This World Order is Passing Away, Christ is Eternal

 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world. This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever.  If anyone persists in loving the world, there is no love of the Father in him.  These three areas is what the devil used in the garden against Adam and Eve, to pull them away from the Father; even the devil used these three areas to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.  The devil is an expert at using these cravings to dilute our love for the Father and cause us to turn our affections to the things of this life.  The values of the Kingdom of God are setting our affections on things above, living in the fruit of the Spirit (self control) and humility, which always waits for God’s timing for promotion.  This world system and the desire to be in a world system that leaves God out, is disappearing.  Planet earth is not fading away, but the systems, structure and world order are.  May we set our affections on Christ alone.   Hallelujah!

There is No God but Our Living LORD God

 “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God was furious with Solomon for abandoning the God of Israel, the God Who had twice appeared to him and had so clearly commanded him not to fool around with other gods. Solomon faithlessly disobeyed God’s orders.  However much the LORD God had blessed Solomon, he still entered into deception by turning away from the Living LORD God to lifeless idols. When John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus the Christ, he said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  Thank the LORD God for the new covenant, through which we have been blessed with the Almighty LORD God’s Presence in us, for those who have believed and received Christ.  The Living LORD God chooses to dwell in us who have a passion for His Presence.    May we never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in us to serve the Living LORD God.  Amen!

Sin’s Defilement Cleansed by Christ’s Blood Alone

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But if we freely admit our sins when His light uncovers them, He is faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Confession of sin is the way to find restoration and fellowship with God.  It cleanses the conscience removing every obstacle from communion with Christ.  Confession does not gain God’s acceptance, for that was won for us forever by the Sacrifice of Christ.  God is always faithful to restore our first-love passion for Him.  There is no need to confess the same sins over and over, for that is ignoring the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us.  All of our sins were paid for on the Cross and we can do nothing to remove them.   ‘Unrighteousness’ means the sins we are not aware of.  Confession cleanses us from all known sin and restores intimacy with God and unknown sins are removed because of His faithfulness in seeing Christ as our Sin-Bearer.  When we confess our sins, God demonstrates His faithful love;  justice in counting our sins paid for by Christ; forgiveness for every sin; continuing a deeper work of cleansing from all aspects of sin’s defilement.  Amen!

Judgment - Our Personal Choice of Confronting Christ’s Cross

 “And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The queen of Sheba said to King Solomon, “It’s all true..I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself…Such wisdom and elegance—far more than I could ever have imagined..”. She was quite undone by the wisdom and prosperity of king Solomon and knew that the God of heaven had blessed the king over and above all  of what was told to her.  When Jesus talked to the crowds, they saw power go out of Him to heal and restore, they blessed Him.  But the Jewish scholars and Pharisees asked Jesus for a miraculous sign.  Amazed by their unbelief Jesus said, “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.”  When we are confronted by the finished work of the Cross on a personal level, we either accept that in Christ we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins; or we harden our heart through unbelief and reject this grace gift extended to humanity.  The choice is ours. Amen!

The Importance of the Church

 “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

While we anticipate and help to speed up the coming of the day of God, when the atmosphere will be set on fire and the heavenly bodies consumed in a blaze. But as we wait, we trust in God’s royal proclamation to be fulfilled. There are coming heavens new in quality, and an earth new in quality, where righteousness will be fully at home.  Peter is teaching us that the Church has the ability to speed (or slow down), the coming of the day of God.  The closer we get to Christ, the closer will be His coming.  The “day of God” and the “the day of the LORD” are the same.  There is coming a day when all will live according to God’s perfect will for their lives and righteousness will be at home on earth and in every heart.  This will be the day when justice reigns on earth.  It is God’s promise that there is a new sky and a new earth in which the virtuous people will dwell.  Let’s seek God’s perfect will for our lives daily by being led by the mighty Holy Spirit so that we are ready for the day of God any time.  Amen!

