The Holy Spirit as Strengthener and Standby~Joyce Meyer

The Holy Spirit as Strengthener and Standby

July 29

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.
—John 14:16

"Standby" has a special meaning and application to us in this modern age. We are all aware of airline passengers who travel "standby," meaning that they stand by the airline ticket counter waiting to step up and claim a seat on the first available flight. The Lord used this scene to teach me about the Holy Spirit as our Standby, One Who stands by us at all times waiting for the first available opportunity to jump in and give us the help and strength we need—which is why He is also called our Helper, our Strengthener.

I have learned that one of the most spiritual prayers we can offer is the one-word prayer, "Help!" I can't tell you how many times a week I will stop and cry out to God, "Help me, Lord, strengthen me. I know You are here because the Bible promises me that You are always standing by me to help me and strengthen me in every situation of life." Sometimes when I am preaching and teaching day after day, night after night, I get so worn out I just have to pray, "Lord, help me, I need Your strength."

There have been times when I have led seven meetings in four days. Often I get so tired that I have to remind myself that my help comes from the Lord and cry out to Him, claiming His promise that those who wait upon Him will renew their strength (See Psalm 121:2 and Isaiah 40:31). In such moments, I always receive the help and strength I need to finish the work that God has given me to do.

Leadership: When is the last time you prayed for the ability, desire, and opportunity to lead? (77-2)~Barry Werner

When is the last time you prayed for the ability, desire, and opportunity to lead? (77-2)

July 7th, 2009 in Commitment, Communicating Vision, Judges, Leadership Principles, Obedience to God, Old Testament, Vision | leave a response

Over the next days, the book of Judges will be the source material for these daily leadership devotionals. The book of Judges received its name from the leaders who God gave temporary responsibility for the nation of Israel from the time of Joshua until the beginning of the monarchy. The period of the Judges was about 200 years. Read the book of Judges.

The United States is just over 200 years old, to get a picture of the challenge Israel faced, imagine the USA without a central leader. Not only would each state make their own decisions and determine how to apply the known laws but more likely each county or, as we saw with some of the feuds between families in various parts of the country in the early 1900s (i.e. the Hatfields and the McCoys), probably each family group.

Under Joshua’s leadership, Israel defeated every nation that occupied the land God had promised Israel. After Joshua died, however, the tribes ran into trouble trying to consolidate their inheritance. Turmoil reigned in Palestine. The Philistines pushed in from the Mediterranean Coast, establishing a stranglehold on the region until the time of King David. Other ethnic groups, such as the Midianites, attacked the eastern flank of Israel.

The scattered tribes had grown divided and weak. They lacked a strong leader who could cast a national vision. The last and maybe the most famous verse in the book of Judges speaks volumes: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (Judges 21:25)

Still, God always raises up a leader for the moment. Whenever suffering grew terrible and the people cried out in despair, God called a leader (a judge) to deliver the people from oppression. Sometimes judges were effective godly leaders like Gideon or Samuel and at other times they were somewhat more unstable like Samson. In any case, God’s message rings clear, people need leaders. Chaos reigns whenever humankind does whatever is right in their own eyes. Order, organization, communication and unity become impossible when “everyone did (does) as he saw (sees) fit.”

If God has chosen to use you as a leader and gifted you to lead, has given you the opportunity to lead and has filled your heart with the desire to lead, thank God for the honor. Without leaders chaos will reign in your family, workplace and church.

When is the last time you prayed for the ability to lead, the desire to lead and the opportunity to lead? When is the last time you thanked God for the leadership position you hold be it at the top of an organization, or a place where you lead from the middle, or simply leadership in your home?

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Where Have All the Young Blogs Gone?~Baron Eickhoff,

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2009

Where Have All the Young Blogs Gone?

Where have all the young blogs gone? Long time passing. My apology for going blogless for so long. It really wasn't my intent. God has had to bring me through what has been a season of discouragement, but He is faithful.

My wife, Claudia, has tried hard not to be discouraged in the midst of my discouragement, and has been a real spiritual trooper. Some of you have sensed something not being quite right and have taken the time to encourage and exhort me.

Thank you everyone, and especially for your patience. As I said up front, I did not intend to not write the blogs for a few days, and was actually surprised to find when I looked today that it had beens so long.

