Acts 1: 1 - 26
1 Dear Theophilus (Lover of God): In my first book F1 I told you about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he ascended to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions from the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time and proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. On these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 In one of these meetings as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. 5 John baptized with F2 water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6 When the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?" 7 "The Father sets those dates," he replied, "and they are not for you to know. 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 It was not long after he said this that he was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and he disappeared into a cloud. 10 As they were straining their eyes to see him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!"
12 The apostles were at the Mount of Olives when this happened, so they walked the half mile F3 back to Jerusalem. 13 Then they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here is the list of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, on a day when about 120 believers F4 were present, Peter stood up and addressed them as follows: 16 "Brothers, it was necessary for the Scriptures to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided the Temple police to arrest Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us, chosen to share in the ministry with us." 18 (Judas bought a field with the money he received for his treachery, and falling there, he burst open, spilling out his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread rapidly among all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood.") 20 Peter continued, "This was predicted in the book of Psalms, where it says, 'Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.' And again, 'Let his position be given to someone else.' F5 21 "So now we must choose another man to take Judas's place. It must be someone who has been with us all the time that we were with the Lord Jesus – 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us into heaven. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus' resurrection." 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed for the right man to be chosen. "O Lord," they said, "you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas the traitor in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and in this way Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven.
FOOTNOTES:F1: The reference is to the book of Luke. F2: Or in; also in 1:5b. F3: Greek a Sabbath day's journey. F4: Greek brothers. F5: Pss 69:25; 109:8.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
It was quite important for Jesus to prove He was alive. He did this with not only one, or two or even three witnesses. He proved Himself alive for 40 days, 40 DAYS! He needed to leave them not only with the picture he’d painted of His life on earth, as an earthly being, but of the resurrected life he now lived as a Son of God. He needed to leave the world with witnesses of this resurrection, and with those who would know firsthand the power of His resurrection through the power He was about to impart to them in the Holy Ghost alive inside of them.
Cindy just loaned me a small book, "Prisoner in the Third Cell", which I have still not finished, but am working on. There is a description of baptism in there that is richer than I’ve thought of before and paints a great picture. He said those who were "put down" into the Jordan River in the symbolic act of Baptism at the time when John the Baptist was baptizing, knew something that many of do not ever think about where baptism is concerned. We usually think of being fully saturated and overwhelmed by water, being washed and cleansed, being fully surrounded by God’s grace and His spirit’s influence on our new lives in Christ. Those ideas and explanations are great and right, but the people of this time saw a much deeper meaning we in present day America don’t usually see, the idea of drowning. Drowning in water to the point of death. That I count myself and my old life as being swept away in that water, as though I had drowned. The funny thing about it is, that if I’d drowned in that water naturally, it probably would have occurred by an accident against my will. While in baptism, I am purposely saying that I want my old life (where my sinful nature ruled my every thought and action outside of Christ) to pass away. Then as no one could ever do in a natural death, I get myself out of that water and I live a resurrected life unto God in accordance with His will and plan. He is the new ruler and master, and I decided that and showed it as my decision in my decision to go under that symbolic water! I "drowned"- on purpose and now I live. Didn’t Jesus die on purpose and now lives? So it is with the life of God’s Holy Spirit in me. I receive Him on purpose, knowing that I am going to give Him rule and reign inside of me. My mind, my will, my emotional state, my daily schedules, my efforts, etc. In receiving the Holy Spirit of God, I chose to live with the power of Christ as a part of my whole life. This IS HOW I AM His witness. I’m not trying to witness for Christ. I am His witness! Because the Holy Spirit has been given permission by me to live in and through me. How is God’s kingdom restored? When is it restored? When I give my life over to God, when WE give our lives over to God, when the world gives its life over to God. I don’t know about you, but I desire God’s kingdom to come and to be established. So I desire my life to be a witness of that kingdom, so it will be passed on to others whom he desires to reproduce Him in the earth, and so His kingdom becomes established as it is added to more and more. Lord, Am I going to free Israel? Am I going to restore Your kingdom? YES! We are the tools that will accomplish this task. He did what needed to be done. Our wills in line with His will change our world. It is our choice, just as it was Judas’ and Matthais’ and Joseph Justus Barsabbas’. Even if we are not appointed to a certain position in the church or in life, we can still bring His kingdom to earth, if we so choose.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Friday, April 29, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Matthew 13
Matthew 13: 1 - 58
1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.
3 Then He told them many things in parables, saying:
"Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4 As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn't have much soil, and they sprang up quickly since they had no deep soil. 6 But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. 7 Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. 8 Still others fell on good ground, and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown . 9 Anyone who has ears should listen!"
10 Then the disciples came up and asked Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered them, "To know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive. 15 For this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back--and I would cure them. 16 "But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear! 17 For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see, yet didn't see them; to hear the things you hear, yet didn't hear them.
18 "You, then, listen to the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.
20 And the one sown on rocky ground--this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21 Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 Now the one sown among the thorns--this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the pleasure of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 But the one sown on the good ground--this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown."
24 He presented another parable to them:
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The landowner's slaves came to him and said, 'Master, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?' 28 " 'An enemy did this!' he told them. " 'So, do you want us to go and gather them up?' the slaves asked him. 29 " 'No,' he said. 'When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I'll tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn." ' "
31 He presented another parable to them:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It's the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it's taller than the vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches."
33 He told them another parable:
"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until it spread through all of it."
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and He would not speak anything to them without a parable, 35 so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: I will open My mouth in parables; I will declare things kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36 Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples approached Him and said, "Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us." 37 He replied: "The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world; and the good seed--these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and 39 the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Therefore just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.
47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish , 48 and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil who are among the righteous, 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes," they told Him.
52 "Therefore," He said to them, "every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old."
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, He left there. 54 Having come to His hometown, He began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him? 55 Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, aren't they all with us? So where does He get all these things?" 57 And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household." 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. The Holman Christian Standard Bible
~Lena’s Comments~
It seems to me that Jesus was giving us an example – Go outside from the comfortable couch you’ve sat on in the church. (The pew or whatever) Go sit by the sea, (sea represents a place full of "fish", remember we "fish for men" when we share the good news and disciple people who don’t know Christ towards knowing Him more) this is where I will use what you’ve heard in that pew to tell others. When we go out we see how the words we have heard apply.
How or why would it be that we would not see or hear? One reason is we accept things at face value is we think ourselves to be pictured as dumb if we do not understand and then we ask questions. Some have been taught not to ask any questions, that we need to accept things as given and not say anything. That possibly would have more to do with the manner in which we would ask the questions. Are we asking to know, or to fight or challenge? Are we asking because of our hunger and thirst to understand God and His word, or because we already feel we disagree with it before we even understand it? Disciples ask. The enemy wants us to not ask, which shuts down our communication, and he wants us to feel stupid about asking. God loves us and we are not at all dumb in His eyes if we are seeking to know more and more of Him. The stories we do not get are like tools to see how much we want to know. If we walk away, for whatever reason, the question God has- is answered. They must already know, or they don’t really want to know. When we do not want to know and we walk away, it is as though we were given a gift and have left it wrapped. We saw it, acknowledged it, knew it was there, but did not really hear that there was more inside. IF/when we are aware of this process, we can purposely get the gift, tear open the paper, get what’s inside and keep it in our safe care! In our care is out of the reach of the enemy’s hand.
I was thinking how birds eat seeds and then fly over fields and drop what remains, sorry, but all softened up and ready to sprout on what it is dropped on. I was thinking of how natural an occurrence this actually is. Birds eat, birds fly, birds_________. The field is saturated with the results of this "natural" happening. In the scripture it says that there are principalities, powers of the air, and at times they are likened to birds. It also says the enemy did this (through a natural force), one account of this said, it was done while "men" slept! So the enemy uses the natural realm to sow seeds of an evil sort, right in God’s field of harvest. Maybe the harvest can be so full and compact that it suffocates the weeds. Also God has set some as watchmen on the walls of the fields of harvest and as they are awakened to the enemy, they can shoo off the enemy and also be a scarecrow to those sent to devour. This is why he says. Awake oh you sleeper get up. #1 we’d have to see the importance of the field to be willing to be awake. We need to own the filed to see it’s value. It is for our owning, we just need to unwrap the gift!
