“Habakkuk 2:20”

 Habakkuk 2:20                 (ESV)

    “[20] But the LORD is in his HOLY temple;

        LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENCE BEFORE HIM.”

“I AM NOT WORTHY!”

 Genesis 32:9-12                 (ESV)

“[9] And Jacob said, “O GOD of my father Abraham and GOD of my father Isaac, O LORD WHO said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ [10] “I AM NOT WORTHY” of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that YOU have shown to YOUR servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. [11] PLEASE DELIVER ME from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, FOR I FEAR HIMf, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. [12] But YOU (LORD) said, ‘I WILL SURELY DO YOU GOOD, and MAKE YOUR OFFSPRING AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

In these four (4) verses of Scripture we read that Jacob (later known as Israel) is “conversing” with his CREATOR!  This is something that I often do, but probably with less honesty than Jacob was able to do with GOD!  However, GOD is GOD and HE KNOWS my heart far better than I do and can readily KNOW TRUTH, in spite of my own discolorations!!

Jacob is telling GOD that “I AM NOT WORTHY” of the BLESSINGS he had received from GOD ALMIGHTY!  By the end of this chapter in Scripture, Jacob is “wrestling with GOD” and being renamed Israel……BY THE CREATOR!  

Did this “wrestling match” give indication that Jacob was “worthy” of anything!  Surely the GOD WHO SPOKE the world’s into existence could have simply SPOKE and Jacob would have ceased to exist??  But Jacob would wind up being renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28) by THE LORD “for you have striven with GOD and with men and have prevailed”!!!  

Although Jacob/Israel might have been known for his ability to use words for his “own good”, HE WAS CHOSEN by THE CREATOR to carry the name of HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE!!!  Jacob even said “I AM NOT WORTHY” of ANY of the BLESSINGS that he was asking from GOD!  He wasn’t WORTHY, but he was CHOSEN to be BLESSED by the CREATOR!!!

This humble servant is very much like Jacob.  “I AM NOT WORTHY” of anything except wrath and judgement from the ALMIGHTY!!!  But PRAISE JESUS for HIS sacrifice that purchased my salvation and HIS FORGIVENESS on Calvary’s tree!  “I AM NOT WORTHY”, but my SAVIOR is WORTHY!!!

“BLESSED ARE THE MEEK!”

 

Matthew 5:5                 (ESV)

“[5] “BLESSED ARE THE MEEK”, for they shall inherit the earth.”  

meek 

/mēk/

adjective

1. Showing patience and humility; gentle. 
2. Easily imposed on; submissive. 
3. Mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; PATIENT UNDER INJURIES; not vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive

The BEATITUDES were given to us over two thousand years ago by our CREATOR, yet I had to do an internet search this morning to “find the words” to explain the meaning of being MEEK!  The words PATIENT UNDER INJURIES really hit home with me.  I’ve always wanted to see justice done in the circumstances in my life. But ESPECIALLY when my bride was involved!  Wanting to protect her has always been something that I felt I should actively pursue.  

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE MEEK!  JESUS didn’t say in the book of Matthew that ALL PEOPLE should adhere to the BEATITUDES!  BELIEVERS ARE CHOSEN, not because we are better than others, but because we are HIS, CHOSEN for HIS PURPOSE!  

When I was “brought out of the coma”, I had a “whatever” mentality!  Maybe it was because of the DIPRIVAN that was used to keep me in the coma, but I NOW SEE that GOD was gently MOVING me to a roll where HE would use me…..FOR HIS GLORY!!  I would have NEVER thought that HE wanted me to be more like HIM, but when I SEE what HE went through, MEEKNESS is PRECISELY what I observe.  Someone WHO is PATIENT UNDER INJURIES is  the best PICTURE of WHO JESUS CHRIST is and was.  

We are all on a journey through “this world”! IF we are CHOSEN to be one of HIS SERVANTS is a TREMENDOUS BLESSING!  Ephesians 1:4 says that HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!  It is an HONOR and PRIVILEGE to be “BLESSED ARE THE MEEK”, knowing that we will spend our ETERNITY with JESUS!!!

