“The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him [JESUS], and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” [1]
“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. And in those days, He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” [2]
The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. The wilderness was a place of discomfort including hunger, heat, loneliness and finally, the devil.
The devil wanted Jesus to prove himself. Prior to the wilderness, the Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove and the Heavenly Father spoke from heaven and said. “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well-pleased.”
Jesus knew He was loved. He was already pleasing to God. He did not need to jump through the devil's hoops. Jesus didn't need to turn stones into bread. He didn't need to jump off the temple and be rescued by angels. He certainly didn't need to fall down and worship the devil in exchange for worldly wealth.
Jesus knew His status with God even in the place of discomfort.
JESUS left the devil in the dust that day.
He remained in fellowship with the Heavenly Father and was filled with the Holy Spirit. His ministry results were resourced by divine communion.
“Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son, and precious Holy Spirit, please grant us Your presence and fellowship throughout our journey here on earth. For it is in the Name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] Luke 3:22
[2] Luke 4:1-2
Friday, February 28, 2020
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The Father Gives His Spirit to Askers
“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” [1]
“How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Are we asking for temporary or everlasting gifts from our Heavenly Father?
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” [2]
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for seeking the wrong things, saying, “You Pharisees... your... full of greed and wickedness. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” [3]
Once, three preachers in China spoke with great joy to a large crowd. I was there. They were joyful because the Lord had counted them worthy to suffer for His Name’s sake. Their joy was heavenly. Amidst political persecution, Jesus blessed them to see many people pick up their cross and follow Him.
“Heavenly Father, please give us Your Holy Spirit for the sake of hallowing Your Name and for the sake of doing Your will here on earth. For it is in the Name of Your Son Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] Luke 11:11-13
[2] Luke 11:2
[3] Luke 11:39, 43
“How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Are we asking for temporary or everlasting gifts from our Heavenly Father?
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” [2]
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for seeking the wrong things, saying, “You Pharisees... your... full of greed and wickedness. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” [3]
Once, three preachers in China spoke with great joy to a large crowd. I was there. They were joyful because the Lord had counted them worthy to suffer for His Name’s sake. Their joy was heavenly. Amidst political persecution, Jesus blessed them to see many people pick up their cross and follow Him.
“Heavenly Father, please give us Your Holy Spirit for the sake of hallowing Your Name and for the sake of doing Your will here on earth. For it is in the Name of Your Son Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] Luke 11:11-13
[2] Luke 11:2
[3] Luke 11:39, 43
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Jesus To The Rescue
Lately, I’ve been reading a book to Sherry as she drives us home from work. This book emphasizes the good works of those who rescued girls from sex traffickers in San Francisco, and the Christian education that they provided for them afterwards.
King David compared the person who robs another person of her life to a lion that devours it’s unsuspecting innocent prey. “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lies in wait to catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him [her] into his net. So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength. He has said in his heart, ‘God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.’” [1]
Thankfully, the Lord and His servants do not forget the plight of the innocent who have been overpowered by beasts. The Lord responds, “’For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,’ says the Lord; ‘I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.’” [2]
Jesus rescued Mary Magdalene both from the demons without her life and within in her life. And she became a part of His ministry team: “The twelve were with Him [Jesus], and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.” [3]
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for You and for Your servants who rescue people from thieves who steal their lives. Please continue to raise up more laborers for this harvest, for the harvest is great and the laborers are few.”
[1] Psalm 10:8-11
[2] Psalm 12:5
[3] Luke 8:1-2
King David compared the person who robs another person of her life to a lion that devours it’s unsuspecting innocent prey. “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lies in wait to catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him [her] into his net. So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength. He has said in his heart, ‘God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.’” [1]
Thankfully, the Lord and His servants do not forget the plight of the innocent who have been overpowered by beasts. The Lord responds, “’For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,’ says the Lord; ‘I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.’” [2]
Jesus rescued Mary Magdalene both from the demons without her life and within in her life. And she became a part of His ministry team: “The twelve were with Him [Jesus], and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.” [3]
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for You and for Your servants who rescue people from thieves who steal their lives. Please continue to raise up more laborers for this harvest, for the harvest is great and the laborers are few.”
[1] Psalm 10:8-11
[2] Psalm 12:5
[3] Luke 8:1-2
Thursday, February 20, 2020
The Author of Peace
“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.’” [1] The Babylon of Revelation refers to is a spiritual whore. She is the mother of whores. She symbolizes those who live contrary to God and refuse to submit to His ways.
