Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Matthew 18:1-35
The Greatest in the Kingdom
1About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
2Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. 3Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck.
7"How terrible it will be for anyone who causes others to sin. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. 8So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven F91 crippled or lame than to be thrown into the unquenchable fire with both of your hands and feet. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven half blind than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.
10"Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. F92
Story of the Lost Sheep
12"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? 13And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! 14In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Correcting a Fellow Believer
15"If another believer F93 sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18I tell you this: Whatever you prohibit on earth is prohibited in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven.
19"I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20For where two or three gather together because they are mine, F94 I am there among them."
Story of the Unforgiving Debtor
21Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone F95 who sins against me? Seven times?"
22"No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven! F96
23"For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. F97 25He couldn't pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. 26But the man fell down before the king and begged him, 'Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' 27Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28"But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. F98 He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. 'Be patient and I will pay it,' he pleaded. 30But his creditor wouldn't wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full.
31"When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him what had happened. 32Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' 34Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny.
35"That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters F99 in your heart."
FOOTNOTES:F91: Greek enter life; also in 18:9. F92: Some manuscripts add verse 11, And I, the Son of Man, have come to save the lost. F93: Greek your brother. F94: Greek gather together in my name. F95: Greek my brother. F96: Or 77 times. F97: Greek 10,000 talents. F98: Greek 100 denarii. A denarius was the equivalent of a full day's wage. F99: Greek your brother.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
This word- child means infantile. One with no words, one who is not able to lead himself towards any knowledge or truth without the assistance of others. One who’s nourishment must come from another, a willing caregiver.
Wow, that could be a human infant, an older person who is in a mentally challenged state, or even a mentally challenged person, who was born and was somehow never able to grow up intellectually.
Then again it also sounds like it is not about people who are already old enough to pursue knowledge, such as in our wonderful country where every resource is at our disposal and where we require children to begin learning by at least the age of 4. It does not sound to me like a place where we teach people to read, write, and aptly apply themselves, but then they don’t, but only because they won’t. That is not a child, that is laziness or lack of desire to find knowledge and be responsible to what one knows.
Using child-like in that sense could very well be a very bad excuse.
Now in backwoods places where no one has ever learned to read and write nor has any knowledge of the gospel ever appeared, even though the people may intellectually be developed, they do not have resources and thus could be deemed “childlike”.
Anyway, IT IS NOT GOD’s will that anyone at all ever perishes, ever! Why do you think He gave men technology, so that the word is at the hands of any willing vessel?
Those of us who have sought God and know His word have such a great responsibility to be great models of the word in living form to those who are simple, innocent and hungry.
Those not hungry are filled with something else, have made choices for other things that satisfy, and have a low interest level though the bombardment of daily messages, but I’m not sure they are possibly as “innocent” as an infant child.
A shepherd who sees a lost soul and leaves the 99 is a man after God’s heart. The 99 know Him well enough, know the routine well enough, to hang around till the one who feeds them returns with a new family member who will become acclimated to the flock. As thy once did.
Let’s do a number game, with meanings of numbers presented here to get to a point that is quite possibly being made.
Ninety-nine, is 1 short of 100 (%), Ninety-nine is 11 sets of 9, 9 x 11 = 99. nine means comes up 1 short. To regard in the way of seeing the need of being made whole. One can only be made completely whole in the through the Creator God, yet without Christ no one can be righteous and even approach God wholly. All have come short of the glory of the ability to be saved.
11 is almost opposite that meaning, in that it is one above completeness, which is represented in the 10th, which is the tithe. When the tithe is given from what one has obtained it shows a sanctification of the whole (100 %). When a tenth or tithe is given it is as though the whole was given. In heart matters it is as though the person would give it all, yet in the Lord is not asking them to give all of the $, but He does ask the 10% as a representation, if one would give all. It is required that a person give all to God, yet due to our free wills, we must choose to give, rather than a collection made, say from a forceful tax collector.
1 is God, period. 99 is 1 short of being complete in God, yet salvation or going after the lost is 1 above what God has asked for in say the tithe. We give the tithe, because He asks for our whole life and we’re glad to represent our lives this way, we respond to His will by giving the tithe, then a revelation comes and our desire for Him is so stirred in us that we want others to know of His great love also. We extend ourselves beyond who we are and go “out on a limb” for the salvation of others too.
So we get saved, that is the 10th part, we give our lives, whole lives, represented by giving a part. The part we give (our hearts) represent the whole, given. When we go after the lost, we’re extending ourselves further than our own sanctification and redemption, we go further, we add to what we’ve been given.
Why would we go all out to bring reconciliation in disagreements? Because God is ONE and He wants the demonstration of One and of agreement to be in demonstration on earth. Contention is based on the rebellious rising up of death that came against life and the fellowship of God and man. When man argues and is descended with another man the peace of God to rule is not allowed. The power to allow and to disallow, is held in the power to resolve and to forgive. If two or three can be involved as a unit, as a conduit of agreement, the presence of God is welcomed, unleashed.
Why do you think there are so many opinions flying around and being expressed and there are way more than 2 sides to every “coin” and everyone has his own way of independently thinking? It is because there is an onslaught against anyone or anything standing together. If one is alone any force can take them out at any time, their strength lies in themselves, where if two agree, if three agree, the armies of heaven join in to protect and keep. The joining is not merely with another man or another woman, the positioning is with God and His force. That happens if man agrees. What if they agree to disagree, do they agree?
What is at stake? The kingdom of God, the work of God, the will of God, and the purposes of God, that’s all. This a very serious matter, having been entrusted as an ambassador to the Father’s kingdom on earth.
70 x’s 7 = 490, 7 is the finished completed, it’s over with- number. 7 times it’s over, means it’s over! Period! One must forgive completely, no matter what, when or where, every day, every time, and in every place with everyone completely with NO trace of any other activity.
IF you do not, God will not- forgive you!
If you will not, you’ve decided to place your self-life on a throne and exalt yourself above others, you are the most important one of all, the one every one must serve and wait on, your needs are the most important and the debts of life are due to be paid for to you. Jesus paid the debts of sin, for us, do you want to pay your own debts for yourself, since you get to decide who deserves your forgiveness or who does not?
Thank God our forgiveness with God and our appointment with eternal death were not given to us because we earned it or deserved it. If you think you did deserve it, you need help, real help. Sin any sin separates us from God and all have sinned, been eternally separated from God. Even if we ever told a “white “lie”, THAT sin condemned us to eternal death without the grace of God who sent Jesus to pay the price. If we got what we deserved, we’d all go to hell.
Praise God we do not get what we deserve. Even good-hearted people have fibbed a few times, even good-hearted people have not held God in the highest esteem, have not held the days God calls Holy, holy. Even good-hearted people who have great intentions in society, have hated at some time in their hearts, which the NT says is murder of a brother. Even good-hearted loving kind people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God deserving to be eternally punished. The punishment is not based on how well behaved we are, it is based on the laws of God unable to be kept without the shed blood of Jesus. If we based it on behaviors, we’d be doomed to have to keep every behavior listed in the law of Moses and more to this day of our death, we’d have to be blameless that way and that is impossible, completely impossible! So you can’t forgive? Why not? You choose not. That is the only reason. Choose to, or you may die- eternally.
You do not know when your last day is, you do not, only God knows that, Only God. Forgive now, today.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Today Psalm 115
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Psalm 115:1-18
The One True God 1 It does not belong to us, LORD. The glory belongs to you because of your love and loyalty. 2 Why do the nations ask, "Where is their God?" 3 Our God is in heaven. He does what he pleases. 4 Their idols are made of silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have eyes, but they cannot see. 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear. They have noses, but they cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. No sounds come from their throats.
8 People who make idols will be like them, and so will those who trust them. 9 Family of Israel, trust the LORD; he is your helper and your protection. 10 Family of Aaron, trust the LORD; he is your helper and your protection. 11 You who respect the LORD should trust him; he is your helper and your protection. 12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the family of Israel; he will bless the family of Aaron. 13 The LORD will bless those who respect him, from the smallest to the greatest. 14 May the LORD give you success, and may he give you and your children success. 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 16 Heaven belongs to the LORD, but he gave the earth to people. 17 Dead people do not praise the LORD; those in the grave are silent. 18 But we will praise the LORD now and forever. Praise the LORD!
Copyright Statement: New Century VersionThe Holy Bible, New Century Version®.Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
Life and death. One is alive unto God or dead based on whom he is serving. If serving self, he’s dead to the things of God, if he’s non responsive to God he is also dead to God. If when he hears God’s call, he answers by doing what is said, he is alive unto God.
The glory of God is found in the earth. We’ve thought the earth and all of the opportunities and resources are all for us to enjoy and they are, one problem with that, we do His will first and in so doing we enjoy. We’ve not done His will at all and only tried to enjoy the earth. That is not our right. It belongs to Him. He’s waiting for us to do His will then give us the joy that awaits us here.
Why are the nations even asking where is God? They should see Him very clearly in us, it should be so clear it stands out like a sore thumb, so to speak. Why would anyone say, “Well God does whatever He wants to, more or less, we have no part in what He is doing. We’re just here as puppets of His hands. If you’ve ever thought that you’ve been lied to!
Maybe we’ve become more like statues that like living human beings!
If we do not speak for God or see revelation from Him, or hear His voice telling us what to do everyday, if we don’t smell disaster coming on an unsaved earth, if we are not walking out a salvation that is clear enough for the unsaved to see and drool over, if we don’t touch them as though they are holy, unto God, if we won’t open our mouths to bless them and to bless the Lord- we are as dead as any statue!
Dead People DO NOT praise the Lord, no matter how silly they look, and death does not look good. The ones who are alive are so thankful that they are alive, enough that they do not care what others think of them speaking for Him, walking in His ways, conquering fear to win the lost, being keenly in tuned to whatever the spirit of God asks them to do, etc. They worship God with their life and at church, they get to explode in worship, they cannot and will not hold back from the one they love, because they are alive unto Him and they love Him.