“THE BREATH OF LIFE!”

 

Genesis 2:7                  (ESV)

“…then the LORD GOD formed the man of dust from the ground and  BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS “THE BREATH OF LIFE”, and the man became a living creature.”

This morning I was screening videos on social media when I saw where a baby was born at just over 25 weeks gestation.  The baby was a twin, but the other twin baby did not survive. The baby that did make it is now over one year old and is doing well.  

“This world” acts as though men and women have a determinative role when a child is born.  Unless the LORD GOD graciously bestows upon us “THE BREATH OF LIFE” we cannot experience LIFE!  Some journey through “this world” without their EYES being OPENED to SEE TRUTH! 

Some of us are BLESSED by THE LORD JESUS and have experienced HIS DIVINE TOUCH!  The twin that “did not make it” is the “poor soul” in the mindset of people who don’t have the HOPE OF JESUS in their LIVES!  

But that “poor soul” isn’t forgotten about by THE CREATOR!  They are PRAISING JESUS without the torment from “the enemy” and his minions!  We are left here using “THE BREATH OF LIFE” that has been assigned to us to perform the tasks we are assigned to.  When our tasks are completed, “THE BREATH OF LIFE” will be taken from us!!!  

May I take note that “THE BREATH OF LIFE” is a GIFT FROM GOD, and HE ALONE determines when ours is coming to an end!!!

“THE WORD!”

 

John 1:1-5                  (ESV)

THE WORD Became Flesh

“[1] IN THE BEGINNING was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with GOD, and THE WORD was GOD. [2] HE was IN THE BEGINNING with GOD. [3] ALL THINGS were made through HIM, and without HIM was not ANY THING made that was made. [4] In HIM was LIFE, and the LIFE was the LIGHT of men. [5] The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Isaiah 40:28                 (ESV)

    “[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?

    The LORD is the everlasting GOD,

        the CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

    HE DOES NOT faint or grow weary;

        HIS understanding is UNSEARCHABLE.”

1 Timothy 1:17                 (ESV)

“[17] To the KING OF THE AGES, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY GOD, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

It MUST BE understood by humanity WHO “THE WORD” truly is, lest we go through LIFE and NOT be able to SEE TRUTH!!!

“NO ONE KNOWS!”

 Matthew 24:36-44                 (ESV)

“NO ONE KNOWS” That Day and Hour

[36] “But concerning that day and hour “NO ONE KNOWS””, not even the angels of heaven, NOR THE SON, but THE FATHER ONLY. [37] For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the SON OF MAN. [38] For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, UNTIL THE DAY WHEN NOAH ENTERED THE ARK, [39] and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the SON OF MAN. [40] Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. [42] Therefore, stay awake, for YOU DO NOT KNOW on what day your LORD is coming. [43] But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] Therefore YOU ALSO MUST BE READY, for the SON OF MAN is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

There are MANY people who actually BELIEVE that they know when THE LORD is returning to CLAIM HIS BRIDE!  They want to give the “facts” as to why they “think” they are correct, but basically JESUS says “NO ONE KNOWS”!!!

JESUS even says in the passage of Scripture above that YOU DO NOT KNOW, so why do some people think that they know???  Being a Prophet is nothing that this Brain Damaged Stroke Survivor has ever had the ability to claim.  But I DO KNOW that JESUS said in HIS WORD that YOU ALSO MUST BE READY!!!  HE IS COMING BACK at an hour you DO NOT expect, so I don’t need to try to figure it out!!!

There is much discussion about the “end times”, when JESUS WILL RETURN!  But when JESUS is quoted as saying “NO ONE KNOWS”, I will simply take HIM at HIS WORD!!!

“WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME!”

 

Galatians 4:3-7                 (ESV)

“[3] In the same way we also, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, were ENSLAVED to the elementary principles of THE WORLD. [4] But “WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME”, GOD sent forth HIS SON, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to REDEEM those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6] And because you are SONS, GOD has sent the SPIRIT of HIS SON into our hearts, crying, “Abba! FATHER!” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a SON, and if a SON, then an HEIR through GOD.”