How true is the scripture that says, "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! " (Psa 27:14)

Kaw-vah is a Hebrew word that means to look for, hope, expect. Waiting on the Lord is actually a looking to the Lord with expectation.

Ab is father in the Hebrew, but Abba is father in the emphatic state.

Abba, Father,

Thank you for your great blessings, and help us to continually wait on you with great expectation as we live our lives for you.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

More on God's Children by God's Promises~Bob Hoekstra

More on God's Children by God's Promises

Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son"…Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise…As you have therefore receivedChrist Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Romans 9:8-9;Galatians 4:28; and Colossians 2:6)

Once again, our verses reveal a God of promises, who brings forth spiritual children of promise. This truth not only dictates how weenter the family of God, it also determines how we are to live as the children of God.

Ishmael could not be counted as the true seed of Abraham, because he was the product of fleshly ingenuity. "Those who are the children of theflesh, these are not the children of God." Only Isaac could be called the true seed. "But the children of the promise are counted as the seed."This is true concerning us as well. We became God's children throughfaith in the promise of the gospel. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those whobelieve in His name" (John 1:12). We could not be saved by any fleshly provision: "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). Isaac was born through faith in the promises of God. "For this is the word of promise: 'At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.'" We also were born again through faith in the promises of God. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."

Children of promise are spiritually birthed by promise and spiritually developed by promise. Now that we have been born into God's family by faith in His promises, we are to live day by day in the same waythat we became His children. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." The parallel is simple and straightforward: "As… so." As we were saved, so we are to walk. We started out with the Lord by faith in the life-giving promise of the gospel. "And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life" (1 John 2:25). We are to live each day by faith in the life-developing promises that are inherent to the gospel. "He whobelieves in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).

Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a child of promise—born again through faith in Your life-giving promises. O Lord, teach me to live day by day in this same manner—sustained and transformed by trusting in Your life-developing promises, Amen.

When does temptation come?~Greg Laurie

When does temptation come?

July 29th, 2009 Posted in OC, Pastor's corner, essentials, sermons

Hey everyone!

On Thursday night in O.C., I am giving the first part of a two-part message on the topic of effectively sharing our faith.

We have all had experiences where we have done it ineffectively, right? I know I have.

So if you are in the O.C. area, I hope you can come. If not, it will be posted online in HD in a few days.

Now, to our topic today . . . temptation.

Have you ever been minding your own business, when “wham!”, you are hit with a heavy-duty temptation. It might be an evil thought, a lustful one, or even doubt.

You wonder, where did that come from? Answer: the devil.

Yes, we play a part in our own temptation, but there is clearly an enemy who comes with his enticments. He knows how to “package his wares” and make bad things look good. That’s because “things forbidden have a certain charm.”

After the dove

It is important to know that temptation and attack often come after times of great blessing.

It was after a time of great blessing in the life of Jesus that He was tempted by Satan. Jesus had just been baptized by His cousin John the Baptist. The Holy Spirit had descended on Him in the form of a dove, and the Heavenly Father proudly said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

But Luke’s Gospel tells us, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2).

It was after the dove that the devil came. After the blessing comes the trial. The two often go hand in hand.

After God speaks

Times of attack often come after “mountaintop” experiences.

We read of when Jesus was on the mountaintop with Moses and Elijah. Once again, God spoke, “This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

As they descended from the mountain, a man with a demon-possessed child is waiting. Whenever God speaks, the Devil will be there to oppose.

So what is the solution? It is to be aware of this truth, and always keep your guard up. Then the next time those “flaming arrows” of temptation come your way, you will know to put up your shield!

"Utmost with the Least Most" ~Michael James Stone with Oswald Chambers: Clouds

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR CLOUDS?

 Behold, He cometh with clouds.

 Revelation 1:7


In the Bible clouds are always connected with God.

Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal lives, which seem to dispute the rule of God.

It is by those very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk byfaith.

If there were no clouds, we should have no faith. "The clouds are but
the dust of our Father's feet." The clouds are a sign that He is there.

What a revelation it is to know that sorrow and bereavement and suffering are the clouds that come along with God!

God cannot come near without clouds, He does not come in clear shining.

It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials: through every cloud He brings, He wants us to unlearn something.

His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child - God and my own soul, other people are shadows. Until other people become shadows, clouds and darkness will be mine every now and again.

Is the relationship between myself and God getting simpler than ever it has
been?

There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God.

Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God's
character, we do not yet know Him.

