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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 10, 2010 23:41:59 GMT -5
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER
"THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER: THE RIGHTEOUS RUNNETH INTO IT, AND IS SAFE..PROVERBS 18:10
The Lord Jesus is addressed by so many different names throughout the Scriptures. Each one of these names represents an answer to a need that we face throughout our lifetime.
"THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER" - The word "STRONG" implies force, security, majesty, boldness, might, and power. There is only one group that is welcome in this "TOWER" - "THE RIGHTEOUS". These "sanctified ones" are not nonchalant about their entrance into this "TOWER". The Scriptures tell us that "THE RIGHTEOUS RUNNETH INTO IT". That means that they run swiftly, move quickly, hurry, and dart about. Could it be that they are running from danger, evil, harm, temptation, wickedness, etc. seeking a refuge for their soul? Could it also be that the Scriptures are informing us that the walk of the righteous is a battleground, and we are constantly on the move against the forces of evil?
Once they arrive at this "TOWER", they know that they are "SAFE". How is that? Simply because the "TOWER" is too high for capture, inaccessibly high, and safely set on high. No enemy can penetrate this fortress because of its elevated position - "in heavenly places"(Ephesians 2:6). That is what the word "SAFE" implies. No Enemy can penetrate this fortress also because of Whose Name it represents - "in CHRIST JESUS"(Ephesians 2:6).
The Scriptures instruct us that by "THE NAME OF THE LORD" we are enabled to fight the devil, receive Salvation and Victory, and be kept from all harm and evil -
"...in Thy NAME we go against this multitude..." 2 Chronicles 14:11
""Save me, O my God, by Thy NAME..." Psalm 54:1
"...keep through Thine own NAME..." John 17:11
It is in "THE NAME OF THE LORD" that we battle the enemy of our soul. For instance, when temptations of all manner assail us, it is then that we battle the forces of darkness with the Scriptures exemplifying God's Name as HOLY and RIGHTEOUS
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, WHOSE NAME ALONE IS HOLY..." Isaiah 57:15
"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23:6
When we are feeling afraid, alone, helpless, depressed, and abandoned, we can counteract Satan's lies of defeat and hopelessness with "THE NAME OF THE LORD" that assures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us
"...and they shall call His name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US." Matthew 1:23
We are also informed throughout the Scripture that by "THE NAME OF THE LORD" we are saved. When everything around us is being shaken, we can run to "THE NAME OF THE LORD" as our "ROCK", the "GOD OF MY ROCK", our "FORTRESS", our "STRONG TOWER FROM THE ENEMY", and "THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE".
When the battle is raging about us, we can run to "THE NAME OF THE LORD" as our "SHIELD", our "BUCKLER", and our "DELIVERER".
When the way seems dark before us and filled with confusion, we can run to "THE NAME OF THE LORD" as our "LIGHT".
When man is attacking us, lying about us, mistreating us, using us, and manipulating us, we can run to "THE NAME OF THE LORD" as our "REFUGE FOR THE OPPRESSED".
When everything seems to be going wrong and nothing seems right, we can run to "THE NAME OF THE LORD" as our "REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE".
When we cannot figure out our way and the direction in which our lives are headed, we can run to "THE NAME OF THE LORD" as our "ALPHA and OMEGA", our "BEGINNING" and our "ENDING".
Finally, by "THE NAME OF THE LORD", we are kept by God's Almighty Power. "THE NAME OF THE LORD" that keeps us from all harm and evil is God is our "GOD". Within that name lies the Almighty, Omnipotent power that no foe can ever challenge or thwart.
"THE NAME OF THE LORD" is a "STRONG TOWER from the enemy"(Psalm 61:3). We need not fear the breath of the enemy. We need not fear his shadow. For there is a place in God that we can run to for safety. It is called "THE NAME OF THE LORD".
Run into it and be safe.
Remember - It's a "STRONG habitation"(Psalm 71:3).
May God Bless His Word.
© MICHAEL J. NIGHT
What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 10, 2010 23:54:35 GMT -5
HUMILITY - Phil. 2-8
Are you humble? I have a friend who jokingly says, "I'm proud of my humility." The funny thing is that he actually is one of the more humble men I know. He and I both realize that humility is no joke. It is a hard thing to master. If I say I am humble, then am I humble? If I think I'm humble, am I? Or what if I say, "In my humble opinion, I'm not very humble," then what do I do?