Praise and worship are not silently done inside of the heart. OUT of the abundance of the heart my mouthy speaks of Him, for Him, and to Him, everyday.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Psalm 115:1-18
The One True God 1 It does not belong to us, LORD. The glory belongs to you because of your love and loyalty. 2 Why do the nations ask, "Where is their God?" 3 Our God is in heaven. He does what he pleases. 4 Their idols are made of silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have eyes, but they cannot see. 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear. They have noses, but they cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. No sounds come from their throats.
8 People who make idols will be like them, and so will those who trust them. 9 Family of Israel, trust the LORD; he is your helper and your protection. 10 Family of Aaron, trust the LORD; he is your helper and your protection. 11 You who respect the LORD should trust him; he is your helper and your protection. 12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the family of Israel; he will bless the family of Aaron. 13 The LORD will bless those who respect him, from the smallest to the greatest. 14 May the LORD give you success, and may he give you and your children success. 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 16 Heaven belongs to the LORD, but he gave the earth to people. 17 Dead people do not praise the LORD; those in the grave are silent. 18 But we will praise the LORD now and forever. Praise the LORD!
Copyright Statement: New Century VersionThe Holy Bible, New Century Version®.Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
Life and death. One is alive unto God or dead based on whom he is serving. If serving self, he’s dead to the things of God, if he’s non responsive to God he is also dead to God. If when he hears God’s call, he answers by doing what is said, he is alive unto God.
The glory of God is found in the earth. We’ve thought the earth and all of the opportunities and resources are all for us to enjoy and they are, one problem with that, we do His will first and in so doing we enjoy. We’ve not done His will at all and only tried to enjoy the earth. That is not our right. It belongs to Him. He’s waiting for us to do His will then give us the joy that awaits us here.
Why are the nations even asking where is God? They should see Him very clearly in us, it should be so clear it stands out like a sore thumb, so to speak. Why would anyone say, “Well God does whatever He wants to, more or less, we have no part in what He is doing. We’re just here as puppets of His hands. If you’ve ever thought that you’ve been lied to!
Maybe we’ve become more like statues that like living human beings!
If we do not speak for God or see revelation from Him, or hear His voice telling us what to do everyday, if we don’t smell disaster coming on an unsaved earth, if we are not walking out a salvation that is clear enough for the unsaved to see and drool over, if we don’t touch them as though they are holy, unto God, if we won’t open our mouths to bless them and to bless the Lord- we are as dead as any statue!
Dead People DO NOT praise the Lord, no matter how silly they look, and death does not look good. The ones who are alive are so thankful that they are alive, enough that they do not care what others think of them speaking for Him, walking in His ways, conquering fear to win the lost, being keenly in tuned to whatever the spirit of God asks them to do, etc. They worship God with their life and at church, they get to explode in worship, they cannot and will not hold back from the one they love, because they are alive unto Him and they love Him.
Praise and worship are not silently done inside of the heart. OUT of the abundance of the heart my mouthy speaks of Him, for Him, and to Him, everyday.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Today Duet 4- Must I obey? No...BUT You Must!
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Deuteronomy 4:1-49 -
Moses Urges Israel to Obey
1"And now, Israel, listen carefully to these laws and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the LORD your God. Just obey them. 3You saw what the LORD did to you at Baal-peor, where the LORD your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped the god Baal of Peor. 4But all of you who were faithful to the LORD your God are still alive today.
5"You must obey these laws and regulations when you arrive in the land you are about to enter and occupy. The LORD my God gave them to me and commanded me to pass them on to you. 6If you obey them carefully, you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations. When they hear about these laws, they will exclaim, 'What other nation is as wise and prudent as this!' 7For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him? 8And what great nation has laws and regulations as fair as this body of laws that I am giving you today?
9"But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10Tell them especially about the day when you stood before the LORD your God at Mount Sinai, F13 where he told me, 'Summon the people before me, and I will instruct them. That way, they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will be able to teach my laws to their children.' 11You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain was burning with fire. Flames shot into the sky, shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. 12And the LORD spoke to you from the fire. You heard his words but didn't see his form; there was only a voice. 13He proclaimed his covenant, which he commanded you to keep—the Ten Commandments—and wrote them on two stone tablets. 14It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to issue the laws and regulations you must obey in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
A Warning against Idolatry
15"But be careful! You did not see the LORD's form on the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Sinai. 16So do not corrupt yourselves by making a physical image in any form—whether of a man or a woman, 17an animal or a bird, 18a creeping creature or a fish. 19And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don't be seduced by them and worship them. The LORD your God designated these heavenly bodies for all the peoples of the earth. 20Remember that the LORD rescued you from the burning furnace of Egypt to become his own people and special possession; that is what you are today.
21"But the LORD was very angry with me because of you. He vowed that I would never cross the Jordan River into the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. 22Though you will cross the Jordan to occupy the land, I will die here on this side of the river. 23So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. You will break it if you make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has absolutely forbidden this. 24The LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
25"In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and will arouse his anger.
26"Today I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you disobey me, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed. 27For the LORD will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive. 28There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone, gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. 29From there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
30"When those bitter days have come upon you far in the future, you will finally return to the LORD your God and listen to what he tells you. 31For the LORD your God is merciful—he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.
There Is Only One God
32"Search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now. Then search from one end of the heavens to the other. See if anything as great as this has ever happened before. 33Has any nation ever heard the voice of God F14 speaking from fire—as you did—and survived? 34Has any other god taken one nation for himself by rescuing it from another by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, awesome power, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, right before your very eyes.
35"He showed you these things so you would realize that the LORD is God and that there is no other god. 36He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you. He let you see his great fire here on earth so he could speak to you from it. 37Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants and personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power. 38He drove out nations far greater than you, so he could bring you in and give you their land as a special possession, as it is today. 39So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other god! 40If you obey all the laws and commands that I will give you today, all will be well with you and your children. Then you will enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
Eastern Cities of Refuge
41Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River, 42where anyone who had accidentally killed someone without having any previous hostility could flee for safety. 43These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.
Introduction to the Law
44This is the law that Moses handed down to the Israelites. 45These are the stipulations, laws, and regulations that Moses gave to the people of Israel when they left Egypt, 46and as they camped in the valley near Beth-peor east of the Jordan River. (This land was formerly occupied by the Amorites under King Sihon of Heshbon. He and his people had been destroyed by Moses and the Israelites as they came up from Egypt. 47Israel conquered his land and that of King Og of Bashan—the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 48So Israel conquered all the area from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion, F15 also called Mount Hermon. 49And they took the eastern bank of the Jordan Valley as far south as the Dead Sea, F16 below the slopes of Pisgah.)
FOOTNOTES:F13: Hebrew Horeb, another name for Sinai; also in 4:15. F14: Or voice of a god. F15: As in Syriac version (see also 3:9); Hebrew reads Mount Sion. F16: Hebrew took the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as the sea of the Arabah.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
Can someone else tell you what to do? I mean to where you do what they say? What if they aren’t sweet about it, or they are too sweet for you? What then? Will you listen and obey anyway, as though it is God Himself speaking?
When people sit in a congregation and there is one man preaching up front, 400 people seated, the man will say one thing and the 800 ears will hear 800 different things. Some won’t hear at all, they are distracted, some don’t care, don’t regard the man’s words enough to give them the time of day. Many do not see the words as words from God, they think a man is speaking and if he’s the kind of man we want to hear from in the way we want to hear it, he’ll have won our ears. Out of 400 people how many do you think will actually take the words of the one man to heart, as though they are God’s words and actually put feet and hands to the words, making them alive- Living words?
I believe we will all be very very surprised when we stand before God completely accountable and He quite possibly asks us why we did not make His words living words. It takes a tremendous amount of human faith to believe we are accountable to God right now and that He IS now asking us this very thing- today.
Are you accountable? To God? Through whom? I mean really accountable, to where a person, a human voice of God in your life can say- where are you and what are you doing? Would you allow someone to ask you that kind of thing? If so, would you have to go through a tremendous amount of change first to not have your feathers completely ruffled when those words are asked you through a human?
We pick and choose, what right do we have to pick and choose? All of the rights in the world, really, in the world system of things we are so free, we can choose whatever we want or do not want. The problem is we choose death and think it is life, because we feel we’re on top of things. We are living too much for the here and now. God wants us to live for the now and after now. That’s what He’s calling us to do, step outside of our mental boxes and break out of worldly thinking and acting and get on with kingdom business and rule.
Don’t ever be angry with God when circumstances rule you. You reap what you sow, You set it up to be this way, you made bad choices, temporary fix choices rather than kingdom and eternally minded choices!
God did not do that, you did….Do NOT add or subtract. Reason adds and subtracts, multiplies divides and every other equation. Get outside of your mind on matters.
I really can imagine a whole assembly of people obeying God thins way, followers who will not live for themselves, but live wholeheartedly for the Kingdom of God! That is Zion- the City on the Hill, That is where the blessing of God takes a whole city and redeems it.
Can we talk a bit about statues? Can I explain that we are not talking about marble or clay? Those are made of the elements of earth and that is the point. It, as an idol, is a model, a memorial of a thing or of a person whom one would look up to and model their life after, an image of likeness.
We are to become as He is, we are made in His image and likeness (thus my e-mail address to remind me- We–R-His-Image) The enemy makes sure we see natural models everyday, ones we can be like. He knows we can be like God, but does not want us to know that. Idolatry is trying to become anything other than being like God.
Obedience helps us to be formed into His image and likeness. Disobedience smashes to pieces His image and likeness. We may be saying….I wouldn’t smash a God image…really? How many times do we speak against those made in His image? We’ve smashed His image. How many times to we disregard His words and follow the words of the world and its ways? We neglect the maintenance of His image and it is broken down, overgrown with moss, hardly recognizable.