"They feared as they entered the cloud . . ."

- Is there anyone "save Jesus only" in your cloud?

If so, it will get darker; you must get to the place where there is "no one any more save Jesus only."

-------------

Reading Chambers today I can only remember the odd things in "my" salvation story that made me who I am today.  

Often the clouds were above me and I would look up and wish Jesus would come again as we once so adamantly told everyone.

I recall in Fountain Valley coming home from Calvary Chapel on the Bus when looking East I saw the Sun break the clouds and I stared in love and adoration just walking away with the Lord like an Enoch.  

"Cloud tripping" as I used to tell it, seemingly walking and talking feeling compelled to come up(in) farther and it was the most beautiful out of body "seemingly" experience I enjoyed with Jesus.

It still feels like the "first heaven" to me. 

Sometimes the clouds were in my soul when I recall the time post op when a particular procedure should have been done with medication but "cold turkey" I was held down as "packing" was pulled from a wound and four grown men were lifted up as the scream that tore through the VA Hospital was a body meant for praise, shocked into abject suffering. 

In a Journal the record I kept said the Smile in my eyes died that day and it literally took years before I could look in a mirror and say, my eyes are smiling-my code words to myself that Jesus was there.  

Looking back, I have the Utmost thankfulness that all my suffering clouds of Joy were with the unique experiences I encountered with God to be able to be with those who when no one would come, there is still one who will.  

Alone before the Church's were organized to "be there" I struggled when no one was there as a Keith Green song might have sung, but I found if Jesus was not real enough at that point of crisis for me, he always sent some stranger, who "happened" to be there at "just the right time".  

No one prepared me for clouds, trials, tribulation, Trust, but Romaine once said something about the Book of James and having my middle name "james" I became enthralled in Romaine's way of presenting it.  

I learned if I really wanted to be like Jesus, in some smaller way, I would be able to look at his life, and Identify my Life, to his, in experiences.  

That "gift of understanding" helped me enormously because as passionate as I was to follow Him, he was as passionate to allow me to experience much of his life as I did. 

I am glad for that, for in the fellowship of His Suffering, we find the real quality of love that cannot be spoken, but can only be shared.  

Are you in a cloud?  
Stay there.  

Be still, the storm will pass.  

Michael James Stone 

Is God calling you to go somewhere?~Mike MacIntosh

And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Mark 5:16-20

Is God calling you to go somewhere? When this man was healed of his demon-possession, his first reaction was to worship Jesus and to physically follow Him wherever He went. But Jesus had better plans for this man than for him to follow Jesus back to Jerusalem and to travel with His disciples. Jesus sent him back to the ten city regions where he came from, to proclaim the Good News to his home town. The man who was once homeless, destitute, and "good for nothing" became an evangelist! You see, there's hope when you simply accept Jesus' offer to follow Him.

And maybe Jesus is talking to you, calling you to go somewhere to do His work, but you've been unwilling to listen to His voice. Maybe, if you listen closely enough, He's asking you to get up out of your office chair and talk to your boss or your co-worker about the amazing things God has done in your life. Or maybe God is asking you to start a Bible study in your home, or to get more involved in the things of the Lord in your church. Or just maybe He's calling you to move to a place where you can preach the Gospel to the lost in a foreign country. Whatever the Lord is calling you to do, do it! Whatever the specifics, God has called each of us to go -- to reach out to people with what God has done for us, and share the message of Hope with them.

My prayer for us today is that our hearts would be soft towards Jesus Christ and His voice, and that we would all simply ask Him, "What can I do to further what You have done for me?"

You have resurrection power available to you to overcome sin in your life.~David McGee

Wednesday, July 29th 2009

Romans 8:11

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
NKJV

Life Lesson

You have resurrection power available to you to overcome sin in your life.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. Do you realize that? The defining moment of the world and all the power that was behind His glorious resurrection is for you. That is what Romans 8:11 says. Are you living life defeated by sin? Friend, seize the moment! Now is the time! Never before have you been more able to live life to its fullest. The potential of your Creator is dwelling in you. The Holy Spirit, given to you by Jesus wants to perform a work in you so amazing you will never be the same. Victory has been declared ... are you taking part in it?

