Monday, February 28, 2005

TODAY Our Daily Bread Deuteronomy 6

Deuteronomy 6: 1 - 25
1 "These are all the commands, laws, and regulations that the LORD your God told me to teach you so you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and so you and your children and grandchildren might fear the LORD your God as long as you live. If you obey all his laws and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, to everything I say. Be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
F18 5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. 8 Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10 "The LORD your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land filled with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. 11 The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, 12 be careful not to forget the LORD, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 13 You must fear the LORD your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name. 14 "You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, 15 for the LORD your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you and wipe you from the face of the earth. 16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah.
17 You must diligently obey the commands of the LORD your God – all the stipulations and laws he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so all will go well with you. Then you will enter and occupy the good land that the LORD solemnly promised to give your ancestors. 19 You will drive out all the enemies living in your land, just as the LORD said you would. 20 "In the future your children will ask you, 'What is the meaning of these stipulations, laws, and regulations that the LORD our God has given us?' 21 Then you must tell them, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with amazing power. 22 Before our eyes the LORD did miraculous signs and wonders, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. 23 He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land he had solemnly promised to give our ancestors. 24 And the LORD our God commanded us to obey all these laws and to fear him for our own prosperity and well-being, as is now the case. 25 For we are righteous when we obey all the commands the LORD our God has given us.'

FOOTNOTES:F18: Or The LORD our God is one LORD, or The LORD our God, the LORD is one, or The LORD is our God, the LORD is one.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Lena's Comments Deut 6

It really takes a revelation to obey God and His word. It seems American Humanness is far too independent (meaning not- dependant on anyone for anything) for that one. Yet if we as new creatures in Christ cannot and above all will- not obey God and his word, who’s are we? We are our own persons and our own Lords and we live under curses not blessings. We don’t especially like commands, laws, regulations. The thing is we don’t know God, His are NOT like men’s are, and we have had many experiences with man enforcing laws upon us for their own good, or to exalt them, so we see god this way. God is NOT like men!
There is a scripture that says the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force. That means any attribute of God’s kingdom that might be developed in me due to obedient and deliberate acts of faith, will suffer the probability of being taken away from me, stolen. If it is stolen from me then I won’t have it, if I don’t have it, I’m not blessed and neither is God. (remember satan hates anything or anyone who resembles God). BUT, if I see and know this inside of the deepest part of my being, then I will not allow the thief to steal from me OR from GOD. So I become purposely aware of this war tactic and I quickly get on God’s side of this active deliberate warfare.
Let’s give an example: You hear the Word nudging you to do something. God’s spirit is requiring to you to be blessed in what you do, rather than be cursed in what you have done regularly before. Rather than heeding the call of God’s spirit in you to obey, you just make some sort of excuse, trying to excuse yourself from its effects on you. It was just a suggestion we all say, I am a free-willed being and American Independent, God caused me to be born here and so I can just do what I want when I want. If I need God He’ll be there for me and I’ll be blessed.
GOD IS LOOKING FOR US TO BE HERE FOR HIM ! TO TAKE HIS KINGDOM AND BRING IT TO EARTH. It always begins inside of us personally….
So I could entertain the voice of my old ungodly ways or I could follow after the new voice in my life I’ve not yet practiced heeding, and obey anyway. IF we recognize this, which we need to by the way, then we will become alerted to the thief and liar’s voice and slam the door in his face. (I.e. Violence). If our old ways say, don’t trust anyone- shut the door and deliberately trust God by trusting Him to use someone in your life you can trust (that’s violence).Other examples would be, assembling regularly under the word, being done with old harmful habits or things that make you look more like you serve the world than God, Tithing, walking in the fruits of God’s Spirit, and the list is really endless. A good example of a deliberate action of faith to combat the evil forces and taking back what belongs to me and to God’s kingdom, id to study and walk in the 9 manifestations of God’s Spirit living in me, the 9 fruits. So if I an unkind, and now I know a fruit of Christ’s love in me is kindness, begin by praying and asking His spirit for help to see unkindness as it begins to rise up in you and want to come out of you. It may take a few times and of course continual targeted prayer, but you will see it coming. To take it by force ask God to show you a deliberate action to take in eliminating its power to use you! Just simply and deliberately be kind instead. Do something out of God’s kind heart that really does live in you. That’s the violent taking of God’s kingdom.
How is any of this possible? By doing what is written in the rest of this chapter. Being regularly saturated with God’s word, in any way you can, in all ways you can. Also helping do so for others, especially your natural and spiritual children. What is "taking the land?" It is taking back what belongs to God. That is people’s lives and hearts. It begins with us, is our heart given over to God? Do we willingly change whom we have been for whom He wants to make us? That is taking the land! Piece by piece. When we teach this to our children we are taking the land piece by piece. When we get involved in the lives of others and help them see more than they ever saw about God, we are taking His land back piece by piece on purpose with deliberate force! Amen.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Judges 7

