SONGS TO GOD

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)



Believers in Yeshua, along with Israel, are a ransomed nation! Through songs of praise to our God we obtain joy and gladness; not for a short season, but everlasting joy will be upon our heads. No matter the circumstance, sorrow and sighing flee away as we offer praise and song to our Father.



The use of song is as old as the creation of planet earth.



When God appeared before Job in the whirlwind He asks, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Where were you when it was measured? Where were you when a line was stretched upon it and the foundations and cornerstone was laid? When the morning stars sang together and all of the sons of God sang for joy? (Job 38:4-7)



Psalm 50:23 says " whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God."



I've dusted off several old hymnal's from my childhood. They have been sitting on a bookshelf. I am refreshing my memories of days gone by with songs of praise and glory to God. The old hymns come to mind as I am working in my yard, around the house, and on my job. Although I may not sing out loud, (which is a good thing!), the LORD hears the praise and melody in my heart. The words bring praise for deliverance, thanks for salvation, as I magnify Him in song and word. My faith is increased, grows deeper in Him, and enables me to handle whatever comes along the way.



On very bad days, God promises if we call upon Him in the day of trouble; He will deliver us, and we will glorify Him...whosoever offers praise glorifies Him. He instructs us to even glorify Him in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel to the isles of the sea. From the uttermost parts of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. (Isaiah 24:15)



When we fail and fall short of our calling; or feel we are being chastened by the LORD (those He loves He chastens, like a father chastens a child) Isaiah 12:1,2 says, " And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."



In daytime or night, in light or darkness, even in the darkest night His song shall be with me, and my prayer goes unto the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8) He is our hiding place; He will preserve us from trouble; He shall encompass us about with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)



SONGS OF THE PAST:
Nehemiah 12
"From the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God." verse 43 says that in the days of great sacrifices being offered by the people, rejoicing for God made them rejoice with even greater joy! The wives and the children rejoiced so loud that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off!




SONGS OF THE FUTURE:
Revelation 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.



Who shall not glorify Thy name? For Thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest.




Our duty? Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the saints. (Psalm 149:1)



SONG OF CREATION
" Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because He cometh to judge the earth."



"O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good;
for His mercy endureth for ever.
And say ye,
Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen,
that we may give thanks to Thy holy name,
and glory in Thy praise."



" Blessed be the LORD God of Israel forever and ever.
And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD." ( 1 Chronicles 16:32-36)




As we prepare for the days ahead; as He comes to establish His Kingdom of righteousness, as the forces of evil fight their last great battle against all that is Holy, it is high time to break out the old hymnals and memorize the glorious hymns of the past along with the Song's of Jacob and deliverance over the centuries sung by Israel in the Prophets and the Psalms. Most have been put to music and are availible on Messianic websites; GALILEE OF THE NATIONS comes to mind. These together, with the great hymns of faith bring the ages past and the present age together in one great song of praise to the Creator of all things! Our Father, Blessed is He!!

~ MY SONG'S FOR TODAY ~

MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

Ray Palmer 1830 Lowell Mason 1832

" My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb

of Calvary,

Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray,

Take all my guilt away,

O let me from this day Be wholly Thine! "

" May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart,

My zeal inspire;

As Thou hast died for me,

O may my love to Thee,

Pure, warm, and changeless be,

A living fire! "

" While life's dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn today,

Wipe sorrow's tears away,

Nor let me ever stray,

From Thee aside. "

" When ends life's transient dream,

When death's cold, and sullen stream,

Shall o'er me roll;

Blest Savior , then in love,

Fear and distrust remove;

O bear me safe above,

a ransomed soul! "

Amen

~ B'tzel K'nafeicha ~

words and music by Karen Davis

2001 Galilee of the Nations Music

" In Your secret place

I will hide

In the shadow of Your wings

I will abide

In the dark of the night

You will be my guide

Though a thousand may fall

at my side

My heart will not fear

For You are near. "

(Psalms 57:1, 91:1,2 92:2)

DEEP UNTO DEEP

Job 12:22 says God discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. The Hebrew description of deep in this passage means to be so deep that it is profound.