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." NKJV

You are being perfected. As you allow God to work in you, you are being conformed to the image of Christ. That's powerful! Friend, you can do all things through Jesus, including overcoming that sin that you keep going back to. Stop feeding it. Feed your spiritual nature. Going to church, personal time in the Bible, prayer and serving others is the way to grow in God and these things are products of the Holy Spirit working in you. You don't owe sin anything, but you owe Jesus for dying for you. You were purchased at a high price. Jesus changed your life. Live that change.

Dear Father,
Thank You that I do not have to be a slave to sin, but can be a bondservant of righteousness through You. Please forgive me for my sins and give me the power to live for You. Help me to grow in You through church, study, prayer and by loving and serving others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
reachthetriad.com
twitter.com/ccot

Nothing Left~Mark Balmer

Nothing Left

Posted:

Based on “iServe” by Pastor Dean Corns; 7/25-26/09,

Message #DC129;

Daily Devotional #2 - “Nothing Left”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): One of my favorite quotes is from Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.” Every time I read this quote I have to stop and ask myself, am I really using every bit of my natural talent, as well as all the spiritual gifts that God has given me for Him? I wish that I could always say yes, but there are many times when the answer has to be no.

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): My husband and I recently went to our niece’s 8^th birthday party. She couldn’t wait to open her gifts. Some packages were small, while others were large. Some were in boxes wrapped with paper, while others were in gift bags. To my niece, it didn’t matter how the package came, but that it was a gift just for her. There was an excitement and an anticipation as to what could be inside. There is nothing better than to see the true joy of a child receiving a gift they love. Their face lights up with a huge smile, followed by a squeal or shout of delight, and then the joy of showing off their newfound treasure. God gives each one of us a gift, a treasure: A unique gift specifically for us. It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers…(Ephesians 4:11) When we are given our gift we should light up, smile, and squeal or shout with delight for what He has given us. In turn, we should be so overjoyed that we can’t help but share it with others. However, just as a child, if we don’t use the gift, over time the joy of the gift starts to fade. The gift is put on the back shelf, and we start to do our own thing, completely forgetting about the gift that we once loved so much. It is in those moments that I have to stop and say, “No I am not using everything God has given me.” In fact, I have to find my gift, dust it off, and remind myself why God has given it to me. …to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…(Ephesians 4:12) If I am not using the gift God has given me, then the body of Christ is not being built up, and, ultimately, God is not given the glory. So why does God give gifts? Not only do the gifts He gives build and edify the body of Christ, but they also build and mature us personally as well. After all, we are all part of the body of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Are you using every talent and gift God has given you? Are you so excited about the gift God has given you that you can’t help but share it with others? My prayer today is that you take a moment and look at what God has given you, both physically and spiritually. Think about how you are serving. Does it match with your gifts? Are you still exclaiming with delight over the gift He has given you? If you aren’t serving, I encourage you to think about how you can get involved so that when you stand before God you will have nothing left to give, because you already used all you had for Him.

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Ephesians 4:1-16

Following Philip's Example ~Greg Laurie

Following Philip's Example

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
--Acts 8:5

Acts 8 tells us that Philip went to Samaria. We may read that in passing and not think much of it. But it actually brings out an important point.

Philip went to where people were. Here was a man overcoming his natural prejudice to bring the gospel to a group of people he would not even have communicated with under normal circumstances.

The Samaritans and the Jews hated each other. That is why, when Jesus asked the woman at the well for a drink, she said to Jesus, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?"

Yet Philip went down to Samaria. He was not going to let prejudice keep him from bringing the message to someone who needed to hear it. He put those things aside.

That is a reminder that there is no room for bigotry, no room for prejudice, and no room for bias in the life of the child of God.

It also reminds us that we should not try to communicate only with people who look just like us. We may be more comfortable talking to someone who is basically our equal in age, gender, economic background, race, or whatever. But God wants us to take the gospel to all people.

They may be younger. They may be older. They may be of a different race or background. It doesn't matter. Everyone needs Jesus.

There is another thing. Philip was essentially watering seeds that Jesus had sown a few years earlier. When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman, she came to faith and went out and told others. Now Philip was laboring in the same area.

It reminds us that the process of conversion happens through reaping and sowing, often over a period of years.

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down.~Daily Light

July 29
MORNING

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down.

Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.--We ourselves . . . groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.--Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!

"This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."--Christ . . . will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.--It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!--Our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.--But our citizenship is in heaven.