Judges 7: 1 - 25
1 So Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3 Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid may leave F17 and go home.'" Twenty-two thousand of them went home, leaving only ten thousand who were willing to fight. 4 But the LORD told Gideon, "There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will sort out who will go with you and who will not." 5 When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, "Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream." 6 Only three hundred of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. 7 The LORD told Gideon, "With these three hundred men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home." 8 So Gideon collected the provisions and rams' horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the three hundred men with him.Now the Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon.
9 During the night, the LORD said, "Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them! 10 But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah. 11 Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack."So Gideon took Purah and went down to the outposts of the enemy camp. 12 The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore – too many to count! 13 Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his friend about a dream. The man said, "I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!" 14 His friend said, "Your dream can mean only one thing – God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over all the armies united with Midian!" 15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he thanked God. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, "Get up! For the LORD has given you victory over the Midianites!"
16 He divided the three hundred men into three groups and gave each man a ram's horn and a clay jar with a torch in it. 17 Then he said to them, "Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. 18 As soon as my group blows the rams' horns, those of you on the other sides of the camp blow your horns and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon!'" 19 It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the one hundred men with him reached the outer edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the horns and broke their clay jars. 20 Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands and shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" 21 Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran. 22 When the three hundred Israelites blew their horns, the LORD caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
23 Then Gideon sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, who joined in the chase after the fleeing army of Midian. 24 Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallows of the Jordan River at Beth-barah." And the men of Ephraim did as they were told. 25 They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two Midianite generals, killing Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. And they continued to chase the Midianites. Afterward the Israelites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.
FOOTNOTES:F17: Hebrew leave Mount Gilead. The identity of Mount Gilead is uncertain in this context. It is perhaps used here as another name for Mount Gilboah
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, NLTcopyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved

Lena's Comments on Judges 7 ***** !!!

Yesterday’s word sparked this in me, yet I forgot to note it and here it is again today. Zerub-baal was the name given Gideon by his old father (satan father of the world), his idol worshiping father, the one Gideon was forsaking to cleave to Christ’s Love and Rule. The father saw something new in Gideon. He didn’t say, "Oh look he’s such a nice guy now, he’s practically perfect in attitude and attire". NO, he said, about Gideon ( the new man in Christ), " You are one who will not allow false worship in your life and you are wiling to remove it’s source, that others may see the truth". "You are wiling to suffer the consequences that may come from making a stand, if the world is not happy with you, if the god of the world is not happy with you. You realize your GOD is great enough to contend with Baal through you. You trust in your God and the abilities He has given you".
Gideon is engaging himself in purposeful battle against what keeps the church in darkness, against the enemy who steals, kills and destroys the person’s personal faith in God Most High. Gideon is learning to turn his fear around to faith in God, rather than continuing on the pathway of the kind of faith (fear) he’d always walked in being on the enemy’s side. Fear is faith in what is wrong, in what is not of God Most High.
Ever feel that the enemy is numerous, is all around, everywhere we turn? Well he is. God wanted Gideon’s focus and perspective to change. I was just thinking of how the enemy manifests before us in our seen realm in what appears to be a powerful looking force. Yet we all know there are more unseen good forces than there are bad. The enemy wants to be seen. God can work in the seen realm from the unseen. This is what He was showing Gideon and us. Our enemy wants to magnify himself in our seen realm. He has always desired to magnify himself above God, above our faith, above what we could and should trust in. God was calling Gideon and us beyond this realm of thought and action. God wants to be magnified and if we can tap in with faith and see how magnificant He truly is, we’ll have no problem going out against God’s enemy and magnifying the Lord anyway.
Gideon was willing to say- "Follow Me." Gideon was willing to BE God’s Daily Bread. This army did not stop at what they thought was a victory, they were determined to make sure any trace of any enemy was gone from even a threat to the camp. ( this cutting off of the heads symbolizes taking their very voices of threatening away, taking their strategies against us away). IF we know who we are in Christ - without question, we too have beheaded our enemies. Enemies always question who we are- always! Oreb & Zeeb together mean "ravenous wolf" !!!! Let that speak for itself.

Saturday, February 26, 2005

Today OUR Daily Bread Judges 6

Judges 6: 1 - 40
1 Again the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight. So the LORD handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. 2 The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites fled to the mountains, where they made hiding places for themselves in caves and dens. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, 4 camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, oxen, and donkeys. 5 These enemy hordes, coming with their cattle and tents as thick as locusts, arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. 6 So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.
7 When they cried out to the LORD because of Midian, 8 the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt 9 and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10 I told you, 'I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.' But you have not listened to me."
11 Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the oak tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash had been threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!" 13 "Sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, 'The LORD brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites." 14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!" 15 "But Lord," Gideon replied, "how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!" 16 The LORD said to him, "I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man." 17 Gideon replied, "If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the LORD speaking to me. 18 Don't go away until I come back and bring my offering to you."The LORD answered, "I will stay here until you return." 19 Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with half a bushel
F15 of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the oak tree. 20 The angel of God said to him, "Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it." And Gideon did as he was told. 21 Then the angel of the LORD touched the meat and bread with the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he cried out, "Sovereign LORD, I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" 23 "It is all right," the LORD replied. "Do not be afraid. You will not die." 24 And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it "The LORD Is Peace." F16 The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.
25 That night the LORD said to Gideon, "Take the second best bull from your father's herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. 26 Then build an altar to the LORD your God here on this hill, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down." 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had commanded. But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father's household and the people of the town. He knew what would happen if they found out who had done it. 28 Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been knocked down and that the Asherah pole beside it was gone. In their place a new altar had been built, and it had the remains of a sacrifice on it. 29 The people said to each other, "Who did this?" And after asking around and making a careful search, they learned that it was Gideon, the son of Joash. 30 "Bring out your son," they shouted to Joash. "He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole." 31 But Joash shouted to the mob, "Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who knocked down his altar!" 32 From then on Gideon was called Jerubbaal, which means "Let Baal defend himself," because he knocked down Baal's altar.
33 Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the LORD took possession of Gideon. He blew a ram's horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. 35 He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. 36 Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put some wool on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." 38 And it happened just that way. When Gideon got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

FOOTNOTES:F15: Hebrew 1 ephah [18 liters]. F16: Hebrew Yahweh Shalom.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Lena's Comments Judges 6

