Tag: Word of God

Posted in Hiding His Word

But I Say, Have They Not Heard?

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

2 Chronicles 19:1–20:37; Romans 10:14–11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 20:4-6

But I Say, Have They Not Heard?
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. – Romans 10:14-18

Give the Lord’s report. Some will believe, and some won’t. Some will obey, and some won’t…but if you speak it, it has been heard.

Ye Shall Not Need to Fight in This Battle
And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.– 2 Chronicles 20:13-17

And None Escaped
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. – 2 Chronicles 20:20-24

He (Jehoshaphat) Walked in the Way of Asa His Father
And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-gaber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish. – 2 Chronicles 20:32-37

Wasn’t he more like his father than it looks like at first glance? From these passages we know he walked with the Lord for a season but then it says he joined himself with Ahaziah who was king of Israel and that Ahaziah did very wickedly. There were consequences to that alliance.

The King Shall Joy in Thy Strength
The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. – Psalm 21:1-2

The Sluggard Will Not Plow
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. – Proverbs 20:4

The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives; So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap]. – Proverbs 20:4 AMP

The Words of the LORD are Pure Words

1 Chronicles 22:1–23:32; Romans 3:9-31; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 19:13-14

The Words of the LORD are Pure Words
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. – Psalm 12:6

There is None that Doeth Good, No, Not One
What then? are we [Jews] better than they? [Gentiles] No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. – Romans 3:9-12

The children of Israel believed the law that God gave to Moses was the way to perfection. If a person could obey all of God’s laws, then they could be righteous before God. The problem was that no one could abide by all of God’s laws. So, Paul revealed the truth that – no man is perfect. No, not one. No Jew or Gentile. But God is perfect, and God is perfectly righteous.

By the Law is the Knowledge of Sin
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. – Romans 3:20

For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin]. – Romans 3:20 AMP

We are righteous because we do the “deeds of the law.” The law, however reveals our sin and makes us aware of it.

Unto All and Upon All Them That Believe
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. – Romans 3:21-26

No one can achieve perfection before God on their own. We need God and become perfect through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross in our place. He took our sins and imperfections and paid the price of them on the Cross, giving us His righteousness – His perfection…that we might stand pure before the Lord.

When I think about His sacrifice, I am reminded of the verse in Philippians 2:12 where Paul writes – work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Every sin that I committed was placed on Jesus on that cross. Jesus never sinned – I did. Every sin that I committed. But also, the sins of this day were placed on Jesus on that cross. How much then should I consider my sin and mourn for my sin and repent for my sin? He paid the price that we would stand blameless. Philippians 12:13 then reminds us of the truth in our Scripture passages today, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure. We can do nothing. He has done everything.

In light of all that, am I working out my salvation that He might have the reward for His suffering? Am I taking His sacrifice for granted?

Oh, Father, I come before You and thank You for sending Your Son to die for me. Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price for me. Help me, Lord, to always mourn over my sin, repent of my sin, and then to leave it at the cross with a thankful heart for all You have done…and then help me, Holy Ghost, to always remember the sacrifice and empower me today to “go and sin no more.” I love You, and I ask all of this in Jesus’ Holy and precious Name. Amen!

The House Builded for the LORD Must Be Exceeding Magnifical
And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel. And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God: but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee. Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. – 1 Chronicles 22:5-13

Set Your Heart and Your Soul to Seek the LORD
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. – 1 Chronicles 22:19

Stand Every Morning to Thank and Praise the LORD
and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even. – 1 Chronicles 23:30

A Prudent Wife is From the Lord
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. – Proverbs 19:14

Prudent – wise or judicious in practical affairs; discreet; sober; careful in providing for the future

 

 

Posted in Hiding His Word

His Law is the Apple of My Eye

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

God gives His Law: He is Holy
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. – Exodus 19:16

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. – Exodus 20:18-21

God wants a face-to-face meeting with the Israelites to give them His law. When it is time for the meeting, they become afraid. An up-close encounter with God can be as troubling as it is comforting. God is a holy God, and Israel couldn’t see, feel, hear God, and not be acutely aware that He is altogether perfect and holy, and they were not.