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” [2] That which is contrary to God, that which causes confusion, shall be succeeded by God’s kingdom which is symbolized in New Jerusalem. She is God’s bride. She is faithful to God. She comprises followers of Jesus Christ.
Babylon first appears in the Bible under the guise of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The Hebrew word for “confused” in Genesis 11:9 is babal, which sounds like Babylon. The great evil of the tower builders is their sinful pride against the rule of God. [3] The Bible says… “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” [4]
The world is full of envy and self-seeking, and thus, causes confusion. Idolatry also causes confusion: “…Their molded images are wind and confusion.” [5] “…They shall go in confusion together, who are makers of idols.” [6] God, on the other hand, is love. He is compassionate as we see in the example of His Son Jesus Christ in the Gospels. “God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” [7] There is peace in God!
[1] Revelation 18:21
[2] Revelation 21:2
[3] biblestudytools.com
[4] James 3:16
[5] Isaiah 41:29
[6] Isaiah 45:16
[7] 1 Corinthians 14:33
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” [2] That which is contrary to God, that which causes confusion, shall be succeeded by God’s kingdom which is symbolized in New Jerusalem. She is God’s bride. She is faithful to God. She comprises followers of Jesus Christ.
Babylon first appears in the Bible under the guise of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The Hebrew word for “confused” in Genesis 11:9 is babal, which sounds like Babylon. The great evil of the tower builders is their sinful pride against the rule of God. [3] The Bible says… “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” [4]
The world is full of envy and self-seeking, and thus, causes confusion. Idolatry also causes confusion: “…Their molded images are wind and confusion.” [5] “…They shall go in confusion together, who are makers of idols.” [6] God, on the other hand, is love. He is compassionate as we see in the example of His Son Jesus Christ in the Gospels. “God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” [7] There is peace in God!
[1] Revelation 18:21
[2] Revelation 21:2
[3] biblestudytools.com
[4] James 3:16
[5] Isaiah 41:29
[6] Isaiah 45:16
[7] 1 Corinthians 14:33
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
The Power of Christ’s Forgiveness
“’That you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—He said to the man who was paralyzed, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.” [1]
How can you know that God has forgiven your sins? Jesus healed a paralyzed man so that His listeners that day would KNOW that He has power to forgive sins.
Sin paralyzes a person’s prayer life with God. God’s Word says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” [2]
The good news is that the Son of Man [JESUS] has the power to forgive sin. He says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [3]
“Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive my sins, so that like the man whom You healed of paralysis, I may rise up with new ability to bring You glory... for it is in Your Name Lord Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] Luke 5:24-25
[2] Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2
[3] 1 John 1:9
How can you know that God has forgiven your sins? Jesus healed a paralyzed man so that His listeners that day would KNOW that He has power to forgive sins.
Sin paralyzes a person’s prayer life with God. God’s Word says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” [2]
The good news is that the Son of Man [JESUS] has the power to forgive sin. He says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [3]
“Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive my sins, so that like the man whom You healed of paralysis, I may rise up with new ability to bring You glory... for it is in Your Name Lord Jesus that I pray. Amen.”
[1] Luke 5:24-25
[2] Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2
[3] 1 John 1:9
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Victory Over Unclean Spirits
“Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” [1]
God gave to the priests of Israel the ministry of discernment. They were to help His people to distinguish between the holy and unholy, between the unclean and clean. He warned these leaders not to partake of substances so that their gift of discernment would not be impaired.
One of the blessings of our Savior Jesus and His Holy Spirit is the ability to discern between clean and unclean spirits. Jesus did this ministry when He walked among us.
“Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!' But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him." [2]
The words unclean and holy appear in the passage above. Jesus freed a man from an unclean spirit. How did that unclean spirit get control of that man in the first place? Just as any invading force would that overtakes a city! Little by little! First, by grooming their target's mind! Second, by relentless attempts to enter! Third, by entering when the person is vulnerable! Fourth, by taking control!
Living in San Francisco and learning of the kinds of evils that have went on in this city, namely human trafficking, it has helped me to see more clearly how a lot of the movies coming out of Hollywood are products of similar unclean spirits. These spirits want to groom people for takeover with unclean thoughts, and ultimately enslave people to sin so they are subject to them.
Jesus sets people free from defiling spirits by the power of His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is more powerful than unclean spirits. “And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.” [3]
Our Lord Jesus sets people free from unclean spirits that have defiled their thought-lives and brought them into captivity.
