About Chris

Let me tell you about Chris, a  man who comes to our prayer breakfast. He had survived a brain tumor and was full of the joy of the Lord. After 8 yrs it came back, he had surgery for it and woke up in a rehab place after the hospital, all alone. His brain was not working as good, his memory was not so good, but he walked and talked and soon began to play hymns on the piano. He looked around and many people were listening and clapping. While there he saw a man crying and he asked him why. He said I don't know if I am going to heaven. Chris led him to the Lord.

 

Chris did not know why he was in this place but his light shined and people were blessed. One Sunday the preacher could not come to the church service, so the people in charge asked Chris if he would be the preacher. He had church and there was a big crowd of people. He asked if there was any who wanted to receive Jesus and several raised their hands. I see from this, that even if our natural brain is attacked and injured that the Holy Spirit is greater, the mind of Christ speaks where the natural mind cannot.

 

Chris is in a local rehab place now and we are bringing him to our Thursday morning prayer breakfasts. He is so happy to be back with his friends. 

MPJ Bible and Prayer Fellowship

Returning to Bethel - Genesis 35

Returning to Bethel

Gen 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

The LORD said unto Jacob, arise, go, return to Bethel, where you first met God. When we wander away from God's will, we need to return to where we met God. It was a place for Jacob, but for the Christian, it is a person; the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Can we return to God without repenting? No, we must repent and renew our relationship, begin a new commitment, a new beginning. Jesus allows us to have new beginnings. He is our new beginning, when we stray, we are to repent and return to him.

Gen 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

Did Rachel put away here father's gods? I doubt if she did. Do we have secret idols? What do we put above God in our attention and time? Put it away and return to your first love.

Gen 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Gen 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

Repentance begins by putting away strange gods, putting away idolatry and the attention given to things that were not of God. Rachel had her Father's gods and others had their gods. Next they were to be made clean and put on new garments. Unless Jesus makes us clean, our sins remain. He clothes us with his garment of righteousness. In the parable of the wedding feast, only those with the supplied wedding garments were allowed at the feast.

Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

As the bride of Christ, we must be cleansed.

2 Pet 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2 Pet 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Returning to church should be with a new commitment to follow God's will. The church must preach the word of God. If the church is like the world? We might as well stay home. We are called to be kings and Priests, having authority and knowledge and wisdom from God. We are to worship God with all our heart. Church is not a place of empty rituals that have become havbit, nor should it be a place of showmanship and entertainment. Let us learn to worship God with all our Spirit and mind.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Knowledge of God's word is a must, if we are to follow him. We cannot know everything, but we are to study and walk in his light. God uses his word to deliver people from the kingdom of darkness. We can expect great things for God. His presence brings the impossible. All good things come from God, He is not limited, yet he will never break his word.

Gen 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

The LORD protected them because they had put away idols and had cleansed themselves of sins and then God put fear into the nations to protect Jacob. Remember Jacob was concerned that the cities would come against him after the "Dinah" incident.

Gen 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Deu 11:25 There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.

Gen 35:6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
Gen 35:7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

Luz, meant Almond tree and He returned to Bethel, the house of God and renamed the place "the God of the house of God". Many backsliders return to the house of God, wanting to be with God; hopefully God is in that place. There is no darker feeling then to search for God in his house and find instead a party or a social club. These things are not the presence of God. The house of God must have the presence of God. I recall my own attempt to find God again after being away from him. I attended a church that was talking about dressing up in medieval clothing for a festival. I left that social club with great darkness in my heart. I visited a backslidden brother and played a game of chess. I remember that upon leaving him that their was a dense fog. The fog is dense out their in a world that has turned from God. We must turn on the light. God must be in our places of worship. The world has the games; we should be about the things of God.

Gen 35:8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

Allonbachuth means "oak of weeping". Apparently Rebekah's nurse had joined with them after Rebecca had died.

Gen 35:9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
Gen 35:10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

The LORD reminded Jacob again of his new name. We need to remember our new names. We are not called sinners, but Christians or sons of God.If we see ourselves only as sinners, we act like sinners. May we live up to our new name in Christ Jesus.

Gen 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;<.br> Gen 35:12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

The LORD reaffirms his covenant with Jacob.

Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Gen 35:13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
Gen 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

Jacob set up the stone that he had used for a pillow as a memorial, with other stones to make a pillar. He pored out a drink offering; a drink offering is as pouring out oneself as a living sacrifice. He also poured oil to consecrate this place. It was a holy place and a memorial of God's promise to him.

