“FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM!”

 Exodus 14:10-14                       (ESV)

“[10] When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and THEY FEARED GREATLY. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. [11] They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? [12] Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” [13] And Moses said to the people, “”FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM”, and see the salvation of the LORD, which HE WILL WORK FOR YOU TODAY. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. [14] “THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, and YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT.””

RECOGNIZE:: to accept or be aware that (something) IS TRUE or exists

Could it be that when we can’t SEE a way out of a situation that we find ourselves in, we are simply not looking in the proper place for it?  RECOGNIZING the HOLY SPIRIT when HE is leading you can alleviate FEAR from your response and allow you to STAND FIRM!  Rejecting, or just failing to SEE HIM will result in GREAT FEAR, causing life to be lived in defeatism.  For this unworthy vessel, RECOGNIZING that I have been delivered from “the evil one” FOR A PURPOSE is very humbling.  The CREATOR has a PLAN, not just for my life, but for HIS PURPOSE being fulfilled entirely!  

Moses had an encounter with THE ALMIGHTY on “Horeb, the mountain of YHWH” (Genesis 3:1)!  He KNEW YHWH, for THE ALMIGHTY had instructed Moses to get HIS Children delivered from the Pharaoh of Egypt, the most powerful man on earth at the present (Genesis 3:10).  On the other hand, the Children of Israel did not have the same familiarities in hearing from YHWH as Moses, possibly because they weren’t STILL enough to HEAR from THE CREATOR?  They could not RECOGNIZE GOD, because they weren’t looking, NOR EXPECTING HIM, to work on their behalf! 

Perhaps we might experience more frequent, abundant and DIVINE experiences in our lives IF we RECOGNIZED that ALMIGHTY GOD is over EVERYTHING that happens in “this world”(Isaiah 45:22-25)!  GOD provides every “breath” we breathe (Isaiah 42:5)!  Although we have to, BY GRACE, SEE that it ALL comes from HIM, we typically are moving TOO FAST to RECOGNIZE that HE controls everything, AND WE DON’T!!!  We simply need to “FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM” and let YHWH be GOD in our lives!!!

Typically, when we don’t RECOGNIZE the way forward in the situation we find ourselves in, we need to “FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM” and RECOGNIZE that YHWH is directing this show!  Like the Children of Israel in Exodus 14, the path forward might seem to be IMPOSSIBLE for man.  But just as it was when the Israelites were at the Red Sea, and just like when I was in the coma in 2007, I might need to “FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM” and let GOD perform HIS PLAN and let HIM get the GLORY!!!

“YOU SHALL GLORIFY ME!”

 Psalm 50:7-15                              (ESV)

    [7] “Hear, O MY people, and I will speak;

        O Israel, I will testify against you.

        I AM GOD, your GOD. 

    [8] Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;

        your burnt offerings are continually before me. 

    [9] I will not accept a bull from your house

        or goats from your folds. 

    [10] For every beast of the forest is mine,

        the cattle on a thousand hills. 

    [11] I know all the birds of the hills,

        and all that moves in the field is mine.

    [12] “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

        for the world and its fullness are mine. 

    [13] Do I eat the flesh of bulls

        or drink the blood of goats? 

    [14] Offer to GOD a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

        and perform your vows to the MOST HIGH, 

    [15] and call upon me in the day of trouble;

        I will deliver you AND “YOU SHALL GLORIFY ME”.”

When I had the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007, it wasn’t as if I had ANYTHING to do with getting to “the other side” with no physical disabilities.  My doctor even wrote in my medical records about one month following my release from the Rehabilitation Hospital, “The fact that he has recovered the way he has is nothing short of a miracle from GOD"!  

I have seemingly always been one to offer “my help”, even though ALMIGHTY GOD doesn’t require (and sometimes desire) any human assistance.  Most humans seem to have the opinion that if GOD wants something done, HE “needs” us to do it for HIM!  My doctor has verbally expressed to me more than once that GOD was the reason that I survived and flourished following the Hemorrhage.  GOD, at times, allows us to BE USED by HIM so that we can GLORIFY HIM “on the other side”!  