What is humility? Biblically there are several facets to humility, but I want to focus on that aspect that deals with our relation to God. Therefore, humility is the right understanding of who you are before God. Notice, I did not say it means that you have to hate yourself, or call yourself names, or say you aren't worth anything, etc. Humility is that quality of a Christian that demonstrates a right relationship and position before God. This demonstration is manifested in attitude, words, and deeds. John the Baptist was humble: "And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals," (Mark 1:7). He knew who he was in relation to Jesus. Remember the parable of the tax gather in Luke 18:9-14 where he said, "Lord have mercy on me a sinner"? Jesus called him humble. He knew that before God, he was a sinner.
How about you? Are you humble before your Lord -- don't answer. Instead, think of who Jesus is, His holiness, His greatness, His majesty, His love, His sacrifice, etc. And remember that Jesus humbled Himself by becoming one of us, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross," (Phil. 2:8). Then, ask yourself if you are humble or not.
Romans 12:3 says, "For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith," (NASB). God does not want us to think too highly of ourselves. Instead, he wants us to think soundly. Whenever I start getting prideful and begin thinking that I know a lot about the Bible, or how big my website is, or whatever else I can boast about, the Lord reminds me of how utterly pompous I really am. Does God need me to carry out His will on this earth? Nope. Does He need me to answer tough questions for people? Nope. Does He need me to "get things done"? Nope, not at all. He doesn't need me at all. That is why it is really amazing that He uses me in spite of what I am inside. Now, THAT is grace! Praise God! What I need to do is listen to Him, look to the cross, love God first, love my neighbor second, and not think more highly of myself than I ought. Oh Lord, I pray that you would fill my heart with humility as I look to your Son, that you would not let me think more highly of myself than I ought and that I would love you and honor you.
We need to be humble for many reasons, but 1 Pet. 5:5 has a good one to focus on: "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." I don't want God to oppose me. I suspect you don't want Him to oppose you either. It is good to be humble before people and to be thought of as nice and kind and not proud, but our humility before God is where we need to start, not with people. We need to start with our relationship with Him that can only come through a proper relationship with Jesus. We need to be humble before God and dependent up Him, seeking His will. Therefore, prayer, the place of dependence upon God, is the practice of humility before God. When we let our souls bask in the presence of God, we find out who we really are: sinners, saved by grace, and kept by His love. And, as Moses' face shined because of being in the presence of God, so too will your heart reflect the humility and love of Jesus as we spend time with Him in prayer. Seek Jesus and you will find perfect Humility.
© Michael J Night
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required... - Luke 12: 48
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 11, 2010 8:10:47 GMT -5
JEHOVAH-SHALOM
"The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior." Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? …the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The Lord looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?".Judges 6:12-14.
At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances.
How could God really love Israel?
How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty?
Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking.
This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he'd been discussing politics and religion with God—face to face—he was rightfully terrified:
"Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face." The Lord said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace.6:22-24.
When Gideon's eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name- Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace!
In the days to come-
The Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations.
In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life.
But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar.
He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear."
Do you ever feel as if you're trying to thresh wheat in a winepress?
Surrounded by enemies who press in on you and try to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life?
Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurts and hardships?
We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life.
We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman-no matter how dear they are to us.
We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home.
Like Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom!
"He Himself is our peace!" Ephesians 2:14.
Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom
You can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.
Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross.
These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.
Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."John 14:27.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.".John 16:33.
Where do you run when you need peace?
Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone?
Before you do that-
Run into the shelter of His name!
Because-
He is your Peace!
© Michael J Night
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required... - Luke 12: 48
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on May 8, 2010 7:02:10 GMT -5
God Prepares A Table For You
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (Psalms 23:5). Sometimes in our life we find ourselves surrounded by the plans of our enemy or we may find ourselves cornered. But all the time our Lord God who promised us I will not leave you nor forsake you is around us protecting and preparing a table for us in the presence of our enemies. (No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5).
Bible says "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7). We cannot expect God to act for us walking in our own ways; our ways should be pleasing to our Lord God for Him to act through us.
We should always remember that it is not we who have chosen Jesus Christ as our Lord; but it is our Lord Jesus Christ who has chosen us to bear fruits for Him. (You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16). Not because of our righteousness or our wisdom or our good works; God has chosen us because He loves us (Deuteronomy 7:7,8).
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8). Yes, Gods ways are always mysterious, His plans are always the best, His timing is always perfect – never too early and never too late, His ways always leads to righteousness, prosperity, victory, holiness and bring glory to His name.