We’re talking the church – Israelites, did what was evil in God’s sight. That would be a good one to be on guard for in our own hearts and lives. Things such as refusing to forgive, or refusing to obey God’s word, are considered evil works. We think that means murdering, adultery etc. It’s more than cut and dried sins we’ve been trained to see. We need to re-train ourselves to see how God sees. Sometimes our gages are off.
Why do we sense continual bombardment of the world and it’s ways? Maybe we have not been walking with God. Maybe when we are tired of being cursed by decisions we’ve made, maybe THEN we’ll cry out to God with a willing heart of obedience, being truly interested in His interests; Maybe THEN we’d have become wise by our experiences where hard knocks point us back in the direction of faith.
Prophetic words are not always easily recognized by us, especially when we have not practiced obedience to His voice. God sends the voice of His will through simple vessels, and expects us to listen and obey. It always reminds me of Naaman. The presented to heed vessel is rarely as we’d’ve ordered it, but is usually the answer we need to our questions, if we’ll listen.
In vs 11, I find it cool that Gideon was still willing to participate in the making of bread ( I relate it to being in God’s word) even though His peers were not yet back into obedient rule. He hid his bread making in the winepresses from His enemy. To me this is saying that my time with God, and the words God gives me, are none of the enemy’s business, and if I pray in the Spirit, he has no part in it at all, it’s hidden under the winepress.
Another way to look at this could be that in my trials and the proving ground of my faith, I don’t need to give glory to the enemy, by telling all he has done to come against the Christ in me! ( which is a lot of what I’ve done lately). My only exaltation is in My Father God, and my genuine faith, though tried by fire. If I complain and murmur loudly crying when touched by a threatening enemy attack, he’ll then be clued in on what makes me "tick" and he’ll continue to hit me where it counts! I’ve got to HIDE God’s Word IN my heart. Gideon was not some exceptional physically or mentally strong man of God, he was any person we know. BUT GOD SENT him anyway. God called and used him anyway, beginning with the strength he had anyway. Not who he would be, but who he was right then.
When Gideon answered the call of God on his life, he immediately responded to it knowing full well it would be a sacrifice, a required - blood-shedding sacrifice. Gideon laid the sacrifice out , giving this to God for God to consume it. It was a symbol of his old responses, his old ways of thought. Being "crucified", so he could go on to new ways and thoughts. If God would consume Gideon’s sacrifice, Gideon would know God could and would consume all that he is and was and would be in "Christ". God would also make him new. Notice it stated that the altar he made remained to this day. It was real, it was his start and he followed the will of God enough to have a memorial of it in His life, he went on far enough to be able to look back and know he’d gone somewhere, been somewhere.
Vs 25-32 are awesome ! Gideon’s dad was possibly a priest of Baal! A false god worshipper, as all of us were without Christ! See there’s an example of sins deceit. We all think we were ok and Joash was a baaaadddddd guy, We were all baaaadddd guys without the free gift of salvation through the acceptance of the same call to the Lordship of Christ that Gideon was hearing. We have to forsake and even knock down the objects of our false (-sley taught) worship practices. We have to be willing to bring change into our lives even if others close to us won’t. Even to the point of violently forsaking their old ways that once influenced and guided our belief systems., cutting the source of their continued power against our new walk.
This is so out of the realm of our usual thoughts. Gideon was saved. He personally answered the call of God and stood alone in that call and the responsibility of it. He knew he was standing before God, rather than his own earthly father and the old ways that father had taught him to live by. This new relationship was very personal to him and he knew how it would and could effect change in His sphere of influence. I believe, in respect of his father’s ways, he quietly destroyed for himself what needed to be destroyed. He was doing that for everyone involved, but he did it as it were in his prayer closet initially as his first step of influence. He tore down ancient lifelong curses. He reached backwards and forwards in his deliberate actions of faith. His faith had a strong enough follow through to do something about shutting off any further influence of old ways. He went into darkness to destroy darkness. He didn’t wait for light to come in the darkness, he went there on purpose with purpose.
This was Gideon’s first spiritual conquest. After he faithfully did this he enlisted an army, of like warriors. Notice he went into darkness for the sake of the known "world" and his family first, there he was proven enough to go to and minister to the "church".

Friday, February 25, 2005

Revelation 14: 1 - 20
1 Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roaring of a great waterfall or the rolling of mighty thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together. 3 This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. And no one could learn this song except those 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 For they are spiritually undefiled, pure as virgins, F28 following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering F29 to God and to the Lamb. 5 No falsehood can be charged against them; they are blameless.
6 And I saw another angel flying through the heavens, carrying the everlasting Good News to preach to the people who belong to this world – to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 "Fear God," he shouted. "Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all the springs of water." 8 Then another angel followed him through the skies, shouting, "Babylon is fallen – that great city is fallen – because she seduced the nations of the world and made them drink the wine of her passionate immorality." 9 Then a third angel followed them, shouting, "Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand 10 must drink the wine of God's wrath. It is poured out undiluted into God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name. 12 Let this encourage God's holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus."
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds follow them!" 14 Then I saw the Son of Man
F30 sitting on a white cloud. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then an angel came from the Temple and called out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, "Use the sickle, for the time has come for you to harvest; the crop is ripe on the earth." 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested. 17 After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, who has power to destroy the world with fire, shouted to the angel with the sickle, "Use your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are fully ripe for judgment." 19 So the angel swung his sickle on the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God's wrath. 20 And the grapes were trodden in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles F31 long and as high as a horse's bridle.
FOOTNOTES:F28: Greek they are virgins who have not defiled themselves with women. F29: Greek as firstfruits. F30: Or one who looked like a man; Greek reads one like a son of man. F31: Greek 1,600 stadia [296 kilometers]. NLT
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Lena's Comments