If we are assigned a task to perform when GOD supernaturally, and without any assistance, does what ONLY HE is able to do, “YOU SHALL GLORIFY ME” is probably near the top!  Who assisted GOD when HE was CREATING the worlds?  Who raised JESUS from the dead after HIS sacrificial death for my sins on Calvary?  And although many have assisted me since, nobody other than GOD THE CREATOR brought me through “the valley of the shadow of death”!  

Even though my recovery was miraculous and beyond anything that mankind was able to take credit for, there is NOTHING that the very capable doctors were able to do that saved my life!  I will PRAISE HIM because HIS WORD says “YOU SHALL GLORIFY ME”!!!

“NO ONE DARED!”

 Mark 12:28-34                          (ESV)

The Great Commandment

“[28] And ONE OF THE SCRIBES came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that HE answered them well, asked HIM, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” [29] JESUS answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our GOD, the LORD is ONE. [30] And you shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [31] The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” [32] And the scribe said to HIM, “You are right, TEACHER. You have truly said that HE is ONE, and there is no other besides HIM. [33] And to love HIM with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” [34] And when JESUS saw that he answered wisely, HE said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of GOD.” And after that “NO ONE DARED” to ask HIM any more questions.”

How many times is it that I can’t easily SEE the MESSAGE that GOD is intending for me to find and I wind up trying to formulate my own words that are seemingly useless in my life?  Uninspired words can be written by man to sound eloquent, but unless they are given by ALMIGHTY GOD AT THE PRECISE TIME they will miss the mark of changing lives for HOS GLORY!  

In this passage of Scripture above, JESUS is responding to THE SCRIBES. about “Which commandment is the most important of all?”  Removing ourselves from the seriousness of the matter, it is easier to SEE that they weren’t really interested in finding the “most important” commandment, rather trying to trick JESUS into something they could use against HIS mission, which they could not comprehend.  They were too engrossed in “being right” and not about TRUTH!  

Most people cannot proclaim that their intentions are precisely what GOD is intending until they SEE how GOD uses the MESSAGE received from HIM. These “scribes” were attempting to manipulate the response from JESUS to build their case that HE was a fraud, not based on TRUTH!  THE WORD (John 1:1) has been with GOD from the beginning and HE CREATED these people, who were in reality trying to “fool” their very CREATOR?!!

At times we need to realize that we are simply tools to be used by JESUS for HIS GLORY and not to build our own idea about what is right.  When we SEE that HE is using us for HIS GLORY, elevating ourselves becomes so pointless and detrimental to our calling.  We are NOT placed here to build our own reputation, rather to reflect HIS GRACE and GOODNESS to people who aren’t able to SEE HIS GLORY!  When the “scribe” who said “You are right, TEACHER”, could he have been beginning to SEE that this TEACHER was more than he realized?  

When our EYES ARE OPENED to SEE that we are simply tools used by our CREATOR and for HIS GLORY, and NOT to GLORIFY ourselves, THEN we are where HE is able to use us to our fullest!  “NO ONE DARED” to attempt to be placed on the same level as their CREATOR as they must have known HE was on a level FAR above their abilities!?!?!  Maybe I should make sure that I am building something for HIM and making sure that “NO ONE DARED” to take HIS GLORY???

“HEAL ME, O LORD!”

 Jeremiah 17:14-18                            (ESV)

Jeremiah Prays for Deliverance

    [14] “HEAL ME, O LORD”, and I shall be healed;

        SAVE ME, and I SHALL BE SAVED,

        for YOU are my praise. 

    [15] Behold, THEY SAY TO ME,

        “Where is the word of the LORD?

        Let it come!” 

    [16] I HAVE NOT RUN AWAY FROM BEING YOUR SHEPHERD,

        nor have I desired the day of sickness.