Gen 35:15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

He repeated what he had done earlier in Genesis 28:10-19.

Rachel gives birth and dies

Gen 35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
Gen 35:17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
Gen 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

Benoni: "son of my sorrow"

Benjamin: "son of the right hand"

Remember that Jacob had cursed the one who had taken Laban's idols, not knowing that it was his beloved Rachel. How sad it is when one we love falls into sin. Satan wants to divide and to destroy families and relationships.

Gen 31:32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

Gen 35:19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Sarah was not placed in the family burial place where Rachel was buried.

Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Rachel was buried where Christ was born, in Bethlehem. Two Thousand years later, Jesus is born of a virgin and king Herod ordered all the children under two years, to be killed.

Gen 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

Gen 35:21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

Tower of Edar: Tower of the flock, a shepherd’s watchtower near Bethlehem.

Gen 35:22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

This was a great insult and the sin of incest, for his father had produced brothers by Bilhah: Dan, and Naphtali. Reuben was firstborn but Jacob favored Joseph. God chose Judah to be the one to continue the promises to Abraham and the blessed redeemer; Jesus Christ.

The law given to Moses would condemn the sin of incest, even unto death.

Deu 22:30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.

Lev 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Gen 35:23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Gen 35:24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
Gen 35:25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Gen 35:26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
Gen 35:27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
Gen 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
Gen 35:29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Isaac died at the age of one hundred eighty and Esau and Jacob buried him. At funerals brothers who do not talk, and have gone their own ways come together in remembrance of the beloved father. Abraham needed a burying-place for Sarah, and bought the field of the Machpelah, at the end of which was a cave, paying four hundred silver shekels. The cave became the family burying-place, Sarah being the first to be buried there; later, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob were placed there.

Are we going to return to God and stop loving the things of the world more than him? It is time for a new beginning, Jesus is coming soon. What does Jesus consider for us to do when we return to him? James tells what is pure religion.

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
James 2:1  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Jesus gives us a parable of what the King of King wants us to do:

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I believe if we study these commands that we can follow him better.

Warnings and Corrections

 

Warnings and Correction

 

 

The Lord is Our Deliverer

 

Psa 33:16  There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
Psa 33:17  An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

 

There is much evil in our land; as an apple with a rotten core. We trust in our mighty war machines, in our jets and bombs, but do not want God in our government and schools. The core is becoming rotten with activist judges and laws that are contrary to God's laws. There is still a hope, if we turn to the LORD. 

Psa 33:18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psa 33:19  To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:20  Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psa 33:22  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

 

In time of peril, in times of food shortages, high gas prices, floods, earthquakes, enemy invasions, in times the this, we need the LORD. We need to dilgently and humbly seek him.

 

A Slothful People

 

Eccl 10:18  By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

 

As in the natural, things soon decay from neglect, so it is in the spiritual. Is our spiritual house falling apart from neglecting prayer and hearing from God?

Psa 123:1  A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Psa 123:2  Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

 

We are your servants, waiting on you to know what you desire. We are to study your Bible, become doers of the word and follow your Spirit. We are alert and ready to go where you tell us to go.

Psa 123:3  Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Psa 123:4  Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

 

As the people do not want the LORD in their land, making evil the law of the land, they also do not like the LORD'S people. Those who are at ease in sin do not like God's people and the proud have contempt for those who follow the LORD.

 

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

We are to follow the Lord, watching his hand, for we are in his hand, he owns us and places us where we should be.

The Rulers of the World

 

Exo 5:2  And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

 

Deu 1:13  Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

 

Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

 

Therulers and leaders of the world do not know God, so we cannot trust them. We are to keep the laws and honor them in as much as the laws do not go against God's word. Governments are set up by God to defend the people from evil. Woe to a people if the government is evil.

 

God's People must Be Disciples of God

 

Isa 8:15  And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

 

Evil people will fall. All who do not seek God will fall into sin and be taken captive to evil ways.

Isa 8:16  Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

 

The disciples of the LORD must hide the word in their hearts and be sealed by the Holy Spirit.

 

Isa 8:17  And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isa 8:18  Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

 

God's people shall seek God and do great exploits.

 

Isa 8:19  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

 

Do not follow psychics, witches, horoscopes and the evil things that the foolish and rebellious people follow. Turn towards God and seek him.