100= (fold- fold speaks of Christ’s Body, who he paid for the right to possess) blessing of harvest, ALL of it completely all (think percentages)
Forty = judgments against us, curses. I’m on a trail here. ALL whom have had their curses and judgements removed.
Four the # of the earth.
On a roll. 100=ALL, 40= who’s judgements have been removed by His blood, 4- which is purposed for ALL the earth.
Also since Biblical numerology is not like our #’s in saying a mere figure. It also refers to tenths 4. The tither is a tenth, which has sanctified all. 4 tenths- a sanctified earth. It is available for all.
One more consideration, 144 – 12 x 12. 12 are God’s ways, His governments. Multiplied over and over again to fill the earth. 12 is the # of disciples, # of discipleship, which He has called all of us to, Commissioned us to. This is 12 who also have 12. People who follow the genesis mandate, being Fruitful, Multiplying, Filling, Subduing, and Taking Dominion. Reproducing the Spirit of Christ in others.
In the Greek lexicon of NAS words it says- the word is thousands, rather than thousand.
So there are 1,000’s who reproduce Christ in all the earth!
The Lord told Elijah that there were 7,000 like himself who had not bowed their knees to Baal. The only way the City of Babylon can fall (the influence of the world in each individual), is that 1000’s who are of Zion (God’s House, City, church) would NOT bow and would rise up and reproduce Christ in the earth! Why does persecution arise? Why should we endure? So His kingdom can be established secure. That starts with His kingdom secure in me.
Vs 13 ties in w/ Galatians 2:20. Why would anyone choose to walk this hard-pressed road in life, taking persecutions, enduring pain? Because of the Harvest. That takes a lying down of life, a disciple lays down his life. He gathered the clusters of grapes from the vines. We have to be abiding in THE VINE to have a cluster, fruit. No fruit, no gathering.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Revelations 5

Revelation 5: 1 - 14
1 And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. 4 Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, F13 has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals."
6 I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits
F14 of God that are sent out into every part of the earth. (Isa 11) 7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8 And as he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense – the prayers of God's people! 9 And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become God's Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign F15 on the earth." 11 Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: "The Lamb is worthy – the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang: "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever." 14 And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped God and the Lamb.
FOOTNOTES:F13: Greek the root of David. F14: See note on 4:5. F15: Some manuscripts read they are reigning.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved

Lena's Comments on Rev 5

Thank GOD that Jesus chose to be faithful, FULL of faith in God, enough to be obedient to God, to let God’s will be done in earth as it was already being done in heaven! Thank God a man chose God’s way, and would go all the way in doing it, even when given the freedom to choose to be a vessel. He chose God, He chose us. Now we have the same freedom to choose God & others, and are counted worthy to do so by the decisions we make for Christ, as we choose to lay our own lives down for His desires, His will. Multiplication comes when I chose. Jesus opened a door no man could shut here in the earth. We can also open doors of blessing for ourselves and others by choice. 7 = complete. Horns are strength/power. Eyes are vision/revelation. He having complete vision and power was able to make the decision for God’s way. In making the decision He had complete revelation and power.
24 is 2 sets of 12., 12 is God’s government, 2 is harmonious unity and agreement. Can you imagine complete unity of God’s Government on earth? That’s what happens when men and women agree with God’s words and do them. His government is established in them 1st and able to be passed on to others! Who, shall I send? How will the message be sent, now that Jesus is seated? Through those like Him who lay it down and take the message and the urgency of it up. When/if we are able to believe and live like that, we have acknowledged in our own lives the cross of Christ as valid and all powerful.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Pause for a few days- Convention in Orlando G-12 Multiplication Cells Training CU Sunday

Eph 4
We’re goinna do some word studying today…
Ephesians 4: 1 - 32
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
2 Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. 3 Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. 4 We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. 5 There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people."
F5 9 Notice that it says "he ascended." This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. F6 10 The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. 11 He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
17 With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly
F7 do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. 20 But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, 22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. 24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness – righteous, holy, and true. 25 So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" F8 because we belong to each other.
26 And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you."
F9 Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. 28 If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.
29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
FOOTNOTES:F5: Ps 68:18. F6: Or to the lowest parts of the earth. F7: Greek Gentiles. F8: Zech 8:16. F9: Ps 4:4.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Today Our Daily Bread Eph 4

Lena's Comments Eph 4

Just last night in our cell meeting we spoke about being freed (from sin's power over us). We spoke of how in our culture freedom is taken many different ways. One might think he was freed from sin and be oh so thankful to step into the yoke of Christ, while another says, "Hallelujah I’m so free I don’t have to be in the bondage of a yoke!" Here, in vs 1, we see Paul rejoicing about being a prisoner! What?! Yes, and even a slave as other translations say. Paul was a thankful man in that he knew the bondage of religion (now that he is on the outside of it) and he realizes the priviledge it is to belong to God and be yoked together in the true freedom of Christ.
I looked up a few words in the Strong's Dictionary of Greek wording, which is the wording that was really being expressed when the Bible was not only written, but lived. I want to throw a few of those thoughts out there for you to ponder about some words we think we know the meanings of. This will be an exercise in using the Concordance, OK Maria?
Humility & meekness: ( Yes, Melinda, this IS who God calls you)
Strong's Number: 4239 Original Word Word Origin
prauß
apparently a primary word
Praus
6:645,929
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
prah-ooce'
Adjective
Definition:
mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

Here we are gonna look at Patience, Tolerance:
Strong's Number: 3115
Original Word
Word Origin
makroqumia
from the same as (3116)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Makrothumia
4:374,550
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah
Noun Feminine
Definition:
patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance
patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