    YOU know what came out of my lips;

        it was before YOUR face. 

    [17] Be not a terror to me;

        YOU ARE MY REFUGE in the day of disaster. 

    [18] Let those be put to shame who persecute me,

        but let me not be put to shame;

    let them be dismayed,

        but let me not be dismayed;

    bring upon them the day of disaster;

        destroy them with double destruction!”

I’ve always thought of the Prophet Jeremiah as a Old Testament stalwart, Spiritually mature beyond anything I can hope to become. In reading Jeremiah 5:30-31 a person can easily Believe that Jeremiah was above what he was preaching about.  “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?” doesn’t appear to be a message for the faint of heart???

But we SEE later on in the book entitled with his name, like in the Scripture above, that Jeremiah desired AND NEEDED GOD’S PRESENCE in his life!  Even though he might have been thought of as a Spiritually strong man, he desired AND NEEDED GOD to “HEAL ME, O LORD” from the affects of the evil one!  “The enemy” is extremely adept at sneaking into our lives and infecting us with his poisonous spirit without us even recognizing he is anywhere near.  

Jeremiah could SEE that “the enemy” was “against” him, mainly because GOD was using him for HIS GLORY!  We need to BE AWARE that “the enemy” is still “against” anything that the SPIRIT OF GOD is trying to accomplish.  We are NOT strong enough, nor mature enough, to be able to reject the attacks from “the great deceiver”!  We HAVE to beg our MASTER to “HEAL ME, O LORD” so HE can be Glorified with everything we are assigned!!!

“IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD!”

 1 Samuel 2:26; 3:1-14                                    (ESV)

“[26] Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and “IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD” and also with man.”

The LORD Calls Samuel

“[1] Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

[2] At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. [3] The lamp of GOD had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of GOD was.

[4] Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” [5] and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he (Eli) said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

[6] And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” [7] NOW SAMUEL DID NOT YET KNOW THE LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

[8] And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. [9] Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

[10] And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” [11] Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. [12] On that day I will fulfill AGAINST ELI all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. [13] And I declare to him (Eli) that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming GOD, and he did not restrain them. [14] Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.””

Just because a person has been chosen by men to hear from GOD does NOT indicate that person knows THE LORD.  The sons of Eli, the priest, “…were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.”  (1 Samuel 2:12).  Eli attempted to correct his sons (1 Samuel 2:22-25), but they were not able to HEAR the warnings from their father.  

Samuel, on the other hand, DID hear from GOD, even though he wasn’t sure what he was hearing.  He had to go to Eli and get directions on what he was hearing, and ultimately WHO he was hearing from!  He was honored to HEAR from GOD, while the sons of Eli were busy hearing what “this world” was speaking to them.  

Who we CHOOSE to listen to says a great deal about what we HEAR!  Some are incapable of HEARING from Heaven because they are NOT CHOSEN!  The sons of Eli were selected by their earthly father to be priests, but ALMIGHTY GOD rejected them.   Samuel was raised by Eli, the parent of the two sons that were rejected by GOD to be servants of HIM. 

Some might consider it a bit braggadocious to let it be known that we have been found “IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD”.  But when we are able to SEE who we are outside of JESUS, our EYES can not SEE anything but how BLESSED we are!  I will forever sing the song that I am “IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD”!!!

“WAIT IN SILENCE!”

 Psalm 62                                (ESV)

My Soul Waits for GOD Alone

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

    [1] For GOD alone my SOUL WAITS IN SILENCE;

        from HIM comes my salvation. 

    [2] HE alone is my rock and my salvation,

        my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

    [3] How long will all of you attack a man

        to batter him,

        like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 

    [4] They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

        They take pleasure in falsehood.

    They bless with their mouths,

        but inwardly they curse. Selah

    [5] For GOD alone, O my soul, “WAIT IN SILENCE”,

        for my hope is from HIM. 