Isa. 64:1; Song 8:14; Rom. 8:23; Ps. 144:5; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; Isa. 25:9; Rev. 22:20; Titus 2:13; Phil. 3:20

EVENING

You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

"No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord."--The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.--The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.--He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Ps. 61:5; Isa. 54:17; Ps. 34:7-10; Ps. 16:6; Mal. 4:2; Rom. 8:32

2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28 ~ Romans 12:1-21 ~ Psalm 22:19-31 ~ Proverbs 20:8-10

2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28 ~ Romans 12:1-21 ~ Psalm 22:19-31 ~ Proverbs 20:8-10
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Today in Second Chronicles 24 verse 1 we read - "Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years." This is quite a young age to be crowned king! (yep, that's Joash on the right in the image below - the priest presenting him to the people is on the left)

Did you notice in today's readings that Joash followed God in his early years, when Jehoiada the priest was alive (verses 1-16), and then turned to evil and idolatry after Jehoiada's death (verses 17-27)? One of the saddest parts was Joash's murder of Jehoiada's grandson Zechariah in verse 20. (Note that the text says son, but scholars believe Jehoiada's son was Berekiah, and Zechariah was Berekiah's son - Biblical genealogies sometimes skip a generation.) Jesus Himself references the atrocity of this murder when facing His own murderers in Matthew 23:35! This quote of Jesus' comes just after delivering his seven woes in Matthew 23: "And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar."

New Testament - Wow! Could Romans chapter 12 be one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible?? I love this chapter... Please take a moment to re-read this chapter if you can. Verses 1 through 3 have been so powerful for me personally since the early days of my Christian walk - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." I really don't know what commentary I could add to these words of Paul's. I love the thought of our bodies being living sacrifices to God. (There is of course the old joke that the only problem with a living sacrifice is that it tends to crawl off the altar... :) And the warning to not conform any longer to the pattern of this world is so so so true.... and we all know it. But I find myself still falling prey to the pattern of this world. Its temptations do not cease. But! We can be transformed by the renewing of our minds to test and approve what God's will is. Through a loving and growing relationship with Jesus, we can overcome the temptations and the death this world will offer us all too frequently. In view of God's mercy, will you offer your body today as God as a living sacrifice?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "The Road to Renewal" is at this link and "Thinking Straight about Spiritual Gifts" is at this link and "What is this Thing Called Love" is at this link. Below are 2 wonderful images for Romans chapter 12 verse 2 and verses 4 & 5:

Psalms - What's one good reason to go to church at all? Check out Psalm 22 verse 22: "Then I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among all your people." Praising God with other brothers and sisters through worship, tithing, learning, serving and being in community in church is a great reason to go to church! To declare the wonder of God's name! To praise God among all his people. Wow... yes... this is church!

Proverbs - Proverbs 20 verse 10 is convicting - "The LORD despises double standards of every kind." I am afraid that I often do have double standards in the way I live my own life. I am afraid perhaps we all do to a degree. We hold ourselves to one standard when we are at church and among our friends and maybe even typing on this blog... :) But, then, late at night or early in the morning or during the day perhaps we let this standard - this Christian standard - simply go. We become judgmental. We gossip. We complain. We lust. We give in to our old addictions. We fall prey to a double standard. Please don't ever forget that God calls us to the highest standard! And he sent us his Son Jesus to set us free from the bondage of sin from the bondage of double standards. Through faith in Jesus we are gifted with the Holy Spirit living within our very bodies, which is an amazing blessing to consider! God gives us everything that we need to live a life of high moral standards. Will we pray unceasingly to let our double standards go? Will we leave the double standards behind once and for all? Will we stop living our lives with two faces?

Worship God: Romans chapter 12 and Psalm 22 verse 22 reminded me of Jeremy Camp's song "Give You Glory." It's a bit strange to me to see Jeremy performing this song on a big stage with big lights. I remember a few years back seeing him perform solo with just his guitar while opening up for Bebo Norman and then playing another show in the gymnasium of a church. I guess you've made it big Mr. Camp! :) Songs like this are why:

Do you know our God of Glory? Click here for Glory!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

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Shepherd Hotel

The Obama administration is upset and angry about a Jewish philanthropist's plan to build on a plot of land in East Jerusalem. A plot of land which he bought way back in 1985.

. . . and which has resulted in a local dispute you probably have not heard about. Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman has issued an order to place a photograph of the previous owner of the property in Israeli embassies and consulates. The "professionals" at the ministry are upset at being forced to comply. So here's the background to the story.

