reminded the people of Joel’s vision.  We live in a time when people are indifferent to the love of God shown through the Blood sacrifice of Jesus.  Moral darkness is pervading our world, along with famine, locusts, lack, plagues and fear.  This is the time for the Church to proclaim the resurrected Christ Who pours His Spirit upon all flesh and even on the servants and maids.  He does this to bring restoration.  This would be the last time before the great day of the Lord.  Let the power of the glorious Gospel of Christ be proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that humanity turns to the living and loving God.  Use us, Lord Jesus, Your Church, to proclaim the Gospel to a lost and dying world.  Amen!

Pentecost

 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Pentecost is the wheat harvest festival for Jews, a time of gladness.  At this time they commemorated the law being given on Mount Sinai and their commitment to follow it as they became a nation.  On account of Christ’s resurrection, the disciples have come to Mount Zion, as they receive the Holy Spirit, now to commemorate the law of the Spirit of Life as they commit to being in the Kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit empowers all those who believe in Jesus’s death and resurrection and identify with this through water baptism.  Then the Lord Jesus Himself baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  This happens when we are of one accord with the Word of God following Scripture rather than denominational teaching.  The coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’s disciples even today, is so that we are a witness for Him to win souls into His Kingdom because the fields are white and the harvest is plenty.  Thank You Holy Spirit for empowering us to be witnesses for our Lord Jesus!

Permanent Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David, when he had sinned with Bathsheba against the Lord, was convicted when the prophet came and confronted him.  So he wrote this psalm to almighty God to keep creating in him a clean heart, and to fill him with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please God. May God never reject him and may God never take from him the sacred Spirit!  David knew the life of being empowered by the Holy Spirit.  We today know that because Jesus shed His Blood, He made us righteous, restoring us to His image.  Therefore making us holy to be vessels of the Holy Spirit.  Because of Pentecost, we have the choice of having the Holy Spirit dwell in us permanently.  God will not take His Holy Spirit from us because He has recreated in us a clean heart, cleansed by the Blood of Jesus our Lord.  Let’s bow down and thank Him for making our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit!  Amen

The Power of the Holy Spirit

 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the promise Jesus gave to His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come upon them, and they will be seized with power. They will be His messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces —even to the remotest places on earth!  This promise of the risen Christ is available even today, and we, His disciples witness to it that when the Holy Spirit empowers us, we proclaim Christ even in the midst of severe trials.  It is to be wondered at, that when Christians face death by martyrdom, they’re still willing to witness to the risen Christ.  History is replete with such witnesses for the living Lord Jesus Christ, in every nation.  The power of the Holy Spirit is real for those who believe in the resurrected Christ to live the life endued with power from on high.  As those who have come into the Kingdom of God, let’s be overcomes by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of our testimony and let’s triumph because we do not love and cling to our own lives, even when faced with death.  Hallelujah to the Lamb!

The Spirit of Wisdom & Understanding

 “And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the first time that Scripture mentions someone has the Holy Spirit in them.  The Pharaoh of Egypt said his advisers of Joseph, “Where can we find anyone else like this one, for he has the Spirit of God in him!”  Joseph was a forerunner of our Lord Jesus.  There is simply no one like our Lord Jesus Christ for He walked in the fullness of the Spirit without limitation.  True wisdom comes from the Spirit of Christ.  The wisdom and understanding for interpreting dreams that Joseph had, flowed out of a relationship with God’s Spirit.  The same Holy Spirit has been given to us who believe in, and identify with, the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let’s be empowered by the Holy Spirit with wisdom and understanding to fulfil God’s purpose for each of our lives.  Amen!

Baptism with the Holy Spirit & Fire

 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

People think that this event was only for the first disciples of Jesus.  The disciples were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues—empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!  When the same happens today, it is thought of as over-excitement, a hysteria, a cult, something for some special people.  But it is the Lord Jesus Who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  Thankfully, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!  The same God Who divided the one language of the world at the building of the tower of Babylon, is the same LORD Who gives a new language when He baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire to unite the disciples of each generation in the Body of Christ.  Let’s pray passionately in the Spirit, as we constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times, praying the blessings of God upon all His believers.  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Led by the Holy Spirit

 “Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭63:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wandering children of Israel remembered God’s deeds of the past, saying “Where now is YHWH Who brought them miraculously through the Red Sea along with Moses the shepherd leader of His flock, and put His Holy Spirit among them?”  God had put the Holy Spirit upon Moses, also on the seventy leaders, so they could lead the people into the promised land.  The Blood sacrifice of Jesus brought the Holy Spirit on all who believe even as He came down at Pentecost for those who believed in the resurrection of Jesus.  Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot be effective in walking in the resurrection power of Jesus today.  Let’s remember God’s goodness to us personally and move in resurrection power by the Holy Spirit.  We need this and so do the perishing people in our generation.  Let’s be led by the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Come & Drink the Holy Spirit

 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7:37-38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds— “All you thirsty ones, come to Me! Come to Me and drink! Believe in Me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!”  But this Jesus spoke of the Spirit, which those who believe on Him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.  It is only by the Holy Spirit we can declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, when we wholeheartedly believe in the Blood sacrifice of Jesus when He was glorified.  Let’s believe and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord!  Hallelujah!

