How did the Jews miss the Messiah? What began as a lack of carefulness to listen to Yahweh further escalated to despising Him and His commandments (Leviticus 26:15), which resulted in breaking their covenant with Him by the idolatry of worshipping other gods (Deuteronomy 29:25-26). Jehovah responded with the Babylonian captivity (29:28), but restored them to their land, when they returned to obedience of His law. After their renewed devotion to the law, somehow they became more impressed with their righteousness in the obedience, and forgot “their righteousness is of Me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). This initially was an imperceptible lacking in devotion to the person of Yahweh, which was falling out of love with God. Yet with a tender heart of love for Ishi (Hosea 2:16), they could have noticed the more cryptic prophecies concerning the Messiah. “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 KJV). “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV). “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2 KJV). In our NT retrospect, we can see the same heart attachment to Mashiach is just as necessary for us not to miss Messiah’s Second Coming. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28 KJV). Maranatha!
Uncategorized
Life’s Reset Button
“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” (Matthew 11:29 KJV). Too much clutter. Junk that needs to be sorted through and thrown away. Organize and simplify. Then, manmade and natural disasters strike. Who has the resources to deal with it all? The more impossible things become, the more obvious it is that only the God of All Possible Universes is able to offer relief. I think it’s part of His plan to draw everyone to Himself.
Mystery Of Iniquity Is Already At Work
I like the way the KJV translates 2Thessalonians 2:7, when it says, the “Mystery of Iniquity,” but the NET or NIV translates better the concept of holding back or restraining. “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (2Thessalonians 2:7 NIV). I believe the restraining power of the Holy Spirit has been holding back the Adversary’s Secret Power of Lawlessness ever since Lucifer’s original fall. Only when the Spirit Indwelt Church is taken out of the way at the Rapture will the Antichrist be revealed, then shortly thereafter he will be judged. Bible prophecy advises us what tomorrow will look like, so we’ll adjust our conduct today. Are we living like we are siding with the Holy Spirit, who is holding back the Adversary’s Secret Power of Lawlessness? May God bless everyone, who is on the LORD’s side!
Pray Without Ceasing
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18 KJV). This commandment reveals our capability of praying “without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17 KJV), which indicates the Spirit supernaturally intercedes through us for His Body (Romans 8:26), while we maintain purpose of heart and focus of understanding. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for [Greek, huper, on behalf of] us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26 KJV). This means more than not giving up. Even more than groaning while praying. But, the Holy Spirit is using us like a continuously linked network coprocessor, but most importantly, with our consent and awareness. Hallelujah!
According to Your Faith
Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29 KJV), not, ‘According to what others say you ought to think, be it unto you.’ To believe God, it is your responsibility to understand what He said, be certain that He did say it, then simply believe it. Believing is acting like you’re relying on the truth of what He said. If you really believe it’s going to rain, bring an umbrella. If you really believe you will pass the examination, then don’t be worried or fretful. Don’t complicate things by becoming anxious about consequences, whether something will come to pass. Be childlike and vulnerable with your faith. In reality, we are generally more concerned about what others will think, if what we believe does not come to pass. That’s Belief By Consensus. That fear of embarrassment will stop us from believing. Lord, help us to develop the habit of taking You at your word. Amen and amen.
God Is Able to Make Him Stand
What do you do when two brothers seem to honestly take opposite positions on the same subject? Since the Lord wants us to firmly stand our ground — “Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay” (James 5:12 KJV) — how do we reconcile? The nature of God’s Truth demands a development of our understanding, where we grow to see things differently. The Jerusalem Council illustrates this with the conclusions of James, to which Paul happily agreed (Acts 15). “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1Corinthians 13:11 KJV). We all honestly understand and explain the world differently, not just from one another, but from the way we used to think. With the guiding attitude of love, we need to humbly ask God to grow our understanding without destroying our brother. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:1-4 KJV). May God graciously grant us all a childlike humility, so we may grow!
Relationship With Christ
I used to look down on the idea of developing a relationship with God. Just get them saved, and go on and do the same to the next one! But, we are saved from what? For what purpose? Salvation is restoring a lost relationship with God. Remember the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12 KJV). Sure, that lost relationship means eternal separation from God; but, we’re still talking about a relationship. So, how goes our relationship with Yahweh?
Feed On The Word Of God
Feed on the Word of God much as you need physical food to survive and thrive. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 KJV). If our physical body requires food, how can God’s words be optional for our spiritual existence? “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV). God’s Word is not just a physical book or an ebook in digital form. Jesus is the Living Word! You can’t destroy the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 KJV). Understand and think through the meaning of His words, seeing it is communing with the Living God, our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ!
How I Love Thy Law!
“O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97 KJV). This is the common preference of the godly. In attempting to faithfully record the actions and words of Jesus, John wrote, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (John 21:25 KJV). They couldn’t write enough, and we can’t read enough of God’s words, because they are more to be desired “than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10 KJV). It is impossible to overindulge with God’s words. Yahweh wants that kind of relationship with us!
Preserve Us, O Lord!
“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1 KJV). More than a slogan on US coins and currency, which has been stripped of its original religious connotation, In God We Trust, is the reason the Psalmist could petition for Yahweh’s preservation. The world understands prevention is more valuable than cure. Better our Father preserves us from the Enemy, the world, and ourselves than the complexities of all the cures. “He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints” (Proverbs 2:8 KJV).
You must be logged in to post a comment.