IT'S TIME TO LOOK UP!

For years I have been enjoying the mystery and delight of watching the pine trees introduce us to The Holy Week of the Passion of Christ and His Resurrection.

Today as I was driving to work and thinking on these things, I watched the trees along the side of the road.  To my delight many of them were pointing their fingers heavenward and it caused me to raise my hands and heart in praise and anticipation of the celebration coming soon!

If you haven't seen this spectacular wonder, start looking up at the pine trees.  You will see the tips of their branches lifted like fingers and hands in praise to The Creator and announcing the coming of Easter and Passover.  They do this every year a couple of weeks before Easter!  Almost overnight the fingers will transform into crosses lifted toward Heaven reminding all of us of what our Creator God did to redeem us from the bondage of sin. Then the crosses become the new life on the tree. 

As the pine trees display their yearly message of telling us that Easter is coming...I wondered about mankind (especially those who have received the gift of salvation) and our praise.  Are we pointing the world to the cross?  Are we demonstrating the new life of The Holy Spirit of God living within and helping us to love as He loved?  Our lives should be pointing others to Heaven…like the trees!

I stay amazed at the wonder of God and His creative genius!   May we demonstrate that He lives! ~Betty

"You are My witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God." Isaiah 43:12

Jesus said:  "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto Me."  John 12:32

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the created world that declares your glory and proclaims the work of your hands. Help us this day to look up and see the splendor of your presence with us amidst the ordinariness of the daily tasks at hand. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

HAVE A MESSAGE AND BE ONE!

“Preach the Word!”  (2 Timothy 4:2)

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”  

(John 6:53)

“…you shall be witnesses unto Me…” (Acts 1:8)

Before you can preach (proclaim) the Word, you must become related to the Word!

John said that Jesus was The Word…and those who received the Word and believed shall become children of God. (John 1:12)  We are His sons and daughters and that makes us descendants of The Word, and the Message must be a part of us.  Our lives must be a holy example of the reality of His Spirit and our message His words, just as Jesus’ words are spirit and life. (John 6:53)

How does one’s life become a holy example of God’s Message?  It takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crumbled into submission to the purpose of God.  The purpose of God is to become One with Him in our relationship with Jesus through His crucifixion and resurrection. (Galatians 2:20)

We have the example of becoming God’s Message as we look at Jesus’ disciples after Pentecost and the baptism of The Holy Spirit.  The receiving of The Holy Spirit made them the incarnation of what they preached, literally becoming God’s message in the flesh…”you shall become witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8)

What a Holy Life we have:  SON/DAUGHTER – MESSENGER – WITNESS OF ALMIGHTY GOD!

Lord God, I am listening with a pounding heart searching for clarity to what I’m hearing – “God infleshed!”  Why does that paint a different picture to me than “Spirit-filled” or “Indwelling Spirit”?  That’s POWER!  And with it, the life is to be the Message…the power of Resurrection and Pentecost living in me?!  I am overwhelmed.  May it be so, as You have said, Lord.  Be glorified!

THE TEMPLE & JESUS

December 28, 2014 Bethel Sunday School Lesson ~  

Focal Scripture:  John 2:13-3:16

Today we connect the dots of the meaning and purpose of The Temple and how it relates to Jesus and to us.  We observe Jesus and the first Passover of His ministry; and the first Pharisee who received the New Birth.  Jesus comes to the Temple for the first time in His ministry and creates a lasting memory!  Let's look at the Temple and remember why it was made, what has happened to it, and where is it today?  We connect the dots to understand Jesus' actions and how they apply to us today.

We need to take a look at the instructions that God gave about a place for His Presence to be among His People. 