Co-labourers in the Field

 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After a hard labour of harvesting, at lunch break, the owner of the field, Boaz said to Ruth, “Come over here; eat some bread. Dip it in the wine.” So she joined the harvesters. Boaz passed the roasted grain to her. She ate her fill and even had some left over.  This is a picture of the Lord Jesus giving us Himself as the bread and wine to refresh us as we co-labour with Him to harvest the field.  Jesus is telling His followers today that the harvest is huge and ripe, but there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in; and He asks us to plead with the Owner of the Harvest to thrust out many more reapers to harvest His grain.  Let’s obey Him because He obeyed His Father in giving us of Himself.  Thank You Jesus!

He Ascended & We Bow Down to Worship Christ

 “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:51-53‬ ‭KJV‬‬

While Jesus was still speaking words of love and blessing, He floated off the ground into the sky, ascending into heaven before their very eyes! And all they could do was worship Him. Overwhelmed and ecstatic with joy, they made their way back to Jerusalem. Every day they went to the temple, to praise and worship God.  What an awesome God, worthy of all worship.  When a leader speaks lies to you and wants you to believe and trust him or her, how your heart is sickened with disgust!  But when God Who is the Truth speaks to you, your heart is quickened with love and worship and all you want to do is bow down and worship Him.  Let’s bow down more when we worship Jesus, He is worthy!  Hallelujah!

The Spirit & the Word

 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There was nothing but darkness over the deep when God’s Spirit hovered over the face of the waters, when God spoke, “Let there be light,” and light burst forth.  The Holy Spirit moved with utmost care dancing over the waters on creation’s morning.  Before God spoke He imagined light in His heart and then spoke it out and the cosmic silence was shattered and creation was birthed.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these Three are One.  We have been given the Word and the Holy Spirit and the Spirit and the Word are One.  Let our words be God’s Word, moved in the power of the Spirit and we can call those things that are not as though they are.  Amen!

Freely Given Us

 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We who are in the Blood covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, did not receive the spirit of this world system but the Spirit of God, so that we might come to understand and experience all that grace has lavished upon us.  It is nothing that we can do but everything that Jesus has done through the finished work of the Cross, that the Holy Spirit brings all the benefits of heaven into our lives.  Actually every  spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because He sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate Him with all our hearts!  Let’s be receivers by faith of all that our Father has freely given us who love Jesus and desire to do His will, brought to us by the Holy Spirit.  Thank You Holy Spirit!

God dwells with the Humble

 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is what the high and majestic One says, the One Who fills the eternal realm with glory, Whose Name is Holy - I dwell in high and holy places but also with the bruised and lowly in spirit, those who are humble and quick to repent.  I dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of those who are broken over their sin.  The Holy Spirit dwells in those who are humble before God.  Humility is the key to our receiving the best of heaven - Who is Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  Jesus humbled Himself, and became obedient to death and then rose again.  Through believing in the living God, the Holy Spirit draws us to declare that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ and there is no other.  Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to bring out the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ in us.  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Sealed by the Holy Spirit

 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A great prayer by Paul for all those who accepted Christ as the One True God in their heart.  Because we are in Christ, even when we are not Jews, we heard the revelation of truth and believed in the wonderful news of salvation, that’s why we have been stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. He is given to us as the first installment of what’s coming! He is our hope and promise of a future inheritance which seals us until we have all of redemption’s promises and experience complete freedom—all for the supreme glory and honour of God!  Let’s believe that through Christ’s marvellous promises in His Word and the promise of the Holy Spirit, we are fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives to His supreme glory and honour!  There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the Blood: and these three agree in one.  Glory to God!

The Breath of Life

 “The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭33:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

These are the words of Elihu in the book of Job after Job had finished his speeches and so had the other three friends who had come to commiserate with Job.  Elihu was a descendant of Abraham, who stood by and answered Job after Job finished speaking.  Elihu was younger but he spoke wisely when he declared that the Spirit of God had made him and the breath of God had given him life.  Today as new creatures in Christ, the same Spirit of God has made us come alive and it is the Spirit of life that has become the breath of the resurrected life in us who follow after Christ.  Let’s be mindful of the new life the Holy Spirit has given us who are in Christ, in the new covenant of grace.  We have resurrected life in us!  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Honouring Father & Mother

 “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul had many spiritual children but none biological yet was mindful of honouring our father and our mother, which was the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise attached, indicating we will prosper and live a long, full life if we honor our parents.  Of course we love and have the highest affection for our mother and father but to honour and show respect, perhaps is for the father and not the mother!  Let’s honour our mothers’ too.  Let’s show respect to our mothers and not just strong affection.  Honour your father and mother, not only love them.  Jesus is Whom we follow and He honoured His mother even as He hung on the Cross.  Let’s follow Jesus as He showed us the Way - Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Amen!