It takes strength of character, a guard set, a firm decision to Follow me as I follow Christ It takes a violent people who will not succumb to the world patterns, and it takes the assembly of an army of likminded to maintain that kind of faith- so, “Where are you?” and “ What are you doing?”
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Deuteronomy 4:1-49 -
Moses Urges Israel to Obey
1"And now, Israel, listen carefully to these laws and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the LORD your God. Just obey them. 3You saw what the LORD did to you at Baal-peor, where the LORD your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped the god Baal of Peor. 4But all of you who were faithful to the LORD your God are still alive today.
5"You must obey these laws and regulations when you arrive in the land you are about to enter and occupy. The LORD my God gave them to me and commanded me to pass them on to you. 6If you obey them carefully, you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations. When they hear about these laws, they will exclaim, 'What other nation is as wise and prudent as this!' 7For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him? 8And what great nation has laws and regulations as fair as this body of laws that I am giving you today?
9"But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10Tell them especially about the day when you stood before the LORD your God at Mount Sinai, F13 where he told me, 'Summon the people before me, and I will instruct them. That way, they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will be able to teach my laws to their children.' 11You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain was burning with fire. Flames shot into the sky, shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. 12And the LORD spoke to you from the fire. You heard his words but didn't see his form; there was only a voice. 13He proclaimed his covenant, which he commanded you to keep—the Ten Commandments—and wrote them on two stone tablets. 14It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to issue the laws and regulations you must obey in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
A Warning against Idolatry
15"But be careful! You did not see the LORD's form on the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Sinai. 16So do not corrupt yourselves by making a physical image in any form—whether of a man or a woman, 17an animal or a bird, 18a creeping creature or a fish. 19And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don't be seduced by them and worship them. The LORD your God designated these heavenly bodies for all the peoples of the earth. 20Remember that the LORD rescued you from the burning furnace of Egypt to become his own people and special possession; that is what you are today.
21"But the LORD was very angry with me because of you. He vowed that I would never cross the Jordan River into the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. 22Though you will cross the Jordan to occupy the land, I will die here on this side of the river. 23So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. You will break it if you make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has absolutely forbidden this. 24The LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
25"In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and will arouse his anger.
26"Today I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you disobey me, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed. 27For the LORD will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive. 28There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone, gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. 29From there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
30"When those bitter days have come upon you far in the future, you will finally return to the LORD your God and listen to what he tells you. 31For the LORD your God is merciful—he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.
There Is Only One God
32"Search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now. Then search from one end of the heavens to the other. See if anything as great as this has ever happened before. 33Has any nation ever heard the voice of God F14 speaking from fire—as you did—and survived? 34Has any other god taken one nation for himself by rescuing it from another by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, awesome power, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, right before your very eyes.
35"He showed you these things so you would realize that the LORD is God and that there is no other god. 36He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you. He let you see his great fire here on earth so he could speak to you from it. 37Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants and personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power. 38He drove out nations far greater than you, so he could bring you in and give you their land as a special possession, as it is today. 39So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other god! 40If you obey all the laws and commands that I will give you today, all will be well with you and your children. Then you will enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
Eastern Cities of Refuge
41Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River, 42where anyone who had accidentally killed someone without having any previous hostility could flee for safety. 43These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.
Introduction to the Law
44This is the law that Moses handed down to the Israelites. 45These are the stipulations, laws, and regulations that Moses gave to the people of Israel when they left Egypt, 46and as they camped in the valley near Beth-peor east of the Jordan River. (This land was formerly occupied by the Amorites under King Sihon of Heshbon. He and his people had been destroyed by Moses and the Israelites as they came up from Egypt. 47Israel conquered his land and that of King Og of Bashan—the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 48So Israel conquered all the area from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion, F15 also called Mount Hermon. 49And they took the eastern bank of the Jordan Valley as far south as the Dead Sea, F16 below the slopes of Pisgah.)
FOOTNOTES:F13: Hebrew Horeb, another name for Sinai; also in 4:15. F14: Or voice of a god. F15: As in Syriac version (see also 3:9); Hebrew reads Mount Sion. F16: Hebrew took the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as the sea of the Arabah.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
Can someone else tell you what to do? I mean to where you do what they say? What if they aren’t sweet about it, or they are too sweet for you? What then? Will you listen and obey anyway, as though it is God Himself speaking?
When people sit in a congregation and there is one man preaching up front, 400 people seated, the man will say one thing and the 800 ears will hear 800 different things. Some won’t hear at all, they are distracted, some don’t care, don’t regard the man’s words enough to give them the time of day. Many do not see the words as words from God, they think a man is speaking and if he’s the kind of man we want to hear from in the way we want to hear it, he’ll have won our ears. Out of 400 people how many do you think will actually take the words of the one man to heart, as though they are God’s words and actually put feet and hands to the words, making them alive- Living words?
I believe we will all be very very surprised when we stand before God completely accountable and He quite possibly asks us why we did not make His words living words. It takes a tremendous amount of human faith to believe we are accountable to God right now and that He IS now asking us this very thing- today.
Are you accountable? To God? Through whom? I mean really accountable, to where a person, a human voice of God in your life can say- where are you and what are you doing? Would you allow someone to ask you that kind of thing? If so, would you have to go through a tremendous amount of change first to not have your feathers completely ruffled when those words are asked you through a human?
We pick and choose, what right do we have to pick and choose? All of the rights in the world, really, in the world system of things we are so free, we can choose whatever we want or do not want. The problem is we choose death and think it is life, because we feel we’re on top of things. We are living too much for the here and now. God wants us to live for the now and after now. That’s what He’s calling us to do, step outside of our mental boxes and break out of worldly thinking and acting and get on with kingdom business and rule.
Don’t ever be angry with God when circumstances rule you. You reap what you sow, You set it up to be this way, you made bad choices, temporary fix choices rather than kingdom and eternally minded choices!
God did not do that, you did….Do NOT add or subtract. Reason adds and subtracts, multiplies divides and every other equation. Get outside of your mind on matters.
I really can imagine a whole assembly of people obeying God thins way, followers who will not live for themselves, but live wholeheartedly for the Kingdom of God! That is Zion- the City on the Hill, That is where the blessing of God takes a whole city and redeems it.
Can we talk a bit about statues? Can I explain that we are not talking about marble or clay? Those are made of the elements of earth and that is the point. It, as an idol, is a model, a memorial of a thing or of a person whom one would look up to and model their life after, an image of likeness.
We are to become as He is, we are made in His image and likeness (thus my e-mail address to remind me- We–R-His-Image) The enemy makes sure we see natural models everyday, ones we can be like. He knows we can be like God, but does not want us to know that. Idolatry is trying to become anything other than being like God.
Obedience helps us to be formed into His image and likeness. Disobedience smashes to pieces His image and likeness. We may be saying….I wouldn’t smash a God image…really? How many times do we speak against those made in His image? We’ve smashed His image. How many times to we disregard His words and follow the words of the world and its ways? We neglect the maintenance of His image and it is broken down, overgrown with moss, hardly recognizable.
It takes strength of character, a guard set, a firm decision to Follow me as I follow Christ It takes a violent people who will not succumb to the world patterns, and it takes the assembly of an army of likminded to maintain that kind of faith- so, “Where are you?” and “ What are you doing?”
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Genesis 27 Today
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Genesis 27:1-46 -
Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing
1When Isaac was old and almost blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, "My son?" "Yes, Father?" Esau replied.
2"I am an old man now," Isaac said, "and I expect every day to be my last. 3Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows out into the open country, and hunt some wild game for me. 4Prepare it just the way I like it so it's savory and good, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die."
5But Rebekah overheard the conversation. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, 6she said to her son Jacob, "I overheard your father asking Esau 7to prepare him a delicious meal of wild game. He wants to bless Esau in the LORD's presence before he dies. 8Now, my son, do exactly as I tell you. 9Go out to the flocks and bring me two fine young goats. I'll prepare your father's favorite dish from them. 10Take the food to your father; then he can eat it and bless you instead of Esau before he dies."
11"But Mother!" Jacob replied. "He won't be fooled that easily. Think how hairy Esau is and how smooth my skin is! 12What if my father touches me? He'll see that I'm trying to trick him, and then he'll curse me instead of blessing me."
13"Let the curse fall on me, dear son," said Rebekah. "Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats."
14So Jacob followed his mother's instructions, bringing her the two goats. She took them and cooked a delicious meat dish, just the way Isaac liked it. 15Then she took Esau's best clothes, which were there in the house, and dressed Jacob with them. 16She made him a pair of gloves from the hairy skin of the young goats, and she fastened a strip of the goat's skin around his neck. 17Then she gave him the meat dish, with its rich aroma, and some freshly baked bread. 18Jacob carried the platter of food to his father and said, "My father?" "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it—Esau or Jacob?"
19Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your older son. I've done as you told me. Here is the wild game, cooked the way you like it. Sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing."
20Isaac asked, "How were you able to find it so quickly, my son?" "Because the LORD your God put it in my path!" Jacob replied.
21Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come over here. I want to touch you to make sure you really are Esau." 22So Jacob went over to his father, and Isaac touched him. "The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's," Isaac said to himself. 23But he did not recognize Jacob because Jacob's hands felt hairy just like Esau's. So Isaac pronounced his blessing on Jacob. 24"Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "Yes, of course," Jacob replied.
25Then Isaac said, "Now, my son, bring me the meat. I will eat it, and then I will give you my blessing." So Jacob took the food over to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him. Then Isaac said, 26"Come here and kiss me, my son."
27So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, "The smell of my son is the good smell of the open fields that the LORD has blessed. 28May God always give you plenty of dew for healthy crops and good harvests of grain and wine. 29May many nations become your servants. May you be the master of your brothers. May all your mother's sons bow low before you. All who curse you are cursed, and all who bless you are blessed."