I have experienced this profound depth and darkness at times in my life. It is usually after a blessing has been bestowed upon me from the Father or after real time of blessing while reading and praying. The enemy is relentless in his effort to steal any joy or security I have as a follower of Christ.



In Psalm 42:7 King David cries, "deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me."



This usage of the word deep in the original Hebrew means depth like an abyss, or a surging mass of subteranean water supply. I have all felt as if His billows, His waves were more than I can handle. By His grace and kindess toward me, as I mature in Him, at times I experience a greater deepness of waves and billows. This is not an unusual occurance and from time to time we should expect this to happen. I rest assured that my salvation is secure in Christ Jesus. The deep waves and billows serve a purpose in the process of growing mature in Him.



In Psalm 92: 5 David again speaks of the depth of God; he says, " O LORD, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep. Again, a very profound depth is infered. At times, I have no idea what He is up to; but He is in control.



The Prophet Daniel says God revealeth the deep and secret things; He knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth in Him. This debth Daniel speaks of is a strange, unsearchable, profound deepness. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:10 that God has revealed the things God has prepared for those who love Him, for the Spirit searchest all things, yea, the deep things of God.



Oh the depth, the width, the unsearchable ways of our God! He is in total control; even more so these days when things seem so out of control.



There is also a depth in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 34. Ezekiel has a vision of the river that flows from the Temple of God. As he is led into the water, at first he is ankle deep, then in water up to his knees, then up to his loins, then it is so deep that he could not pass over! The waters were rising, Ezekiel says. There were waters to swim in! It turned into a river that could not be passed over.



Rich, living, deep waters that brought life and joy where only death and dryness once existed. Everything the water from the Temple of God touches comes to life.



As we grow deeper in Him and dig into the depths and knowledge of His purposes and desires as revealed in His word, we will find ourselves with waters so deep we can swim and never touch bottom again! Underneath us are His everlasting arms.

MEMORIAL DAY 2008-PERFECT PEACE

We have a promise. This is an excellent time to have a Memorial Day weekend and examine the fact God promised perfect peace to those whose mind is stayed upon Him.



ISAIAH 26:3 promises that " THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE; BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE."



Perfect peace. The word "stayed" means to lie hard and lean upon - to stand fast - to take hold of a fact that should be and must be well established. He will keep those in perfect peace who hold fast and lean upon Him.



I wish I would have understood this verse years ago. I used to be of the mind that I can take care of any situation. I can handle this one, God! Lo, in my later years I realize I can handle very little outside of Him. I can pump my own gas and purchase a cup of coffee at a store, but too much more than that I depend upon Him. I did not want to "bother God" with the everyday issues. I felt He had more important things to do than worry with me and situations I would find myself in. How wrong I was!



I have developed a friendship with an 87 year old retired Pastor who has the Spirit of the LORD all over him. I can feel the difference in the atmosphere when I walk off of the street and enter his home. It is a place of refuge from the storm on the city streets. During his 50 years of pastoring he developed a relationship with the Father; an intimacy that no one else I know in person has. Before he fixes a screen that may be broken in his home he goes to prayer. He asks God to give him wisdom in doing the repair work; that he does not make the hole bigger than it is!



This Pastor's furnace recently stopped working during the cold winter months. He called several repair shops. They wanted $80 just to come to the home; before they did any work. A man who used to attend this Pastor's church came to mind and he was there the same day; all he charged was for the bearings that needed replacement. I remember standing with these two men in the basement of the Pastor's home, holding hands and praying together that the repair would be successful. Such humility, such dependance upon God, such an acknlowledgement that we can go to Him for anything! He is not too busy!



Perfect Peace! What a concept today. No matter the circumstance. No matter the issue. To be safe in mind, body, and estate; to be complete in Him.



In this context, ECCLESIASTES 3: 1-14 says:
" To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance."



" A time to cat away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence and a time to speak;"



" A time to live, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace."



This is the lot of humanity. It is the lot of Believers. It is the way God has created us. In each of these times, He has made Himself available to us to lean heavily upon Him. Through the gladness, He wants to share in it with us. Through the saddness, He is there for us as we lean upon Him. Through the rending and casting away, He reminds us of our temporary state on this planet.