The Spirit of the Lord given to Us

 “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Who fully understands the Holy Spirit or is wise enough to counsel Him?  Whom does the Holy Spirit consult to be enlightened?  The prophet Isaiah, meditating on the Eternal God, asked these questions.  Who could ever wrap their minds around the riches of God, the depth of His wisdom, and the marvel of His perfect knowledge? Who could ever explain the wonder of His  decisions or search out the mysterious way He carries out His plans?  In the new Blood covenant of grace, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit and asked the Father of glory, to impart to us the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know Him through our deepening intimacy of relationship with Him.  We receive it by faith.  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Taught by the Holy Spirit

 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that we did not receive the spirit of this world system but the Spirit of God, so that we might come to understand and experience all that grace has lavished upon us. And we speak  these realities with the words imparted to us by the Spirit and not with the words taught by human wisdom. We join together Spirit-revealed truths with Spirit-revealed words.  God has in His wisdom sent His Holy Spirit on us who have believed in what the Lord Jesus did on the Cross for us personally.  Those who are led by the Holy Spirit are the mature children of God.  We are not led by a sense of religious duty but by the Holy Spirit Who helps us call God, ‘Father’!  Let’s be taught and led by the mighty Holy Spirit.  Amen!

God’s Pleasure in Prospering Us

 “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭35:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of David’s psalms where he tells God to destroy his enemies and false witnesses against him.  Yet at the end he asks God to let all his true friends shout for joy, all those who know and love what David does for God. Let them all say that the Lord is great, and He delights in the prosperity of His servant.  This encourages us to pray to our Father straight from our heart, hiding nothing from Him.  Jesus made the way for us to have a bold and personal relationship with our Father in heaven and tell it straight from the heart, our emotions and feelings because God knows it anyway!  Yet at the end David extolled God Who took delight in prospering His servant.  It gives pleasure to our Father to prosper us who believe that we have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was infinitely rich, He impoverished Himself for our sake, so that by His poverty, we become rich beyond measure.  Thank You Father for taking pleasure in our prosperity!

Natural versus Spiritual

 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Those who live on an entirely human level reject the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to such people. These persons can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.  When we are born again, we become a new creature, now having our spirit made alive.  God gave His Holy Spirit Who brings us to the spiritual realm.  That’s why we get revelation in our spirit which is far above the natural.  God’s ways are higher than man’s ways and His thoughts higher than human thoughts.  Only the Holy Spirit brings revelation of God’s Word to us.  Let’s come to the spiritual level and not live according to the natural level.  Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our understanding in the spiritual level, so we can see according to the riches of His glory!  Thank You Holy Spirit!

Wells of Salvation

 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah saw the day of redemption in the Lord Jesus.  God is our salvation and we confidently trust in Him.  He is our might and our melody and has become our salvation!  With triumphant joy we drink deeply from the wells of salvation!  This is possible because of Jesus’s Life in us.  Through Christ, God’s sons and daughters are living wells of salvation, containers bringing the water of life to others.  The Lord Jesus said this of the Holy Spirit that whoever believes on Jesus, as the scripture says, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Jesus spoke this of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.  With joy, we triumphantly draw out the water of life.  Thank You, Holy Spirit!

May Your Joy be Full

 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Again and again Jesus told His disciples that His joy might remain in them and that their joy might be full.  Jesus is telling this to all His disciples today that the joy that He experiences will fill our hearts with overflowing gladness!  Jesus taught about joy just before the suffering that He was about to endure for humanity’s sake.  It brings out the truth about the nature of God that He is joyful and His Presence in us brings joy.  May our relationship with Jesus know the joy that He gives us, the price for which He paid with His own Blood.  Let’s rejoice in the Lord and again to rejoice!

Our Shield & Defender

 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭5:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The psalmist David had a simple way of being in relationship with YHWH.  He just worshipped and expressed himself from his heart and speaking with his mouth to let them all be glad, those who turn aside to hide themselves in God. May they keep shouting for joy forever! He asks God to overshadow such people in His presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of God’s Name  will burst forth with endless joy. David tells YHWH how wonderfully He blesses the righteous. God’s favour wraps around each one and covers them under His canopy of kindness and joy.  Through the Lord Jesus Christ, we who are not Jews, can worship God and be joyful in the midst of evil around us.  This is the inheritance of those who are righteous by the Blood of the Lamb and who put their trust in Christ and rejoice. Let’s raise a Hallelujah to the Lamb!

Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory

 “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Peter explains so wonderfully the fruit of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and not by sight!  We love Him passionately although we have not seen Him, but through believing in Him we are in ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory. For we are reaping the harvest of our faith - the full salvation promised us - our souls’ victory!  Let’s walk in that joy unspeakable and full of glory because we believe!  Let the suffering of the Cross of Jesus that bought our soul’s victory, bring in us the glory of God in ecstatic delight, no matter what our situation is!  Hallelujah!