Family of God is the House of God

 “…Solomon had finished the building the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, that the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After Solomon had completed building the Temple of God and his own palace, all the projects he had set his heart on doing, God appeared to Solomon again.  In the old covenant God saw Solomon’s attitude of building the house of God, the thoughts of his heart and the resulting outward behaviour and He was pleased and blessed Solomon in untold ways.  In the new covenant, God Himself has built His House in us who are the Body of Christ.  So now we are the whole family in heaven and earth as part of the House of God and He grants us , according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in our inner man; that Christ dwell in our heart by faith; and we are rooted and grounded in love, able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth, and height; to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, so we are filled with all the fulness of God. To Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him  be glory in the Church, the House of God,  by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!

Righteousness Wins Always

 “and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God did not spare the former world in the days of Noah when He sent a flood to destroy a depraved world (although He protected Noah, the preacher of righteousness, along with seven members of his family). And don’t forget that He reduced to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemning them to ruin and destruction. God appointed them to be examples as to what is coming to the ungodly, because of their disobedience of long ago. For during the time of Noah God patiently waited while the ark was being prepared, but only a few were brought safely through the floodwaters: a total of eight souls.  After seeing these three examples of - the fallen angels; people who lived in the time of the flood; Sodom and Gomorrah,  it is difficult to believe that everyone will be saved.  There is a doom that awaits the ungodly who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour.  Amen!

The Glory of the LORD

 “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled The Temple of God. The priests couldn’t carry out their priestly duties because of the cloud—the glory of God filled The Temple of God!  The glory of the LORD came to Moses and the children of Israel. When Solomon had dedicated the Temple of God, the glory of the LORD came so that the priests could not stand to minister.  Isaiah saw the glory of the LORD and was undone.  One seraphim cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”  When Christ was born, an angel of the Lord stood before the shepherds in the field, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Today in the new covenant, because of the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus, we are being changed to shine with the glory of the LORD.  Isaiah prophesied, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  Hallelujah!

God’s Magnificent Promises Bring Us His Divine Nature

 “whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As a result of this, He has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which we have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.  Through a glorious manifestation of His goodness, He has imparted in us His magnificent promises, and by claiming them as our own by faith, the power of the Word of God is released in us.  We participate as a partner as we fellowship with His divine nature.  It’s a great mystery of the Gospel that God should choose to share His nature with us.  We are given birth by the Holy Spirit to be God’s true sons and daughters, and every father imparts his DNA and his “nature” to his children.  Christ lives in us and transforms us into His very own likeness.  In Christ we share with Him the divine nature.  We will all bear the image of the Man from heaven, Jesus Christ. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Amen!

We are the Temple of God

 “And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He set the pillars up in the entrance porch to The Temple; the pillar to the south he named Security (Jachin) and the pillar to the north Stability (Boaz).  Jachin, (the south pillar), in Hebrew means ‘God will establish’ and Boaz, (the north pillar), in Hebrew means ‘in God is strength’.  These pillars were 27 feet tall with 8 feet tall capitals over them; and these pillars were 6 feet thick.  This first temple made in Solomon’s time, was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and these pillars were broken and taken to Babylon, piece by piece.  This was a shadow of the Temple that the Lord Jesus Christ would build.  When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to prove that He was the Messiah, Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the Temple of His Body.”  In the new covenant, for all those who believe in the finished work of the Cross, we have become the Temple of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us, we are the Body of Christ and can never be destroyed.  Amen!

Our Shepherd King

 “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the Shepherd-King appears, you will win the victor’s crown of glory that never fades away.  The Chief Shepherd is the Lord of the shepherds.  Under His headship, the true shepherds serve as elders for the flock. They understand that they serve God’s flock, not their own.  They lovingly guide and care for God’s people and take responsibilities for oversight willingly.  They are eager to serve, not eager for financial gain and feed and nurture God’s people.  They reject a domineering leadership model and lead by examples of godliness and humility.  When shepherds allow Jesus to be revealed through them, the flock is healthy.  The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us.  That’s how we are crowned with glory.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for shepherds who are surrendered to You and who reflect the King-Shepherd with power and love.  Amen!

The Presence of God in Us

 ”And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD”.