Through our times of laughing and prosperity that seems as if it will never end, He wants to share in our gladness. Through our times of loss and pain He wants to offer comfort and assurance that we are complete in Him, no matter the circumstance.



We learn and mature through all of these incidents. There is no other way. Keep our mind STAYED UPON HIM. We must lean heavily upon Him in the limited time He has given us on earth. We have eternity in our hearts as we stay upon Him. This is the Perfect Peace. Keeping our minds stayed upon Him. Lie hard - lean upon Him!



Our burden is not to heavy for the LORD! He can handle the weight. He begs us to lay our burden down, to die to self, and to live in Him. He is not too busy! He desires our presence, our petitions, our requests, our time, our love and our acknowledgement of our need for Him in every circumstance.



What a legacy for the Children of God! What a memorial for the Creator of the Universe! How He must take pleasure in our acceptance that we are totally dependent upon Him for every circumstance. Jesus said that it is good that He goes back to be with the Father so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit can come to us. The Spirit of God, made manifest in these bodies made of the dust of the earth, working through and teaching us in all things. The Spirit of Peace, the Spirit of comfort, the Spirit of conviction, the Spirit of Truth working in us, through us, and teaching us all things.




What a MEMORIAL DAY IN HIM!

SONG OF MOSES

The songs of Moses are mentioned three times in Scripture. The first song was sung by Moses and the Children of Israel after they reached the other side of the sea; with Pharoah and his army in hot pursuit. As we know, the sea collapsed on Pharoah and his army, killing all of them (Exodus 15).



The song of Moses was sung again, forty years later as the Children of Israel were preparing to enter the Land of Promise. There is a variation to the song as sung by Moses. The difference is interesting and prophetic. We know that Moses was not allowed to enter into the Land.



The song of Moses is mentioned again in Revelation 15. This will be sung near the end of the Age of mankind being in charge of his own affairs; living in rebellion against the Creator of all things. The words are beautiful.



Below are the full songs by Moses as given in Scripture. I feel they paint a picture of the failure of mankind to be what they should be in God. We, and Israel, have fallen short of our calling and possibilities in God. But He is a God whose mercies are renewed with the dawning of each day. The progression of events mentioned in the songs are of great interest.



First Song:


Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD,
and spake saying, I will sing unto the LORD,
for He hath triumphed gloriously:
the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.



The LORD is my strength and song,
and He is become my salvation:
He is my God,
and I will prepare Him an habitation;
my father's God,
and I will exalt Him.



The LORD is a man of war;
the LORD is His name.



Pharoah's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea;
his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
The depths have covered them;
they sank into the bottom as a stone.



Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power;
Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
And in the greatness of Thine excellency Thou hast overthrown them that rose up against Thee;
Thou sentest forth Thy wrath,
which consumed them as stubble.



And with the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,
the floods stood upright as an heap,
and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.



Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them;
they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?



Thou strectchedst out Thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed;
Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.



The people shall hear, and be afraid;
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed;
the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them;
all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.



Fear and dread shall fall upon them;
by the greatness of Thine arm they shall be as still as a stone;
till Thy people pass over, O LORD,
till the people pass over, which Thou hast purchased.



Thou shalt bring them in,
and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance,
in the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in,
in the Sanctuary, O LORD,
which Thy hands have established.



The LORD shall reign forever and ever.
For the horse of Pharoah went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,
and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them;
but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


* Three days later when the Children of Israel became thirsty they began to grumble and complain against Moses at the waters of Marah. Three days prior they were singing and praising in this song! God did not forget this. He mentions this to Moses later on in their travels. It was their first test, and they failed.



* But, thank God, He is gracious and ready to forgive. He turned the water sweet and the people were satisfied; for the time being. How often in my walk have I been blessed only to face another issue a day or two later and doubts and fears are the first thing to pop into my mind. I am working on making each new obstacle a chance for God to again deliver me. I am learning to give Him praise as soon as the trial begins! The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of His people. If I want Him to be with me always, I should praise Him always; this way I become His habitation, not from time to time, but continually. Praise Him without ceasing!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



THE SECOND TIME THE SONG OF MOSES IS MENTIONED - DEUTERONOMY 32
( notice the changes from the first song )



And Moses spake in th ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended:


Give ear, O ye heavens,
and I will speak;
and hear, O earth,
the words of my mouth.



