Category: Daily Word

Good morning,

     Today, I would just like to talk a little about not allowing the cares of the world to choke the Word of God.  "Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless." (Mark 4:19) Then again in Luke 21:30-36,"But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth.  Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man."  Watch is to keep awake; to stay vigilant, don't quit or become lethargic; to stay alert, not slothful; strict attention; to look attentively and observe as to see what comes, is done, or happens; to be careful or cautious.  The Holy Spirit is a genius of course, and He gives us inside information, making us wise if we will only listen and do.  Father has been preparing us for the troubles that are coming as well as keeping us growing stronger.  That is the process, a little more added weight to build up your endurance and strength, so that you don't give up at the first sign of trouble.  He is telling us to stay alert and observe, so that you may not be caught off guard anything, especially the season of His coming.   Discreet means wise and judicious in your affairs; showing good judgment in your conduct.  Attentive means regarding with care; heedful and observant; consideration with a view to action; to be cautious and apply oneself.  Ready means to prepared for something about to be done or experienced; equipped and supplied with what is needed; not hesitant and not reluctant; prepared to be immediately available or at hand.  Father God has given to us everything necessary to see to it that we make it all the way to the finish line and that we are victorious as we run.  "For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)." (2 Peter1:3)

     We are entering the last leg of the race, so here we must pay strict attention to Paul, "Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses."(1 Tim. 6:12)  Fight here means to struggle with difficulties and dangers; to compete for a prize; to contend (with an adversary) to endeavor with strenuous zeal in order to obtain something; to accomplish; labor fervently; to strive.  Eternity is what should be our focus and goal, it should be what we are aiming and running for, not the earthly.  Souls for the eternal Kingdom is our business.  Don't lose your focus, stay alert, be discreet, attentive, and ready."  If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth".  (Col. 3:1-3) The Lord is encouraging us to keep our eyes on the prize and push with zeal to to accomplish it!

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     "Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.  Behold, all they who are enraged and inflamed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; they who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.  You shall seek those who contend with you but shall not find them; they who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all.  For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!  Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel!  I will help you, says the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.  Behold, I will make you to be a new, sharp, threshing instrument which has teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shall make the hills like chaff." (Is. 41:10-15)  Well, this is our destiny, we will be strengthen [to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard, to be strong, brave,  secure (for oneself), harden (heart), make firm, make obstinate, assure, to be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen oneself, confirm oneself, persist in, prove superior to; to exhibit strength, be strong, feel strong].  Harden means to toughen by degrees to what generally causes pain or discomfort; to make slowly tough against what affects our feelings.  So, through times of testing we are being proven to be superior, and confirmed and for being made alert in the days ahead of us!  Through it all as we hold on to His Word, we are being made into a new, sharp threshing instrument [an instrument used to separate the grains or seed from the ear or the plant made with four wooden cylinders armed with stones or iron, and joined together as a sledge].  We are then being made ready to multiply again, because we have brought forth fruit through the toughest season.  Since we have been made strong and courageous, we are now a little tougher and not so easily moved by our feelings, and more obstinate to difficulties [trouble, hard things that cause effort; unusual and laborious effort, things that causes pain and or embarrassment].  "He will not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord."  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in You.  In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do to me." (Ps. 112:7-8; Ps. 56:3-4) Remember we are made to be the victors, so there is no weapon formed against us that shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong.  This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord. (Is. 54:17) Get up and keep advancing, going forward, for we are the champions of the Lord and He is the Captain of the army.  We get better through testing and trials, not weaker, we are a new, never before seen or known threshing instrument, as we keep pressing on!

Good morning,

     "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down." (Ps. 37:23-24)  Ordered means to set up; established "prepared" sure, certain, confirmed, directed; it carries the idea of provision being made and made right.  Every one of us have made some slips or missteps as we continue on our walk with the Lord.  We can be devoted to living upright and still miss it, but here the Lord has already made provision for us as we are following His steps.  Steps means to advance or make movements, going on with companionship.  It doesn't matter when or how we fall, as long as we are advancing toward God and the Kingdom, we are not down for the last count.  Remember, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise.  When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be light unto me." (Micah 7:8) We are never completely cast down so that we can't get back up again.  Even our darkest places God's light can reveal and uncover the next step that we have to take.  The Lord upholds us (bear us up; sustain us; support and defends; and keeps us from sinking), as we make advancement in the Kingdom.  Fall is to drop suddenly and involuntarily; to enter unawares into a dangerous or undesirable state or situation; to be cast down.  None of us planned to enter into trials, tests, tribulations, or troubles, they happen unawares, but God has already prepared a way for us to bear up under it and He sustains us as well.  "The Lord upholds all those (of His own) who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down." (Ps. 145:14) God brings us through, we will penetrates our passage into and across from the beginning to the end of it.  Raise up to move to a higher position; to lift up; to elevate; to set upright; to cause to stand up, to build up.  For all of us that have believed and continue to walk on, making advances with the Lord, there is a "lifting" coming, a move to a higher position, God has been building us up for His elevation.