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

 

His word and his presence is our light. Those seeking other gods have no light, the have no truth, they walk in darkness. Their hope was in false words, they have no hope.

Isa 8:21  And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

 

They curse and blame God for their condition, but they chose the wide path.

Isa 8:22  And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

 

Much activity, or quiet trust in the True God?

 

The prophets of Baal sought to gain his attention by much activity, dancing and shouting, cutting themselves and crying out, but they worshipped in vain a false god.

 

 Do we worship by yelling and pushing people to worship? We are to worship in Spirit and truth. We are led by the Spirit.  Elijah waited upon the LORD. He heard from God and quietly obeyed him. God moved mightily through his obedient servant.

 

1 Ki 18:19  Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
1 Ki 18:20  So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
1 Ki 18:21  And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
1 Ki 18:22  Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
1 Ki 18:23  Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
1 Ki 18:24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
1 Ki 18:25  And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
1 Ki 18:26  And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
1 Ki 18:27  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
1 Ki 18:28  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
1 Ki 18:29  And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
1 Ki 18:30  And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
1 Ki 18:31  And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
1 Ki 18:32  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
1 Ki 18:33  And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
1 Ki 18:34  And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
1 Ki 18:35  And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
1 Ki 18:36  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
1 Ki 18:37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
1 Ki 18:38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust,and licked up the water that was in the trench.
1 Ki 18:39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
1 Ki 18:40  And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

 

 

Wait Upon The LORD

 

Isa 40:27  Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

 

Our ways are not hidden, the LORD sees all and will reward accordingly.

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.

 

The LORD is awake and alert, perhaps we have been sleeping?

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:

 

Wait upon the LORD for your strength. We have not for we ask not.

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.

Be Obedient Servants

 

Jesus is showing us that being a servant and doing his will is our duty, nothing to be praised for.

 

Luke 17:7  But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luke 17:8  And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Luke17:9  Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Luke 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

 

Keep His Commandments

 

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Greatest Commands

 

Mat 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

A Disciple Of Jesus

 

Luke 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

 

Jesus is not teaching us to hate. But, he is comparing the love for these  to the love of God and his way. Most put all their interest into pleasing others, or finding a mate, or looking good. Jesus wants you to seek God's way first.

Luke 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luke 14:29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luke 14:30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luke 14:31  Or what king, goingto make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luke 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:34  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luke 14:35  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Times Are Evil, Look Up

 

Luke 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

Jesus' Warning

 

Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Rev 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

 

(Holding the error of Balaam, casting a stumbling block before the church of God by upholding the liberty of idolotry as well as committing fornication. Serving other gods and committing fornication. Putting things that are not ofGod, above God and living impure lives. False teachers.)

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Wrath, Hell and Rejoicing - Isaiah 30

Wrath, Hell and Rejoicing

Isa 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
Isa 30:28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

There is much evil in the nations and God will judge them according to their works. He is angry at sin. Some say God is unconditional love, no, he is angry at the sins of the ungodly, but he is not angry at his own, who trust in him. He will sift the nations with a sieve of vanity. I remember my mothers flour sifter, it would sift out impurities, maybe an occasional bug. The LORD will sift out those full of vanity, arrogance and pride in their evil doings. If there was ever a need for this , it is now. Evil is promoted in government and in schools and their is no tolerance for God's commands. The LORD shall bridle the enemy nations who seek to harm his people and they will be taken away, even fighting each other in confusion. What will God's people be doing? They will be praising him, making joyful music together. Remember this when trouble comes our way

Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

There will be a song in your heart and holy peace surrounding you. You will be worshipping and praising the mighty God for his righteous judgment. We do not enjoy the presence of sin.

Isa 30:30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
Isa 30:31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.

The LORD will be heard, by those who will not hear him, his anger and wrath shall come as grievous storms. We are seeing his wrath even now in our weather, but his wrath will really be kindled against the enemies of his people. The LORD'S voice, shall beat down the enemy Assyrians, they shall be beaten down, which did harm with their weapons. Our nation needs to turn to God and be united if we expect a good future. Who is on the LORD'S side? Angels destroyed the Assyrians in one night.

2 Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Isa 30:32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.

As the LORD removes iniquity, his people are rejoicing and singing. Perhaps" He is trampling down the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored, glory, glory, haleluia".

Isa 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Tophet was a place where sacrifices were offered to the God Molech, a place of sacrificing children by fire. This is compared to our abortions today; offering our children to the God of self and pleasure.