Pharaoh commanded to throw all male children into river and destroy the Israelites (So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive." Exodus 1:22). But God had different plans; He raised Moses in the same house of Pharaoh who tried to destroy them.
(Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water." Exodus 2:9,10). We see that Moses parents were even paid wages for his expenses from the house of Pharaoh (Exodus 2:7-9).
Today are you in a situation of hopelessness or facing troubles or suffering from sickness or whatever you name it that is troubling you, remember you are a child of God, Jesus Christ has chosen you and He has paid the price in the cross of Calvary. Whatever may the situation of wilderness, God knows that you are passing through that situation. (For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:7).
Are you feeling that you are in the mid of your enemies, remember that the Lord is preparing a table for you in the presence of them. Just keep your focus on Jesus Christ, remember His promises, continue to pray and trust in His words; He will never let you down.
Peter walked on water looking unto Jesus and walking towards Him. But when he took his eyes off Jesus Christ, he began to sink. Jesus Christ asked Peter, why did you doubt? (So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matt 14:29-31). Yes, Peter was able to walk on water when he was focused on Jesus Christ. Keep your focus on Jesus Christ, you can walk above any situation.
Keep your faith on God, trust in the ways of the Lord, depend only on Jesus Christ and walk in the leading of Holy Spirit. God will lift you above all and make you rise like an eagle for the glory of His name. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (Psalms 32:8)
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:11)
© Michael J. Knight.
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on May 8, 2010 7:15:41 GMT -5
Jesus Says, I Must Stay At Your House
We all know the passage about Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Zacchaeus was a rich, chief tax collector and of short stature. (Luke 19:2,3). He had heard about Jesus Christ and one day he came to know Jesus Christ will pass through Jericho , where he lived (Luke 19:1). Since he was short and the crowd around Jesus Christ was more, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. (Luke 19:3,4).
On those days tax collectors were hated for their job; Zacchaeus was short and no one gave him way to go forward. But, Jesus Christ on seeing the passion Zacchaeus had to see Him, came to him, called him and said to him today I must stay at your house. (And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." Luke 19:5).
Today are you thinking, there are millions are people around me, does God knows me, will God heal me, will God talk to me? Jesus Christ says, you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name. (Exodus 33:17). And Jesus says, I must stay at your house. (Luke 19:5).
Here, Jesus Christ is not giving an option, but says I must stay at your house. Jesus Christ didn't say, "can I", but says, "I must". Also, Jesus Christ didn't say, "visit", but says, "stay". Staying with you in your house is not an option for Jesus Christ, but it's His desire and longing.
My dear ones, Jesus Christ didn't chose us today or yesterday; He has chosen us even as we are formed in the womb of our mother (I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God. Psalms 22:10). Not only that, our Lord God has chosen us even before the foundation of the world (just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, Ephesians 1:4). And our Lord has chosen us even before we knew Him. (For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. Isaiah 45:4).
Jesus Christ came into Zacchaeus house and the presence of the Lord brought blessing, repentance and salvation to his house. (Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; Luke 19:8,9).
Bible says He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. (Proverbs 19:17). With Jesus Christ, Zacchaeus life changed into compassion for poor, thus making way for his blessing, he repented and above all, his house got salvation. Here, Jesus Christ didn't say Zacchaeus, you have received salvation, but says salvation has come to his house. For receiving all these blessings, Zacchaeus did only one thing, He received Jesus Christ joyfully in his house (So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. Luke 19:6).
My dear ones in Christ, Jesus says I must stay at your house. Receive Jesus Christ in your life and house. If Jesus Christ is with you, He brings blessing, holiness, healing, protection, repentance and salvation to you and all in your house. If you have already received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and praying for the salvation of your dear ones, hold on to the promise of God. Jesus Christ has chosen you to bring salvation to all in your house.
If Jesus Christ stays with us in our house, we cannot keep Him just in the front room isn't it. Jesus Christ desires to stay with us, move among us, have fellowship with us, dine with us, rejoice with us, delight with us, protect us, purify us, teach us and bless us. Shall we invite Jesus Christ joyfully into every part of our life and be blessed.
How can we have fellowship with Jesus Christ in our house? By reading and meditating Bible, praying and obeying according to His word, personally and as a family. There's a saying, ˜A family that prays together stays together. So, let us read, meditate Bible, pray to God, sing songs of praise, act according to His word personally and as a family and be blessed.
Hear the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:35). The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
'You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 26:1)
'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. (Leviticus 26:3,6)
'For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. (Leviticus 26:9,11)
I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. (Leviticus 26:12)
© Michael J. Knight.
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