    [6] HE only is my rock and my salvation,

        my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 

    [7] On GOD rests my salvation and my glory;

        my mighty rock, my refuge is GOD.

    [8] Trust in HIM at all times, O people;

        pour out your heart before HIM;

        GOD is a refuge for us. Selah

    [9] Those of low estate are but a breath;

        those of high estate are a delusion;

    in the balances they go up;

        they are together lighter than a breath. 

    [10] Put no trust in extortion;

        set no vain hopes on robbery;

        if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

    [11] Once GOD has spoken;

        twice have I heard this:

    that power belongs to GOD, 

    [12]  and that to YOU, O LORD, belongs steadfast love.

    For YOU will render to a man

        according to his work.”

Sometimes GOD requires us to move rapidly, such as Moses and the Children of Israel when the crossing of the Red Sea began to take place. But sometimes HE wants us to WAIT ON THE LORD (Psalms 27:14)!  They key for us is doing what we are LED to do, WHEN we are being led, and HOW we are led!  

Perhaps the greatest warrior in all of the BIBLE is King David.  He is the writer of most of the Psalms.  One might believe that King David was a ruthless, almost maniacal man who slaughtered his enemies without disdain.  However he was able to write some of the Psalms (such as the one above) illustrating his great love for THE LORD, a man after GOD’S OWN HEART (2 Samuel 13:14).  

This same man, a man after GOD’s OWN HEART, also sinned, and not just with Bathsheba.  He failed to follow what GOD’S PLAN was for his life more than a few times, but not nearly as much as this servant fails!  Perhaps the closest I ever came to NOT sinning against HIM was the 17 days I was in a COMA in 2007.  It was as if ALMIGHTY GOD was showing me how much HE didn’t need me to assist HIM in anything, not even breathing!!!

For me to “WAIT IN SILENCE” is almost an impossible feat!  GOD has displayed that HE doesn’t require ANYTHING from me.  HE “allows” me to be used by HIM, and for HIM, to fulfill HIS PLAN, and that really excites me!  Why shouldn’t I be excited to “WAIT IN SILENCE”, for HE IS GOD, and I am just here to GLORIFY HIS NAME!!!

“IT IS FINISHED!”

 John 19:28-30                        (ESV)

The Death of JESUS

“[28] After this, JESUS, KNOWING THAT ALL WAS NOW FINISHED, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [29] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. [30] When JESUS had received the sour wine, HE said, “”IT IS FINISHED”,” and HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND GAVE UP HIS SPIRIT”

When JESUS CHRIST was raised from being crucified by my sins, HE must have experienced assistance, for HE WAS DEAD in John 19:30, wasn’t HE???  But John 10:30 says “I and the FATHER are ONE.”?  How could JESUS lay down HIS life and take it back up again if HE is dead?  

In John 10:17-18 JESUS explains to we whose EYES have been OPENED, “For this reason the FATHER loves ME, because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE THAT I MAY TAKE IT UP AGAIN. No one takes it from ME, but I LAY IT DOWN OF MY OWN ACCORD. I HAVE AUTHORITY  to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from MY FATHER.”  Romans 8:11 explains “If THE SPIRIT of HIM WHO raised JESUS from the dead DWELLS IN YOU, HE WHO raised CHRIST JESUS from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his SPIRIT WHO dwells in you.”

These “temporary” temples (or bodies) are only made for a finite amount of time.  The spirit living inside of our bodies can have ETERNAL LIFE, IF we are BORN AGAIN!  JESUS tells Nicodemus in John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You MUST BE born again.’ If our SPIRIT is BORN AGAIN we have the BLESSED HOPE of eternal life!  For those who haven’t had their EYES OPENED, the time might be drawing near to make that decision???  

Soon JESUS CHRIST will once again say “IT IS FINISHED”.  No other options will be available at that time.  No other plans, no other excuses!  When our CREATOR says “IT IS FINISHED”, IT WILL BE FINISHED!!!