The word’s power is not based on who delivers it’s message. People stumble over the bearer of the good news. They will not stand before God in judgement and be able to say, but Lord the person who tried to share the truth with me was just so and so’s son. The Lord will tell them he sent someone who was at least willing to open up their mouths and preach to them, and having had the opportunity they refused Him. That would be a sad picture, but is a huge tool of the enemy against them, One reason they don’t hear is they select who they will hear from. A big help in the hearing process is relationship and communication. If someone knows you, they can trust you and be more likely to hear your message. Which should give reason to each person who carries the gospel message to desire to build that platform of relationship for the greater reception of the word. We want our labor in the fields to be effective. Relationship is a big key to opening the ear of hearers, yet on the other hand, too casual of relationship hinders receptivity in that they can stumble over humanness as these did Jesus. This is the work in the field, to tend the soil, weed the small ones that we know are there at the beginning of growth, water and fertilize etc…
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Matthew 12
Matthew 12: 1 - 50
1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain. 2 Some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Your disciples shouldn't be doing that! It's against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath." 3 But Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what King David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and they ate the special bread reserved for the priests alone. That was breaking the law, too. 5 And haven't you ever read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned those who aren't guilty if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' F67 8 For I, the Son of Man, am master even of the Sabbath." 9 Then he went over to the synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Is it legal to work by healing on the Sabbath day?" (They were, of course, hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, "If you had one sheep, and it fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you get to work and pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, it is right to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Reach out your hand." The man reached out his hand, and it became normal, just like the other one.
14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting and discussed plans for killing Jesus. 15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. He left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, 16 but he warned them not to say who he was. 17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: 18 "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not fight or shout; he will not raise his voice in public. 20 He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. 21 And his name will be the hope of all the world." F68
22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and unable to talk, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed. "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?" they wondered out loud. 24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, F69 the prince of demons." 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided against itself is doomed. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, F70 what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 Let me illustrate this. You can't enter a strong man's house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! F71 30 Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me. 31 "Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven – except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. 33 "A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God." 39 But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now someone greater than Jonah is here – and you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba F72 will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is here – and you refuse to listen to him. 43 "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk with him. 47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you." 48 Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "These are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"
FOOTNOTES:F67: Hos 6:6. F68: Isa 42:1-4. F69: Greek Beelzeboul. F70: Greek by Beelzeboul. F71: Or One cannot rob Satan's kingdom without first tying him up. Only then can his demons be cast out. F72: Greek The queen of the south.
The New Living Translation
~Lena's Comments~
Do we see ourselves walking through fields of grain as Jesus and His disciples did? Have you ever heard, that the coin (meaning provision), is found in the mouth of the fish? (the fish represents the work of the Kingdom of God- Fishers of men, rather than just fishers of fish- Our primary work turned to working for God rather than working for things and in working for God we find and have the things?) Here the food, was found in the field, again we see provision in the work of God, because the field is the world and the harvest is the hearts of men and women changed into His image and likeness. The Sabbath is the day set apart to think of God’s will, to worship God, to participate in whatever it is He wants. If everyday is that way for a follower of Christ than we live in the Sabbath, and if we want what it is that he wants we will do that even on and in the days we thoughts were set apart for us to work. Yes we are to work, but primarily to work the work of Christ, which was demonstrated here in making what was crooked straight!
Even when persecution arose and the work was made harder to do, Jesus went ahead and did it anyway, because it was who He was and what he came for. Nothing could stop that.
Notice Jesus healed the way they saw things, their vision and then he spoke about what comes out from their mouths! I believe what we see or do not see (as in understand) is so related to how or what we speak. If we see as god does we will speak as god does, everything else is pretty much useless to build upon and God is a builder. I want to cry sometimes when I hear what Christians are saying. God gives us the ability to execute power to change our world and we agree with the god of this world instead or disagree with our Father who has such and awesome purpose and plan for us all. Builders are who we are also destined to be, not tearers down. Olga asked me the other day what does "repent " mean? I simply said. You see you need to do something differently, you decide to stop doing it the "wrong" way and you change! She said, "Oh, OK". That was it. Isn’t that just simple? Yes it is, it is through God, When we see and know and desire his will, it is. Those who want to know and who chose to do the will of God will find provision in God and sonship to boot!
We have to show by our faith in action, that we are with Him. If we refuse to do or be this we are showing by default that we are against Him. Let’s decide to cross over to the otherside!
Love U
1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain. 2 Some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Your disciples shouldn't be doing that! It's against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath." 3 But Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what King David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and they ate the special bread reserved for the priests alone. That was breaking the law, too. 5 And haven't you ever read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned those who aren't guilty if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' F67 8 For I, the Son of Man, am master even of the Sabbath." 9 Then he went over to the synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Is it legal to work by healing on the Sabbath day?" (They were, of course, hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, "If you had one sheep, and it fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you get to work and pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, it is right to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Reach out your hand." The man reached out his hand, and it became normal, just like the other one.
14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting and discussed plans for killing Jesus. 15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. He left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, 16 but he warned them not to say who he was. 17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: 18 "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not fight or shout; he will not raise his voice in public. 20 He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. 21 And his name will be the hope of all the world." F68
22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and unable to talk, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed. "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?" they wondered out loud. 24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, F69 the prince of demons." 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided against itself is doomed. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by the prince of demons, F70 what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so they will judge you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 Let me illustrate this. You can't enter a strong man's house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! F71 30 Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me. 31 "Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven – except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which can never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. 33 "A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God." 39 But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now someone greater than Jonah is here – and you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba F72 will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is here – and you refuse to listen to him. 43 "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk with him. 47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you." 48 Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "These are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"
FOOTNOTES:F67: Hos 6:6. F68: Isa 42:1-4. F69: Greek Beelzeboul. F70: Greek by Beelzeboul. F71: Or One cannot rob Satan's kingdom without first tying him up. Only then can his demons be cast out. F72: Greek The queen of the south.
The New Living Translation
~Lena's Comments~
Do we see ourselves walking through fields of grain as Jesus and His disciples did? Have you ever heard, that the coin (meaning provision), is found in the mouth of the fish? (the fish represents the work of the Kingdom of God- Fishers of men, rather than just fishers of fish- Our primary work turned to working for God rather than working for things and in working for God we find and have the things?) Here the food, was found in the field, again we see provision in the work of God, because the field is the world and the harvest is the hearts of men and women changed into His image and likeness. The Sabbath is the day set apart to think of God’s will, to worship God, to participate in whatever it is He wants. If everyday is that way for a follower of Christ than we live in the Sabbath, and if we want what it is that he wants we will do that even on and in the days we thoughts were set apart for us to work. Yes we are to work, but primarily to work the work of Christ, which was demonstrated here in making what was crooked straight!
Even when persecution arose and the work was made harder to do, Jesus went ahead and did it anyway, because it was who He was and what he came for. Nothing could stop that.
Notice Jesus healed the way they saw things, their vision and then he spoke about what comes out from their mouths! I believe what we see or do not see (as in understand) is so related to how or what we speak. If we see as god does we will speak as god does, everything else is pretty much useless to build upon and God is a builder. I want to cry sometimes when I hear what Christians are saying. God gives us the ability to execute power to change our world and we agree with the god of this world instead or disagree with our Father who has such and awesome purpose and plan for us all. Builders are who we are also destined to be, not tearers down. Olga asked me the other day what does "repent " mean? I simply said. You see you need to do something differently, you decide to stop doing it the "wrong" way and you change! She said, "Oh, OK". That was it. Isn’t that just simple? Yes it is, it is through God, When we see and know and desire his will, it is. Those who want to know and who chose to do the will of God will find provision in God and sonship to boot!