Sometimes humanity is exposed to limitations that are far beyond our control!  Through the parameters of our experiences we are subjected to what can be uncomfortable to our supposed schedules.  

Abraham had to WAIT for the PROMISE GOD made to him!  David had to WAIT for Saul to be dealt with before ascending to his REWARD!  Even JESUS had to WAIT 30 years before beginning HIS MINISTRY to redeem mankind!  But…..“WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME” every one of these, as well as ALL OTHERS, had to WAIT ON THE LORD (Psalm 27:14) for HIS BLESSING!!!

Although her memory has faded a bit over the past 18+ years, my wife was giving me “another” recount about the events that transpired regarding the Brain Hemorrhage and its seventeen day coma that she endured!  Yes, she is the one who suffered the most, for I was in the coma and everything was simple. to my recollection (or lack thereof)!  Seventeen days is a long time!  But King David has to wait FAR longer!  And JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, had to WAIT for 30 years until HIS MINISTRY began!  I was brought through the ordeal with very few “deficits”, but some remnants (I believe) as a reminder of where HE brought me from!!!

Could any predecessor (mentioned or not) have “hurried” their own trials along???  Even JESUS said MANY TIMES “MY time has not YET come”!  But “WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME”, even JESUS was crucified for my transgressions!  Not a day late, or a day early, ONLY “WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME”!!!

“I CHOSE YOU!”

 

John 15:16-17                 (ESV)

“[16] You DID NOT choose ME, but “I CHOSE YOU” and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the FATHER in MY NAME, HE may give it to you. [17] These things I command you, SO THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER..”

Ephesians 1:3-4                 (ESV)

Spiritual Blessings in CHRIST 

“[3] Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO has blessed us in CHRIST with every SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the heavenly places, [4] even as “HE CHOSE US” IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be HOLY and BLAMELESS before HIM.”  

While JESUS displayed HIS LOVINGKINDNESS by coming to earth to purchase salvation for “the world” (John 3:16), HE ALREADY KNEW WHO was going to COME TO HIM (Matthew 11:28) as “HE CHOSE US” IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!!!  In John 15:16, JESUS HIMSELF spoke these WORDS, “You DID NOT choose ME, but “I CHOSE YOU” and appointed you…”!  The Apostle Paul was on the road to Damascus TO ARREST BELIEVERS when JESUS ENCOUNTERED him AND CHANGED him!!!

This CHANGE was made ABUNDANTLY CLEAR to me following the Brain Hemorrhage in July of 2007.  Doctors “initially” projected that I would be OUT OF the hospital in a week??  However I was released to go to the Rehabilitation Hospital precisely 31 days later!!!  Seventeen days of that I was in a drug-induced coma!!!  Even after I was brought out of the coma, I had NO ABILITY carry on a conversation nor reason about anything!  I didn’t understand what I had been through, but I KNEW that it was LIFE CHANGING!!!

Although I was a Believer at the time of the Brain Hemorrhage, my Spiritual walk was definitely moving too quickly to be USED by HIM ……. AND FOR HIS GLORY!  But JESUS didn’t require me to go to a Spiritual seminar, or anything similar.  HE SIMPLY stated “BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD”!!!

 

“HE CHOSE US (me!) IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD”, long before I was even born!!!  HE even used my failures in life FOR HIS GLORY to make a vessel FOR HJS GLORY (Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 12:9).  

My “failures”, even the sins that I STILL commit, were GRACIOUSLY paid for by the Sacrifice of JESUS!  I DON’T DESERVE IT, but JESUS PAID IT ALL for me!!!  Our CREATOR SPOKE “I CHOSE YOU” over 2,000 years ago, but HE made that decision BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!!!

“From Bishop Robert E Smith”

 From Bishop Robert E. Smith!

“Christ could do nothing apart from His Father (John 5:19,30); we can do nothing apart from the Son (John 15:5), all else, is nothing from nothing and good for nothing (Matt. 5:13)

“YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT!”

 Exodus 14:14                 (ESV)

“[14] THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, and “YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT”.”