He first gave instructions for the Tabernacle in the 40 years of the nation Israel roaming in the wilderness (Exodus 25); and then through David’s desire for God to have a permanent House, God gave him instructions on how to build the Temple that was actually built and called Solomon’s Temple 

(I Chronicles chapters 22-29; 2 Chronicles chapters 2-6).  That Temple was destroyed when the Babylonians came and took the Israelites captive and destroyed The Temple and Jerusalem.(Jeremiah 27)  Then as we read in today’s lesson, Herod built the last Temple.  The future Temple (show menorah) will be built during The Tribulation. (Daniel 9 & 11, Matthew 24)

It is Passover (Exodus 12) that has brought Jesus to Jerusalem and the Temple.  Let’s remember that Jesus would have been coming to Jerusalem for the Passover every year of his adult life.  Can we imagine how this moment was brewing in His heart.  Judgment and cleansing must begin in the House of the Lord.  The House of Prayer and Worship had become a place of merchandise and politics. 

Passover was to remember what God had done in freeing the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and looking forward to Him sending the Messiah who would free them from the bondage of sin.  The shedding of blood was the means that brought life from possible death.  I think Jesus was also thinking about the Passover that would come in a couple of years that would be that moment when the Perfect Passover Lamb would shed His blood redeeming the world from SIN.

As Jesus cleansed the Temple of all that was not honoring God, so we must do the same with our bodies.  (I Corinthians 3:16-17)  1John 1:9  As we accept the revelation that all those born again of The Spirit become the new Temple of God, we are given a heavy role as High Priest. (1 Peter 2:9)  We are greater privileged because we don’t just enter into the Holy of Holies, but the Holy of Holies is within us and The Presence of God dwells there.  Consider why we must be Holy – set apart for God!  Consider how we enter His Presence and why we come to Him.  We ARE the new Body of Christ and we need to have the same zeal He did about the Temple…it was consuming!  We must be as harsh as He was about getting rid of everything that would prevent worship, prayer and concentration of Almighty God.

My personal challenge is that it should be “a delight…not a duty!”

There was those in the Temple who were observing Jesus actions and I’m sure some became fearful, some angry and some pleased.  One such person was a Pharisee named Nicodemus.  He must have followed Jesus when He left the Temple to privately speak with Him because He observed Jesus actions and his spirit was moved to believe that Jesus was from God.

Jesus tells Nicodemus what he must do to be saved and explains to all of us about “being born again!”  Let us listen again and examine ourselves to be sure that we have The Son of God born in us as well.  We will be changed forevermore and the characteristics of The Son of God will become evident in our lives.  Do we need to do some cleansing?  How about a beautification makeover?  How about some praising?  Today is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time!  (2 Corinthians 6:2)  We have the prospect of a new year for a new beginning…for new life!  Let’s make 2015 a Jubilee Year unto The Lord!

THE TEMPLES:

First – The Tabernacle

Solomon’s Temple

Herod’s Temple

The Born Again

Tribulation Temple

How close are we to the building of the last temple mentioned in Revelation?

 The Temple Institute in Jerusalem is making plans for the 3rd Temple to be built.

The Golden Menorah is already made and stands encased outside in the Old City. 

Here's a picture I took when I was there: 

Rejoice in Dance - Teaching video for "Hora" dance

ARE WE READY FOR BATTLE?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers,

against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil

in the heavenly realms.”

Ephesians 6:12

Choose your battles well…and your leaders!

To be battle ready, a soldier must:  be physically fit, in uniform, skilled in weapons and ammunition.

Since our battle in life is NOT against flesh and blood, but the spiritual world of darkness and evil, we have to prepare with a different mindset than what we normally think about life.  First, we have been cleverly deceived.  It has been subtle and expertly infiltrated into our senses.  We have compromised our morals and intellect until what we see, hear, taste, feel and think has been reversed.  Right has become a subject of debate and freedom of expression.  We have become blinded and desensitized by self-centeredness and greed.  When TRUTH was challenged – we compromised, like getting into a cool spring of water on a really hot day and being told that you’ve got time, you deserve it, it’s free and can’t harm anything!  Now, we find ourselves having listened and lingered and like the proverbial frog kept adjusting to the temperature and feeling satisfied.  We don’t even realize that we are in boiling water about to die!