We have to show by our faith in action, that we are with Him. If we refuse to do or be this we are showing by default that we are against Him. Let’s decide to cross over to the otherside!
Love U
Yesterday's Daily Bread Matt 6
Matthew 6: 1 - 34
1 "Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do – blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you..
5 "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. 7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. 11 Give us our food for today, F45 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. F46 14 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
16 "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. 22 "Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. 23 But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be! 24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. 28 "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! 31 "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32 Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33 and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. 34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
FOOTNOTES:F45: Or for tomorrow. F46: Or from evil. Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The New Living Translation
~Lena's Comments~
Does this (1st ) passage seem to contradict what I wrote yesterday (really 2 days ago), where I said I felt the Lord tell me to make my name known? It does seem to be a bit of a contradiction, yet it is not. It is all found inside of the motivation to "be seen". Is my motivation to be seen, because I want people to exalt me and I want to be self sufficient in power? Or do I want to be seen that he would be seen?, and that I would be accountable to become more and more like Him? One draws away from Him and centers in on me, The other draws me towards Him and centers in deeper to His will and plan
We can be brief with specific needs, because He knows, and the point of us bringing it up is merely to let Him know we are thinking what He already thinks (also in voicing aloud we let the enemy forces in earth hear that we are agreeing with God). We are also agreeing with Him and communicating with Him where He is. In corporate settings we pray aloud to know we agree with Him and give all of the rest in the group an application to also agree with Him. In private we can detail our prayers as long as we desire. We do not have to talk God into anything, like we used to do our parents or we do our spouses or bosses etc. We don’t have to explain it clear enough for God to understand. He gets it before we ever bring it up! Isn’t THAT cool? God is awesome! He actually reads our thoughts and hearts.
I love how our Pastor pointed out that this prayer is all God centered. That we know who he is enough to give Him praise. That we know who we are enough to desire to do His plan and go through certain behavioral adjustments to promote His work in earth. That we love others enough, because he loves them and we are ONE, to be available to be and do what God has planned out on earth to be done. She said it is a Corporate prayer- not about me, but about God (all 3 parts together), with me, the world!
The things we go after are evidences from the desires of our hearts. Our eyes are where it begins. They offer us things to desires or not desire. We will serve whatever it is we want with our eyes. We’ve got to put the light , understanding and revelation of His word before us and we will begin to see our desires changing. Note that God did not say you cannot have money. He just said, don’t love money so much that that’s what you go after instead of going after Me. Serving money, will leave you no time to serve God. It will require your service regularly. Yet when you are making money, while serving God, something happens in your life that’s is different, your drive changes, you energy levels, stress levels change, and God who is your "master" provides your needs.
I see these last portions describing the "Lord’s prayer" in greater detail, it is describing the benefits of living the "Lord’s prayer".
When’s the last time you thought, "Lord, I sure do want Your kingdom to come here – at my job, in my home, inside of my thinking, in my cell group, my neighborhood…?" How about, "Lord, I sure do want to be a part of making Your kingdom come here. What can I do or be today to set Your kingdom in order?" THAT should be a daily thought. That is how God thinks, minute by milli-minute. "I wonder when they will desire to join me in this work?" Says the Lord.
1 "Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do – blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you..
5 "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. 7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. 11 Give us our food for today, F45 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. F46 14 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
16 "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. 22 "Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. 23 But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be! 24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. 28 "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! 31 "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32 Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33 and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. 34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
FOOTNOTES:F45: Or for tomorrow. F46: Or from evil. Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The New Living Translation
~Lena's Comments~
Does this (1st ) passage seem to contradict what I wrote yesterday (really 2 days ago), where I said I felt the Lord tell me to make my name known? It does seem to be a bit of a contradiction, yet it is not. It is all found inside of the motivation to "be seen". Is my motivation to be seen, because I want people to exalt me and I want to be self sufficient in power? Or do I want to be seen that he would be seen?, and that I would be accountable to become more and more like Him? One draws away from Him and centers in on me, The other draws me towards Him and centers in deeper to His will and plan
We can be brief with specific needs, because He knows, and the point of us bringing it up is merely to let Him know we are thinking what He already thinks (also in voicing aloud we let the enemy forces in earth hear that we are agreeing with God). We are also agreeing with Him and communicating with Him where He is. In corporate settings we pray aloud to know we agree with Him and give all of the rest in the group an application to also agree with Him. In private we can detail our prayers as long as we desire. We do not have to talk God into anything, like we used to do our parents or we do our spouses or bosses etc. We don’t have to explain it clear enough for God to understand. He gets it before we ever bring it up! Isn’t THAT cool? God is awesome! He actually reads our thoughts and hearts.
I love how our Pastor pointed out that this prayer is all God centered. That we know who he is enough to give Him praise. That we know who we are enough to desire to do His plan and go through certain behavioral adjustments to promote His work in earth. That we love others enough, because he loves them and we are ONE, to be available to be and do what God has planned out on earth to be done. She said it is a Corporate prayer- not about me, but about God (all 3 parts together), with me, the world!
The things we go after are evidences from the desires of our hearts. Our eyes are where it begins. They offer us things to desires or not desire. We will serve whatever it is we want with our eyes. We’ve got to put the light , understanding and revelation of His word before us and we will begin to see our desires changing. Note that God did not say you cannot have money. He just said, don’t love money so much that that’s what you go after instead of going after Me. Serving money, will leave you no time to serve God. It will require your service regularly. Yet when you are making money, while serving God, something happens in your life that’s is different, your drive changes, you energy levels, stress levels change, and God who is your "master" provides your needs.
I see these last portions describing the "Lord’s prayer" in greater detail, it is describing the benefits of living the "Lord’s prayer".
When’s the last time you thought, "Lord, I sure do want Your kingdom to come here – at my job, in my home, inside of my thinking, in my cell group, my neighborhood…?" How about, "Lord, I sure do want to be a part of making Your kingdom come here. What can I do or be today to set Your kingdom in order?" THAT should be a daily thought. That is how God thinks, minute by milli-minute. "I wonder when they will desire to join me in this work?" Says the Lord.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Matt 4
Matthew 5: 1 - 48
1 One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. 2 This is what he taught them:
3 "God blesses those who realize their need for him, F29 for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. 6 God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 "But I warn you – unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
21 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' F30 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, F31 you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, F32 you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, F33 you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' F34 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye – even if it is your good eye F35 – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand – even if it is your stronger hand F36 – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 31 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.' F37 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' F38 34 But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, 'By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35 And if you say, 'By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don't even swear, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong. F39
38 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' F40 39 But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. 40 If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, F41 carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.
43 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' F42 and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! F43 Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, F44 how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
FOOTNOTES:F29: Greek the poor in spirit. F30: Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17. F31: Some manuscripts add without cause. F32: Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, `Raca.' F33: Greek if you say, `You fool.' F34: Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18. F35: Greek your right eye. F36: Greek your right hand. F37: Deut 24:1. F38: Num 30:2. F39: Or Anything beyond this is from the evil one. F40: Greek `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21. F41: Greek milion [4,854 feet or 1,478 meters]. F42: Lev 19:18. F43: Some manuscripts add Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you. F44: Greek your brothers.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
Mourning is the act of grieving over a lost loved one- think about that! The root actually says to lament "one". If we were to think as God does, we would only be thinking of the lost sheep, the one of the hundred, not quitting, and doing what it takes to win them, revive them out of the grip of death. We’ve talked a lot about the Spirit of ONE- which IS God’s Spirit, His heart, A great description of Him. Unity- completely, Restoration- completely, Love – completely, etc. Really One is a description of all God is and holds in one simple word. So to lament "one" is like saying, to not be happy until you help see that that happens here on earth and you do all you will to see to its manifestation. What is justice? That God has His desire and plan fulfilled!