30As soon as Isaac had blessed Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunting trip. 31Esau prepared his father's favorite meat dish and brought it to him. Then he said, "I'm back, Father, and I have the wild game. Sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing."
32But Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "Why, it's me, of course!" he replied. "It's Esau, your older son."
33Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, "Then who was it that just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him with an irrevocable blessing before you came."
34When Esau understood, he let out a loud and bitter cry. "O my father, bless me, too!" he begged.
35But Isaac said, "Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has carried away your blessing."
36Esau said bitterly, "No wonder his name is Jacob, F83 for he has deceived me twice, first taking my birthright and now stealing my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?"
37Isaac said to Esau, "I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is there left to give?"
38Esau pleaded, "Not one blessing left for me? O my father, bless me, too!" Then Esau broke down and wept.
39His father, Isaac, said to him, "You will live off the land and what it yields, 40and you will live by your sword. You will serve your brother for a time, but then you will shake loose from him and be free."
Jacob Flees to Paddan-Aram
41Esau hated Jacob because he had stolen his blessing, and he said to himself, "My father will soon be dead and gone. Then I will kill Jacob."
42But someone got wind of what Esau was planning and reported it to Rebekah. She sent for Jacob and told him, "Esau is threatening to kill you. 43This is what you should do. Flee to your uncle Laban in Haran. 44Stay there with him until your brother's fury is spent. 45When he forgets what you have done, I will send for you. Why should I lose both of you in one day?"
46Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm sick and tired of these local Hittite women. I'd rather die than see Jacob marry one of them."
FOOTNOTES:F83: Jacob means "he grasps the heel"; this can also figuratively mean "he deceives."
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
The root of Esau’s name is: accomplishments, performance, attendance to, laborers, commitment to. It’s what is acquired and passed on. Pressed and squeezed, worked, maintained, established…yielded.
Esau meant “hairy”, which for some reason denotes strength and vigor, possibly has something to do with being under a covering. Submission brings the power of God and thus the covering and strength of God on situations. Esau become Edom when he was “betrayed”, Edom means “red” which refers to earth’s color, the color of dirt, a symbol of the temporary world, in which the natural man is one with, in comparison to the spiritually alive man being one with the plans of God for the earth, a man who’s been born again, redeemed by supernatural blood and who’s citizenship has been changed unto a heavenly kingdom while yet still on earth.
It seems Esau had a spiritual eternal destiny set by God and also set by his natural father, when he was “betrayed” or gave up his right, he relinquished that eternally natured destiny and became as any natural man would. His destiny was merely earth centered, temporary centered. His purposes would be more focused in the earth realm and the working of earth things rather than heavenly matters worked out on earth.
Esau’s destiny was set on a heavenly call for the working of the kingdom of God on earth, as every human being is also called. Choices deem the outcome of this destiny. The destiny is set by God, an offer of sorts, we can take it or leave it, it is always, and always will be, up to us. Anyone can have it, anyone who will take it.
matthew 11:12And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a ‡4 share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.14And if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come [before the kingdom]. 15He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and ‡5 perceive and comprehend by hearing.
To force means to actively obtain, to take it over on purpose, knowing clear well with thought out plan and strategies, as in warfare. An assembled force. One who seizes.
So, anyone at all can have it, if they want it. Let’s just say the offer stood for both Jacob & Esau. Yes the motivations and actions were not up to par. We can see here how Jacob got his deceptive nature. But look who obtained the inheritance.
We have an inheritance to obtain, eternal life for ourselves and for as many others as we can influence in a lifetime. Jesus said- such (who do evil and live for evil) will not inherit the kingdom of God, The kingdom of God IS our inheritance!
There are forces of evil, in the evil realm, who are relentless until they obtain their “prizes”, right? Have you ever seen someone after an addiction? They’ll do anything at any cost, even to the loss of life, even towards great debt, etc to get their fix. It is so sad and of course the perverted extreme, but they are driven with passion for something they HAVE to obtain and they go after it, till they get it. How many of us behave this way about the call of God on all of the peoples of the earth?
Ok, say Esau is me also Jacob is also me. I was told directly by God that my inheritance was now available to me. Or I overheard or was told by someone else that my inheritance was now available for the taking. Both were given the same request, just through different avenues. One directly, the other indirectly The deal?. Get what the father wants, go do what it takes to feed the father, to do what he wants. One is destined, it is his destiny to have the inheritance, he is the heir. He knows he’s the heir, he’s not in any rush, why would he be? He wants to do it just right, just so, like he’s always done in the past. His father knows how he contributes to the family. He deems to make sure he has every detail correct and in correct earthly order, that what he presents his father, whenever he gets there, will be acceptable – in his surmise of the task at hand. He is who he is, he doesn’t need to change, because his father loves him as he is and that’s good. He’ll get what is due any good son.
The only “problem” with this thinking is the time has changed, there are others who heard the plan, who heard the destiny and they can have what’s mine if they want it also. They can change into another man and get it, they have a sense of urgency and they go after it with vigor. Time is of the essence with them. They are more passionate for them, it is as if it is the first time for them, in fact it may very well be for them, a first time, but there’s no time like the present to get what may be coming, what’s available. They go for it as though it is now, now is the time.
They go after the same things, they have to prepare the same meal and plus add in that the element of change, that should have taken them longer to get there ahead of their brethren, BUT they get there in time and the blessings are given, to them. They took the task more seriously than the ones who thought they had it coming to them as a son. The sons did not see enough to think anyone would move in on the situation, while they were thinking about it casually, someone else moved in and took over what was the other’s true destiny to have. This was not even motivated and acted upon by a direct word, from God, but from a passed along word of another who heard the sound of the father‘s voice, an over hearer acted on the words of the father! Someone who overheard!
How many words of God do you act on that others have heard? Or do you wait to hear that word for yourself, your own personal word, before you act? If so, you may someday arrive in your place, a place destined by the father for you to be in, but another may have already taken what was meant for you to have.
Don’t hate the brother who took your place. He was willing to change, he was willing to act quickly, urgently at the overheard word of the father.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Genesis 27:1-46 -
Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing
1When Isaac was old and almost blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, "My son?" "Yes, Father?" Esau replied.
2"I am an old man now," Isaac said, "and I expect every day to be my last. 3Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows out into the open country, and hunt some wild game for me. 4Prepare it just the way I like it so it's savory and good, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die."
5But Rebekah overheard the conversation. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, 6she said to her son Jacob, "I overheard your father asking Esau 7to prepare him a delicious meal of wild game. He wants to bless Esau in the LORD's presence before he dies. 8Now, my son, do exactly as I tell you. 9Go out to the flocks and bring me two fine young goats. I'll prepare your father's favorite dish from them. 10Take the food to your father; then he can eat it and bless you instead of Esau before he dies."
11"But Mother!" Jacob replied. "He won't be fooled that easily. Think how hairy Esau is and how smooth my skin is! 12What if my father touches me? He'll see that I'm trying to trick him, and then he'll curse me instead of blessing me."
13"Let the curse fall on me, dear son," said Rebekah. "Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats."
14So Jacob followed his mother's instructions, bringing her the two goats. She took them and cooked a delicious meat dish, just the way Isaac liked it. 15Then she took Esau's best clothes, which were there in the house, and dressed Jacob with them. 16She made him a pair of gloves from the hairy skin of the young goats, and she fastened a strip of the goat's skin around his neck. 17Then she gave him the meat dish, with its rich aroma, and some freshly baked bread. 18Jacob carried the platter of food to his father and said, "My father?" "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it—Esau or Jacob?"
19Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your older son. I've done as you told me. Here is the wild game, cooked the way you like it. Sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing."
20Isaac asked, "How were you able to find it so quickly, my son?" "Because the LORD your God put it in my path!" Jacob replied.
21Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come over here. I want to touch you to make sure you really are Esau." 22So Jacob went over to his father, and Isaac touched him. "The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's," Isaac said to himself. 23But he did not recognize Jacob because Jacob's hands felt hairy just like Esau's. So Isaac pronounced his blessing on Jacob. 24"Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "Yes, of course," Jacob replied.
25Then Isaac said, "Now, my son, bring me the meat. I will eat it, and then I will give you my blessing." So Jacob took the food over to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him. Then Isaac said, 26"Come here and kiss me, my son."
27So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, "The smell of my son is the good smell of the open fields that the LORD has blessed. 28May God always give you plenty of dew for healthy crops and good harvests of grain and wine. 29May many nations become your servants. May you be the master of your brothers. May all your mother's sons bow low before you. All who curse you are cursed, and all who bless you are blessed."
30As soon as Isaac had blessed Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunting trip. 31Esau prepared his father's favorite meat dish and brought it to him. Then he said, "I'm back, Father, and I have the wild game. Sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing."
32But Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "Why, it's me, of course!" he replied. "It's Esau, your older son."
33Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, "Then who was it that just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him with an irrevocable blessing before you came."
34When Esau understood, he let out a loud and bitter cry. "O my father, bless me, too!" he begged.
35But Isaac said, "Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has carried away your blessing."
36Esau said bitterly, "No wonder his name is Jacob, F83 for he has deceived me twice, first taking my birthright and now stealing my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?"
37Isaac said to Esau, "I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is there left to give?"
38Esau pleaded, "Not one blessing left for me? O my father, bless me, too!" Then Esau broke down and wept.
39His father, Isaac, said to him, "You will live off the land and what it yields, 40and you will live by your sword. You will serve your brother for a time, but then you will shake loose from him and be free."
Jacob Flees to Paddan-Aram
41Esau hated Jacob because he had stolen his blessing, and he said to himself, "My father will soon be dead and gone. Then I will kill Jacob."
