“HIS SON!”

Hebrews 1:1-4                          (ESV)

“1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, GOD spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

2 but in these last days HE has spoken to us BY “HIS SON”, whom HE appointed the heir of ALL THINGS, through WHOM also HE CREATED THE WORLD.

3 HE is the radiance of the glory of GOD and the exact imprint of HIS nature, and HE upholds the universe by the word of HIS power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the MAJESTY ON HIGH,

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name HE has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

Why do I attempt to begin my day with anything other than hearing from my CREATOR concerning the directions for my life on that day?   Now don’t get me wrong, ALMIGHTY GOD has, and can still, speak to me through various means, but ultimately HE IS THE ONE WHO is causing, and benefiting from HIS speaking.  

A few years ago my wife and I were on the Gulf of Mexico vacationing for a few days.  I was literally feet from the water in a lounging chair on Sunday Morning when a small amount of guilt entered my mind about not being in church services.  Just then, a seagull flying over was made known to me and the verses in Luke 12:4-7 came to my mind. GOD was telling me that a “church house” could not contain HIM!  With HIM, ALL THINGS are possible (Matthew 19:26)!  We cannot allow preconceived ideas to enter into where GOD desires us to go in our lives.  

GOD unmistakably spoke to Moses at Mt. Horeb when he was alone in Exodus 3 tending the sheep of Jethro, his father-in-law.  Moses was on the west side of the wilderness away from any distractions and interruptions.  He couldn’t seek confirmation from anyone to verify that he was hearing from ALMIGHTY GOD, but undoubtedly he was speaking with GOD.

In Acts 9, GOD unmistakably spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus when he was on his way “...still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD...” with an entourage of men.  In Acts 9:7 Scripture records “The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.”  In Acts 9:16 GOD chose Saul (soon to be known as Paul) to “....show him how much he must suffer for the sake of MY name."  

There are many avenues that GOD “could” still speak to us, but HE has chosen BY “HIS SON”, through WHOM HE CREATED THE WORLD, to guide the direction of our lives.  Whether I am alone on the backside of the wilderness, or on a road to Damascus with the “in crowd”, it is comforting to know that GOD is in Control.  Just like GOD used the seagull for HIS Glory that day, and just like with Moses and Paul, HE will guide me where HIS Plan is for me to be for the Glory of “HIS SON”!

“YOUR GOD IS THE GOD OF GODS!”

Daniel 2:46-48                                     (ESV)

“46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him.

47 The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, “YOUR GOD IS GOD OF GODS” and LORD of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."

48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.”

Last evening the NCAA National Championship for college football was held.  Congratulations to the Coach Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers on winning and going 15-0 for the season.  Thinking about there victory, there will no doubt was, and will be, a victory celebration, possibly including a parade and maybe an invitation to the White House in Washington D.C.!  Winning and being crowned CHAMPION is recognized by many as a special event, something worth the celebration!  

King Nebuchadnezzar was ruler over Babylon from 605BC to 562BC.  Babylon was located approximately where modern day Baghdad, Iraq is located.  According to some, King Nebuchadnezzar was known as the “destroyer of nations" (Jeremiah 4:7) because he was ruthless in his actions.  He was given dreams and his wisest interpreters we instructed “....if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins!!!  

King Nebuchadnezzar was about to have his subjects put to death when it was made known to Daniel and he responded in Daniel 2:30 “...not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind”.  GOD revealed the mysteries to Daniel so that HE would be Glorified.  King Nebuchadnezzar originally listened to Daniel (and ultimately ALMIGHTY GOD!) and elevated Daniel AND HIS FRIENDS because of their “connection” with THEIR GOD!  

Being “connected” to a champion can be a joyous celebration!  Imagine going to the White House with a sports team that has won a National Championship.  But being “connected” to ALMIGHTY GOD is worthy of far more than anything that man has to offer.  We need to recognize when ALMIGHTY GOD is present and celebrate HIS appearance like we do something like a National Championship.  After all, as King Nebuchadnezzar said, “YOUR GOD is GOD OF gods” and HE deserves our celebrations!!!