About 4-5 years ago, O felt the Lord speak to me and say – be visible. Many times in America we are a people to ourselves. I guess what I am saying is we "mind our own business" and we don’t want others minding ours either. I knew what the Lord was telling me personally and now I think about that "word" a lot. I believed He wanted me to go all out to meet my neighbors, to get involved in my community, my subdivision, to start "gathering places" where people would meet, and in that place introduce myself and tell my name. All of us have a tendency to be "humble" in our kingdom walks and we think that is, live good in a quiet way, don’t stir up anything. That is not humility! Humility is doing what He’s said to do, being who He’s asked us to be in Him and not being prideful or ashamed to do it. Its saying Yes (You are Lord) the Lord. If my name is known, there will be something about my name that is also known. "Oh, she’s the lady with 7 kids!" Or things like, "Yeah we know her…" I would suddenly not be able to hide who or what I am, I’m OUT THERE! That puts a certain requirement on me – yes on purpose, to be who He’s designed me to be. It adds a certain amount of "peer pressure" to my daily walk. It makes me be accountable, not only to God, but to my neighbors and community etc. Well recently we took another step in a known name, we started a business. One thing we were led to do was get a sign for our car. Guess what it has on it? Yes, my name. Why? Shouldn’t I just be "humble" and put something like "servant of God", or "the fishy logo", or "Christian" on it? Or should I humble myself and do what I heard 4-5 years ago, and place my own name in the (dotted) line? See, if I’m called a "Christian", it is because others know me by my life and have the insight to see that by my life going out there before me. If they don’t name me thus, it may show me I’m still at work :-), where I willingly submit myself to His continued working of me on His pottery wheel.
Jesus seems to be saying that the way of love is a higher order than any other order and in trying to serve God without the acknowledgement of Jesus would be useless. We have no ability without Jesus, to fulfill all of the commandments God has layed out. But in Him all our rightness with God is as though we fulfilled them all. That’s the Divineness of Love, the Love of God fulfills all righteousness.
I feel like the remainder of the verses describe the heart of the love of our Father God. God hates division, because it is not a reflection of who He is or desires to be seen as. Its nature actually attacks God’s characteristic being manifested in earth. That’s why He hates divorce, etc, because of the hurt it causes His loved ones and because of the enmity that happens and how His love is quenched by its fire.
1 One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. 2 This is what he taught them:
3 "God blesses those who realize their need for him, F29 for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. 6 God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 "But I warn you – unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
21 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' F30 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, F31 you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, F32 you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, F33 you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' F34 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye – even if it is your good eye F35 – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand – even if it is your stronger hand F36 – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 31 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.' F37 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' F38 34 But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, 'By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35 And if you say, 'By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don't even swear, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong. F39
38 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' F40 39 But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. 40 If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, F41 carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.
43 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' F42 and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! F43 Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, F44 how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
FOOTNOTES:F29: Greek the poor in spirit. F30: Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17. F31: Some manuscripts add without cause. F32: Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, `Raca.' F33: Greek if you say, `You fool.' F34: Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18. F35: Greek your right eye. F36: Greek your right hand. F37: Deut 24:1. F38: Num 30:2. F39: Or Anything beyond this is from the evil one. F40: Greek `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21. F41: Greek milion [4,854 feet or 1,478 meters]. F42: Lev 19:18. F43: Some manuscripts add Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you. F44: Greek your brothers.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
Mourning is the act of grieving over a lost loved one- think about that! The root actually says to lament "one". If we were to think as God does, we would only be thinking of the lost sheep, the one of the hundred, not quitting, and doing what it takes to win them, revive them out of the grip of death. We’ve talked a lot about the Spirit of ONE- which IS God’s Spirit, His heart, A great description of Him. Unity- completely, Restoration- completely, Love – completely, etc. Really One is a description of all God is and holds in one simple word. So to lament "one" is like saying, to not be happy until you help see that that happens here on earth and you do all you will to see to its manifestation. What is justice? That God has His desire and plan fulfilled!
About 4-5 years ago, O felt the Lord speak to me and say – be visible. Many times in America we are a people to ourselves. I guess what I am saying is we "mind our own business" and we don’t want others minding ours either. I knew what the Lord was telling me personally and now I think about that "word" a lot. I believed He wanted me to go all out to meet my neighbors, to get involved in my community, my subdivision, to start "gathering places" where people would meet, and in that place introduce myself and tell my name. All of us have a tendency to be "humble" in our kingdom walks and we think that is, live good in a quiet way, don’t stir up anything. That is not humility! Humility is doing what He’s said to do, being who He’s asked us to be in Him and not being prideful or ashamed to do it. Its saying Yes (You are Lord) the Lord. If my name is known, there will be something about my name that is also known. "Oh, she’s the lady with 7 kids!" Or things like, "Yeah we know her…" I would suddenly not be able to hide who or what I am, I’m OUT THERE! That puts a certain requirement on me – yes on purpose, to be who He’s designed me to be. It adds a certain amount of "peer pressure" to my daily walk. It makes me be accountable, not only to God, but to my neighbors and community etc. Well recently we took another step in a known name, we started a business. One thing we were led to do was get a sign for our car. Guess what it has on it? Yes, my name. Why? Shouldn’t I just be "humble" and put something like "servant of God", or "the fishy logo", or "Christian" on it? Or should I humble myself and do what I heard 4-5 years ago, and place my own name in the (dotted) line? See, if I’m called a "Christian", it is because others know me by my life and have the insight to see that by my life going out there before me. If they don’t name me thus, it may show me I’m still at work :-), where I willingly submit myself to His continued working of me on His pottery wheel.
Jesus seems to be saying that the way of love is a higher order than any other order and in trying to serve God without the acknowledgement of Jesus would be useless. We have no ability without Jesus, to fulfill all of the commandments God has layed out. But in Him all our rightness with God is as though we fulfilled them all. That’s the Divineness of Love, the Love of God fulfills all righteousness.
I feel like the remainder of the verses describe the heart of the love of our Father God. God hates division, because it is not a reflection of who He is or desires to be seen as. Its nature actually attacks God’s characteristic being manifested in earth. That’s why He hates divorce, etc, because of the hurt it causes His loved ones and because of the enmity that happens and how His love is quenched by its fire.
Today Our Daily Bread Matt 4
Matthew 5: 1 - 48
1 One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. 2 This is what he taught them:
3 "God blesses those who realize their need for him, F29 for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. 6 God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 "But I warn you – unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
21 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' F30 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, F31 you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, F32 you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, F33 you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' F34 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye – even if it is your good eye F35 – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand – even if it is your stronger hand F36 – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 31 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.' F37 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' F38 34 But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, 'By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35 And if you say, 'By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don't even swear, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong. F39
38 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' F40 39 But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. 40 If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, F41 carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.
43 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' F42 and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! F43 Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, F44 how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
FOOTNOTES:F29: Greek the poor in spirit. F30: Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17. F31: Some manuscripts add without cause. F32: Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, `Raca.' F33: Greek if you say, `You fool.' F34: Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18. F35: Greek your right eye. F36: Greek your right hand. F37: Deut 24:1. F38: Num 30:2. F39: Or Anything beyond this is from the evil one. F40: Greek `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21. F41: Greek milion [4,854 feet or 1,478 meters]. F42: Lev 19:18. F43: Some manuscripts add Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you. F44: Greek your brothers.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
Mourning is the act of grieving over a lost loved one- think about that! The root actually says to lament "one". If we were to think as God does, we would only be thinking of the lost sheep, the one of the hundred, not quitting, and doing what it takes to win them, revive them out of the grip of death. We’ve talked a lot about the Spirit of ONE- which IS God’s Spirit, His heart, A great description of Him. Unity- completely, Restoration- completely, Love – completely, etc. Really One is a description of all God is and holds in one simple word. So to lament "one" is like saying, to not be happy until you help see that that happens here on earth and you do all you will to see to its manifestation. What is justice? That God has His desire and plan fulfilled!