42But someone got wind of what Esau was planning and reported it to Rebekah. She sent for Jacob and told him, "Esau is threatening to kill you. 43This is what you should do. Flee to your uncle Laban in Haran. 44Stay there with him until your brother's fury is spent. 45When he forgets what you have done, I will send for you. Why should I lose both of you in one day?"
46Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm sick and tired of these local Hittite women. I'd rather die than see Jacob marry one of them."
FOOTNOTES:F83: Jacob means "he grasps the heel"; this can also figuratively mean "he deceives."
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’
The root of Esau’s name is: accomplishments, performance, attendance to, laborers, commitment to. It’s what is acquired and passed on. Pressed and squeezed, worked, maintained, established…yielded.
Esau meant “hairy”, which for some reason denotes strength and vigor, possibly has something to do with being under a covering. Submission brings the power of God and thus the covering and strength of God on situations. Esau become Edom when he was “betrayed”, Edom means “red” which refers to earth’s color, the color of dirt, a symbol of the temporary world, in which the natural man is one with, in comparison to the spiritually alive man being one with the plans of God for the earth, a man who’s been born again, redeemed by supernatural blood and who’s citizenship has been changed unto a heavenly kingdom while yet still on earth.
It seems Esau had a spiritual eternal destiny set by God and also set by his natural father, when he was “betrayed” or gave up his right, he relinquished that eternally natured destiny and became as any natural man would. His destiny was merely earth centered, temporary centered. His purposes would be more focused in the earth realm and the working of earth things rather than heavenly matters worked out on earth.
Esau’s destiny was set on a heavenly call for the working of the kingdom of God on earth, as every human being is also called. Choices deem the outcome of this destiny. The destiny is set by God, an offer of sorts, we can take it or leave it, it is always, and always will be, up to us. Anyone can have it, anyone who will take it.
matthew 11:12And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a ‡4 share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.14And if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come [before the kingdom]. 15He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and ‡5 perceive and comprehend by hearing.
To force means to actively obtain, to take it over on purpose, knowing clear well with thought out plan and strategies, as in warfare. An assembled force. One who seizes.
So, anyone at all can have it, if they want it. Let’s just say the offer stood for both Jacob & Esau. Yes the motivations and actions were not up to par. We can see here how Jacob got his deceptive nature. But look who obtained the inheritance.
We have an inheritance to obtain, eternal life for ourselves and for as many others as we can influence in a lifetime. Jesus said- such (who do evil and live for evil) will not inherit the kingdom of God, The kingdom of God IS our inheritance!
There are forces of evil, in the evil realm, who are relentless until they obtain their “prizes”, right? Have you ever seen someone after an addiction? They’ll do anything at any cost, even to the loss of life, even towards great debt, etc to get their fix. It is so sad and of course the perverted extreme, but they are driven with passion for something they HAVE to obtain and they go after it, till they get it. How many of us behave this way about the call of God on all of the peoples of the earth?
Ok, say Esau is me also Jacob is also me. I was told directly by God that my inheritance was now available to me. Or I overheard or was told by someone else that my inheritance was now available for the taking. Both were given the same request, just through different avenues. One directly, the other indirectly The deal?. Get what the father wants, go do what it takes to feed the father, to do what he wants. One is destined, it is his destiny to have the inheritance, he is the heir. He knows he’s the heir, he’s not in any rush, why would he be? He wants to do it just right, just so, like he’s always done in the past. His father knows how he contributes to the family. He deems to make sure he has every detail correct and in correct earthly order, that what he presents his father, whenever he gets there, will be acceptable – in his surmise of the task at hand. He is who he is, he doesn’t need to change, because his father loves him as he is and that’s good. He’ll get what is due any good son.
The only “problem” with this thinking is the time has changed, there are others who heard the plan, who heard the destiny and they can have what’s mine if they want it also. They can change into another man and get it, they have a sense of urgency and they go after it with vigor. Time is of the essence with them. They are more passionate for them, it is as if it is the first time for them, in fact it may very well be for them, a first time, but there’s no time like the present to get what may be coming, what’s available. They go for it as though it is now, now is the time.
They go after the same things, they have to prepare the same meal and plus add in that the element of change, that should have taken them longer to get there ahead of their brethren, BUT they get there in time and the blessings are given, to them. They took the task more seriously than the ones who thought they had it coming to them as a son. The sons did not see enough to think anyone would move in on the situation, while they were thinking about it casually, someone else moved in and took over what was the other’s true destiny to have. This was not even motivated and acted upon by a direct word, from God, but from a passed along word of another who heard the sound of the father‘s voice, an over hearer acted on the words of the father! Someone who overheard!
How many words of God do you act on that others have heard? Or do you wait to hear that word for yourself, your own personal word, before you act? If so, you may someday arrive in your place, a place destined by the father for you to be in, but another may have already taken what was meant for you to have.
Don’t hate the brother who took your place. He was willing to change, he was willing to act quickly, urgently at the overheard word of the father.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Genesis 14 Scroll ALL the WAY Down! :-) TODAY
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Genesis 14:1-24 -
Abram Rescues Lot
1About this time war broke out in the region. King Amraphel of Babylonia, F48 King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim 2fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (now called Zoar).
3The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela formed an alliance and mobilized their armies in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea F49 ). 4For twelve years they had all been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but now in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5One year later, Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived. They conquered the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in the plain of Kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness. 7Then they swung around to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and destroyed the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
8But now the army of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (now called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea F50 9against King Kedorlaomer of Elam and the kings of Goiim, Babylonia, and Ellasar—four kings against five. 10As it happened, the valley was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some slipped into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains. 11The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and began their long journey home, taking all the wealth and food with them. 12They also captured Lot—Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom—and took everything he owned. 13One of the men who escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was camped at the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram's allies.
14When Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called together the men born into his household, 318 of them in all. He chased after Kedorlaomer's army until he caught up with them in Dan. 15There he divided his men and attacked during the night from several directions. Kedorlaomer's army fled, but Abram chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Abram and his allies recovered everything—the goods that had been taken, Abram's nephew Lot with his possessions, and all the women and other captives.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
17As Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought him bread and wine. 19Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies."
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
21The king of Sodom told him, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered."
22Abram replied, "I have solemnly promised the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from you. Otherwise you might say, 'I am the one who made Abram rich!' 24All I'll accept is what these young men of mine have already eaten. But give a share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre."
FOOTNOTES:F48: Hebrew Shinar; also in 14:9. F49: Hebrew Salt Sea. F50: Hebrew in Siddim Valley; see 14:3.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Whether we are aware or not, war has broken out. I’m not speaking of the war in the Middle East or anywhere else, man against man. I’m speaking of a spiritual war between light and darkness, truth and lie, God and satan and for the souls of human beings destined by God to be with Him both now and forever.
There is a Destiny designed by God, it will come to pass, no matter what we ever do or do not decide. The motion of the spiritual world is set and no one can stop its forces from executing its judgments.
Where does that leave us? With choices. As freewill beings we have been given the freedom of choice by God. Yet one choice gives true freedom, while another gives complete eternal bondage. One likes that they are “free” to choose, yet if they are wise, choice is a test of wisdom, they will seek guidance and the expression of obedience when choosing.
The thing about this war is we know the outcome. Knowing the outcome, let’s choose a side.
One cannot serve God for a period of time and then rebel without consequence; One must go all the way. Some say, but it is hard to obey God, it is hard to serve God. Really? How hard? This is where one must look to the end, fast forwarding the destiny tape. Now, what is hard? Exactly. One must look at the outcome, not the circumstantial evidences. Those are only distractions and smoke screens to the truth revealed.
This is serious, the time is very, very serious. Do not be deceived by situations in life that seem hard, nothing is truly hard except being eternally separated from God’s redeeming presence!
Abram went out from his place of sanctuary and reached into darkness to save a soul from an eternally dark destiny. Abram had a whole kingdom unto himself and could have stayed comfy cozy there, but he chose to come outside of where he was dwelling for himself and his family, take some reinforcements and get a soul out of the destiny of darkness and lies. He was not satisfied until he recovered all that was to be recovered.
Lot was quite possibly enjoying where it was he was living also, maybe he never saw a threat of warfare, until it came. He was in darkness and in darkness it is quite hard to see things from afar off.
Sodom means burning and Gomorrah means immersed. That was/is the destiny of those who live there under the ruler of Sodom. Salem means peace- as in eternal peace.
Notice Abram blessed God for the salvation of souls. It was not unto himself this victory was had, it was unto the purposes of His Father, and God blessed him in return. I think of seek 1st the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto you.
Abram recovered and that meant he had a few extra things than he’d had before. In honor of the Lord he gave, he gave a specified honorable and significant amount, a tithe. Representative of the whole without requiring the whole. In giving a tenth of the whole off of the top, first (seek first) he was saying , “Lord, all of this, all of this reward, all of this effort, all of this life, and the souls of men I’ve gained is for YOU!”
The king of Sodom wanted in on that, he wanted his portion, he came for what he could recover out of what was recovered. One would think they’d captured the people, ahh take a deep breath, but no the war was not over and will not be over till death. This war will go on till the end and one must be all in until then. The enemy was there at the time Abram was making this significant gift. The enemy was there hoping to negotiate at least some of the plunder. I mean aren’t you happy to have at least some of the victory, at least you and those you love are safe, right? It’s ok to settle, right? NO it is NOT. That is not enough as we can well see, if the enemy wants more it is not enough, it is not over.
What have we promised the Lord? Have we promised to give Him our whole lives? Do we sing songs like, “Take All of Me”? Did we commit to serve and love Him forever. What did we do at that church altar, the day we got saved? Did we only want part and give some of the rest to the enemy, or did we want Him to save us to the uttermost? We can’t have some of this and some of that, it’s impossible.
Did you ever hear the brownie story? Makin’ a batch of brownies, yum yum. My kids would ask, when are they done? There’s one catch, there’s some doggie doo-doo in the brownies. What, are you crazy? Why would you do that? That does sound crazy doesn’t it? That is what it is like when we say a mere prayer to God and do not go all of the way through with our commitment. When we give parts of our lives to God and save other parts back for sin.