Strong's Number: 3117
Original Word
Word Origin
makroß
from (3372)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Makros
None
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
mak-ros'
Adjective
Definition
long, of place: remote, distant, far off
of time: long, long lasting

Side note: How many of us expect this from God? For Him not to quit (on us)? We also want others to make a relationship with us that is for the long haul, longterm…..that’s patience. I do not brush you aside or off, but I’m with you, till "the end"
vs 2-6 show us the Power of ONE. It is very very great. God is ONE, FATHER- SON- HOLY SPIRIT, all 3 are ONE. ONE BODY, meaning a completely united, at His will and according to His plan, BODY? That’s ONE. UNITED, BOUND, SAME, LIFE- these are all synanyms of ONE. If we are participators of these we are ONE with GOD. That is where we see power released in and through us.
Strong's: ONE
agreement 1, alike* 1, alone 3, common 1, detail 1, first 9, individual 2, individually* 1, lone 1, man 1, nothing* 1, one 282, one another 1, one man 2, one thing 5, one* 2, person 1, single 1, smallest 1, someone 2, thirty-nine* 1, unity 1

After last night’s meeting and in the meditations I brought home I now see vs 7-16 in a new light. We were speaking on how God gives us such grace when we have not yet come to a place where we are maybe strong enough to decide to do His will yet, but His grace brings us towards that will and draws us there, nudges us there. We were also speaking of the choices we make getting us towards His will in a fashion that is favorable to growth.
I see here how these 5 are grace gifts given to the Body of Christ, to help lead us to that place of where we need to go to be further strengthened in His will and walking on its pathway. If we set ourselves in the body of Christ as a member, "a regular", as Pastor Fred calls it. THEN we will see a great amount of grace upon us to lead us where we are to progress in Christ. If we are not under these grace ministries, it is a lot harder to get there on our own, even with His "grace" because this IS the grace He has given, if we do not utilize what He’s given we are almost, shall I say, lost on our own?
Look below at the definition of great: (as in grace)

Strong's Number: 5485

Original Word
Word Origin
cariß
from (5463)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Charis
9:372,1298
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
khar'-ece
Noun Feminine
Definition
grace :
that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
what is due to grace the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace the token or proof of grace, benefit a gift of grace
benefit, bounty thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

NAS Word Usage - Total: 156

NAS Word Usage - Total: 5 distant 2, long 3
Original Word
Word Origin
megaß
[including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also (3176), (3187)]
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Megas
4:529,573
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
meg'-as
Adjective
Definition
great of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects 1a
mass and weight: great 1a compass and extent: large, spacious 1a
measure and height: long 1a stature and age: great, old of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant of age: the elder
used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong predicated of rank, as belonging to
persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power
things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately
great things of God's preeminent blessings
of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
NAS Word Usage - Total: 243 abundant 1, all the more 1, arrogant 1, big 2, completely* 1, fierce 2, great 115, great men 2, great things 2, greater 30, greater things 1, greatest 10, greatly* 1, grown* 1, high 2, huge 1, large 8, larger 2, larger ones 1, long time 1, loud 42, mighty 1, more important 2, older 1, one greater 1, perfectly 2, severe 2, stricter 1, strong 1, surprising 1, terribly 1, too much 1, very much 1, wide 1


Ya know there IS weight involved in responding to God’s leading. Also there is great reward, beyond what joy we’ve known- think of the weight of pregnancy, then the promise of a beautiful child…
LOVE, God’s type, which is unconditional, opposes every evil work in our hearts and lives. It quenches the effects of sin, it also wins over the plight of our enemy to leave people alone as they are without godly change. Speaking the turth in love, will not leave one wounded, but healed.
This is a description of God’s unconditional love:
agape
from (25)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Agape
1:21,5
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
ag-ah'-pay
Noun Feminine
Definition
brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence -kindness
love feasts never, ever enough, never ever dependant on my behavior at all ever, always dependant on who He is and that I/we/they belong to Him
NAS Word Usage - Total: 116 beloved 1, love 1, love 112, love feasts 1, love's 1

This is anger defined :
Strong's Number: 2372

Original Word
Word Origin
qumoß
from (2380)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Thumos
3:167,339
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
thoo-mos'
Noun Masculine
Definition
passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again
glow, ardour, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength)
NAS Word Usage - Total: 18
angry tempers 1, fierce 2, indignation 1, outbursts of anger 1, passion 2, rage 2, wrath 9

Anger has made a judgenment of doom, condemnation towards.
Love is on purpose, not fly by night of if it happens kind of thing. It is deliberate, on purpose, because. Anger is fly by night without much forthought involved, at least not beneficial forthought.
Love is the opposing force that sticks with until, not giving up, holding on:
Strong's Number: 430

Original Word
Word Origin
anecomai
middle voice from (303) and (2192)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Anechomai
1:359,*
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
an-ekh'-om-ahee
Verb
Definition:
to hold up to hold one's self erect and firm to sustain, to bear, to endure
NAS Word Usage - Total: 15
bear 3, bearing 2, endure 3, put 4, showing tolerance 1, tolerate 2
Strong's Number: 4704
Original Word
Word Origin
spoudazo
from (4710)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Spoudazo
7:559,1069
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
spoo-dad'-zo
Verb
Definition
to hasten, make haste to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence To give one’s life over for the purposes of….
NAS Word Usage - Total: 11 diligent 6, eager 2, make every effort 3
Strong's Number: 5083
Original Word
Word Origin
tereo
from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to (2334))
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Tereo
8:140,1174
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
tay-reh'-o
Verb
Definition
to attend to carefully, take care of
to guard
metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
to observe
to reserve: to undergo something
NAS Word Usage - Total: 71 continue 1, guard 1, guards 1, heed 2, heeds 1, held in custody 1, keep 27, keep watch over 1, keeping 1, keeping guard over 1, keeps 9, kept 12, kept in custody 3, observe 3, preserve 1, preserved 1, reserved 4, watching over 1
blessing 1, concession 1, credit 3, favor 11, gift 1, grace 122, gracious 2, gracious work 3, gratitude 1, thank 3, thankfulness 2, thanks 6