On the property stands the abandoned "Shepherd Hotel". Unmentioned in the controversy is the fact that the building and land were previously owned by the family of the Islamic Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. So why does Lieberman want to put up the photos?

Well there's this:

"Al Husseini was the notorious Nazi who mixed Nazi propaganda and Islam. He was wanted for war crimes in Bosnia by Yugoslavia. His mix of militant propagandizing Islam was an inspiration for both Yasser Arafat and Saddam Husein: He was also a close relative of Yasser Arafat and grandfather of the current Temple Mount Mufti." -more

and there's this:

"Husseini spent World War II in Berlin at Hitler's side. Husseini established a division of Muslim Nazis "the Hanzar" division and played a first-hand role in instigating the genocide of Europe's Jews, Serbs and Gypsies. After World War II, he actively recruited Nazi officers into the Arab governments of the Middle East." -more

So here's a few more photos of the man who managed to blend Nazi philosophy into Islam, and the former owner of the hotel that Obama is desperate to keep out of "Jewish hands":

Your thoughts?

-Dry Bones- Israel's Political Comic Strip Since 1973

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Deliverance for Our Souls~Bob Caldwell

Deliverance for Our Souls

Deliverance for Our Souls 3:18-19 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Like it was with Ezekiel, our relationship with God's Word should be extremely personal and transforming. If not, we are no different than the hard-hearted people who Ezekiel was sent to bring God's Word to. To begin with, God's Word must become food for our own souls. We too must eat it (3:1-3). It must find its way into our hearts, each and every Word (3:10). Jesus described His own words as being "spirit and life" (John 6:63). To the Apostle Peter, Jesus declared that one of the greatest ways to express love to Him was to feed God's people, the Word of God (John 21:15-17). Ezekiel's accountability to being faithful to God's Word regardless of how it is received by others is also a vital example to us. The Word of God that is placed within us is a Word that we must faithfully proclaim and obey. To this day, God's people are held accountable for honestly conveying God's Word to the church and the world regardless of how open the ears of the hearers. Our commitment to proclaim the whole truth that God has entrusted to us has nothing to do with people's willingness to accept it. In Ezekiel's situation, God clearly forewarns him that the people will not listen. But that doesn't matter (3:4-11). For all eternity it will be clear that those who have been judged for their sin are without excuse. God sent His word by His Spirit into the hearts of us all (Rom. 1:20-21, 2:14-15). God has sent His Word by the prophets and by His written Word. We, like Ezekiel, are "watchmen." We have been sent into this world to warn humanity that they are accountable before their Maker for the sin that has destroyed one another and the arrogance that has turned our backs on God's wisdom, will, and love. And like Ezekiel, we will be held accountable for our own sin if we withhold warning His people. For we who know what Jesus Christ has graciously done in providing the gift of salvation for all people and not doing all within our ability to make this known is a serious sin. It is the height of selfless disregard for the value of a human soul. God will require their blood at our hand. This is true not only to a lost world, but to God's church, His people. If we stand by and do nothing to correct the influence of false doctrine and sin that is destroying God's people, we will share in the judgment God will bring upon His own children (3:18-20). Lastly, we see that God may require of us to pay a heavy personal price to awaken people to God's warnings. Reading chapter four makes this all too clear. Obviously, what Ezekiel had to do was unique to his time and situation. But the principle is the same. It will be at great personal cost for us to bring God's Word to others. But people are worth it. Christ proved it at the cross (4:1-17).
Ezekiel 3:1-4:17 1 Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. 4 Then He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." 10 Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11 And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse." 12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: "Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!" 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. Ezekiel Is a Watchman 16 Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul." 22 Then the hand of the LORD was upon me there, and He said to me, "Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you." 23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them. 26 I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 4 The Siege of Jerusalem Portrayed 1 "You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. 2 Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. 3 Moreover take for yourself an iron plate, and set it as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. 4 "Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. 5 For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. 7 "Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem; your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. 8 And surely I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege. 9 "Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it. 10 And your food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it. 11 You shall also drink water by measure, one-sixth of a hin; from time to time you shall drink. 12 And you shall eat it as barley cakes; and bake it using fuel of human waste in their sight." 13 Then the LORD said, "So shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, where I will drive them." 14 So I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now; I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has abominable flesh ever come into my mouth." 15 Then He said to me, "See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it." 16 Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, surely I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread, 17 that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away because of their iniquity.