It sounds stupidly ridiculous to put just a pinch of doggie doo doo in the brownies, but that is exactly what we’ve done with our Christianity when we mix it up with the pleasures of self and the world.
Abram said, absolutely NOT, NO, period. I will not give anything to the prince of evil, nothing.
So the enemy offers him things, lots of things, things that would make Abram appear rich in goods, in stuff gained, but the enemy asks for it in exchange for souls. Abram says,No, absolutely not!
Please listen to me, this is exactly what is happening today, exactly. Don’t be deceived, don’t be fooled. It is true.
I’ve got to work? Why? For money.
Ok, that is true. But how much money do you have to work for? How much money do you have to give your life in service for? Has the god of this world lied to you, enslaving you to debts and told you that you have to? Are you living your life to get things, more and more things, riches? Or are you living to serve God and save SOULS? What about your kids, do you lose their souls in exchange for money, or do you tell them by your actions and example, that money is the one to serve?
If the saving of souls is important, the most important thing to you, how long will you take to join the company, the assembly for the righteous who strategize this and so for souls, disciples who go all out in everything they do, whether they work or don’t work? How long until your children, naturally and spiritually speaking, will see THAT example. The example that speaks louder than words and say I’m all for God’s kingdom. All in?
The King of Sodom (satan-god of this world) says go ahead and give me the people(-s) souls) and you get and keep the goods, ok? Are we as Abram and say NO absolutely NOT, or have we said no, and turned around and given our children to the world, the world system, and because of having more things and more fun things to do, we’ve sacrificed the souls?
When was the last time you and your child missed Church & Bible Study group? Why did you miss? If we re-arranged to make church and study, we spoke to them of what was truly important. They are smart, they know.
I remember when I was a youngster and rebellious in nature I wanted things proven in order to believe them. My mom would say don’t do such and such or she’d tell me such and such was important. I would not believe her at all, if she did not do it herself. Her words were cheap to me, because I wanted to see her walk out what she said. She was older than me and wiser. I wanted to see an older and wiser person do what was important or not do what wasn’t. Kids need living proof of what is truth and what is a lie. To them we are the living truth.
We can’t say God and church are very important and miss weeks at a time. If we go to church 3 times a week we’ve given 3% of our time in a week to God, on purpose, that’s not even a tenth. Do we really think that if we miss for this that and the other, that our kids or others we tell that God is important to us will believe us? Would you believe something was important if someone gave 1% to it? 1%! ½ %? Yet they give 50% to making money and like 20% to watching TV. The percentages speak for themselves.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Genesis 14:1-24 -
Abram Rescues Lot
1About this time war broke out in the region. King Amraphel of Babylonia, F48 King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim 2fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (now called Zoar).
3The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela formed an alliance and mobilized their armies in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea F49 ). 4For twelve years they had all been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but now in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5One year later, Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived. They conquered the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in the plain of Kiriathaim, 6and the Horites in Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness. 7Then they swung around to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and destroyed the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
8But now the army of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (now called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea F50 9against King Kedorlaomer of Elam and the kings of Goiim, Babylonia, and Ellasar—four kings against five. 10As it happened, the valley was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some slipped into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains. 11The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and began their long journey home, taking all the wealth and food with them. 12They also captured Lot—Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom—and took everything he owned. 13One of the men who escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was camped at the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram's allies.
14When Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called together the men born into his household, 318 of them in all. He chased after Kedorlaomer's army until he caught up with them in Dan. 15There he divided his men and attacked during the night from several directions. Kedorlaomer's army fled, but Abram chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Abram and his allies recovered everything—the goods that had been taken, Abram's nephew Lot with his possessions, and all the women and other captives.
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
17As Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought him bread and wine. 19Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies."
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
21The king of Sodom told him, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered."
22Abram replied, "I have solemnly promised the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from you. Otherwise you might say, 'I am the one who made Abram rich!' 24All I'll accept is what these young men of mine have already eaten. But give a share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre."
FOOTNOTES:F48: Hebrew Shinar; also in 14:9. F49: Hebrew Salt Sea. F50: Hebrew in Siddim Valley; see 14:3.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Whether we are aware or not, war has broken out. I’m not speaking of the war in the Middle East or anywhere else, man against man. I’m speaking of a spiritual war between light and darkness, truth and lie, God and satan and for the souls of human beings destined by God to be with Him both now and forever.
There is a Destiny designed by God, it will come to pass, no matter what we ever do or do not decide. The motion of the spiritual world is set and no one can stop its forces from executing its judgments.
Where does that leave us? With choices. As freewill beings we have been given the freedom of choice by God. Yet one choice gives true freedom, while another gives complete eternal bondage. One likes that they are “free” to choose, yet if they are wise, choice is a test of wisdom, they will seek guidance and the expression of obedience when choosing.
The thing about this war is we know the outcome. Knowing the outcome, let’s choose a side.
One cannot serve God for a period of time and then rebel without consequence; One must go all the way. Some say, but it is hard to obey God, it is hard to serve God. Really? How hard? This is where one must look to the end, fast forwarding the destiny tape. Now, what is hard? Exactly. One must look at the outcome, not the circumstantial evidences. Those are only distractions and smoke screens to the truth revealed.
This is serious, the time is very, very serious. Do not be deceived by situations in life that seem hard, nothing is truly hard except being eternally separated from God’s redeeming presence!
Abram went out from his place of sanctuary and reached into darkness to save a soul from an eternally dark destiny. Abram had a whole kingdom unto himself and could have stayed comfy cozy there, but he chose to come outside of where he was dwelling for himself and his family, take some reinforcements and get a soul out of the destiny of darkness and lies. He was not satisfied until he recovered all that was to be recovered.
Lot was quite possibly enjoying where it was he was living also, maybe he never saw a threat of warfare, until it came. He was in darkness and in darkness it is quite hard to see things from afar off.
Sodom means burning and Gomorrah means immersed. That was/is the destiny of those who live there under the ruler of Sodom. Salem means peace- as in eternal peace.
Notice Abram blessed God for the salvation of souls. It was not unto himself this victory was had, it was unto the purposes of His Father, and God blessed him in return. I think of seek 1st the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto you.
Abram recovered and that meant he had a few extra things than he’d had before. In honor of the Lord he gave, he gave a specified honorable and significant amount, a tithe. Representative of the whole without requiring the whole. In giving a tenth of the whole off of the top, first (seek first) he was saying , “Lord, all of this, all of this reward, all of this effort, all of this life, and the souls of men I’ve gained is for YOU!”
The king of Sodom wanted in on that, he wanted his portion, he came for what he could recover out of what was recovered. One would think they’d captured the people, ahh take a deep breath, but no the war was not over and will not be over till death. This war will go on till the end and one must be all in until then. The enemy was there at the time Abram was making this significant gift. The enemy was there hoping to negotiate at least some of the plunder. I mean aren’t you happy to have at least some of the victory, at least you and those you love are safe, right? It’s ok to settle, right? NO it is NOT. That is not enough as we can well see, if the enemy wants more it is not enough, it is not over.
What have we promised the Lord? Have we promised to give Him our whole lives? Do we sing songs like, “Take All of Me”? Did we commit to serve and love Him forever. What did we do at that church altar, the day we got saved? Did we only want part and give some of the rest to the enemy, or did we want Him to save us to the uttermost? We can’t have some of this and some of that, it’s impossible.
Did you ever hear the brownie story? Makin’ a batch of brownies, yum yum. My kids would ask, when are they done? There’s one catch, there’s some doggie doo-doo in the brownies. What, are you crazy? Why would you do that? That does sound crazy doesn’t it? That is what it is like when we say a mere prayer to God and do not go all of the way through with our commitment. When we give parts of our lives to God and save other parts back for sin.
It sounds stupidly ridiculous to put just a pinch of doggie doo doo in the brownies, but that is exactly what we’ve done with our Christianity when we mix it up with the pleasures of self and the world.
Abram said, absolutely NOT, NO, period. I will not give anything to the prince of evil, nothing.
So the enemy offers him things, lots of things, things that would make Abram appear rich in goods, in stuff gained, but the enemy asks for it in exchange for souls. Abram says,No, absolutely not!
Please listen to me, this is exactly what is happening today, exactly. Don’t be deceived, don’t be fooled. It is true.
I’ve got to work? Why? For money.
Ok, that is true. But how much money do you have to work for? How much money do you have to give your life in service for? Has the god of this world lied to you, enslaving you to debts and told you that you have to? Are you living your life to get things, more and more things, riches? Or are you living to serve God and save SOULS? What about your kids, do you lose their souls in exchange for money, or do you tell them by your actions and example, that money is the one to serve?
If the saving of souls is important, the most important thing to you, how long will you take to join the company, the assembly for the righteous who strategize this and so for souls, disciples who go all out in everything they do, whether they work or don’t work? How long until your children, naturally and spiritually speaking, will see THAT example. The example that speaks louder than words and say I’m all for God’s kingdom. All in?
The King of Sodom (satan-god of this world) says go ahead and give me the people(-s) souls) and you get and keep the goods, ok? Are we as Abram and say NO absolutely NOT, or have we said no, and turned around and given our children to the world, the world system, and because of having more things and more fun things to do, we’ve sacrificed the souls?
When was the last time you and your child missed Church & Bible Study group? Why did you miss? If we re-arranged to make church and study, we spoke to them of what was truly important. They are smart, they know.
I remember when I was a youngster and rebellious in nature I wanted things proven in order to believe them. My mom would say don’t do such and such or she’d tell me such and such was important. I would not believe her at all, if she did not do it herself. Her words were cheap to me, because I wanted to see her walk out what she said. She was older than me and wiser. I wanted to see an older and wiser person do what was important or not do what wasn’t. Kids need living proof of what is truth and what is a lie. To them we are the living truth.