Jesus confronts distortion of God’s Law – Be Ye Holy
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” – Matthew 23:25-26; 28

The leaders of Jesus’ day were more concerned with what others thought than faithful obedience to God’s Law. These leaders knew the law and knew it very well. The law (as we read in the passages today from Exodus) was given by a loving God instructing a people who had never lived any way but as slaves. They needed direction and guidance.

Now, fast forward to this passage in Matthew. Jesus is angry because the religious leaders have taken His law and are now using it to control people rather than to teach them to be holy, as He is holy. How often do I fall into this same trap? Clean me up, Lord, that I can be holy as You are holy. As a child of God, I ought to desire to be pure and holy rather than to appear so.

God’s Law is the Apple of My Eye
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. – Proverbs 7:2-3

Treasure, honor and share His commands. Keep them. Bind them into everything you do. Love His commandments always. They are the “apple of my eye,” and I have written them on my heart.

He is My Strength and Shield
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. – Psalms 28:7-9

David learned that God would not fix everything or make everything perfect for him. But, God would give David protection and strength to fight and overcome his trials. I am so thankful that God does the same thing for us.  God doesn’t promise to fix every problem we face, but oh yes, He does promise to give us what we need to overcome them.

Passages for today: Exodus 19:16-21:21; Matthew 23:13-39; Psalm 28; Proverbs 7:1-5

Oh Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your Word. Thank You for your instruction and guidance. Thank You that it was given in Love because You are Love. Help me to show that same Love. I want to be Holy as You are Holy, Lord. Please shine Your Light on those things in my cup that needs cleaning. Please help me to cease worrying about the outside of my cup and what others think about that. Help me to focus on You. I love Your Word. Holy Ghost, help me to always treasure, honor, and LOVE it. I cannot do it without You filling me again and again. Father, You are my strength and my shield. I love you, Jesus. My Eternal God, I thank You for sending Your precious Son to pay the ultimate price on the Cross that I can even ask for Your Help and thank You and praise You today. Please help me to hold fast against the trials and temptations that come against me today. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Do You Ever Tremble?

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. ~ ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

To whom will God look?

• The poor.

• The one that is of a contrite spirit.

Contrite – having sincere remorse; filled with a sense of guilt and desire for atonement

• The one that trembles at His Word!!!

Tremble – to shake involuntarily with quick, short movements, as from fear, excitement, weakness, or cold; quake; quiver. To be troubled with fear or apprehension.

This verse of scripture has been on my heart for a while. It makes me wonder when was the last time we trembled? When was the last time I truly trembled — at His Word?

Posted in Hiding His Word

Famine of the Word of God – Amos 8:11

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Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. ~ Amos‬ ‭8:11-12‬

The prophet Amos warned that a day would come when there would be a famine in the land for the hearing of the words of the Lord.

Israel had repeatedly rejected God’s message and warnings and now they would get what they asked for. God would not send anyone to challenge them, warn them or even encourage them; they would receive no Word from God from His prophets. In other words, whenever they looked for God’s guidance during the coming calamity, they would find only silence.

There is no judgment worse than God giving a person over completely to his or her own sinful desires – and the consequences. When this happens, a person is left to fall deep into the corruption of this world.

We can see an example of God giving the Gentiles over to their own sin in Romans 1. The term in verse 24, “God gave them up to uncleanness” means that God allowed them to completely go their own way, experiencing the full effect of their sin.

Why would God give them over? I believe He has two purposes for giving them to their own sinful ways:

1. Judgment – To allow sin and its consequences to increase as part of his judgment on them.

2. Salvation – To bring them to a point of realizing their need for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and a right relationship with him.

Truly if you think about it though it is all for Salvation. Jesus wishes that none should perish but that all should come to repentance. Read it in 2 Peter 3:8-10!!! He wants us to believe in Him but when we do that He then wants us to know Him. We do that by knowing His Word. We show that by obeying His Word.  One day it will be too late to repent and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be too late to take up our cross and follow Him.