My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew,
as the small rain upon the tender herb,
and as the showers upon the grass;
Because I will publish the name of the LORD;
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.



He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
for all His ways are judgment;
a God of truth and without iniquity,
just and right is He.



They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of His children;
they are a preverse and crooked generation.
Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise?
Is not He thy Father that hath bought thee?
hath He not made thee, and established thee?



Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations;
ask thy father, and he will show thee;
thy elders, and they will tell thee.
When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance,
when He separated the sons of Adam,
He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.



For the LORD'S portion is His people;
Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.
He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness;
He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.



As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young,
spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings;
So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields;
and He made him to suck honey out of the rock;
Buter of kine, and mild of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan,
and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.



But Jeshurun waxed fat, (prosperity, ease, laziness ) and kicked; thou are waxen fat, thou are grown thick,
thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. ( they did not need Him )



They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods,
with abominations provoked they Him to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God;
to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up,
whom your fathers feared not.



Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful,
and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
And when the LORD saw it He abhorred them,
because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters.




And He said, I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end shall be;
for they are a very froward generation,
children in whom is no faith.



They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God;
they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities;
and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.



For a fire is kindled in Mine anger,
and shall burn unto the lowest hell,
and shall consume the earth with her increase,
and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.



I will heap mischiefs upon them;
I will spend Mine arrows upon them.
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat,
and with bitter destruction;
I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them,
with the poison of serpents of the dust.



The sword without, and terror within,
shall destroy both the young man and the virgin,
the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
I said, I would scatter them into corners,
I would make the remembrance of them to cease among men;



Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy,
lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely,
and lest they should say, Our hand is high,
and the LORD hath not done all this.



For they are a nation void of counsel,
neither is there any understanding in them.
O that they were wise,
that they understood this,
that they would consider their latter end!



How should one chase a thousand,
and two put ten thousand to flight,
except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?



For their rock is not our Rock,
even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,
and of the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of gall,
their clusters are bitter;
Their wine is the poison of dragons,
and the cruel venom of asps.



Is not this laid up in store with ME,
and sealed up among My treasures?



To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompence;
their foot shall slide in due time;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and the things that shall come upon them make haste.



For the LORD shall judge His people,
and repent Himself for His servants,
when He seeth that their power is gone,
and there is none to shut up, or left.



And He shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings?
let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.



See not that I, even I am He,
and there is not god with Me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound, and I heal;
neither is their any that can deliver out of My hand.



For I lift up My hand to heaven, and say, I live forever.
If I whet My glittering sword, and Mine hand take hold of judgment;
I will render vengeance to Mine enemies,
and will reward them that hate Me.



I will make Mine arrows drunk with blood,
and My sword shall devour flesh;
and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives,
from the beginning of revengers upon the enemy.



Rejoice, O ye nations, with His people;
for He will avenge the blood of His servants,
and will render vengeance to His adversaries,
and will be merciful unto His land and to His people.


And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people,
he and Hoshea the son of Nun.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* This song goes from the Children of Israel and their direct circumstances into prophecy for the end of days. In the end, after mankind has chosen every other god imaginable, God avenges Himself against the enemies of mankind. One of the greatest sins are unbelief in Him and His ability, on behalf of those who call themselves His people.



He speaks of wine, good times, success and prosperity being set up as gods, being the poison of dragons and the cruel venom of asps (serpents). He has laid up these poisons. He says they are stored up among His treasures.



There is a great enemy that seeks the destruction of the children of God. Were it not for the fierce anger of the enemy, God would let the enemy finish them off. God says were it not for the fact that the enemy himself would claim that he is more powerful than God, He may very well allow the destruction. This is how much God hates unbelief. He abhors it as one of the greatest sins.



At times, Messiah could not work great works because of the unbelief of people where He ministered during His time in Israel. This is a serious issue. This song of Moses is not just for the Children of Israel; it is for all who call themselves by the name of God. His anger burns against all who do not believe and who stray from His precepts.



The final song is the most triumphant! It is given in the Book of the Revelation of John. John observes a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those who had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.