We can’t say God and church are very important and miss weeks at a time. If we go to church 3 times a week we’ve given 3% of our time in a week to God, on purpose, that’s not even a tenth. Do we really think that if we miss for this that and the other, that our kids or others we tell that God is important to us will believe us? Would you believe something was important if someone gave 1% to it? 1%! ½ %? Yet they give 50% to making money and like 20% to watching TV. The percentages speak for themselves.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Today Genesis 28 Jacob- Esau Obedience vs Rebellion in action
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Genesis 28:1-22 -
1So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and said, "Do not marry any of these Canaanite women. 2Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban's daughters. 3May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants become a great assembly of nations! 4May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where we now are foreigners, for God gave it to Abraham."
5So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle Laban, his mother's brother, the son of Bethuel the Aramean.
6Esau heard that his father had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman. 7He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram. 8It was now very clear to Esau that his father despised the local Canaanite women. 9So he visited his uncle Ishmael's family and married one of Ishmael's daughters, in addition to the wives he already had. His new wife's name was Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son.
Jacob's Dream at Bethel
10Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone for a pillow and lay down to sleep. 12As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down on it.
13At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, "I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I will give it to you and your descendants. 14Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will cover the land from east to west and from north to south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. F84 15What's more, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. I will someday bring you safely back to this land. I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised."
16Then Jacob woke up and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it." 17He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God—the gateway to heaven!" 18The next morning he got up very early. He took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. 19He named the place Bethel—"house of God"—though the name of the nearby village was Luz.
20Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will be with me and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothing, 21and if he will bring me back safely to my father, then I will make the LORD my God. 22This memorial pillar will become a place for worshiping God, and I will give God a tenth of everything he gives me."
FOOTNOTES:F84: Hebrew seed.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Joy called to the - yet to continue towards changing- Christian man and in seeing the vision of His future –to- be walked out inside of Christ. Walking him towards success in the journey of God’s kingdom. He said don’t marry one’s who do not have and are not seeking the same spirit life you seek. Don’t go into a daily covenantal lifestyle with those who do not know Me and may never come to know Me. When they do not know Me, you have no promise that they will change their minds to come to know Me, though you may stand for it to come to pass through your whole life long, and you may be an example, etc, yet they may decide against Me and you’ll have spent a lifetime of covenant potential, on the hope of possibly winning of only one soul, when nations could have been brought forth, armies of God assembled through you.
Instead go to the field of the Lord, go to the men of God, those who continually dwell in Zion. There join covenant with one who is pure in heart, who’s heart is set towards Me. Marry one who is a daughter (or son) by spiritual birth. From there My nation will rise up through your family and I will have My way in the earth through your seed. My kingdom will multiply, rather than barely make it off of the ground!
So one destined to be changed (Jacob – deceiver, would become prince with God- Israel), obeyed the words of His father and his mother in this and set out to do what was told him.
Esau, (meaning hairy-the root word is fashioned, like destined, like set to become and be something and someone), he set out to oppose all that his father and mother had said. He desired to rebel on purpose, to disgrace on purpose, to contend on purpose! He was in rebellion against the will of God so set out to live for his own proposed pleasure rather than to give God pleasure.
Each of us on any given day can be either an Esau or a Jacob/Israel. The character and heart is the matter. Which are we? Ones who seek after self exaltation or Divine-kingdom exaltation? Self furtherance or kingdom furtherance? What are we interested in, pleasing our own selves temporarily, or entering into a lifelong covenant relationship with our Father God? Where one’s treasure is, is where their heart is found. It shows up in everyday decisions and behaviors.
Don’t tell someone you’d like to come to their Bible Study but you don’t ever show up. Your action has spoken louder than your words. We have to do it to show it. We’re blessed in what we do, not merely what we say. Words are cheap without back up. We are living out what we REALLY believe. REALLY. That should cause us to take a good look at our lives and see what might need re-evaluating where serving and loving God in expression is concerned.
Jacob made a move towards the obedience of covenant, he headed in the proper direction, his attitude was one of obedience, but there would have been no accounting of such had he not turned and went towards Bethuel. He couldn’t stay at home and keep saying I want a wife from my mother’s family. He had to put action to his words and make them more than good motivation and well wishes.
Haran means burning. As he set out to do the father’s will, he found that part of his old nature must be taken away and die off of him in order to make the journey and go all the way towards the obedience. Had he not set out, he’d not see that and he’d end up staying as he was where he was, the same old deceptive Jacob 1, a mere naturally born man.
In going towards the pleasure of his father, he met God.
A man had spoken a promise of God over him before he left, in seeing he’d voiced desire to do God’s will, his natural father pronounced a blessing over his life, now that he went towards the fulfillment of the obedience God spoke up, solidifying and confirming with power, the words of the natural father and more, God placed on his life the words of his spiritual Father and his divine destiny. That is what is awaiting each of us who wish to obey, but we have to more than wish, we have to Go and obey God. Sometimes that starts by obeying men. If we can obey a mere man, we can obey God. Man is our test of obedience to God. He often leads us to the next step. We’ve been led to the Lord by men.
Steps of obedience bring heaven to earth. Divine covenant engaged in brings forth spiritual fruit. Going out, moving out in faith bring us to meet with Divine Destiny. Don’t ask God why your dreams have not come true, as though He’s held them back, He’s been waiting on you! If we stay in one place, we’ll never get there, never. We are deceived if we wonder why God didn’t do it to us or make us into the dream. It was a matter of our wills, how much did we want it? Enough to go get it or go out and become it? Enough to lay down our own pleasure and make sacrifices of our own plans to live out His dreams? Even possibly choosing that over non-covenantal behaviors and relationships?
Ever ask God what His dreams are and how they might be made to come true? By you? He’s been waiting for you to ask, in hopes that is, that you’d ask, that you’ll want to do His dreams, be His dreams. The man or woman of His dreams.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Genesis 28:1-22 -
1So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and said, "Do not marry any of these Canaanite women. 2Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban's daughters. 3May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants become a great assembly of nations! 4May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where we now are foreigners, for God gave it to Abraham."
5So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle Laban, his mother's brother, the son of Bethuel the Aramean.
6Esau heard that his father had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman. 7He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram. 8It was now very clear to Esau that his father despised the local Canaanite women. 9So he visited his uncle Ishmael's family and married one of Ishmael's daughters, in addition to the wives he already had. His new wife's name was Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son.
Jacob's Dream at Bethel
10Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone for a pillow and lay down to sleep. 12As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down on it.
13At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, "I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I will give it to you and your descendants. 14Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will cover the land from east to west and from north to south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. F84 15What's more, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. I will someday bring you safely back to this land. I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised."
16Then Jacob woke up and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it." 17He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God—the gateway to heaven!" 18The next morning he got up very early. He took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. 19He named the place Bethel—"house of God"—though the name of the nearby village was Luz.
20Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will be with me and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothing, 21and if he will bring me back safely to my father, then I will make the LORD my God. 22This memorial pillar will become a place for worshiping God, and I will give God a tenth of everything he gives me."
FOOTNOTES:F84: Hebrew seed.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Joy called to the - yet to continue towards changing- Christian man and in seeing the vision of His future –to- be walked out inside of Christ. Walking him towards success in the journey of God’s kingdom. He said don’t marry one’s who do not have and are not seeking the same spirit life you seek. Don’t go into a daily covenantal lifestyle with those who do not know Me and may never come to know Me. When they do not know Me, you have no promise that they will change their minds to come to know Me, though you may stand for it to come to pass through your whole life long, and you may be an example, etc, yet they may decide against Me and you’ll have spent a lifetime of covenant potential, on the hope of possibly winning of only one soul, when nations could have been brought forth, armies of God assembled through you.
Instead go to the field of the Lord, go to the men of God, those who continually dwell in Zion. There join covenant with one who is pure in heart, who’s heart is set towards Me. Marry one who is a daughter (or son) by spiritual birth. From there My nation will rise up through your family and I will have My way in the earth through your seed. My kingdom will multiply, rather than barely make it off of the ground!
So one destined to be changed (Jacob – deceiver, would become prince with God- Israel), obeyed the words of His father and his mother in this and set out to do what was told him.
Esau, (meaning hairy-the root word is fashioned, like destined, like set to become and be something and someone), he set out to oppose all that his father and mother had said. He desired to rebel on purpose, to disgrace on purpose, to contend on purpose! He was in rebellion against the will of God so set out to live for his own proposed pleasure rather than to give God pleasure.
Each of us on any given day can be either an Esau or a Jacob/Israel. The character and heart is the matter. Which are we? Ones who seek after self exaltation or Divine-kingdom exaltation? Self furtherance or kingdom furtherance? What are we interested in, pleasing our own selves temporarily, or entering into a lifelong covenant relationship with our Father God? Where one’s treasure is, is where their heart is found. It shows up in everyday decisions and behaviors.
Don’t tell someone you’d like to come to their Bible Study but you don’t ever show up. Your action has spoken louder than your words. We have to do it to show it. We’re blessed in what we do, not merely what we say. Words are cheap without back up. We are living out what we REALLY believe. REALLY. That should cause us to take a good look at our lives and see what might need re-evaluating where serving and loving God in expression is concerned.
Jacob made a move towards the obedience of covenant, he headed in the proper direction, his attitude was one of obedience, but there would have been no accounting of such had he not turned and went towards Bethuel. He couldn’t stay at home and keep saying I want a wife from my mother’s family. He had to put action to his words and make them more than good motivation and well wishes.
Haran means burning. As he set out to do the father’s will, he found that part of his old nature must be taken away and die off of him in order to make the journey and go all the way towards the obedience. Had he not set out, he’d not see that and he’d end up staying as he was where he was, the same old deceptive Jacob 1, a mere naturally born man.