 

Good morning,

     As long as you and I stay on the narrow road we will continue to grow in Him.  ^" But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.  So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].  And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul's safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him, Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters.  There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures.  Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind].  But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen (so be it)! "  Grow is to increase and to become better; to become greater and to expand.  We will always be in progression all the while because there are some things that we are not ready for until we reach a certain level of maturation.  Staying in your present firm condition requires that you are steady in the application of the Word.  "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord."  So if you have been experiencing some growing pains, that is normal.  Each and everyone of us as believer's will grow to a place where we have to exert more spiritual energy to go beyond where we are, in order to become better, greater, increase, and expand.  Sometimes we grow by leaps and bounds, other times it may seem like we are at a snail's pace, but we must keep inching along. 

 

Good morning,

     Today I was reminded yet again about the importance of being thankful.  Quite often when we are going through any kind of testing or trial, we lose sight of all of the good things that God has already blessed us with.  Yet, if you have an agreement with The Father He will, by the Holy Spirit, gently encourage you to continue to offer thanksgiving.  Today, I saw a clip about a young boy of 10 years old, that was blind and autistic.  There he was singing the song, "Open the Eyes of My Heart."  Well, that instantly caused me to cease murmuring, and start thanking God for His faithfulness to me.  Here he was singing, "open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you!"

     Jesus gave His life in order to make it clear to us by the Holy Spirit, all that God has prepared and planned for all who believe in Him and continue to put their trust in Him.  "[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.." (Ephes. 1:17-19) After all isn't that what we really want and need most of all is a spirit of wisdom and revelation, of insight into mysteries and secrets into the deep and intimate knowledge of Him?  God has granted that to us, but this too is in progression, or in stages of growth.  It is to the degree of our hunger or pursuit.  We want to know the deep intimate secrets and mysteries of God, but a lot of the time we really don't want to have to do what's necessary to be in the position to have the eyes of our heart flooded.  Deep is extending far down from the surface; the part of greatest intensity.  Intimate is very private; closely personal; (of an association, knowledge, understanding, etc.) arising from close personal connection or familiar experience.  We can go as far as we want from 'surface Christianity', and be as close as we want to knowing and understanding more about our Father.  When we avail ourselves to Him more often during our day, we will find our eyes flooded with light.  By setting our minds to be more sensitive to Holy Spirit all day long.  The eyes here represent the faculty of knowing; having vision or being able to see; to be discerning or perceptive.  Light is to illumine; to render evident; to become clear; to instruct and inform; and to give understanding to.  Flood is to overflow or an out pour of; to overwhelm with an abundance of.

  

Good morning,

     Today let's finish talking about the dream and it's interpretation.

     For three nights I dreamed the same dream; "There were eight deer standing on a hill at several stages of growth.  In the distance behind them were twelve trees swaying in the breeze.  A major snow storm had come and the deer were almost overtaken by it, yet they stood immovable.  The twelve trees refused to bend under the pressure of the heaviness of the snow.  We have already shared about the number eight especially associated with 'resurrection' and 'regeneration' and the beginning of a new era.  The number three signifies the perfectly divine and heavenly number.  The number twelve signifying "perfection of government".  Now we all know that we are oftentimes referred in scripture as certain things, to denote the character of those things.  For example: sheep, goats, wolves; we are referred to as deer; eagles; members of a body; and trees; just to name a few.  In the Bible we see a deer as a hart as well as deer.  Here is one scripture, "As the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God." (Psalm 42:1) Deer have a four-chambered stomach and they have high nutrition requirements.  That is what we should have toward the Kingdom of God, our thirst and hunger for God should cause us to seek the high nutrition of His word above all else.  We are not to just go around eating anything under the guise of "Christianity."  Deer are selective eaters too.