About 4-5 years ago, O felt the Lord speak to me and say – be visible. Many times in America we are a people to ourselves. I guess what I am saying is we "mind our own business" and we don’t want others minding ours either. I knew what the Lord was telling me personally and now I think about that "word" a lot. I believed He wanted me to go all out to meet my neighbors, to get involved in my community, my subdivision, to start "gathering places" where people would meet, and in that place introduce myself and tell my name. All of us have a tendency to be "humble" in our kingdom walks and we think that is, live good in a quiet way, don’t stir up anything. That is not humility! Humility is doing what He’s said to do, being who He’s asked us to be in Him and not being prideful or ashamed to do it. Its saying Yes (You are Lord) the Lord. If my name is known, there will be something about my name that is also known. "Oh, she’s the lady with 7 kids!" Or things like, "Yeah we know her…" I would suddenly not be able to hide who or what I am, I’m OUT THERE! That puts a certain requirement on me – yes on purpose, to be who He’s designed me to be. It adds a certain amount of "peer pressure" to my daily walk. It makes me be accountable, not only to God, but to my neighbors and community etc. Well recently we took another step in a known name, we started a business. One thing we were led to do was get a sign for our car. Guess what it has on it? Yes, my name. Why? Shouldn’t I just be "humble" and put something like "servant of God", or "the fishy logo", or "Christian" on it? Or should I humble myself and do what I heard 4-5 years ago, and place my own name in the (dotted) line? See, if I’m called a "Christian", it is because others know me by my life and have the insight to see that by my life going out there before me. If they don’t name me thus, it may show me I’m still at work :-), where I willingly submit myself to His continued working of me on His pottery wheel.
Jesus seems to be saying that the way of love is a higher order than any other order and in trying to serve God without the acknowledgement of Jesus would be useless. We have no ability without Jesus, to fulfill all of the commandments God has layed out. But in Him all our rightness with God is as though we fulfilled them all. That’s the Divineness of Love, the Love of God fulfills all righteousness.
I feel like the remainder of the verses describe the heart of the love of our Father God. God hates division, because it is not a reflection of who He is or desires to be seen as. Its nature actually attacks God’s characteristic being manifested in earth. That’s why He hates divorce, etc, because of the hurt it causes His loved ones and because of the enmity that happens and how His love is quenched by its fire.
1 One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. 2 This is what he taught them:
3 "God blesses those who realize their need for him, F29 for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. 6 God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 "But I warn you – unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
21 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' F30 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, F31 you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, F32 you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, F33 you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' F34 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye – even if it is your good eye F35 – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand – even if it is your stronger hand F36 – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 31 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.' F37 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' F38 34 But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, 'By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. 35 And if you say, 'By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don't even swear, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong. F39
38 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' F40 39 But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. 40 If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, F41 carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.
43 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' F42 and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! F43 Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, F44 how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
FOOTNOTES:F29: Greek the poor in spirit. F30: Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17. F31: Some manuscripts add without cause. F32: Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, `Raca.' F33: Greek if you say, `You fool.' F34: Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18. F35: Greek your right eye. F36: Greek your right hand. F37: Deut 24:1. F38: Num 30:2. F39: Or Anything beyond this is from the evil one. F40: Greek `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21. F41: Greek milion [4,854 feet or 1,478 meters]. F42: Lev 19:18. F43: Some manuscripts add Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you. F44: Greek your brothers.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
Mourning is the act of grieving over a lost loved one- think about that! The root actually says to lament "one". If we were to think as God does, we would only be thinking of the lost sheep, the one of the hundred, not quitting, and doing what it takes to win them, revive them out of the grip of death. We’ve talked a lot about the Spirit of ONE- which IS God’s Spirit, His heart, A great description of Him. Unity- completely, Restoration- completely, Love – completely, etc. Really One is a description of all God is and holds in one simple word. So to lament "one" is like saying, to not be happy until you help see that that happens here on earth and you do all you will to see to its manifestation. What is justice? That God has His desire and plan fulfilled!
About 4-5 years ago, O felt the Lord speak to me and say – be visible. Many times in America we are a people to ourselves. I guess what I am saying is we "mind our own business" and we don’t want others minding ours either. I knew what the Lord was telling me personally and now I think about that "word" a lot. I believed He wanted me to go all out to meet my neighbors, to get involved in my community, my subdivision, to start "gathering places" where people would meet, and in that place introduce myself and tell my name. All of us have a tendency to be "humble" in our kingdom walks and we think that is, live good in a quiet way, don’t stir up anything. That is not humility! Humility is doing what He’s said to do, being who He’s asked us to be in Him and not being prideful or ashamed to do it. Its saying Yes (You are Lord) the Lord. If my name is known, there will be something about my name that is also known. "Oh, she’s the lady with 7 kids!" Or things like, "Yeah we know her…" I would suddenly not be able to hide who or what I am, I’m OUT THERE! That puts a certain requirement on me – yes on purpose, to be who He’s designed me to be. It adds a certain amount of "peer pressure" to my daily walk. It makes me be accountable, not only to God, but to my neighbors and community etc. Well recently we took another step in a known name, we started a business. One thing we were led to do was get a sign for our car. Guess what it has on it? Yes, my name. Why? Shouldn’t I just be "humble" and put something like "servant of God", or "the fishy logo", or "Christian" on it? Or should I humble myself and do what I heard 4-5 years ago, and place my own name in the (dotted) line? See, if I’m called a "Christian", it is because others know me by my life and have the insight to see that by my life going out there before me. If they don’t name me thus, it may show me I’m still at work :-), where I willingly submit myself to His continued working of me on His pottery wheel.
Jesus seems to be saying that the way of love is a higher order than any other order and in trying to serve God without the acknowledgement of Jesus would be useless. We have no ability without Jesus, to fulfill all of the commandments God has layed out. But in Him all our rightness with God is as though we fulfilled them all. That’s the Divineness of Love, the Love of God fulfills all righteousness.
I feel like the remainder of the verses describe the heart of the love of our Father God. God hates division, because it is not a reflection of who He is or desires to be seen as. Its nature actually attacks God’s characteristic being manifested in earth. That’s why He hates divorce, etc, because of the hurt it causes His loved ones and because of the enmity that happens and how His love is quenched by its fire.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Matt 4
Matthew 4: 1 - 25
1 Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. 3 Then the Devil F21 came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread." 4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.' F22 " 5 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' F23 " 7 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the Lord your God.' F24 " 8 Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. 9 "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel down and worship me." 10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.' F25 " 11 Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 But instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy: 15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River – in Galilee where so many Gentiles live – 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." F26 17 From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near. F27 "
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers – Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew – fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. 19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" 20 And they left their nets at once and went with him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease. 24 News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed – he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went – people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, F28 Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
FOOTNOTES:F21: Greek the tempter. F22: Deut 8:3. F23: Ps 91:11-12. F24: Deut 6:16. F25: Deut 6:13. F26: Isa 9:1-2. F27: Or has come, or is coming soon. F28: Greek Decapolis.
The New Living Translation
~Lena's Comments~
I’m not sure all have thought of this, but satan did have authority to give Jesus in the position Jesus was standing in right then as a "mere man". Satan is called the god of this world system. BUT Jesus had heard the voice of God and knew that voice and WOULD NOT follow the voice of another, a stranger. No matter what he said! When we know the voice of our Father we know His heart, His inner spirit, in the heart of God there is all truth and all love. Nothing any other could say could ever compare to His truth. If we know Him there is no question even the motive of another seemingly "good" offer. It was like John had finished his designed and called by God purpose, for his timeframe on earth and this action by Jesus was a sign of the passing of that baton.
