The Beauty Of Unity
A Song of degrees of David
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Do You Love God? - Let It Show In Your Living And Giving.
'Every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord' (Leviticus 27:28). We are loved by the holy God. We are precious in His eyes. In love, He has reached out to us - through the Cross of Christ (Romans 5:8). We are 'greatly beloved' (Daniel 9:23). The Lord takes great joy in every sinner who returns to Him (Luke 15:7,10). 'Most holy to the Lord' - This is how the holy God looks upon those who have 'faith in Jesus' (Romans 3:26). We are to be 'devoted' to the Lord: The Lord must come first - 'All the tithe... is the Lord's' (Leviticus 27:30). The bringing of the tithe (tenth) to God was an outward sign of an inward commitment. Do you love God? - Let it show in your living and giving. Let it be Thanksgiving (I want to) - not Grudge Giving (I have to) or Duty Giving (I ought to): 'God loves a cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Backsliding Can Happen To Anyone! We Must Be Careful!
In 2 Chronicles 17:3, we read of backsliding - in David, Asa and Jehoshaphat. ‘Jehoshaphat walked in the first ways of his father David’(Authorized Version). David, Jehoshaphat’s ancestor, started off so well - ‘the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power’. Things fell apart for him when he set his eyes upon Bathsheba (1 Samuel 17:13; 2 Samuel 11:2-5). ‘Jehoshaphat walked in the earlier ways of his father’(Revised Standard Version). Asa, Jehoshaphat’s father, began well. He did not finish well (2 Chronicles 14:2; 16:12). ‘In his early years Jehoshaphat walked in the (good) ways that his father David had followed’ (New International Version). Sadly, he lost his way - ‘he made a marriage alliance with Ahab’, ‘a man... who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord’ (18:1; 1 Kings 21:25). It can happen to anyone! We must be careful!
Desire God's Glory. Enjoy God's Blessing.
‘Separate... to the Lord,... Separate... from wine and strong drink’ (Numbers 6:2-3): These two thoughts are closely connected in the New Testament - ‘Do not get drunk with wine,... Be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18). We are to be ‘holy to the Lord’ (Numbers 6:8). ‘Consecrated to the Lord’, our whole life must be controlled by one thing: ‘Do all to the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31). Motivated by a desire for God’s glory, we will enjoy God's blessing (Numbers 6:22-27). God’s blessing is not a ‘cheap’ thing, something that doesn’t matter very much. Remember Esau (Genesis 25:29-34). He couldn’t be bothered. He couldn’t care less. God’s blessing meant nothing to him. He didn’t want God’s blessing. What did God do? - He gave it to Jacob. ‘The Lord bless you...’: Do you want this? Or must God find somebody else?
"Come To The Saviour ... "
Come to the Saviour. Look to Him for His blessing. He will not disappoint you.
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Psalm 78:1-39
"Can God spread a table in the wilderness?" (19). We are living in a spiritual wilderness. We wonder, "Can God continue to bless us in this wilderness?". How does God's Word answer our question? - "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." In the "wilderness", there are many "enemies". There is also the "table." At the "˜table", God blesses us - "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (23:5). We are in the "wilderness", surrounded by many "enemies". What are we to do? - We must come to the "table" - the Lord's Table. We must come to Christ. We must drink from "the cup of salvation" (116:7). Come to the Saviour. Look to Him for His blessing. He will not disappoint you. You will be "anointed with the oil of gladness." His blessing will be poured upon you "like precious oil" (45:7; 133:2).
Bible Reading Notes At "The Promises Of God" Blog
At "The Promises of God" blog, you will find Bible reading notes on numbers , Psalms , john, Colossians, and Ephesians.
Division Among God’s People Is A Big Problem.
We read here of division among God’s people: ‘Israel 2 Chronicles 10:19 ). What does God say about this? - ‘Do not go up to fight against your brothers (11:4). Jesus tells us that ‘a house... divided against itself cannot stand’ (Mark 3:25 ). Paul speaks to us ‘in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ’. There are to be ‘no divisions’ among us (1 Corinthians 1:10 ). God’s Word says that we are ‘all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28 ). Far too often, our lives tell a very different story. Division among God’s people is a big problem. We must learn to pray in the spirit of Jesus’ prayer. He prayed that ‘all of them may be one’: ‘May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me’ (John 17:21 ,23).
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This post is taken from my notes on 2 Chronicles.
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This post is taken from my notes on 2 Chronicles.
Serving The Lord With Gratitude, Gladness And Generosity
The Temple of the Lord did not come easily. It had to be built. This involved God’s people in much sacrificial giving. This was a great challenge. The Lord’s people rose to the challenge. They gave to the Lord - joyfully, generously and wholeheartedly (1 Chronicles 29:9). This giving was an expression of their worship. They were saying to the Lord, ‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty’(1 Chronicles 29:10). Worshipping the Lord like this transforms our giving. It is no longer a legalistic burden - “Why do I have to give so much?” It becomes our joyful privilege. Our giving becomes thanksgiving. We thank the Lord for all that He has done for us. Let us give ‘with great gladness’- ‘Our God, we thank You... Everything comes from You. We give only what has come from Your hands’(1 Chronicles 29:22, 13-14).
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This post is taken from my notes on 1 chronicles.
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This post is taken from my notes on 1 chronicles.
Trusting In The Lord
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
"Let The Memory ... "
Let the memory of God's many blessings fill you with strength.
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Church As Usual
Do you ever feel that way? As if each service has become church as usual. The opening prayer, times of worship, the message which is usually drafted around the church financial situation, the next building project, or a new move of the spirit. Week after week, month after month, to the point where you wonder if it's live or memorex.
Do you ever find yourself looking back over the years, over all the conferences, all the hype, only to wonder "how did I get here" as your experiencing feelings as if the excitement, joy and zeal has been sucked right out of you?
We all possibly have or will encounter such feelings, realities and seasons. You see, a church being a body of believers should be filled with life, filled with anticipation, filled with zeal, not dead and powerless.
False hopes, false dreams and following them leads people down a path that leads to numbness, rather that joy.
The above comes after a conversation with a close friend.
"Through Christ ... "
Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
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This thought is taken from
Psalm 80:1-19
"Restore us, O God, make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved" (3). This prayer for salvation is repeated with a growing sense of God's greatness - "O God Almighty" (7), "O Lord God Almighty" (19). To those who are asking the question of salvation - "What must I do to be saved?" - , God gives His answer - "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:30-31). What does the Lord say to those who look to Christ for salvation? - "The Lord will bless you and watch over you. The Lord will smile on you and be kind to you. The Lord will look on you with favour and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). Let us worship Him: "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer" (Ephesians 1:3).
That Devil Pride
Pride is a funny thing. It creeps up on people, just like it did with Adam and Eve. You see satan was cast out of heaven because of pride. He eventually tempted Adam and Eve. Just a picture to consider.
Pride. I, I, I. Me, me, me. Pride is a funny thing, and it leads to loss, failure, and hinders success.
Pride cometh before a fall, but God honors the humble.
inhisgloriousnameministriesonline.blogspot.
2009, The Year Of Change
We've all been hearing that word change. Through the Presidential campaign, the elections and even as the new President and administration has moved into the White House.
There is much happening not only in this nation, but around the world. Financial problems, banking problems, the stock market, massive foreclosures, major corporations closing and lay offs. Our news and lives seem to be filled with the reality of such.
There is a song that we occasionally sing at church, and part of the words go like this.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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