This is who we are if not given over to the grace "gifts" given us by God. We are growth stunted. If we come "under" subjection to the ministry of Christ’s Spirit, and the ministry gifts He’s given we do grow, we have a source to grow by. When we are alone and on our own, what is our sourse of growth?
Strong's Number: 3516
Original Word
Word Origin
nepioß
from an obsolete particle ne- (implying negation) and (2031)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Nepios
4:912,631
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
nay'-pee-os
Adjective
Definition
an infant, little child
a minor, not of age
metaph. childish, untaught, unskilled
NAS Word Usage - Total: 14 child 5, childish 1, children 2, immature 1, infant 1, infants 4
Strong's Number: 837
Original Word
Word Origin
auxano
a prolonged form of a primary verb
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Auxano
8:517,*
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
owx-an'-o
Verb
Definition
to cause to grow, augment
to increase, become greater
to grow, increase
of plants
of infants
of a multitude of people
of inward Christian growth
NAS Word Usage - Total: 23 causes the growth 1, causing the growth 1, full grown 1, grew 1, grow 8, growing 2, grows 2, increase 2, increased 2, increasing 2, spreading 1
" He hit me1st !" Like we have an excuse to pay back something given to us. We have no rights in Christ, back to the prisoner thing...the right is to decide what’s righteous, and live with the decisions we make.
Strong's Number: 3710
Original Word
Word Origin
orgizo
from (3709)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Orgizo
5:382,*
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
or-gid'-zo
Verb
Definition
to provoke, to arouse to anger
to be provoked to anger, be angry, be wroth
NAS Word Usage - Total: 8 angry 4, enraged 3, moved with anger 1
Strong's Number: 3950
Original Word
Word Origin
parorgismoß
from (3949)
Transliterated Word
TDNT Entry
Parorgismos
5:382,716
Phonetic Spelling
Parts of Speech
par-org-is-mos'
Noun Masculine
Definition
indignation, wrath, exasperation
NAS Word Usage - Total: 1 anger 1

Monday, February 21, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Gal 5

Galatians 5: 1 - 26
1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. 2 I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. 3 I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. 4 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. 5 Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. 6 For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. 7 You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? 8 This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. 9 And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. 10 Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment. 11 As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then - it would be so watered-down it wouldn't matter one way or the other. 12 Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves!
13 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. 14 For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. 15 If you bite and ravage each other, watch out - in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? 16 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. 17 For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. 18 Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? 19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitivity, lovelessness, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. 22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. 24 Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good - crucified. 25 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. 26 That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.

Lena's Comments on Gal 5

Do you sense Paul’s anger at the yoke of religious performance, of good works of the flesh? He’s angry at that which tries to mold us into its own image and is so far from the mold God has made for us. Some will misunderstand this and take it the exact opposite way I mean it, but the point here is walking in the spirit, not in the flesh. Paul was angry at the lies that try to make us good through our own works and diminishes the work of the cross. The cross was hard work. An intentional work done by God to save and heal and deliver us, yet we substitute ourselves, even to the point here of cutting away our physical flesh to serve God? He gave His all to us, why would we diminish that work? There’s only one reason, that is to diminish its work in us, and to decrease our faith in Him. If we have more faith in ourselves, we have less faith in Him. There’s an enemy out there, the enemy can come in many shapes and forms, the sole purpose of any shape or form it may take is to steal our faith walk and our love walk, these are the evidences that the cross was good enough. This type of revealing will lead us to desire truth in our inmost parts. I love this translation as it zooms in and pinpoints things I’d not thought to express these truths. Vs 19-21 are symptoms and indicators of the type of lies we’ve listened to. If we see these things in our lives we know we need to repent and walk another way. The verses that begin at 22 are what we want to seek after diligently, the manifestations of the power of the cross alive and working in me. God’s Holy Spirit alive in me. Oh God arise and let every enemy be scattered

Saturday, February 19, 2005

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE - Day 33

Point: I serve God by serving others.
Question: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?
( Auntie ) SandPiper Responds ( if interested, see full posts at- http://fieldlilys.blogspot.com/ ), along w/ archieves of the PDL's where she and I comment on PDL daily...
These six characteristics are:
1. Real servants make themselves available to serve.
2. Real servants pay attention to needs.
3. Real servants do their best with what they have.
4. Real servants do every task with equal dedication.
5. Real servants are faithful to their ministry.
6. Real servants maintain a low profile.

WOW, what an awesome Blog post! (see http://fieldlilys.blogspot.com/ )Whew, Amen Sister! I mean, Auntie.... Go God's Girl...
I'd say my area of needed adjustment, especially mentally, is in the area of #6 - Low profile. I often wonder about the low profile thing, when it becomes an opportunity to show other disciples how to behave as a Christian servant and giver of services. BUT I know I need to work on this, serving unto God alone stuff. I've been a man pleaser, thinking the only way I'd get love was to perform, and so if I perform and maybe do it well, I'll get more love? So men must know of what I've done, right?...NOT!I know I continually have to check myself in the area of scoring. I ask myself, Lena, if no one notices at all, if no one even seems to benefit, and there is no appearant reward, would you still do this? And do it to God? My answer is usually yes. But it is a good question to ask , often. Do I walk by faith and NOT by sight? Faith IS what pleases God.