John prepared the way and here was THE LORD! They were from the same call, the same message and of the same exact spirit. One preceded the other, but there was no break, just a continuance of the call and fulfillment of God’s heart and vision to be accomplished on earth. That is how we should so desire to operate, picking up in the same spirit of the call we’ve been instructed in. Taking up right at the same spiritual purposes of other who have brought us here by their faithful lives of service to God.
The call of discipleship IS that call to God’s purposes. Without answering that call we will not do what we were placed here on earth to do. The ability of one to answer that call shows that they have an inkling of God’s desire and His heart in their being. Their ability to spread the word of this call to others solidifies that they have vision and are seeing as God sees. When we see we can also do.
Jesus was out to heal all of every kind of dis-ease. He did that before and after His death. He does it now through His word being used by us.
1 Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. 3 Then the Devil F21 came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread." 4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.' F22 " 5 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' F23 " 7 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the Lord your God.' F24 " 8 Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. 9 "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel down and worship me." 10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.' F25 " 11 Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 But instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy: 15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River – in Galilee where so many Gentiles live – 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." F26 17 From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near. F27 "
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers – Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew – fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. 19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" 20 And they left their nets at once and went with him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed people who had every kind of sickness and disease. 24 News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed – he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went – people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, F28 Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
FOOTNOTES:F21: Greek the tempter. F22: Deut 8:3. F23: Ps 91:11-12. F24: Deut 6:16. F25: Deut 6:13. F26: Isa 9:1-2. F27: Or has come, or is coming soon. F28: Greek Decapolis.
The New Living Translation
~Lena's Comments~
I’m not sure all have thought of this, but satan did have authority to give Jesus in the position Jesus was standing in right then as a "mere man". Satan is called the god of this world system. BUT Jesus had heard the voice of God and knew that voice and WOULD NOT follow the voice of another, a stranger. No matter what he said! When we know the voice of our Father we know His heart, His inner spirit, in the heart of God there is all truth and all love. Nothing any other could say could ever compare to His truth. If we know Him there is no question even the motive of another seemingly "good" offer. It was like John had finished his designed and called by God purpose, for his timeframe on earth and this action by Jesus was a sign of the passing of that baton.
John prepared the way and here was THE LORD! They were from the same call, the same message and of the same exact spirit. One preceded the other, but there was no break, just a continuance of the call and fulfillment of God’s heart and vision to be accomplished on earth. That is how we should so desire to operate, picking up in the same spirit of the call we’ve been instructed in. Taking up right at the same spiritual purposes of other who have brought us here by their faithful lives of service to God.
The call of discipleship IS that call to God’s purposes. Without answering that call we will not do what we were placed here on earth to do. The ability of one to answer that call shows that they have an inkling of God’s desire and His heart in their being. Their ability to spread the word of this call to others solidifies that they have vision and are seeing as God sees. When we see we can also do.
Jesus was out to heal all of every kind of dis-ease. He did that before and after His death. He does it now through His word being used by us.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Dan 11
Daniel 11: 1 - 45
1 I have been standing beside Michael F52 as his support and defense since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.) 2 "Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. Using his wealth for political advantage, he will stir up everyone to war against the kingdom of Greece. F53 3 "Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule a vast kingdom and accomplish everything he sets out to do. 4 But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king's descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
5 "The king of the south will increase in power, but one of this king's own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength. 6 "Some years later, an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be given up along with her supporters. 7 But when one of her relatives F54 becomes king of the south, he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him. 8 When he returns again to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless gold and silver dishes. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone. 9 "Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land. 10 However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy's fortress. 11 Then the king of the south, in great anger, will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them. 12 After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will have many thousands of his enemies killed. But his success will be short lived. 13 "A few years later, the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than the one he lost. 14 At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Lawless ones among your own people will join them in order to fulfill the vision, but they will not succeed. 15 Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught. 16 "The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it. 17 He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail. 18 "After this, he will turn his attention to the coastal cities and conquer many. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and will cause him to retreat in shame. 19 He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall, and he will be seen no more. 20 "His successor will be remembered as the king who sent a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor, but after a very brief reign, he will die, though neither in battle nor open conflict.
21 "The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not directly in line for royal succession. But he will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. 22 Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. 23 By making deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. With a mere handful of followers, he will become strong. 24 Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land and do something that none of his predecessors ever did – distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.
25 "Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for plots against him will succeed. 26 Those of his own household will bring his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed. 27 Seeking nothing but each other's harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for an end will still come at the appointed time. 28 "The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey. 29 "Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. 30 For warships from western coastlands F55 will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. 31 His army will take over the Temple fortress, polluting the sanctuary, putting a stop to the daily sacrifices, and setting up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. F56 32 He will flatter those who have violated the covenant and win them over to his side. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him. 33 "Those who are wise will give instruction to many. But for a time many of these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. 34 While all these persecutions are going on, a little help will arrive, though many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some who are wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. 36 "The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god there is, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed – until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. 37 He will have no regard for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god beloved of women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all. 38 Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses – a god his ancestors never knew – and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and costly gifts. 39 Claiming this foreign god's help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward. F57 40 "Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack him, and the king of the north will storm out against him with chariots, cavalry, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape. 42 He will conquer many countries, and Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians F58 will be his servants. 44 "But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy many as he goes. 45 He will halt between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents there, but while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and there will be no one to help him.
FOOTNOTES:F52: Hebrew him. F53: Hebrew of Javan. F54: Hebrew a branch from her roots. F55: Hebrew from Kittim. F56: Hebrew the abomination of desolation. F57: Or at a price. F58: Hebrew Cushites. ~Lena’s Comments~Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about His Name!
Men rule and fall, they are at war and peace, they stumble and are strong. There is only one that remains the same and is of the eternal realm and nature and without Him, our world is topsy turvey with no surety at all! In Him is complete surety, no matter what else happens or who rises or falls. His Kingdom has no end.
1 I have been standing beside Michael F52 as his support and defense since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.) 2 "Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. Using his wealth for political advantage, he will stir up everyone to war against the kingdom of Greece. F53 3 "Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule a vast kingdom and accomplish everything he sets out to do. 4 But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king's descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
5 "The king of the south will increase in power, but one of this king's own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength. 6 "Some years later, an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be given up along with her supporters. 7 But when one of her relatives F54 becomes king of the south, he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him. 8 When he returns again to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless gold and silver dishes. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone. 9 "Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land. 10 However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy's fortress. 11 Then the king of the south, in great anger, will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them. 12 After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will have many thousands of his enemies killed. But his success will be short lived. 13 "A few years later, the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than the one he lost. 14 At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Lawless ones among your own people will join them in order to fulfill the vision, but they will not succeed. 15 Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught. 16 "The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it. 17 He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail. 18 "After this, he will turn his attention to the coastal cities and conquer many. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and will cause him to retreat in shame. 19 He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall, and he will be seen no more. 20 "His successor will be remembered as the king who sent a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor, but after a very brief reign, he will die, though neither in battle nor open conflict.
21 "The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not directly in line for royal succession. But he will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. 22 Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. 23 By making deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. With a mere handful of followers, he will become strong. 24 Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land and do something that none of his predecessors ever did – distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.
25 "Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for plots against him will succeed. 26 Those of his own household will bring his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed. 27 Seeking nothing but each other's harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for an end will still come at the appointed time. 28 "The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey. 29 "Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. 30 For warships from western coastlands F55 will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. 31 His army will take over the Temple fortress, polluting the sanctuary, putting a stop to the daily sacrifices, and setting up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. F56 32 He will flatter those who have violated the covenant and win them over to his side. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him. 33 "Those who are wise will give instruction to many. But for a time many of these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. 34 While all these persecutions are going on, a little help will arrive, though many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some who are wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. 36 "The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god there is, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed – until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. 37 He will have no regard for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god beloved of women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all. 38 Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses – a god his ancestors never knew – and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and costly gifts. 39 Claiming this foreign god's help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward. F57 40 "Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack him, and the king of the north will storm out against him with chariots, cavalry, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape. 42 He will conquer many countries, and Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians F58 will be his servants. 44 "But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy many as he goes. 45 He will halt between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents there, but while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and there will be no one to help him.