Last evening driving home from church this verse came across my Brain Damaged mind!  The Nation of Israel had been held captive by the Egyptians for 430 years (Exodus 12:36)!  The 430 years had run out and Genesis 15:14 was about to be fulfilled!  This Scripture says “But I WILL bring judgment on the nation (Egypt) that they serve, and afterward THEY SHALL come out with great possessions”!!!

GOD instructed the Israelites “YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT”, and that was NO MISTAKE!  GOD KNEW that the nation of Israel was not known as a fighting force, nor were they battle tested.  But GOD told them plainly “THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, indicating that the Israelites weren’t required to be warriors!  They were to “allow” GOD to perform the MIRACLE that would get them across the Red Sea!!!

GOD could have sent a “King David” to lead HIS Children from captivity, but HE ALONE would be recognized as THE DELIVERER of the nation of Israel, not Moses or any of the people fleeing their captivity!  When ALMIGHTY GOD says HE doesn’t need our assistance, we NEED to “shut up and get out of the way”!!!  

THE LORD OPENED the Red Sea so that only the Israelites could “pass over”!  The Egyptians were consumed by the same water that was parted for the Israelites.  GOD did NOT require assistance, and the Israelites did not interfere with HIM.  “YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT” was a command that they were able to follow!!!

“PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME!”

 Genesis 32:22-32                 (ESV)

Jacob Wrestles with GOD

“[22] The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. [23] He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. [24] And Jacob WAS LEFT ALONE. And a MAN wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. [25] When THE MAN saw that HE DID NOT prevail against Jacob, HE TOUCHED HIS HIP SOCKET, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. [26] Then HE said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [27] And HE said to him, “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” And he said, “Jacob.” [28] Then HE said, “Your name shall NO LONGER be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with GOD and with men, and have prevailed.” [29] Then Jacob asked HIM, “PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME.” But HE said, “Why is it that you ask MY NAME ?” And there HE blessed him. [30] So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen GOD FACE TO FACE, and yet my life has been delivered.” [31] The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. [32] Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.”

Some (MANY) years ago my grandmother carried me to her chiropractor for  a “back problem” that I was experiencing.  A few years later my mother carried me to an orthopedic surgeon who took several x-rays and determined that I had one leg shorter than the other, a condition that was common for someone with GIGANTISM.  Although being over six and one half feet tall was something that I DID NOT CHOOSE, it was something that I would have to deal with for the remainder of my life!  

Living with an “uneven foundation” might not be a “curse”, but it is something that has to be dealt with, or the consequences could be severe, even catastrophic.  Regular “adjustments” from a health care professional can certainly limit your pain and discomfort.  However, if you fail to seek proper treatment you will inevitably suffer from “misalignments” that will necessitate proper alignment measures!  

During his struggle with GOD, Jacob was PERMANENTLY changed, but he was not made PERFECT!  Even though he exhibited “a permanent limp” from his encounter with THE ALMIGHTY, Jacob carried a remnant that gave evidence that GOD HAD CHANGED his life!  GOD was CERTAINLY CAPABLE of defeating one human being?  In 2 Kings 19:35 “And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.”  So GOD was displaying HIS BENEVOLENCE when HE PERMITTED Jacob to wrestle with HIM that night!  

How would I have come out in a one on ONE with OUR CREATOR?  For seventeen days in 2007 it was a “touch and go” (drug-induced coma) situation, but GOD was ALLOWING me to SEE that “For I have SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, and YET MY LIFE HAS BEEN DELIVERED.”  I can’t say that I “literally” have SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, but what I experienced was definitely something that was bey human instinct or abilities! 

Once again, I DID NOT CHOOSE to be 6’6” tall with one leg shorter than the other.  I DID NOT CHOOSE to experience a “massive brain hemorrhage” with an almost 24 month hiatus from work.  However, GOD’S CHOICE was for me to be SLOWED DOWN and HE didn’t even let me “negotiate” the outcome I would be left with!  Through the years (going in 19!) my EYES have been OPENED to SEE that I am NOT in control of anything!  Rather discovering that “PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME” isn’t an affront to my CREATOR, it is an ADMISSION of WHO HE IS…….and who I am NOT!!!