1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Inner Sanctuary within The Temple was for housing the Ark of the Covenant of God which was the Presence of Yahweh.  The Ark was made in the year that Moses brought the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage.  Four hundred and eighty years later Solomon ruled in Jerusalem and he took seven years to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem.  The most holy place, or the inner sanctuary housed the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD which was the Presence of Yahweh.  Everything in the most holy place was gold plated and everywhere you looked there was pure gold, it was dazzling.  The high priest only went once a year to atone for Israel’s sins on the day of atonement.  The Lord Jesus Christ made the way, through His Blood Sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He entered the most holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  Now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the Blood of Jesus, and He welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary to the very Presence of Yahweh in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation.  Thank You Lord Jesus that through You, we come to the Presence of Yahweh.  Amen!

Let’s Love & Serve One Another

 ”If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For example, if you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking His words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to Him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.  Speaking God’s word includes preaching, teaching and prophesying.  The one who provides finances, depends on the strength of God Who supplies all things.  In these times approaching the coming of Christ, let’s be given more to prayer; be devoted to loving our fellow believers.  Let’s be compassionate to the stranger and foreigner.  Let’s use spiritual gifts to serve one another and give God the glory in all things for to Him belongs all dominion, praise and glory. Amen!

Christ Chose Us to be His Dwelling Place

 ”And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Following the king Solomon’s orders, they quarried huge blocks of the best stone—dressed stone for the foundation of The Temple. Solomon and Hiram’s construction workers, cut and prepared the timber and stone for building The Temple.  The best was selected to build the excellent temple of God in Jerusalem.  In His Blood, Christ has made us to be His “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now we serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that He readily accepts through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture: Look! I lay a cornerstone in Zion, a chosen and priceless stone! And whoever believes in Him will certainly not be disappointed.  God offered the most precious and priceless Gift to us that by faith we become the sanctuary of God. Our body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in us.  We don’t belong to ourselves any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside us.  Hallelujah!

Characteristics of the Disciples of Christ

 ”Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now, this is the goal: to live in harmony with one another and demonstrate affectionate love, sympathy, and kindness toward other believers. Let humility describe who you are as you dearly love one another. Never retaliate when someone treats you wrongly, nor insult those who insult you, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing over them—because a blessing is what God promised to give you.  Every believer is blessed by God.  Our fellowship as believers who follow Christ is to have sublime harmony, demonstrating an affectionate brotherly love; having sympathy and kindness with humility; this fervent love never retaliates evil for evil or insult for insult but instead speaks blessings over those who mistreat us.  Relationship with the Holy Spirit helps us to walk in love that characterises our fellowship as disciples of Christ.  Amen!

To Christ be Glory & Dominion Forever & Ever

 ”For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬

Solomon was sovereign over everything, countries and kings, west of the River Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza. Peace reigned everywhere.  It was through peace that Solomon had dominion over Israel, a shadow of the reality of God’s dominion.  We connect dominion with domination.  But as Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way when at the end of the time he lifted his eyes to heaven, and his understanding returned to him; and he “blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His Kingdom is from generation to generation.”  God’s will is that we believe in Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!

The Word of God - Our Nourishment

 ”as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, we must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause us to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life — especially now that we have had a taste of the goodness of Yahweh and have experienced His kindness. So let’s keep coming to Him Who is the Living Stone —though He was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight.  The “pure spiritual milk” is the sustaining power of God’s Word coming from His very breast, as it were, to nourish and strengthen our inner being.  Let’s approach the Scriptures with an attitude of a newborn babe, drawing milk from the mother.  The Word of God is our necessity and our delight - He is the Seed, the Word, the Milk, the Lord and the Living Stone.  The Church is built on Christ, “the Living Stone”.  He is our sure foundation.  Amen!

Wisdom Greater than Solomon’s

 ”And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God said to Solomon, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after.  God kept His Word, till He Himself came!  Then and today, He will never force anyone to believe in Him, it is mankind’s free will choice to have faith in Him.  Jesus told those who argued, “On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’”  Today, in the new covenant, to those who are called, the greater than Solomon, Who is Christ, is the power of God, the wisdom of God for all who believe.  Amen!