Today Our Daily Bread Psalm 1

Psalms 1: 1 - 6
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. 2 But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.
4 But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Lena's Comments Psalm 1

To me this means they are "dead" to the attentions and leadings of the world and its ways, and they are alive to the leading of God’s Spirit and the activity of it. How can one have what true joy brings in their walk of righteousness, if there is nothing that brings joy? And true eternal joy brings that strength we look for.
The word "counsel" here has the roots of "purpose and strategy" Believe me, the world has a purpose and a strategy for us, this is why we must find ourselves becoming informed of God’s purpose. If we do not, we end up being at the guides of the world’s purpose, we are in its sway, and under its rule, my default.
Wicked here means one who is in opposition to God, a criminal. We were all criminals when we had not received Jesus Christ’s payment for our sins. Our sins incriminated us, set a wall between us and God’s love and forgiveness and eternal reward of life forever.
What do we continually listen to that opposes more of God and His presence being worked in us? Ungodly thoughts and voices? Music? TV? Friends? Because He knows we are possibly subject to these voices, He knows we have to stop the voices and meditate on whatever it is He is saying to us. He is always speaking to us, we just need to listen. It’s very interesting that the word "meditate" means to mutter, like speaking over and over again to oneself! I also think of praying in the Spirit- muttering to oneself before God. Cool, huh?
To me delight has to do with desire, desire comes from greater understanding. Remember Proverbs- with all you can do to get it, get understanding.
A sinner is simply one who has not been redeemed, in that they have yet to receive the truth of their redemption. If you are a new Christian or a weak one, it is NOT wisdom to hang around with and listen to and agree with those who do not know or understand what God has done for us. Until we are strong, this will not help us grow in our new faith. Instead one must become planted near those who are established and strong. Living their new faith in an atmosphere conducive to nurturing growth in them. We say we want to grow, but we put ourselves in dark, dry places? That is a contradiction. If you want to grow you’ll do what’s been prescribed to promote that growth. # 1 that is being IN the fellowship of other believers, who are growing and know how growth is established and maintained. The kind of people we need to be around are those who yield fruits. YEILD- that means they are willing to give themselves over to change. They are not rigidly (dead people are rigid, just a side note), immovable. The only thing we should be immovable on is our faith and that we will stay the course because of Jesus Christ. Unless we’re ever willing to change and be changed how can we become more like Him? I love the word Yield (I named our child this word- Cassia) I wish I could print it here.
Go to
www.crosswalk.com
and under "Online Bible Study", type in: "Psalm 1", In: "Whole Bible" or "Old Testament", Using: "NAS with Strongs numbers" , and then once you see the verse come up below, click on the underlined word "yield" and read through the list, bet you get to know a few things you hadn’t thought of…. Awesome. Now that’s studying and meditating on the word!
What does the word mean when the Bible says perish? I’ll sum it up, Whatever Steals, Kills or Destroys you. Your life – physically, or your life mentally, or your faith, or your eternal state of being with or without God. That includes the here and now and the thereafter. That about covers everything. Read Jn 10, where Jesus talks about why He came, and why the enemy is here working among us in this world. When you know what they enemy is trying to do to your body, soul or spirit or faith, and then you know why Jesus came, it gives good reason to arise out of the sleepy slumber "oh what does it matter anyway" state and recognize a thief is trying to get in my house and take – ME, away from my peace with God, my rightful place with God, my walk with God, my assignment from God, my purpose in God etc etc…
There is a balance scale to weigh every thought, every intent, every action on: Steals, Kills, Destroys – is the one sided measure, and Gives Life is the othersided measure. So, doubt comes. Which side does it measure on? What about fear? What about lies? And what about unforgiveness, etc? What about Bible Study, and Christian influences, church, forgiveness? Is the scale balanced? Throw the balances off and don’t even put any weight on the steal, kill, destroy side! Would we want a their to take just some of our car or jewelry? Or money? NO, not at all.
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Prov 11:1 abomination, that old King James word- is like something very putrid, something one would readily turn their face from in disgust.
Ok I’m finally done here for today J Wrote more than the scripture posted !
Love to all !

Friday, February 18, 2005

PDL Day 30 Catchup from downed Blog...

Day 30
Point: I was shaped for serving God.
Question: In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?

So funny, My husband just looked up the word- PassionAn intense drive or conviction towards soemthing or someone, giving my devotion to with all of my heart, a very strong love and desire towards....The question I ask myself about serving God is, What is it He would like and how can I be a part of fulfilling that desire He is passionate about?I've found 2 things- He wants my love and He loves others too and wants me to love them towards loving Him. Kind of like showing them how much He loves them, so they too will want to love Him.I remind myself of this by writing little notes- one liners. Like: Love God ~ Love PeopleThis sums up my focused motivation for life and living it as it pleases Him. Why would I go to hear the word regularly at church services where other believers are whom I can interact with and maybe rub shoulders with ? (sometimes rough shoulders)Love. Why would I be a Multiplication Cell Leader, when I invite and ask people to come all of the time and they make excuses, and even tell me fibs, or shun me, or maybe something I say when they do come they get rubbed wrong? Or maybe they have problems and their need for love is very big and it takes extra time than what I was "planning for", or their problems offend me or others and cause us some growing pains? What if they take from me a lot and never hardly ever seem to give back, because maybe they can't. What if they love me, then for some reason leave our fellowship or get hurt and die or whatever? Why would I do that? Participate in that, open up myself to that ridicule, or offense, or misunderstanding or hurt? Why? Because of my passionate love for God, who infuses me and enables me with love for who He loves. It is a kind of love that will never be quenched in its desire to please and serve. He feels that way about people, about me, about you, and I'm getting it, seeing a glimpse of it, enough to motivate me to go on and hit a mark and make a goal and run. Enough that the zeal that leads me consumes me. If I feel it wane I also take the initiative to renew that vision in me to go for it, get renewed in it again. Light the fire again. I know what the fire is, I may need to participate more or get it defined for me further so I can run.I may go to a few nights or a day of an upcoming conference on the Vision of our house to light some more fire under me. I've just been healed in a big mental way and I sense I'm again ready to dive in. Souls are being waighed in the balance and way too many people don't know of Our Father's love!