Jesus helps His disciples to discern when an unclean spirit is present. He also gives us authority to rebuke them and cast them out in His Name. He says to us, “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” [4]
[1] Leviticus 10:9-10
[2] Luke 4:33-35
[3] Luke 4:41
[4] Matthew 10:7-8
God gave to the priests of Israel the ministry of discernment. They were to help His people to distinguish between the holy and unholy, between the unclean and clean. He warned these leaders not to partake of substances so that their gift of discernment would not be impaired.
One of the blessings of our Savior Jesus and His Holy Spirit is the ability to discern between clean and unclean spirits. Jesus did this ministry when He walked among us.
“Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!' But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him." [2]
The words unclean and holy appear in the passage above. Jesus freed a man from an unclean spirit. How did that unclean spirit get control of that man in the first place? Just as any invading force would that overtakes a city! Little by little! First, by grooming their target's mind! Second, by relentless attempts to enter! Third, by entering when the person is vulnerable! Fourth, by taking control!
Living in San Francisco and learning of the kinds of evils that have went on in this city, namely human trafficking, it has helped me to see more clearly how a lot of the movies coming out of Hollywood are products of similar unclean spirits. These spirits want to groom people for takeover with unclean thoughts, and ultimately enslave people to sin so they are subject to them.
Jesus sets people free from defiling spirits by the power of His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is more powerful than unclean spirits. “And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.” [3]
Our Lord Jesus sets people free from unclean spirits that have defiled their thought-lives and brought them into captivity.
Jesus helps His disciples to discern when an unclean spirit is present. He also gives us authority to rebuke them and cast them out in His Name. He says to us, “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” [4]
[1] Leviticus 10:9-10
[2] Luke 4:33-35
[3] Luke 4:41
[4] Matthew 10:7-8
Saturday, February 8, 2020
The High Priest is Praying for You
The Lord gave Moses the clothing and accessories designs for the apparel of the high priest. The design included a breastplate of linen that was threaded with gold, blue, purple and scarlet threads. The breastplate also had twelve settings on it for twelve precious stones. Each stone represented a tribe of Israel. The Lord explained the meaning of this breastplate to Moses.
The Lord said, “So, Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.” [1]
The high priest carried the names of the people near to his heart and to the Lord in prayer.
Later, in the Bible, we learn that Israel’s high priest was a type of Messiah, but Jesus is Messiah. Jesus is the One in heaven who knows our names, carries us in His heart, and intercedes for us.
“He [Jesus], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” [2]
Sherry and I are blessed to have a Cantonese speaking lady who often prays over us by reciting from memory the words of Psalm 121. I share this Psalm with you now. May the Lord comfort you through His word to know that He loves you, knows your name, prays for you and is always watching over you.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.” [3]
[1] Exodus 28:15, 17, 21, 29
[2] Hebrews 7:24-25
[3] Psalm 121
The Lord said, “So, Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.” [1]
The high priest carried the names of the people near to his heart and to the Lord in prayer.
Later, in the Bible, we learn that Israel’s high priest was a type of Messiah, but Jesus is Messiah. Jesus is the One in heaven who knows our names, carries us in His heart, and intercedes for us.
“He [Jesus], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” [2]
Sherry and I are blessed to have a Cantonese speaking lady who often prays over us by reciting from memory the words of Psalm 121. I share this Psalm with you now. May the Lord comfort you through His word to know that He loves you, knows your name, prays for you and is always watching over you.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.” [3]
[1] Exodus 28:15, 17, 21, 29
[2] Hebrews 7:24-25
[3] Psalm 121
Thursday, February 6, 2020
The Angel of the Lord
“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” [1]
The Angel (Angel is the Greek word for Messenger) is the Sent-one by God. He leads God’s people. He speaks God’s Word. God overcomes the enemies of those who obey His voice.
“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.” [2]
The Lord blesses food and drink and takes away sickness from our midst. Jesus multiplied bread and often healed ALL who came to listen to Him teach.
“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.” [3]
He fights our battles.
“And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.’” [4]
With the announcement of God’s Word and of God’s covenant to His people, there is the sprinkling of blood. Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by the shedding of His blood on the cross. God’s Word comes to us by grace. Grace to forgive our sins when we do not deserve to be forgiven. Grace to include us in His plan of redemption.
“Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.” [5]
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. After our sin is cleansed away by God, He reveals Himself to us. God enjoys communing with us.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.’” [6]
The Lord sets His Word in stone. He does not flip flop His position. His YES is YES. His NO is NO. He is altogether dependable.
“And He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.’ Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” [7]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for sending Your Angel; Your Messenger; Your Son to us. Your Name is in Him… JESUS… meaning Savior. We experience Your kingdom in Him. Thank You for communing with us, and for showing us Your glory. Thank You for Your promise that as we trust in Your Messenger, Christ, and follow Him, we too, one day, will be transformed. We will see You face to face in all Your glory. Praise be to Your holy Name.”
[1] Exodus 23:20-22
[2] Exodus 23:25
[3] Exodus 23:27
[4] Exodus 24:8
[5] Exodus 24:9-10
[6] Exodus 24:12
[7] Mark 9:1-3
The Angel (Angel is the Greek word for Messenger) is the Sent-one by God. He leads God’s people. He speaks God’s Word. God overcomes the enemies of those who obey His voice.
“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.” [2]
The Lord blesses food and drink and takes away sickness from our midst. Jesus multiplied bread and often healed ALL who came to listen to Him teach.
“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.” [3]
He fights our battles.
“And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.’” [4]
With the announcement of God’s Word and of God’s covenant to His people, there is the sprinkling of blood. Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by the shedding of His blood on the cross. God’s Word comes to us by grace. Grace to forgive our sins when we do not deserve to be forgiven. Grace to include us in His plan of redemption.
“Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.” [5]
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. After our sin is cleansed away by God, He reveals Himself to us. God enjoys communing with us.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.’” [6]
The Lord sets His Word in stone. He does not flip flop His position. His YES is YES. His NO is NO. He is altogether dependable.
“And He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.’ Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” [7]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for sending Your Angel; Your Messenger; Your Son to us. Your Name is in Him… JESUS… meaning Savior. We experience Your kingdom in Him. Thank You for communing with us, and for showing us Your glory. Thank You for Your promise that as we trust in Your Messenger, Christ, and follow Him, we too, one day, will be transformed. We will see You face to face in all Your glory. Praise be to Your holy Name.”
[1] Exodus 23:20-22
[2] Exodus 23:25
[3] Exodus 23:27
[4] Exodus 24:8
[5] Exodus 24:9-10
[6] Exodus 24:12
[7] Mark 9:1-3
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
A Clean And Steadfast Heart
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image…
For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…
To the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
But showing mercy to thousands,
To those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God…
In vain [as empty or nothing לַשָּׁ֑וְא],
For the Lord will not hold him guiltless…
Who takes His name in vain!
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” [1]
“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.” [2]
“There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” “…whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated… What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” [3]
Food does not defile us, unclean spirits do. Unclean spirits seek to plant evil thoughts in us as mentioned above. We should reject those unclean thoughts just as we reject gross tasting food.
“A woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.” [4] Jesus healed her.
Jesus casts out unclean spirits.
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for creating in us a clean heart, and steadfastness to love and worship You. Thank You for Your great mercy on us. Please rebuke away and shield us from unclean spirits that seek to defile us. Keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil, so that we constantly abide in You and bear good fruit for Your glory. For it is in Your Name, and for Your glory, that we pray. Amen.”
[1] Exodus 20:4-8
[2] Proverbs 4:23, 26-27
[3] Mark 7:15, 18-23
[4] Mark 7:25, 29-30
For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…
To the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
But showing mercy to thousands,
To those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God…
In vain [as empty or nothing לַשָּׁ֑וְא],
For the Lord will not hold him guiltless…
Who takes His name in vain!
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” [1]
“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.” [2]
“There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” “…whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated… What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” [3]
Food does not defile us, unclean spirits do. Unclean spirits seek to plant evil thoughts in us as mentioned above. We should reject those unclean thoughts just as we reject gross tasting food.
“A woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.” [4] Jesus healed her.
Jesus casts out unclean spirits.
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for creating in us a clean heart, and steadfastness to love and worship You. Thank You for Your great mercy on us. Please rebuke away and shield us from unclean spirits that seek to defile us. Keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil, so that we constantly abide in You and bear good fruit for Your glory. For it is in Your Name, and for Your glory, that we pray. Amen.”
[1] Exodus 20:4-8
[2] Proverbs 4:23, 26-27
[3] Mark 7:15, 18-23
[4] Mark 7:25, 29-30
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