Chapter 15 verse 3 says these " sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying-



Great and marvellous are Thy works,
LORD God Almighty;
just and true are Thy ways,
Thou King of saints.



Who shall not fear Thee, O LORD,
and glorify Thy name?
for Thou only art holy;
for all nations shall come and worship before Thee;
for Thy judgments are made manifest.



* what a beautiful ending for the history of mankind!
To spend eternity with the One who loved us so much that He gave all that He had so we could be with Him.



From the shore of the Red Sea, through the great wilderness of testing and trials, through the chastisements for disobedience and blessing for obedience, to the sea made of glass, mingled with fire...



Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from Heaven above,
with mercy, truth and love
our God is an awesome God!

ISRAEL AT 60

ISAIAH 62


For Zion's sake will I not hold My peace
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness
and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.



And the Gentiles (nations) shall see thy righteousness
and all kings thy glory:
and thou shalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the LORD shall name.



Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken;
neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:
but thou shalt be called Hephzibah ( My delight is in her, as in a wife)
and thy land Beulah ( married ):
for the LORD delighteth in thee,
and thy land shall be married.



For as a young man marrieth a virgin,
so shall thy sons marry thee;
and as the bridegroom rehoiceth over the bride,
so shall thy God rejoice over thee.



I have set watchmen upon they walls,
O Jerusalem,
which shall never hold their peace day nor night;
ye that make mention of the LORD,
keep not silence,
And give Him no rest,
till He establish,
and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.



The LORD hath sworn by His right hand,
and by the arm of His strength,
Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies;
and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine,
for the which thou hast laboured:



But they that have gathered it shall eat it,
and praise the LORD;
and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of My holiness.
Go through, go through the gates;
prepare ye the way of the people;
cast up, cast up the highway;
gather out the stones;
lift up a standard for the people.



Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world,
Say ye to the daughter of Zion,
Behold, thy salvation cometh;
behold, His reward is with Him,
and His work before Him.



And they shall call them the holy people,
The redeemed of the LORD;
and thou shalt be called,
Sought out,
A city not forsaken.

* THOUGHTS *
ROMANS 2:29
" But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."



The condition of physical Israel at 60 years of age as a modern nation, ressurected from the ages of the past, is a mirror image of the western church age. She is being forced to compromise with those who wish her harm and destruction, as Believers are forced to compromise our faith and walk with God. Modern society wishes nothing less than the physical and spiritual destruction and demise of all that stands for God and His holiness.



But there is a day coming in the near future where the distinction of right and wrong, holiness and ungodliness, salvation and damnation will be exposed for all to see. New life will be given to those who desire to walk with God. As God is married to Israel, we are the Bride of Christ the Messiah. The wall of seperation between spiritual Believers and natural Israel will be torn asunder. This is God's doings as well as Satan's. The great showdown of mankinds history on earth is upon us. It is time to chose sides.



We are going through the gates. It is not an easy process. I have read the Bible through and no one Scripture has told me that this thing would be easy; it is constant conflict until He arrives to rescue His Beloved Bride and natural Israel, which in the last days will be one in the same. The deliverance Believers await is the same deliverance Israel awaits. It is spiritual working through natural events in our personal lives as well as on a national scale.



We are admonished to give God no rest until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Our salvation and deliverance from the enemy is also Israel's salvation from the enemy; they are one in the same. When this deliverance comes we will no more be termed Forsaken nor experience desolation. But we will be a delight to our God and married to His Son!



He has set Watchmen upon the physical and spiritual walls of Jerusalem. He will fill those with the vigor and excitement of a young man who marries a virgin. The LORD will delight in this vigor and excitement and those who not only enter through the gates but push through with all of their might will see their Salvation, reward and their work reach a successful conclusion as He gives strength.



Throughout this whole process, when we feel as if things are usless and the battle may be lost on an individual and national scale we can be confident that in all of our afflictions He is afflicted, but the angel of His Presence saves us. In His love and in His pity He redeems us and He carries us even from the days of old. ( Isaiah 63:9)



Isaiah 65:9 is not a suggestion, or a possiblity, or an assumption. It is a promise from Almighty God- "And I WILL bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and Mine elect shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell therein."