If we continue in our sin James 1:13-15 speaks of the ultimate consequence of  sin:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

How important is hearing the Word…Life and death are in the balance.
Now, it is also worth noting that the famine Amos spoke of is not a famine of speaking God’s Word – but hearing it. Today we are blessed with many ways to hear the Word of God. We can get on the radio or television, we can get on the computer, on Facebook or YouTube, and have thousands of sermons at our disposal. There is preaching and teaching of the Word, Godly encouragement through songs and hymns and quotes; prophecy. People are out there speaking the Word. And these things are all good and serve a great Kingdom purpose. When people share what they have received from the Word or from God they are built up. In addition, when we listen prayerfully to God’s chosen vessels we are built up too – changed from glory to glory.  Truly, hearing changes you and plants the Word in your own spirit so that you can fight temptation with that Word. I believe that speaking it then “seals” that change!!!

BUT to just casually listen to what someone else received from the Word, whether it is in person or through browsing Facebook or even casually browsing the Bible isn’t the same as digging deep for yourself, hearing for yourself and laying the foundation of your own life upon God‘s Word. Dig deep – it will make a difference.

May God bless your time in the Word today as He has blessed mine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Bible Verses

Scriptures to Hide in Your Heart When Worried

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Let not your heart be trouble

Some of the scriptures that I meditate on when I am feeling overwhelmed by worry.  I have them written on notecards and read them aloud as many times and as often as necessary. The Word of God is alive and active and the Word will break the hold that the enemy has over your mind.  God has proven this to me time and time again. When you speak the Word, you speak LIFE!

Proverbs 12:25   Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6-8  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Matthew 6:33-34  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Matthew 11:28-30   Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

John 14:27   Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Psalm 55:22   Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Philippians 4:19   But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

John 14:1   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Luke 1:37   For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Colossians 3:15    And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Jeremiah 17:7-8   Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Psalm 94:19   In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Isaiah 26:3   Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Psalm 23:4    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Romans 15:13   Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost

Proverbs 3:5-6   Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Colossians 3:2   Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

2 Thessalonians 3:16   Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

 

 

Posted in Hiding His Word

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – A Blessing or A Curse (Your Choice)

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Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;  A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. ~ Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Blessing – a special favor, mercy, or benefit; a gift bestowed by God; to bestow good of any kind upon; protect or guard from evil

Curse – to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon a person or group; to afflict with great evil

God set before His people the choice of receiving a blessing or a curse. If they obeyed God’s Word and remained separated from the sin of the surrounding nations, then God’s blessing would come upon them wherever they were. However, if they adopted the ways of the world, God’s curse would come upon them and rob them of life and blessings. Unfortunately, Israel did not take God’s warning seriously and too often they went the way of the unbelievers and fell under God’s curse.

In the book of Joshua, a similar command is given regarding obeying the Word:

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ~ Joshua 1:7-8

In order to possess the promised land, Joshua and the Israelites had to commit themselves to obeying God’s written Word. It was to be their primary authority. They could not depend on human ideas, traditions, or religions. God commanded Joshua to be faithful to the written word by talking about it, meditating on it, and obeying it fully.

Four requirements for success according to Joshua 1:7-8

  1. To be strong and courageous
  2. To make God’s Word your guiding authority for all believes and actions
  3. To study and meditate daily on God’s Word
  4. To recognize and respond to God’s presence in every area of your life

 

Meditate – to read quietly or to talk to yourself as you think about something. It implies studying and carefully thinking about God’s Word to know and understand its principles and meaning.

After meditation should come application. After we get understanding, we must apply the Word to every area of our lives. Those who know and obey God’s Word will be prosperous and successful because they will possess the wisdom to do what is right and to achieve God’s goal for their lives. God’s goals and His will equal success. Keep in mind though, that often this doesn’t look like a worldly success.

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.  ~ Joshua 22:5

God gives the same choice to each of us today. If we hate sin, follow Christ and seek to serve him, then his blessing and power will be ours. If we depart from God, we will lose God’s presence, help and covenant protection.

Father, gives us the strength and wisdom to make the right choices today. Help us to stay in Your Word, to hate sin and follow and serve Jesus alone. Help us to do so with a right heart of love. In Jesus Name. Amen!