FOOTNOTES:F52: Hebrew him. F53: Hebrew of Javan. F54: Hebrew a branch from her roots. F55: Hebrew from Kittim. F56: Hebrew the abomination of desolation. F57: Or at a price. F58: Hebrew Cushites. ~Lena’s Comments~Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about His Name!
Men rule and fall, they are at war and peace, they stumble and are strong. There is only one that remains the same and is of the eternal realm and nature and without Him, our world is topsy turvey with no surety at all! In Him is complete surety, no matter what else happens or who rises or falls. His Kingdom has no end.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Two Days' Daily Bread- No Comments
I've read over these several times with all different thoughts running through my mind and decided NOT to comment this go round.
Love 2 ALL
Daniel 7: 1 - 28
1 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar's reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote the dream down, and this is what he saw. 2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction. 3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others. 4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles' wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And a human mind was given to it. 5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, "Get up! Devour many people!" 6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four wings like birds' wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast. 7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast, terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled what was left beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. 8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
9 I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One F26 sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like whitest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, 10 and a river of fire flowed from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him, and a hundred million stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened. 11 I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn's boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. 12 As for the other three beasts, their authority was taken from them, but they were allowed to live for a while longer. F27 13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone who looked like a man F28 coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal – it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
15 I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. 16 So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: 17 "These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. 18 But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever." 19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, and it trampled what was left beneath its feet. 20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast's head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This was the horn that seemed greater than the others and had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and was defeating them, 22 until the Ancient One came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom. 23 Then he said to me, "This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling everything in its path. 24 Its ten horns are ten kings that will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. 25 He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. 26 "But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. 27 Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. They will rule forever, and all rulers will serve and obey them." 28 That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
FOOTNOTES:F26: Aramaic an Ancient of Days; also in 7:13, 22. F27: Aramaic for a season and a time. F28: Or like a Son of Man; Aramaic reads like a son of man.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189.
Daniel 10: 1 - 21
1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. It concerned events certain to happen in the future – times of war and great hardship – and Daniel understood what the vision meant. 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. 4 On April 23, F45 as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightning, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people. 7 I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear. 12 Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince F46 of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, F47 came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. F48 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come." 15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man F49 touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "I am terrified by the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe." 18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 "Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!"As he spoke these words, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Now you may speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." 20 He replied, "Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and then against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece. F50 21 But before I do that, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (There is no one to help me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. F51
FOOTNOTES:F45: Hebrew On the twenty-fourth day of the first month. This date in the book of Daniel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This day of the Hebrew lunar calendar occurred on April 23, 536 B.C. F46: Hebrew the prince; also in 10:13c, 20. F47: Hebrew the chief princes. F48: As in one Greek version; Hebrew reads and I was left there with the kings of Persia. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. F49: As in most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text and one Greek version read Then something that looked like a human hand. F50: Hebrew of Javan. F51: Hebrew against these except Michael, your prince.
The New Living Translation
Love 2 ALL
Daniel 7: 1 - 28
1 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar's reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote the dream down, and this is what he saw. 2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction. 3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others. 4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles' wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And a human mind was given to it. 5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, "Get up! Devour many people!" 6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four wings like birds' wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast. 7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast, terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled what was left beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. 8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
9 I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One F26 sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like whitest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, 10 and a river of fire flowed from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him, and a hundred million stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened. 11 I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn's boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. 12 As for the other three beasts, their authority was taken from them, but they were allowed to live for a while longer. F27 13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone who looked like a man F28 coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal – it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
15 I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. 16 So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: 17 "These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. 18 But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever." 19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, and it trampled what was left beneath its feet. 20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast's head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This was the horn that seemed greater than the others and had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and was defeating them, 22 until the Ancient One came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom. 23 Then he said to me, "This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling everything in its path. 24 Its ten horns are ten kings that will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. 25 He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. 26 "But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. 27 Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. They will rule forever, and all rulers will serve and obey them." 28 That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
FOOTNOTES:F26: Aramaic an Ancient of Days; also in 7:13, 22. F27: Aramaic for a season and a time. F28: Or like a Son of Man; Aramaic reads like a son of man.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189.
Daniel 10: 1 - 21
1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. It concerned events certain to happen in the future – times of war and great hardship – and Daniel understood what the vision meant. 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. 4 On April 23, F45 as I was standing beside the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightning, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people. 7 I, Daniel, am the only one who saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to watch this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 When I heard him speak, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear. 12 Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince F46 of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, F47 came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. F48 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come." 15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man F49 touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "I am terrified by the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe." 18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 "Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!"As he spoke these words, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Now you may speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." 20 He replied, "Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and then against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece. F50 21 But before I do that, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (There is no one to help me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. F51
FOOTNOTES:F45: Hebrew On the twenty-fourth day of the first month. This date in the book of Daniel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This day of the Hebrew lunar calendar occurred on April 23, 536 B.C. F46: Hebrew the prince; also in 10:13c, 20. F47: Hebrew the chief princes. F48: As in one Greek version; Hebrew reads and I was left there with the kings of Persia. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. F49: As in most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; one manuscript of the Masoretic Text and one Greek version read Then something that looked like a human hand. F50: Hebrew of Javan. F51: Hebrew against these except Michael, your prince.
The New Living Translation
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Daniel 6
Daniel 6: 1 - 28
1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a prince to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4 Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. 5 So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion.".
6 So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius! 7 We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to Your Majesty – will be thrown to the lions. 8 And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 9 So King Darius signed the law. 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
11 The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 12 So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to Your Majesty – will be thrown to the lions?""Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 13 Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day." 14 Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed." 16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions.
18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night. 19 Very early the next morning, the king hurried out to the lions' den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?" 21 Daniel answered, "Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty." 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God. 24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.
25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you! 26 "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. F25
FOOTNOTES:F25: Or of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
God is a God of multiplication. 120 = 12x10, 12 is the # of God’s Divine government and 10 is the # of sanctification, 10 % is the Tithe, representing the part which sanctifies the whole. Sounds like it could be a perfect world, huh? In God’s eyes for sure. Jesus taught and poured His life into 12 to sanctify the earth with the message of the Gospel. It was His model of beginnings. How can the world mock us when we operate in the Divine Governing rule of God, which begins with me, a part of what God is doing, which will effect the whole. This says Daniel proved himself more capable…when they tried to find fault, they had to lie about him and twist his faith and his faith-walk. It’s hard to judge- faithful, honest & responsible. I wonder if this was saying His faith could not be tried, but if he was religious in any way, His religion could? I’ve read this same strategy and tactic in the word before, where a man of no guile would have to be tested in his faith and when found clean the enemy would turn and twist, and mess with his faith. The law will never bring the sanctification that the spirit of God will. The law will condemn us to death. Even in death, the glory of God will be revealed in the personal faith of the Saint, not in his religious works and only that personal faith will protect him in a test of his faith and threat on his life! We are saved by grace through faith, not by our acts of obeying the laws, even the laws of God. Daniel continued in relationship even when his works were tested, even when the law was changed. His faith walk did not change. His worship, which was not law-based, did not change. His accusers did not understand worship and that it will effect everything we do. Our worship is what changes the earth’s curse, turning our hearts towards our Father. In worship, the thief may threaten and may seek to devour us, but our faith is solidified even in that test. Isn’t it so awesome that the king of the world was turned towards seeking Daniel’s God, even to the point of prayer and fasting? Through Daniel’s test, the kings of the earth sought after and were shown God’s power, and glorified God with their tongues! THAT is effect.