Bought by the Precious Blood of Christ

 ”forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For we know that our lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom payment of silver and gold, which eventually perishes, but the precious Blood of Christ—Who like a spotless, unblemished Lamb was sacrificed for us.  We were ransomed from the futile, fallen mindset that we inherited from our fathers.  This was not concluded by our own labour represented by the fluctuating values of gold and silver and the economy of our religious efforts;  but we are redeemed with the priceless Blood of Christ.  He is the ultimate Sacrifice; spotless and without blemish.  Jesus completes the prophetic picture.  Deity clothed in human skin, as the Son; the Lion of Judah becoming the Lamb of God in order to free our minds to rediscover His image and likeness in our skin!  Hallelujah!

The Kingdom of Our God

 ”Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV 

Solomon took over on the throne of his father David; he had a firm grip on the kingdom.  Then Solomon dealt with all those who stood against his father, one by one.  Yahweh fulfilled the prophetic word to the house of David.  For eighteen generations David’s descendants ruled from Jerusalem till they were taken over by the Babylonians.  Then at the right moment the priest Zechariah who was struck dumb for nine months, for his unbelief, found his mouth opened as he prophesied, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David”.  The Messiah was born to save and redeem His people through His sacrifice and by His resurrection He rules in the hearts of all those who receive forgiveness from Him.  His Throne is established forever and the kingdoms of the world will soon become the Kingdom of our God and of His Anointed One! He will reign supreme for an eternity of eternities!  Hallelujah!

Let Jesus Be Real to Us

 ”Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.“

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, we must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait for the appearing of the Lord. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest as it ripens because of the early and latter rains.  Let’s be passionate about the Presence of the LORD because He is Immanuel, God with us.  For us His proximity is real and will be visible to all, in the same way as the farmer waits patiently for his harvest letting the early and latter rains to do its work for the precious yield.  Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to make Jesus real to us every moment.  Amen!

Train Up Your Children in the Way They Grow

 ”And she said unto him, My Lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“My master,” she said, “you promised me in God’s name, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne.’  Here was another one of David’s sons, Adonijah, ready to snatch the kingship even while David was alive.  The prophetic word from God had come for Solomon to succeed David.  Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, rushed to remind David when she saw how the throne of David was being manoeuvred away from Solomon.  The prophetic words are God’s promises to us from the One Who is a covenant keeping God.  Mothers and fathers are to protect the prophetic word of God over their children.  It is a God-given responsibility.  Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.  God asks us to dedicate our children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from us will be with them for life.  Then our children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of our children.  They will honour their father and mother so that all will go well with them.  Let’s allow the prophetic word of God in our children to be fruitful.  Amen!

Being Low Before the LORD

 ”Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.“

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Be willing to be made low before the LORD and He will exalt you!  Put down your own efforts to fight for your rights, Let Him lift you up to the dignity of His Presence.  When we do that we gaze face to face with Him as in a mirror. Let’s see our face reflected in His - there is no higher elevation to engage in! Amen!

Christ's Sacrifice Once & For All

 ”And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice”.  So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar to God there and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. God was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster.  David knew the cost of sacrifice in his relationship with Yahweh, which is why God gave him the amazing revelation a thousand years before, of Christ’s Blood sacrifice on the Cross in the psalm that Jesus spoke, ”My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Jesus paid the price of the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity’s sins.  Let’s believe and receive His forgiveness.  Amen!

Divine Wisdom is from Above

 ”But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.“

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form.  This wisdom is holy and corrects with ease, ready to convince and willing to yield to others.  This wisdom is merciful and never wears a mask.  The wisdom that originates from above sets the pace in innocence; it loves peace; it’s always appropriate; persuaded about that which is good; filled with compassion; its fruits are pure goodness and without discrimination.  Let’s depend upon this wisdom from above given to us by the Holy Spirit, available to all who trust in the finished work of the Cross and who know to lift up Jesus Christ in our daily life.  Amen!