THIS IS A PROMISE. GOD DOES IT HIMSELF. We need to believe it!




And your eyes shall see and you will say, The LORD shall be magnified from the border of Israel. ( Malachi 1:5) He does not say it will be a comfortable process. The ancient forces from realms we know nothing about have gathered against Jerusalem, both physical and spiritual. Our God will at last rise up as in the day of battle and speak into being victories in ways we cannot imagine with our human mind. He creates things that do not exist with a simple utterance; He speaks and His will is accomplished. We are learning and revealing our true hearts, our beliefs and unbeliefs, through the process.



It is time to lean heavily upon Him.



From the very beginning of this process of refining, learning His ways, leaning upon Him and Him alone, He has spoken that He has loved us. He would keep the oath which He has sworn unto our fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). In these last days He will bring us out again with a mighty hand, and redeem us out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt (Satan).



We, along with natural Israel, which is celebrating 60 years of reclaiming the Land, can rest assured that although we have traveled the Wilderness during our lifetime, and have not entered into His rest as we should have, and have grieved Him beyond measure with our seasons of unbelief and rebellion, our shoes still have not worn out, our clothing is still as good as new, water still comes out of the rocks, and manna still falls from the heavens.



He is our clothing. He is our manna. He is our water. He is our God. There is not other!



The walls of Jericho will fall. The enemy will be defeated. Our God will save! We will enter into the promised land. It is a good land He has prepared for us. We will inherit vineyards we did not plant and inhabit dwellings we did not build. It is all from Him.



Let God arise in us and let His enemies be scattered! Proclaim His salvation for all to see.

DARKEN COUNSEL

A great fear of mine is to speak of spiritual issues or passing a personal opinion to others that are, as the saying goes, "called of God..."



Giving an opinion of the things of God is not a matter to be taken lightly as I do in general conversation regarding issues that arise in the workplace or when examining the best way to accomplish a job. The things of God are, and should be different.



I am reminded of a verse in Job 38:1,2 - Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, " Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words with out knowledge? "


Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a method that has worked for them. In Western society large ministries are to be emulated and copied. If a work is drawing great crowds it must be of God. Anything that does not draw large numbers of people must be a failure. One of the largest Pentecostal churches in my area just completed meetings where they held wrestling matches; throwing chairs, fighting in the ring, the music and spirit that goes with that kind of event. The reason for such foolishness in a house that is to be used for God was that it would "draw the youth..."



No talk of prayer and fasting. No talk of a walk of holiness, of drawing close to God. This is legalism. A "drive through" gospel where you can pick and chose what you want from God for any given day. I have no inhibition about speaking of such foolishness. This is not the issue I am speaking of right now. How does a Believer who recognizes the pitiful state of the American church fit in and where do we go? The Bible says to draw near to God and He will draw near to us. How can I draw near to God in the middle of a wrestling match? What darkened counsel came up with this plan to draw people to Christ?



In my reading of great moves of God in the past, in horse and buggy days in the 18th Century, bars and places of ill repute would go out of business when a man full of the Spirit would sit up a tent in someones field, after much prayer and fasting, and start preaching. Horses pulling families going to town would ignore the guidance of the driver of the buggy and go another way, for no reason at all, and travel to the tent where the Spirit of God was and the family would be saved. The moves of God during the George Whitfield revivals are worth a study. His biography is available if one would wish to read it.



The counsel of man is opposite the counsel of God. Isaiah 50:11 speaks of a people who have their own ideas. God says, " Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire and the sparks you have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow."



I do not have to attend the largest church in town. I can talk to God in my study and as I work in the yard or at my place of employment. I do not have to follow the latest "movement" or start a work of my own in His name. There are different callings of God. Everyone has a part. Some fast and pray. Some work and give of their monies to ministries that have been called to the fartherest parts of the planet. Some talk quietly to their neighbors and are a silent Witness to everyone they meet. We are coming into days when having the peace of God on our beings will be the greatest witness of all! Those filled with His Spirit of peace will stick out like a "sore thumb" and people will want to know what makes us different; why are we not panicked or worried. I believe this may be the greatest witness in these last days.