     Now the definition of 'trees' is a plant having a permanent woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerate height and usually developing branches.  Now we are likened unto trees in several places: "And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]." (Psalm 1:3)  "[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green.  It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit," (Jer.17:7-8)  "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (Is. 61:3) Now the Amplified version of this verse says a lot about trees, that should describe us; "To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."  This year my brothers and sisters we must be lofty, strong, magnificent, but most of all distinguished, set apart by our uprightness or doing right according to the Word of God.  Of course our ability to do this is in line with us being firmly planted and tended by the streams of the river.  Determined to be people who are determined to remain consistent and constant in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, in-spite of all that is going on around us.  Trees don't get up and move around to find the conditions that they think are better for them.  We must not bend or break.  The year 2012 will be the time that those who are trees will receive beauty for ashes, oil of joy instead of mourning, praise instead of a heavy burden.  We will be truly distinguishable from all who haven't made the right choice.  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, [like a tree] always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose." (1 Corin. 15:58)

 

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     Today I woke up hearing this one line from the Word of God, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matthew 6:27) Father was talking to me about worry, because occasionally, we all need to check our 'worry meter'.  For each of us carry different things in our heart that affects our health, physically and mentally.  We were never made to carry weights of worry, there is no outlet in our bodies to do so.  That is why people are so stressed and overburdened.  This is where most of us live, trying to figure out the next move, if it is not finances, then it is our family, or other relationships, or, our health, that keeps the highway of our minds busy.  "And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?"  This is the same verse in the Amplified bible.  It is absolutely impossible for worry and anxiety to exist if we are trusting God is in our heart.  Each of us try to carry someone or some situation on our own, that we are not capable of doing anything about.  This is no reflection on our skills or our abilities, we are suppose to learn how to give them to God.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter5:7-9)  Care here means distractions and anxiety.  We are to throw those anxieties over on God so that He can do something about them.  The same afflictions are familiar to your brothers and sisters, there is nothing new under the sun.  The devil knows if we carry worry and anxieties in our heart it will breed fear, and fear is the opposite of faith.  We must resist worry!

     Here is another verse that we must meditate upon when we refuse to be weighted down with worry and cares.  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage!" (Gal. 5:1) Stand fast means to persevere, to persist in our standing.  That's our answer, once we are free, we must fight to stay free, refuse to be yoked up with the worry or anxiety again.  Eventually we relax into peace and His rest. 

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     Today I will attempt to finish the dream I shared two weeks ago.  There was eight deer at several stages of growth standing on a hill in the distance as they stood there was behind them twelve trees swaying in the breeze.  The last part of the dream occurred on the third night that I had this same dream.  In this scene everything was the same but a major snow storm had come and yet the deer and the trees remained standing.  The trees were bowed under the pressure of the snow, yet they did not break.  Today I would like to talk a little about the significance of twelve.  Next time we will search the trees.

     First of all twelve is perfect, signifying "perfection of government".  In the multiple of the number 3 and 4 it has to do with 'rule.'  Three is the divine number or the heavenly number; ex. the Trinity.  Four stands for the earthly number, or the number of what is material and organic.  The number four following three, denotes God's creative works.  Four represents all that is created, [ex. water; trees, animal, etc].  So let's think about the number twelve in Scripture.  There were 12 Patriarchs from Seth to Noah, and 12 from Shem to Jacob.   There are 12 sons of Israel, or the tribes of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.  There were the 12 Apostles or disciples.  Reading in Revelation 21:0-21, this is where we find the picture of 'perfect government'.  "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.  The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.  The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."  In order to have perfect government, then we need to understand what it means to govern.  Govern is to rule over by right of authority; to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; to hold in check; to control or guide; to serve as or constitute laws for dominion.  We as the people of God will be restored and resurrected (remember that is what the number eight means) to our rightful place to rule by right of the authority that God has given to us.  We will be reestablished to a new and better basis.  Our influence over this world will be redeemed from error.  God originally made us to exercise dominion over the world, let's look at our original intent.  Read and meditate on these verses: Genesis 1:26-28; "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."  Dominion equals govern the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority, rule; control.  We are heading back to God's government and reigning and ruling as kings.  We are training for reigning!