Jesus, Our King & LORD Forever

 ”The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, And his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV

God’s Spirit spoke through me, his words took shape on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke to me, Israel’s Rock-Mountain said, “Whoever governs fairly and well, rules in the Fear-of-God..” These are the last words of David, the king of Israel who knew that through the anointing he received before he became king, that the Spirit of God spoke through him.  God called David to be just in ruling, with the fear of the Lord.  The God Whom we worship knows all, does all: He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down, he provides both intelligence and discernment, He opens up the depths, tells secrets, sees in the dark—light spills out of him!  The God Who anointed David came down in human form as the Lord Jesus Christ and through His Blood Sacrifice has made the way for all humanity to come to Him.  Today, He rules in the heart of all those who have received Him as their Lord and King, Lord of lords and King of kings.  Hallelujah!

The Royal Law of Love

 ”If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.“

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Your calling is to fulfill the royal law of love as given to us in this Scripture: “You must love and value your neighbor as you love and value yourself!” For keeping this law is the noble way to live. But when you show prejudice, you commit sin and you violate this royal law of love!  It is a royal law because it is given by our King, but since He has made us kings and priests, it becomes the royal law of love given to His royal sons and daughters who are heirs with Him.  Scripture confirms that the law of the Kingdom of God Is fulfilled in us realising the same value in our neighbour as we see in ourself; this is what doing the Word is all about!  To judge anyone on outward appearance is a sin.  This violates the law of liberty and revives condemnation and guilt.  Let’s not forget what manner of person we are, mirroring Christ’s image through us.  That way, we will not forget what manner of person our neighbour is, for whom Christ shed His Blood, to restore Christ’s image in him.  Amen!

Salvation, Glory & Power are God’s Forever

 ”Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, And I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: And sheweth mercy to his anointed, Unto David, and to his seed for evermore.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭50‬-‭51 KJV

That’s why I’m thanking you, God, all over the world. That’s why I’m singing songs that rhyme your name. God’s king takes the trophy; God’s chosen is beloved. I mean David and all his children— always.  David wrote this psalm when he was surrounded by enemies and God set things right for him and shut up the people who talked back. He rescued David from enemy anger. God pulled him from the grip of upstarts and saved him from the bullies.   God was his salvation because David trusted in Him.  In the new covenant when our enemy is sent into eternal damnation, all in God’s Presence sing, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power are God’s— His judgments true, His judgments just. This is the forever song of worship of those in whom God has set eternity in our hearts, washed by the Blood of the Lamb.  Let’s have a lifestyle of worship to our God from now and forever to Whom belongs salvation, glory, honour and power. Hallelujah!

Our Father of Lights

 ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.“

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.  It’s a legacy from God which is complete and wholesome, abundant and sufficient, enough and perfect!  Jesus Who is Light, has already called us the light of the world and shining lights.  We are born again as shining lights from above, from the Father of lights.  The more we know Him, the more we realize how beautiful and holy He is, there is no shadow of turning in Him.  Without exception God’s gifts are only good and are from above, proceeding like light rays from its source, the Father of lights.  Let’s be those who do the truth as we are in the light, that our deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.  As we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all the darkness and stain of every sin.  Hallelujah!

We are the In Christ Victors

 ”These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

These four were descended from Rapha in Gath. And they all were killed by David and his soldiers.  David and his soldiers killed the giants of Gath, which David had started the trend of as a young lad when he slayed Goliath, the giant from Gath!  In the new covenant, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The reason the Son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil.  All those who are made innocent by the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus, are by faith in the right standing to be in Christ, and are the Church, His Body. This is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, that according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. This is our victory.  Amen!

Jesus is Always the Same

 ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same—yesterday, today, and forever.  Let’s take our lead from Jesus.  He is our reference to the most complete life.  In Him yesterday is confirmed today and today mirrors tomorrow.  What God spoke to us in Christ is as relevant now as it was in the prophetic past and will always be in the eternal future!  There is a history in our salvation that carries more authority and relevance than anything that happened in our past, or anything present in time or still to happen in the future. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us.  In His death He faced our judgment; in His resurrection He declares our innocence; the implications cannot be undone!  He now occupies the highest seat of authority as the executive of our redemption in the Throne Room of God.  The heavens declare His glory, night to night exhibits the giant solar testimony that is mathematically precise, revealing that God knew before time was, the exact moment He would enter our history as a Man, and the exact moment the Messiah would expire on the Cross and be raised again from the dead!  Hallelujah!