In going towards the pleasure of his father, he met God.
A man had spoken a promise of God over him before he left, in seeing he’d voiced desire to do God’s will, his natural father pronounced a blessing over his life, now that he went towards the fulfillment of the obedience God spoke up, solidifying and confirming with power, the words of the natural father and more, God placed on his life the words of his spiritual Father and his divine destiny. That is what is awaiting each of us who wish to obey, but we have to more than wish, we have to Go and obey God. Sometimes that starts by obeying men. If we can obey a mere man, we can obey God. Man is our test of obedience to God. He often leads us to the next step. We’ve been led to the Lord by men.
Steps of obedience bring heaven to earth. Divine covenant engaged in brings forth spiritual fruit. Going out, moving out in faith bring us to meet with Divine Destiny. Don’t ask God why your dreams have not come true, as though He’s held them back, He’s been waiting on you! If we stay in one place, we’ll never get there, never. We are deceived if we wonder why God didn’t do it to us or make us into the dream. It was a matter of our wills, how much did we want it? Enough to go get it or go out and become it? Enough to lay down our own pleasure and make sacrifices of our own plans to live out His dreams? Even possibly choosing that over non-covenantal behaviors and relationships?
Ever ask God what His dreams are and how they might be made to come true? By you? He’s been waiting for you to ask, in hopes that is, that you’d ask, that you’ll want to do His dreams, be His dreams. The man or woman of His dreams.
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
John 1:1-51
Christ, the Eternal Word
1In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. 4Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6God sent John the Baptist 7to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.
10But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. 11Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.
14So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. F1 And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
15John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'"
16We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another. F2 17For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, F3 is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants F4 from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah. 20He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said.
21"Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet?" F5 "No."
22"Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?"
23John replied in the words of Isaiah:
"I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming!'" F6
24Then those who were sent by the Pharisees 25asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"
26John told them, "I baptize with F7 water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know, 27who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave. F8 " 28This incident took place at Bethany, a village east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' 31I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel."
32Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God. F9 "
The First Disciples
35The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and then declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" 37Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus.
38Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39"Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place, and they stayed there the rest of the day.
40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means the Christ).
42Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "You are Simon, the son of John—but you will be called Cephas" (which means Peter F10 ).
43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, be my disciple." 44Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.
45Philip went off to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."
46"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?" "Just come and see for yourself," Philip said.
47As they approached, Jesus said, "Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel."
48"How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked. And Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."
49Nathanael replied, "Teacher, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!"
50Jesus asked him, "Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." 51Then he said, "The truth is, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down upon the Son of Man." F11
FOOTNOTES:F1: Greek grace and truth; also in 1:17. F2: Greek grace upon grace. F3: Some manuscripts read his one and only Son. F4: Greek and Levites. F5: See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6. F6: Isa 40:3. F7: Or in; also in 1:31, 33. F8: Greek to untie his sandals. F9: Some manuscripts read the chosen One of God. F10: The names Cephas and Peter both mean "rock." F11: See Gen 28:10-17, the account of Jacob's ladder.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
To all who believe and accept Him, He gave the right to become children, to be made new persons in the spirit; where I become spiritually alive unto God’s eternal purposes. These promises are given, and received by a choice, an act of the will to decide then prove faith in by the evidences in a changed life.
Do we believe? Have we received? Are we pointing the WAY, as John did? John means beloved. The beloved points the way. Are you loved? Do you love? Then point.
Do you shout or whisper His name? Are you afraid of God or the world? Whom you fear is whom you serve. Whom you give enough respect to respect- is who we serve. Who do we serve? The world? Self? God?
When is the Lord coming? How do we know? He’s coming at any time that anyone believes and receives and tells about Him. THAT is His appearing to and for someone.
Do you see Him enough to tell someone, “Here He is”?” telling is the evidence that faith has truly come.
What is baptism? Saturation with or immersion in? The water is the word of God, the spirit is His Holy presence and breath of spiritual life, Are we sprinkled, saturated or immersed in His word and spirit life? If not, why not? We choose.
When one sees they can believe. I’m speaking of spiritual insight, not natural signs. It takes a revelation to “see” Him as He is, The WAY The Truth and THE life. One must see this to believe and for Him to appear to and for them.
When one sees there are certain evidences that they have seen. They believe, they receive, they are immersed in the desire to know more. When a true conversion has been made, a life changes for good. That person becomes one who follows and who leads others to Christ..
Do you follow after someone who also leads others to Christ? If not, why not? Are they human? Yes, and imperfect also, that’s why they follow Christ. Go ahead and follow after someone who follows Christ, don’t worry, trust Your Father-God! He set the kingdom up that way. Become a disciple, make disciples. Go ahead. R U saved? THAT is fruit, evidence of true salvation received and proving Christ in the earth.
This is why we all were born again, to follow Him and not stay alone in our following. We follow with someone in front of us and many behind us.
There’s an awesome little 100 page book, that is cheap- can get it off the internet. It will help you follow and want to follow. It is called, “The master’s Plan of Evangelism” by Robert Coleman. You can get it used for $2
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800786246/002-3681597-9376021?v=glance&n=283155 .
Every Christian believer should read it,. It was written in 1963! And because of its truth, it is still a fresh idea from God’s mind that is applicable today. It is on the discipleship principle Jesus showed us here in John 1.
Buy a copy and get another for a friend and potential disciple. Do that part by faith and then wait for the opportunity to save someone and have them follow you. He made us to be fishers of men. Go Fish!
God Bless You!
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
John 1:1-51
Christ, the Eternal Word
1In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. 4Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6God sent John the Baptist 7to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.
10But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. 11Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.
14So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. F1 And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
15John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'"
16We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another. F2 17For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, F3 is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants F4 from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah. 20He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said.
21"Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet?" F5 "No."
22"Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?"
23John replied in the words of Isaiah:
"I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming!'" F6
24Then those who were sent by the Pharisees 25asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"
26John told them, "I baptize with F7 water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know, 27who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave. F8 " 28This incident took place at Bethany, a village east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' 31I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel."
32Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God. F9 "
The First Disciples
35The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and then declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" 37Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus.
38Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39"Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place, and they stayed there the rest of the day.
40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means the Christ).
42Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "You are Simon, the son of John—but you will be called Cephas" (which means Peter F10 ).
43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, be my disciple." 44Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.
45Philip went off to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."
46"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?" "Just come and see for yourself," Philip said.
47As they approached, Jesus said, "Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel."
48"How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked. And Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."
49Nathanael replied, "Teacher, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!"
50Jesus asked him, "Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." 51Then he said, "The truth is, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down upon the Son of Man." F11
FOOTNOTES:F1: Greek grace and truth; also in 1:17. F2: Greek grace upon grace. F3: Some manuscripts read his one and only Son. F4: Greek and Levites. F5: See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6. F6: Isa 40:3. F7: Or in; also in 1:31, 33. F8: Greek to untie his sandals. F9: Some manuscripts read the chosen One of God. F10: The names Cephas and Peter both mean "rock." F11: See Gen 28:10-17, the account of Jacob's ladder.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
To all who believe and accept Him, He gave the right to become children, to be made new persons in the spirit; where I become spiritually alive unto God’s eternal purposes. These promises are given, and received by a choice, an act of the will to decide then prove faith in by the evidences in a changed life.
Do we believe? Have we received? Are we pointing the WAY, as John did? John means beloved. The beloved points the way. Are you loved? Do you love? Then point.
Do you shout or whisper His name? Are you afraid of God or the world? Whom you fear is whom you serve. Whom you give enough respect to respect- is who we serve. Who do we serve? The world? Self? God?
When is the Lord coming? How do we know? He’s coming at any time that anyone believes and receives and tells about Him. THAT is His appearing to and for someone.
Do you see Him enough to tell someone, “Here He is”?” telling is the evidence that faith has truly come.
What is baptism? Saturation with or immersion in? The water is the word of God, the spirit is His Holy presence and breath of spiritual life, Are we sprinkled, saturated or immersed in His word and spirit life? If not, why not? We choose.
When one sees they can believe. I’m speaking of spiritual insight, not natural signs. It takes a revelation to “see” Him as He is, The WAY The Truth and THE life. One must see this to believe and for Him to appear to and for them.
When one sees there are certain evidences that they have seen. They believe, they receive, they are immersed in the desire to know more. When a true conversion has been made, a life changes for good. That person becomes one who follows and who leads others to Christ..
Do you follow after someone who also leads others to Christ? If not, why not? Are they human? Yes, and imperfect also, that’s why they follow Christ. Go ahead and follow after someone who follows Christ, don’t worry, trust Your Father-God! He set the kingdom up that way. Become a disciple, make disciples. Go ahead. R U saved? THAT is fruit, evidence of true salvation received and proving Christ in the earth.
This is why we all were born again, to follow Him and not stay alone in our following. We follow with someone in front of us and many behind us.
There’s an awesome little 100 page book, that is cheap- can get it off the internet. It will help you follow and want to follow. It is called, “The master’s Plan of Evangelism” by Robert Coleman. You can get it used for $2
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800786246/002-3681597-9376021?v=glance&n=283155 .
Every Christian believer should read it,. It was written in 1963! And because of its truth, it is still a fresh idea from God’s mind that is applicable today. It is on the discipleship principle Jesus showed us here in John 1.
Buy a copy and get another for a friend and potential disciple. Do that part by faith and then wait for the opportunity to save someone and have them follow you. He made us to be fishers of men. Go Fish!
God Bless You!
Daily Repetitive Verses:
Isaiah 58:12 – in multiple translations….
The Amplified Bible
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
The Holy Bible, New International Version®
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
The New King James Version
Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
GOD'S WORD
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
New Life Bible
And your cities which were destroyed long ago will be built again. You will set up the stones of the bases of the old buildings. You will be called the one who builds again the broken walls, and who makes the streets on which people live like new.
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