“WE ARE ONE!”

John 17:9-16                             (ESV)

“9 I (JESUS) am praying for them (CHOSEN). I am not praying for the world but for those whom YOU have given me, for they are YOURS.

10 All MINE are YOURS, and YOURS are MINE, and I am glorified in them.

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to YOU. HOLY FATHER, keep them in YOUR NAME, which YOU have given ME, that they may be one, even as WE ARE ONE.

12 While I was with them, I kept them in YOUR NAME, which YOU have given ME. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I am coming to YOU, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have MY joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them YOUR word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

How many of us would utilize a personal hookup to the President of the United States of America, regardless of who it is, or may become?  Anytime you like, whatever you wanted to talk to them about, you had “Carte-Blanche” to communicate with the leader of the free world!  Wouldn’t that be a tremendous tool to be able to utilize?

Prayer to GOD is that kind of a tool for we who choose to use it.  We can actually “get through” to our CREATOR anytime we elect, talk about anything we choose, for as long as we care to devote to HIM, and HE will never be too busy to hear from us!  Yet unfortunately, I don’t take the time to come to before HIS THRONE and lay my petitions at HIS feet and beg for HIS guidance.  

In John 17 JESUS “”prays” the “High Priestly Prayer” as HE would be arrested literally minutes later.   Yet, in HIS time of peril, HE had time to pray for we who Believe on HIM right before HIS arrest, trial, and crucifixion.  Keep this perspective clear, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was preparing HIMSELF to being brutally tortured for the one’s that HIS FATHER would give HIM, and HE was asking HIM to keep us safe from the evil one!  Can you fathom how GOD’S PERFECT SON would subject HIMSELF TO leave HIS Heavenly Throne, to be mocked and tortured for my sins while being on this earth, and still go to Calvary, even if it were just to save me, because HE LOVED ME SO?  

I am sure it is easier to understand nowadays when I read that HE prayed “WE ARE ONE”!  GOD couldn’t look upon my sin, so HE forsook JESUS (Mark 15:34) on Calvary.  But JESUS never has forsaken me, even though I fail HIM daily, because “WE ARE ONE”!  There is no greater confidence builder than to know that the ONE WHO CREATED this world and I, “WE ARE ONE”!  

In John 14:3 JESUS says “And if I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL TAKE YOU TO MYSELF, THAT WHERE I AM YOU MAY BE ALSO”.   “This world” will not compare to what HE is PREPARING for us.  And HE WILL COME AGAIN, because “WE ARE ONE”, AND HE SAID HE WOULD!!!

“THEY HEARD THE SOUND!”

Genesis 3:8-21                            (ESV)

“8 And “THEY HEARD THE SOUND” of the LORD GOD walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife HID THEMSELVES from the presence of the LORD GOD among the trees of the garden.

9 But the LORD GOD called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"

10 And he said, "I heard the sound of YOU in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

11 HE said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."

13 Then the LORD GOD said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

14 The LORD GOD said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 

16 To the woman HE said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you." 

17 And to Adam HE said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 

18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 

19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." 

20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

21 And the LORD GOD made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”

There are all kinds of intricacies contained in the Scriptures above.  However when Adam and Eve “THEY HEARD THE SOUND” of ALMIGHTY GOD, they knew it was GOD, but they didn’t realize that GOD already knew they had sinned, breaking fellowship with HIM.  Had they understood WHO GOD really is, they would not have believed that they could hide themselves from HIM.  The response from Adam and Eve displayed that, not only had the evil one had lied to them, they thought they would be able to make their disobedience “better” by covering up their wrongdoing.   

“THEY HEARD THE SOUND” of ALMIGHTY GOD, but they didn’t KNOW GOD.  Had they KNEW WHO GOD really is, they would not have believed that they could hide themselves from HIM.  