"Here malefactors were buried, it is said; and such as were condemned to burning were burned here; and such as had no burial were cast here; so that it was an image and picture of hell itself: and the word "Gehenna", used for hell, comes from "Gehinnom", or the valley of Hinnom, the name of this place; and some think that is here meant, which from all eternity was appointed as the place of torment for wicked men, So the Targum,

...for hell is ordained from the worlds (or before the worlds), because of their sins.'' (John Gill)

There is a literal hell and those who trust in Christ Jesus will not go there. Rejoice in this and warn the nations. Do not argue with them, let God's Spirit do the talking.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Spirit Led

 

Spirit Led

 

 

 Isa 59:8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace

Isa 59:9  Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

 

Psa 25:5  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

 

 

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

 

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

 

John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

John 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

 

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 

2 Cor 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

 

Acts 16:5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Acts 16:7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

 

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

1 Cor 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Cor 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

2 Cor 13:4  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2 Cor 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

 

 

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:1  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 55:2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Isa 55:3  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

 

James 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

 

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

1 John 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby weknow that it is the last time.
1 John 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1 John 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

The LORD Supplies - Isaiah 30

The LORD Supplies

Isa 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

Abundant crops instead of famine. Blessings and not hunger. Thank God for blessings and do not turn from him in times of abundance. Your cattle shall feed in large pastures. Be thankful for the good times you have had, they are from the Lord.

Isa 30:24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

The animals are fed and made fat with the abundant harvest of grain. When Israel puts away here idols, God blesses them.

Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

Abundance of water in the high mountains, rivers and streams, again abundant supply from God. In the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall? I see the twin towers falling, the power and prosperity apart from God and mans idolatry of finances. The people of God who trust him have an abundant supply of food and water. It is when the people turn from God, that his protection and provision are removed. Whatever gain comes from serving other gods, will not last. Politicians promise hope and change, but it is power they lust after. They are high towers with empty promises. We are to trust the LORD and his word.

Isa 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

The abundance of light, perfect light, seven fold light, shines from God to bring healing to the people who have turned from their sins and have received healing mercies. Avoid the folly of sins and seeking pleasure from other things. Our blessings come from growing closer to our LORD. Put away foolish things and get serious as the disciples of our Lord.

Preparation for Service - Isaiah 30

Preparation for Service

Isa 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

The LORD will wait, wait so that he may bless us. Have we patience to wait upon the LORD? Are we willing to seek him and to change our thoughts and behavior, to obey and to honor him? He could give us what we deserve and destroy us for our disobedience, but instead he waits.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The LORD is gracious towards us, especially in Christ Jesus. He gives grace and mercy to us, who are sinners and unworthy, so that he may be exalted. God is more than unconditional love. He wants us to change and through Jesus, we are given grace and mercy. He is the giver of good things. Honor him and fear him who could just as well destroy us, because of his holiness and judgment on sin. God is more than love. His love comes when we receive Jesus: love, grace and mercy. Blessed are all who wait on him, instead of carrying out their own thoughts and the thoughts of the devil. We do not wait on God by sinning defiantly. Wait on him as he waits for us to come in surrender to our flesh and rebellious will. Wait on God as he waits for us with loving arms.

Isa 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Call upon the LORD with humble hearts and he will hear and answer. The God of Zion is also the God of the Gentiles, through faith in Jesus Christ. Are we calling to God in prayer? Listen and he will answer our call. He will dry our tears.

Psa 116:8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
Psa 116:9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Isa 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Bread of adversity, water of affliction, the essentials of life were not being supplied, to get their attention. If we serve the devil, all is bitterness and empty, their is no nourishment in evil. Put away the lusts of the flesh, listen to the hearing of God's word and receive Jesus, the bread of life and the living water that springs forth, bringing life to others.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

By knowing the word of God, the Spirit of God will direct our paths. We are to walk by faith and we are to know the voice of the master. Some leave the hearing of God's word in the Bible and hear other voices, they walk away from God to their destruction. The Holy Spirit will lead you into ministries and the fulfilling of your purpose from God.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We must wait upon the Lord and surrender our will to him.

Isa 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Notice that some things we must do: Get thee hence. We must put away some things. The idols, the things we cling to that are not fruitful for God's purpose. They are cast away as filthy rags. This includes our own self righteousness and our pride.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

We clean the house and fill it with the word of God and the Spirit of God, then we are equipped for service. Wait upon the LORD, for he waits for you.