Ezekiel 3:1-4:17 v. 1-3 feed your belly, and fill your stomach – The message is not to be merely sampled or tasted, but fully consumed and internalized before it is spoken to others. mouth like honey in sweetness – Surprisingly, though the message is lamentation, mourning, and woe (2:10), the scroll is sweet when Ezekiel obediently eats what is given him by God. v. 5-7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you – Even though Ezekiel is able to communicate fluently and speaks as one of their own people, Israel will not receive him. Their ability to understand him will prove greater condemnation because they understand yet are too hard hearted to receive. v. 9-11 Like adamant stone, harder than flint – Ezekiel is again told explicitly how he will be received, and warned not to be afraid and that he must communicate the message whether they hear or whether they refuse. v. 10 receive into your heart – It is not enough for Ezekiel to simply record and repeat God's Word. The message must be taken to heart. The burden power and weight must be known, believed, and experienced by Ezekiel himself, and becomes his passion and conviction as well. v. 12-13 a great thunderous noise – The elements and sounds of the vision of God's glory returns once again, and overwhelms Ezekiel. v. 14 in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me – This is the combined effect and result of Ezekiel's vision and the internalizing of God's message. He returns to the captives and remains there astonished among them seven days (Job 2:13). v. 17 I have made you a watchman – These were men who stood watch on the wall as an early warning system for a city. They would give warning and proclaim what they see to those in the city. This is to be the nature of Ezekiel's ministry. v. 18-21 but his blood I will require at your hand – If Ezekiel shrinks from declaring what he sees and warning the people, he bears the responsibility of those destroyed by sin. But if is he faithful, the sinners who repent shall surely live because he took warning, and Ezekiel will be absolved of his responsibility. v. 22 Arise, go out into the plain – Ezekiel is again called out and receives more instruction. This valley will be the setting for the vision of dry bones in chapter 37. v. 24-26 The Spirit warns and instructs Ezekiel again of all that will oppose him – He is to shut himself inside his house, and there he will be bound by those who want to shut him up and keep him from going about and spreading his message. God will even give him difficulty in communicating as a way of further judging those who hear and those who refuse. Ezekiel 4 Chapters 4–24 make up a distinct unit in the book. The content is not all in chronological order, but is arranged in subject and genre. Chapters 4-7 contain many dramatic enactments, chapters 8-11 are another vision series, and chapters 15-23 contain many prophetic parables and metaphors. They all take place before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BC, which ends and validates all of the prophecies. v. 1 portray on it a city – Jerusalem. Ezekiel is instructed to make a drawing or model of Jerusalem and then show it being surrounded and destroyed. This model showed ahead of time what actually happened in the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Like many other dramatic acts and sermons in the book, we read what Ezekiel was instructed to do but don't have a record of the outcome or response. v. 3 iron plate – The Hebrew identifies this as a pan or griddle that the priests used to offer grain and bread sacrifices in the tabernacle (Lev 2:5, 6:21). Ezekiel is to set it between his face and the city, symbolizing the barrier between God and Jerusalem and that He is the one judging them by the siege. v. 4 Lie also on your left side – We are not told how many hours a day Ezekiel spent like this, but he was intended both to display and experience the iniquity (or punishment) of the people. It is unclear what period of judgment the 390 is to represent, either the years of Israel's past unfaithfulness that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem, or the Gentile domination that followed its fall. v. 6-8 lie again on your right side – This demonstrates the siege of Jerusalem and because he was restrained by God so that he could not turn over, we assume this was a continuous position for 40 days. It would have certainly caused Ezekiel pain and suffering and helped the prophet sympathetically suffer with and for the iniquities of the people. v. 9-15 – These verses demonstrate the desperate conditions of a siege: unusual combinations of foods because of scarcity, rationed measures of food and water, defiling themselves with uncleanness because of drastic conditions. v. 16 eat bread by weight and with anxiety…and be dismayed with one another – These are the desperate psychological effects of the siege, and waste away because of their iniquity.
When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. –Ezekiel 3:18-19 These are stern and serious words that we read today, Lord. It is clearly stated here that we are responsible for sharing Your plan of salvation with the world around us. Renew us, God, make over our hearts so that we will not fail to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit to speak Your truth to those who are destined for eternity without You.