1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a prince to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4 Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. 5 So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion.".
6 So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius! 7 We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to Your Majesty – will be thrown to the lions. 8 And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 9 So King Darius signed the law. 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
11 The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 12 So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human – except to Your Majesty – will be thrown to the lions?""Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 13 Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day." 14 Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed." 16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions.
18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night. 19 Very early the next morning, the king hurried out to the lions' den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?" 21 Daniel answered, "Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty." 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God. 24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.
25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you! 26 "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. F25
FOOTNOTES:F25: Or of Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
The New Living Translation
~Lena’s Comments~
God is a God of multiplication. 120 = 12x10, 12 is the # of God’s Divine government and 10 is the # of sanctification, 10 % is the Tithe, representing the part which sanctifies the whole. Sounds like it could be a perfect world, huh? In God’s eyes for sure. Jesus taught and poured His life into 12 to sanctify the earth with the message of the Gospel. It was His model of beginnings. How can the world mock us when we operate in the Divine Governing rule of God, which begins with me, a part of what God is doing, which will effect the whole. This says Daniel proved himself more capable…when they tried to find fault, they had to lie about him and twist his faith and his faith-walk. It’s hard to judge- faithful, honest & responsible. I wonder if this was saying His faith could not be tried, but if he was religious in any way, His religion could? I’ve read this same strategy and tactic in the word before, where a man of no guile would have to be tested in his faith and when found clean the enemy would turn and twist, and mess with his faith. The law will never bring the sanctification that the spirit of God will. The law will condemn us to death. Even in death, the glory of God will be revealed in the personal faith of the Saint, not in his religious works and only that personal faith will protect him in a test of his faith and threat on his life! We are saved by grace through faith, not by our acts of obeying the laws, even the laws of God. Daniel continued in relationship even when his works were tested, even when the law was changed. His faith walk did not change. His worship, which was not law-based, did not change. His accusers did not understand worship and that it will effect everything we do. Our worship is what changes the earth’s curse, turning our hearts towards our Father. In worship, the thief may threaten and may seek to devour us, but our faith is solidified even in that test. Isn’t it so awesome that the king of the world was turned towards seeking Daniel’s God, even to the point of prayer and fasting? Through Daniel’s test, the kings of the earth sought after and were shown God’s power, and glorified God with their tongues! THAT is effect.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Hapy Birthday KIM
My Little sister turns 32 today!
I Love You Kim!
Hope your day is sweet
~ Love Lena
You know how old that makes me on the way to now? whew!
I Love You Kim!
Hope your day is sweet
~ Love Lena
You know how old that makes me on the way to now? whew!
Today our Daily Bread Daniel 5
Daniel 5: 1 - 31
1 A number of years later, King Belshazzar gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, F19 Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, so that he and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank toasts from them to honor their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 5 At that very moment they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king's palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6 and his face turned pale with fear. Such terror gripped him that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way beneath him. 7 The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, F20 and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will wear a gold chain around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!" 8 But when all the king's wise men came in, none of them could read the writing or tell him what it meant. 9 So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned ashen white. His nobles, too, were shaken.
10 But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, "Long live the king! Don't be so pale and afraid about this. 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar's reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom as though he himself were a god. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has a sharp mind and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means." 13 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, "Are you Daniel, who was exiled from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? 14 I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. 15 My wise men and enchanters have tried to read this writing on the wall, but they cannot. 16 I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will wear a gold chain around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom." 17 Daniel answered the king, "Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. 19 He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace. 20 But when his heart and mind were hardened with pride, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them. 22 "You are his successor, F21 O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. 23 For you have defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! 24 So God has sent this hand to write a message. 25 "This is the message that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26 This is what these words mean: Mene means 'numbered' – God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. 27 Tekel means 'weighed' – you have been weighed on the balances and have failed the test. 28 Parsin F22 means 'divided' – your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian F23 king, was killed. F24 31 And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
FOOTNOTES:F19: Aramaic father; also in 5:11, 13, 18. F20: Or Chaldeans; also in 5:11. F21: Aramaic son. F22: Aramaic Peres, the singular of Parsin. F23: Or Chaldean. F24: The Persians and Medes conquered Babylon in October 539 B.C.
The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This shows me the awesome and oh so important responsibility we all have as believers in Christ to pass our faith lifestyle on to the generations ahead of us. This does not happen from mere religious activity. Religious activity is exhausting and someone down the line will tire of it and want change. It shows that men are geared in their sin nature to be their own rulers and dominate over others. If faith and a faith-filled relationship based on love and service is not exemplified to the generations then they too will fall back to the same place they started (in the nature of sin), only serving themselves in the desires of their bodies and souls. Every souls is thirsty for the truth of our design and purpose and we are intent on living in a way that fulfills it even if it is pseudo. Notice both kings looked to those they felt knew something about the supernatural realm for the answers? They looked beyond who they perceived themselves to be and reached beyond where they saw their knowledge ending in search for the answers to life. Daniel spoke and knew the language of God. What language do we know? What language are we teaching our children? Former kingdoms and rulers will be set aside for His kingdom and rule. It will either happen by an act of our wills or not. How awesome when a soul yields its rile to God.
1 A number of years later, King Belshazzar gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, F19 Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, so that he and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank toasts from them to honor their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 5 At that very moment they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king's palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6 and his face turned pale with fear. Such terror gripped him that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way beneath him. 7 The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, F20 and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will wear a gold chain around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!" 8 But when all the king's wise men came in, none of them could read the writing or tell him what it meant. 9 So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned ashen white. His nobles, too, were shaken.
10 But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, "Long live the king! Don't be so pale and afraid about this. 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar's reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom as though he himself were a god. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. 12 This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has a sharp mind and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means." 13 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, "Are you Daniel, who was exiled from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? 14 I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. 15 My wise men and enchanters have tried to read this writing on the wall, but they cannot. 16 I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will wear a gold chain around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom." 17 Daniel answered the king, "Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. 19 He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace. 20 But when his heart and mind were hardened with pride, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them. 22 "You are his successor, F21 O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. 23 For you have defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! 24 So God has sent this hand to write a message. 25 "This is the message that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. 26 This is what these words mean: Mene means 'numbered' – God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. 27 Tekel means 'weighed' – you have been weighed on the balances and have failed the test. 28 Parsin F22 means 'divided' – your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian F23 king, was killed. F24 31 And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
FOOTNOTES:F19: Aramaic father; also in 5:11, 13, 18. F20: Or Chaldeans; also in 5:11. F21: Aramaic son. F22: Aramaic Peres, the singular of Parsin. F23: Or Chaldean. F24: The Persians and Medes conquered Babylon in October 539 B.C.
The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This shows me the awesome and oh so important responsibility we all have as believers in Christ to pass our faith lifestyle on to the generations ahead of us. This does not happen from mere religious activity. Religious activity is exhausting and someone down the line will tire of it and want change. It shows that men are geared in their sin nature to be their own rulers and dominate over others. If faith and a faith-filled relationship based on love and service is not exemplified to the generations then they too will fall back to the same place they started (in the nature of sin), only serving themselves in the desires of their bodies and souls. Every souls is thirsty for the truth of our design and purpose and we are intent on living in a way that fulfills it even if it is pseudo. Notice both kings looked to those they felt knew something about the supernatural realm for the answers? They looked beyond who they perceived themselves to be and reached beyond where they saw their knowledge ending in search for the answers to life. Daniel spoke and knew the language of God. What language do we know? What language are we teaching our children? Former kingdoms and rulers will be set aside for His kingdom and rule. It will either happen by an act of our wills or not. How awesome when a soul yields its rile to God.
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