Thousands of years later, aren’t we guilty of the same thing?  In an attempt to look better to a HOLY GOD, we wear our finest clothing to a ornately decorated building and sing and pray like we are “better than those lost people”, when compared to JESUS our lives are just as despicable as some hardened criminal.  Ezekiel 8:9 says “And HE said to me, "Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here."  Then in Ezekiel 8:12 GOD follows this up with “Then said HE unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what THE ANCIENTS OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL DO IN THE DARK, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD SEETH US NOT; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

GOD’S CHOSEN, the Children of Israel, actually thought they could hide their actions from ALMIGHTY GOD.  They didn’t understand that HE knows all, SEES all, and will judge all one day!  Thanks be to HIM that JESUS CHRIST, in HIS finished work (John 19:30) on Calvary imputed HIS righteousness for my unholiness and accepted my Judgement over 2,000 years ago!

Do you really KNOW GOD well enough to know that YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HIDE your sins from HIM?  HIS WORD tells us in Ephesians 5:11 “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them”.  We should be so reverent of HIM that when “THEY HEARD THE SOUND” of GOD in our lives we hit the brakes, like a speeding car on the interstate of life!  HE IS GOD!  We cannot deceive HIM!  

“DO NOT THINK!”

Matthew 10:34-39                                      (ESV)

“34 "DO NOT THINK” that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I HAVE NOT COME TO BRING PEACE, BUT A SWORD.

35 For I have come to SET A MAN AGAINST his father, and a daughter AGAINST her mother, and a daughter-in-law AGAINST her mother-in-law.

36 And a person's enemies will be those of his OWN HOUSEHOLD.

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME, and whoever loves son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME.

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow ME is not worthy of ME.

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it.”

One of the most difficult passages of Scripture is written above.   There are many instances where people confuse “loving” a human relative with condoning their actions.  JESUS makes it abundantly clear that we are called to LOVE even our enemies.  So how do we LOVE our friends and family when they are living their lives contrary to what GOD says for us to act like as Believers?  

Being set AGAINST someone sounds as controversial as it can, yet it can be done in a heart of LOVE.  For me, the biggest thing that I have difficulty with is “DO NOT THINK”!  We seem to desire not to offend and not alienate others.  But we sometimes have to lovingly hurt those we LOVE to make them SEE the errors of their ways.  Of course, we have an option of allowing them to continue down the same path that leads to destruction, and only GOD can change a heart, so we must act according to HIS Plan for each situation.  

The Apostle Paul was blinded on his journey to persecute Believers.  The Pharaoh of Exodus 14 was allowed to be swallowed up by the Red Sea (Exodus 14:28)!  We can’t determine when ALMIGHTY GOD will “cease striving” with an individual, but we can live our lives in such a way to reflect HIS LOVE without agreeing with their choices.  Moses went to Pharaoh many times and told him how to avoid Judgement.  Pharaoh chose to depend upon his own wisdom to deliver Egypt, and we see those results???

JESUS says in Matthew 6:24 “"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  Whether it is money or anything else, we are called to love JESUS CHRIST above ALL!  Our family, our friends, our possessions, our own desires......we need to be subject to what the SPIRIT OF GOD is directing us to do in our lives.  

For me, I need to “DO NOT THINK” that I can serve anything, nor anyone, else.  My THINKING is where I begin falling into doing exactly it is that I don’t want to do (Romans 7:15-20)!  Far too often I have followed my own instincts, my desires, or my heart instead of doing what I am instructed to do in the HOLY BIBLE.  When I “DO NOT THINK”, but trust in HIS WORD, my decisions are more inline with HIS WILL!!!

“JOSEPH HAD A DREAM!”

Genesis 37:3-11                             (ESV)

“3 Now ISRAEL LOVED JOSEPH MORE THAN ANY OTHER OF HIS SONS, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.

4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, THEY HATED HIM and COULD NOT SPEAK PEACEFULLY to him.