Today Our Daily Bread Joshua 1

I post the scripture for you to read the Daily Bread easily, THEN I post my own personal understanding and revelation of today's scripture below it- either read on or skip below for Lena's Comments- Love U

Joshua
1 After Moses, the servant of the Lord, died, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. 2 The Lord said, "My servant Moses is dead. Now you and all these people go across the Jordan River into the land I am giving to the Israelites. 3 I promised Moses I would give you this land, so I will give you every place you go in the land. 4 All the land from the desert in the south to Lebanon in the north will be yours. All the land from the great river, the Euphrates, in the east, to the Mediterranean Sea in the west will be yours, too, including the land of the Hittites. 5 No one will be able to defeat you all your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forget you. 6 "Joshua, be strong and brave! You must lead these people so they can take the land that I promised their fathers I would give them. 7 Be strong and brave. Be sure to obey all the teachings my servant Moses gave you. If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything. 9 Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go."
10 Then Joshua gave orders to the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan River and take the land the Lord your God is giving you.'" 12 Then Joshua said to the people of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh, 13 "Remember what Moses, the servant of the Lord, told you. He said the Lord your God would give you rest and would give you this land. 14 Now the Lord has given you this land east of the Jordan River. Your wives, children, and animals may stay here, but your fighting men must dress for war and cross the Jordan River ahead of your brothers to help them. 15 The Lord has given you a place to rest and will do the same for your brothers. But you must help them until they take the land the Lord their God is giving them. Then you may return to your own land east of the Jordan River, the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you."
16 Then the people answered Joshua, "Anything you command us to do, we will do. Any place you send us, we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, we will obey you. We ask only that the Lord your God be with you just as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever refuses to obey your commands or turns against you will be put to death. Just be strong and brave!"


New Century Version © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing,a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The text of the New Century Version (NCV) appearing on or deriving from this or any other web page is for personal use only. Any other use of the NCV must be with the written permission of Nelson Bible Rights and Permissions.

Lena's Comments Joshua 1

Moses = He who was drawn out (I’m thinking of how we have been drawn out of darkness into light) and Joshua = Jehovah is Salvation, Nun= Fish!, Jordan= giving up one's own desires plans and goals for the Kingdom’s sake, true humility.)
OK, so say whatever even brought us to Christ, drew us to salvation, is now done, overwith. Like my circumstances of neglect, and the sufferings of lack drew me to the place where I was looking for an answer in life, something real, so real I could stand on it and not be shaken as I feel I had been shaken already. Yes, that drew me to salvation, but that’s not what holds me to my salvation or keeps me walking it out. That only led me there. God and His purposes keep me there. Jehovah means – The LORD HE IS GOD!!!. See whenever I don’t trust Him, and I rely on my own way of thinking and I reason it all out in my head, making my own plans that I somehow think will work out in a sure way, Jehovah is not God, I am. When I stand in that place of god (it’s little "g" because even though I act like I come before Him, there’s no one before Him), I have taken over His place in my life and I am acting as my own savior, which is an impossible action on my part. I cannot save me. Only God can. Jehovah God.
And now that He has saved me and I have surrendered to this great salvation, I also must submit myself to its work in me, which is a walk, a process, a lifelong one that I have joined in covenant relationship with God in. When I received Christ I committed my whole life to Him, and He has plans for this walk we are on together. It could take me years and years to even think about any plans He has, because I’ve been so busy loving being free from darkness and sensing His love, that I did not think to even ask, what did You save me for, if not for my comfort and care? I do get comforted and cared for, but there’s something a whole lot bigger than that for me in this newness of life. What is it?
It is FISH and LAND.
The LORD commanded Joshua to lead others in the same places He had and was going to lead Joshua. This is salvation. Not being drawn out, but being led and leading. Moses is dead, now there’s a promised "Land" to "take", "Seas" to "take", "Peoples" to "take". "Take" from an enemy and give over to God. God says He will do it with us, but He requires that we do and be it. If we don’t, He won’t, and we will find our comfort and care levels in life will wane a bit from where it is we started in our salvation call, we will find ourselves wondering about even keeping our faith or the true reception of our salvation. We were born again for a purpose, if that purpose is not being fulfilled, we will be miserable, even in our salvation, because the call is so strong, and our refusal to heed it is as sin and disobedience and we suffer the consequences of such. Duet 28 – you will be blessed IF you GO into the Fields, IF you GO into the Cities, IF you GO into the Country…..Blessed in what we do, not in our own conversion. Our true conversion will bear fruit and reproduce Him. That is the evidence of a covenant relationship, when we reproduce like kind. No reproduction, No active covenant relationship.
"But I’m afraid". That is darkness and we have been brought OUT of that. God said here, when we go, HE will be with us. Do NOT fear. Take the land. If God tells us what to do, He will watch over us when we do it. Yes our pride may have to go to Jordan, but that’s ok, that is a temporal perishing of the soul rather than a spiritual perishing of the person. If we seek to save our lives we’ll lose it, If we seek to lose it, we’ll find it and many more lives for His kingdom!

New Blog

Testing to see how this works for me. Hope you're on your way to having a great day! Love In Jesus ~ Lean