WAKE UP THE WORLD’S ON FIRE!

It’s time to have a splash of cold water thrown in our faces and bring us back to our senses and TRUTH!  Truth hasn’t changed!  Belief has changed! 

CHRISTIANS UNITE!

It’s time for The Army of God to rally and go to Boot Camp.  It’s time to REPENT – turn away from our wicked ways.  It’s time to refocus, get cleaned up and turn back to GOD!  HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED FROM SURE DESTRUCTION!

Step One:  To come to God, you must believe that He is.  You get to know Him from The Creator’s Instruction Manuel, THE BIBLE.  “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God.” (John 1:12)

Step Two:  Be battle ready!  Physically, in uniform, weapon

Spiritually this is BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT

~ Physically-this definitely requires exercise that produces a fit, strong, healthy body.

                    -the fuel for the body is the food and drink that is put in it.  God created the body and food for it and said it was to be plants and herbs including nuts, grain and seeds and meat without the blood in it.  The meat we see Him instructing the Israelite's to eat was fowl, beef, lamb, and fish.  He never said the unclean forbidden animals were ever approved for eating.  The exception to the rule was ONLY if not eating would offend someone and keep them from believing in God.  It was not approval to eat it because it tasted good!  Remember who made the fruit on the forbidden tree look delicious and taste good?

                     -the food should be a balance of ¼ meat or legumes; ¼ whole grain; ½ vegetables & fruit *best in raw form or at least half uncooked.  Beverage should be primarily water.  Teas and juices secondary.

***A sick or handicapped body cannot function in battle and weakens the unit.

~~Spiritually the body is the Temple of The Holy Spirit-it belongs to God and is set part for His plans and purpose, holy.  The Joy of the Lord is the strength; the power is the Spirit of God that is the life breath from within; Prayer and The Word – food.

~Uniform-It is first the identity of the army you are in.  Secondly it is designed to protect the body from head to toe from the weather and the environment.  It is a camouflage.

~~Spiritually the identity of the Christian is Undividedly Devoted Faith in Jesus Christ.  The evidence is Love…joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, meekness and self control.

~Weapons-the soldier must know his weapons so well that he can assemble and load in the dark!

                  -the weapons must be in excellent condition and the soldier must have expertise in how to use it.

~~Spiritually the weapons are The Holy Spirit and The Word of God which is the Sword of The Spirit and Prayer that is the power.  The Holy Spirit will never leave us or forsake us… He is our Helper in time of need when we call on Him in prayer…He will bring to our remembrance the Word of God that always defeats the Enemy; we must have our artillery full so that He has much to use. 

Here’s some ammunition to fill your artillery belt:

Ephesians 6:13-18

Matthew 4:4
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8

John 16:33

Romans 8:35-39;  12:21

Hebrews 4:12;  13:5-6

James 4:7-8

1 John 4:4;  5:4

Rev.2:7;  17.14; 21:17

~December 6, 2014

HOW TO PRAY

HOW TO PRAY

~<<:>>~

 “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you,

you shall ask what you will and it shall be done.”

John 15:7 

We have to be in a right relationship with God before we can bring anyone else into a right relationship with Him!

~<<:>>~

“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint”

Luke 18:1

PRAY about everyone and everything

based ONLY on Redemption ~ not out of sympathy!

REDEMPTION: The Reality ~ Jesus was born in the flesh to redeem the whole world from sin, and place it unimpaired and rehabilitated before the throne of God.

REHABILITATION means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption. Anyone can enter into union with God on the ground of what Our Lord has done on the Cross.  (Re-created into a new being by The Spirit of God.)

Lord, thank You for clearer understanding about how to pray. 

The prayers You honor come from those who Love You and have been redeemed and know this is the only answer for every person and situation.  Thank You for more power as I pray for these You have brought to my heart and mind this morning. Thank You for what You are going to do to reveal Yourself.

~<<:>>~

“We know mot what we should pray for as we ought

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” 

Romans 8:26

INTERCESSION is unity in prayer with God’s Heart!

Pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. 

Prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of the Spirit of God which is in me prompting me to pray. 

It is my life in God empowered by The Spirit of God that enables me to bring others to Him.!

Thank You, Lord for this new day as a fresh beginning to set apart my conscious will to be totally Yours; so that I can consciously intercede for those who are part of my circumstances.  My part is vital for Your Indwelling Spirit to take my prayers and intercede according to Your will.  I am in awe at the importance of my relationship with Your Spirit.  Help me to guard my conscious life from defilement by making it a shrine of the Holy Spirit.

LOOKING UNTO HIM

This was yesterday's "My Daily Delight" and I felt like I was armed and ready for a beautiful day.  I was holding the Lord's hand and looking at Him while I had my quiet time with Him.  I felt His Presence throughout the morning as I worked with my Boss Pastor to get a LOT of work out before Thanksgiving.

 As the day progressed and the questions needed answers from people who weren't responding to the modern technology; and my creative mind began to be challenged  and the clock began to speed up, I became distracted by the duties at hand.  I began to feel pressured...and then in a whisper for help, my sincere prayer during my morning Delight began to be fulfilled.  I reached people that I called for info; my cell phone rang with someone returning a call and things began to come together.

 It was 7 o'clock when I finished and started for home.  It rained all the way, it was dark (I don't see good at dark), I blinked my eyes at what seemed like dozens of lights.  Finally reaching Nashville, I stopped by church to take turkey out of the freezer and see if some money for the co-op was there - it wasn't!  I went by the Farmer's Market to pick up the money from there, and there was one.  I NEEDED to make the deposit so that I could pay the bill before our next co-op on Monday.  I went home tired and hungry and realizing I had a ton of stuff to do and only had the evening and the next evening to get it all done before leaving on Wednesday afternoon to spend time with family for Thanksgiving.

I tried to reach another person who hadn't paid me yet and couldn't reach through our modern technology.  I received a call saying I had not paid for eggs from two weeks ago, that I felt sure I had.  All of a sudden I became overwhelmed with the things that I had no control over and the many things I knew I needed to do to be ready to meet my children I was riding with at 2 o'clock on Wednesday...I had food to prepare, clothes to get ready, the deposit to make, and it looking like there just wasn't going to be enough time!  I would like to say that I felt the hand of The Lord more securely and that the cares of the world weren't pressing in, and that I was calm and assured ALL was working together for good.  However, I began to put my eyes on me and my problems and felt defeat and fell apart while talking with my sweet Daughter- in- Love.  I got the deposit ready with what I had, I wrote a check from my other bank account to help cover the unpaid amounts, I took out the egg money I have obviously overlooked, put my dishes in the sink, got my clothes ready for in the morning because I knew I had to go to the bank early and make it to work on time.  I went to bed praying for rest...and it came.

This morning I had to hurry to get dressed, get my lunch together and get to the bank by 8 o'clock to meet someone bringing me their check.  I put everything in the van, locked the door and got in the van.  I turned the key and NOTHING happened!  It would not even turn over.  I called the person I was to meet at the bank and asked her to come to my house so we could jump off my battery.  She came; she was gracious to help, she had the check, she prayed for me.

I got in the van and went to the bank, and started driving toward Adel.  I began to pray and ask the Lord to show me what I needed to see that I wasn't seeing and what I needed to do.  In the quiet of my heart and mind that was listening, I heard Him say:  "you took you eyes off Me and put them on yourself and your storm."  I knew He was right and I asked Him to give me His Word to fill my arsenal so that I would be properly armed for the attacks that were inevitable.  I began to listen to Him tell me all the precious promises that I know and have claimed.  I carefully recited each one and put it in my ammunition bag.  I began to praise and sing and let The Words of my Lord pour over me and soak in.  I asked that Love, Joy and Peace be my banner and that Praise not leave my heart, mind and lips.  "He restoreth my soul; my cup runneth over; surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the day long and I will dwell in the Presence of the Lord forever."