5 Now “JOSEPH HAD A DREAM”, and when he told it to his brothers THEY HATED HIM EVEN MORE.

6 He said to them, "Hear this dream that I have dreamed:

7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf."

8 His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?" So THEY HATED HIM EVEN MORE for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, HIS FATHER REBUKED HIM and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?"

11 And HIS BROTHERS WERE JEALOUS of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

According to Scripture, Joseph was Israel’s favorite son (Genesis 37:3).  Because of his “favorite” status, he was HATED by his brothers so much so that they COULD NOT SPEAK PEACEFULLY to him! Joseph, however, apparently felt very comfortable speaking to his brothers, for he told them of a dream he had and told them exactly what he dreamed.  They didn’t like the dream because they perceived that they would be kneeling before him, subservient to him!  Keep in mind, they were all older which meant they SHOULD be ahead of him, as far the order of inheritance was concerned.  They HATED Joseph so much that they sought to eliminate his bothersome appearance.  

Eventually Joseph’s brothers threw him into a well, or a pit.  Then they saw an opportunity to sell him as a slave to some sojourners through their land.  That would solve two problems for them, and without killing their younger brother.  Joseph was sold him for twenty shekels of silver.  Was it because HIS BROTHERS WERE JEALOUS that they HATED him?  Was it possibly because he bragged about being elevated above them, or was it because they may have feared their youngest brother?  If so, what did they have to fear?  

We know that in Genesis 50:20 Scripture records “As for you (Joseph’s brothers), you meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”.  But did Joseph remember his dreams of grandeur while at the bottom of the well, or when his brothers sold him into slavery, or when Potiphar’s wife had him put into prison (Genesis 39:20)?  His dreams had him being BLESSED beyond measure, and now he found himself “in a pickle”!  

Now Scripture doesn’t specifically say that the dreams Joseph had were from GOD, but we now know that ALMIGHTY GOD had a Plan for Israel (Jacob), GOD’s Chosen people. Joseph understood that part of GOD’S Plan would be for him to serve GOD, be it in a pit or in a throne room.  He understood from these dreams that GOD had a Plan for him to be used to Glorify GOD and save his people.  Even in Joseph’s time, it was impossible to please GOD without walking by FAITH (Hebrews 11:6)! He had to follow what the Spirit of GOD was directing him to do, and bitterness towards his brothers for their decisions was not part of GOD’S Plan!  

“JOSEPH HAD A DREAM”, and that dream involved GOD using him to feed himself, his family, and even the Egyptians during a famine.  We know that GOD IS IN CONTROL, but at times we don’t know how HE wants to use us to accomplish HIS Plan for our lives!  We can have a dream, but just as Joseph did, we still have to live by FAITH to honor and glorify GOD ALMIGHTY.  “JOSEPH HAD A DREAM” and IN FAITH he lived out that dream.  By FAITH, may I complete HIS Plan for my life.....for HIS GLORY!!!

“PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD!”

Psalms 40:1-17                                     (ESV)

“1 I waited patiently for the LORD; HE inclined to me and heard my cry. 

2 HE drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 

3 HE PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH, A SONG OF PRAISE TO OUR GOD. MANY WILL SEE AND FEAR, AND “PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD”. 

4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 

5 You have multiplied, O LORD my GOD, YOUR wondrous deeds and YOUR thoughts toward us; none can compare with YOU! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. 

6 In sacrifice and offering YOU have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering YOU have not required. 

7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 

8 I delight to do your will, O my GOD; YOUR law is within my heart." 

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. 

10 I have not hidden YOUR deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of YOUR faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed YOUR steadfast love and YOUR faithfulness from the great congregation. 

11 As for YOU, O LORD, YOU will not restrain YOUR mercy from me; YOUR steadfast love and YOUR faithfulness will ever preserve me! 

12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. 

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! 

14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 

15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, "Aha, Aha!" 

16 But may all who seek YOU rejoice and be glad in YOU; may those who love YOUR salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!" 

17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the LORD takes thought for me. YOU are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my GOD!”