I am not looking for a church. I am not looking for the "man of the hour" or the "latest move of God". I am looking for God. I could spend my entire life here on earth picking apart ministries or what I feel are errors in ministries; and there are so many that volumes could be written in that regard. And in my opinion, the voulmes could be burned because on a personal level, this is God's business, not mine. My job is to know God for myself. He has already said those who kindle their own fire and walk in the light they have created for themselves will lay down in sorrow. Why would I want to be a part of something like that. I want to stay as far away from this as I possibly can! The draw to get involved is great; this is of the evil one. No thanks!



The word of God says in Ec: 12:13 " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man."



Here is something that is available to every Believer. God is no respector of persons so this has to be true. Acts 5:15 says "...So that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats in order that Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he came by."



Peter did not have a crystal cathedral. He would not have had a television ministry if it were available. He spent real time with God. Peter and God, that's it. This is where the peace of God comes. He was confident not in himself, but in the God that he served. He was so full of the Spirit of God that even his shadow passing over a sick or lame person would bring healing. This is a move of God! One person, Peter, who paid the price of knowing God. Peter did not just know about God or have a general knowledge of Him, HE KNEW GOD.



In my 54 years of searching, many have said, "where did you go to Bible School" or "where is your degree" or "who do you think you are, you are not a preacher or minister...". We must ignore these Western, modern concepts. Knowing God does not take a degree, or a church, or being a minister ordained by other mere men. Knowing God takes spending real time in His presence. Where He is ALL IN ALL. He is all that matters. This is my goal.



I have read that this may be a painful process. Only He knows how to sit me aside to where I may be isolated. There were no groups when the Apostle Paul was sent into the Wilderness to learn of God. No one followed Christ into the Wilderness where He was tempted and tried by satan. Moses spent 40 lonely years tending sheep before he was ready to enter into his calling. The Prophets were lonely, forsaken people. It was them, individually, and God. That's it.



Here is one thing I am confident of and I do not mind giving an opinion; My old concept of God, influenced by the society in which I live, has been corrupted and has become a part of my psychic. This concept has to be done away with once and for all. It is not easy. In His kingdom there are many functions. God instucts us to learn from His creation of His ways. There are ants and bees that serve different functions. There is one queen, one ruler, one to whom all others serve in different capacities. He is represented as the Ruler. Most are workers serving the master. In His Kingdom we are to serve Him, not ourselves. One of the greatest services, I believe, is to work a mostly mundane job, 5 or 6 days a week, and take of the substance and give cheerfully to works that He has laid on my heart. Works such as Messianic ministries in Israel. Spreading the gospel and the Bible into Islamic nations. Ministries such as VOICE OF THE MARTYR'S who give comfort and aid to Believers who are imprisoned and suffering in areas where the Gospel of Christ is forbidden.



This is a calling. This is a mission. This is a ministry. Those of us who feel anxious or as if we have failed and missed our "calling" can take comfort that for the most part, we are more blessed than we realize that we have not gotten caught up into the foolishness in churches that exist today. It is a blessing that God has prevented us from falling into this condition. Spend time in His Presence on a daily, hourly basis. This is our comfort. This is our ministry. This is our calling.



There are ministries that are of God. Men and women who have given all and are totally given over to Him. He will lead each of us to these areas that need support and prayer.



As we yeild to Him, as we get to know Him, as we draw closer to Him; He will draw closer to us. In His time, we, like Peter, will be so full of His Spirit that even our shadow passing over someone will have great influence and draw the lost, dying and lame into His Kingdom. He is not willing that any should perish; but that ALL should come into eternal life. Believers live in eternity right now; it is not something we are waiting for. We are of the heavenly kingdom right here on earth. We are not of this world but have been transformed into His kingdom, now. People we interact with on a daily basis may have no other Witness of His love, His power, or His mercies, other than through us.



My goal be to be like Father Abraham. To be known as the friend of God. My goal is not to attend or to be minister of the largest church in town, but to be someone that KNOWS GOD! The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. He will minister in His way to all who cross our paths as we yeild to Him.



Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit. Christ IN US, the hope of glory.



Have a blessed week, meditating upon Him.

jrpeacher mtzion@hughes.net