“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...”
“Thanks to Your redemptive work, Jesus, on the cross, I too have Your Holy Spirit!”
“Because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor...”
“Thank You Lord for anointing me to bring good tidings... a good word... a word of salvation from the Lord to people who are poor in one way or another.”
“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted...”
“Thank You Lord for healing broken hearts via Your Holy Spirit working through me.”
“To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound...”
“Addictions or bondages fall off like opened handcuffs because You, Lord, are the key to unlock every lock. You are the Master Key. Solitary confinement is left behind and family fellowship becomes the new normal with You, Lord!”
“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn...”
“Yes, come Lord Jesus, bring Your wonderful presence into our world. Destroy the works of the evil one, and comfort all who were so badly wounded and hurt by him.”
“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness...”
“Thank You Lord for all the times You have consoled me! You took my ashes and gave me Your beauty! You lifted off my heaviness and gave me Your joy! You transformed me from a withering leaf into a tree of righteousness. Help me to take that comfort to others.”
“The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” [1]
“Thank Heavenly Husbandman for ensuring that our plants LIVE and GLORIFY You!”
“Living for You Christ is a daily adventure! We have an eternal purpose. Thank You for vibrant love. Thank You that You are with us and in us.” “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” [2]
“Praise the Lord!”
[1] Isaiah 61:1-3
[2] 2 Corinthians 4:7
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Monday, June 28, 2021
Looking to the Lord
Do you or the people around you need help? Is your first tendency to think you have the answer, or do you look to the Lord?
David was a king over a kingdom. He defeated many enemies in battles including Goliath the giant. However, when he needed an answer, where did he look for help?
“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. [1]
He looked not to the hills, but to the One who made the hills, the heavens, and the earth.
“Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. [2]
David kept on looking to the Lord until he got a response. He wasn’t like “Okay, I’ve given You enough time Lord to respond to my request, and because I don’t see You doing anything, I am going to take matters into my own hands.” No, he humbly waited on the Lord. The Lord has the best solutions for all concerned.
“Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” [3] Ceaseless reverence towards God yields happiness.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” [4]
The Apostle Paul had a face-to-face encounter with the risen Lord. The Lord did amazing miracles through him. God used him to write nearly half the New Testament. What was his take on himself and what was his take on God? Did he rest on his laurels? No, he knew that he needed to keep leaning and keep learning. He kept his eyes ever focused on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. May the Lord help us to do likewise today, during this new week, and always.
[1] Psalm 121:1-2
[2] Psalm 123:1-2
[3] Proverbs 28:14
[4] Philippians 3:13-14
David was a king over a kingdom. He defeated many enemies in battles including Goliath the giant. However, when he needed an answer, where did he look for help?
“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. [1]
He looked not to the hills, but to the One who made the hills, the heavens, and the earth.
“Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. [2]
David kept on looking to the Lord until he got a response. He wasn’t like “Okay, I’ve given You enough time Lord to respond to my request, and because I don’t see You doing anything, I am going to take matters into my own hands.” No, he humbly waited on the Lord. The Lord has the best solutions for all concerned.
“Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” [3] Ceaseless reverence towards God yields happiness.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” [4]
The Apostle Paul had a face-to-face encounter with the risen Lord. The Lord did amazing miracles through him. God used him to write nearly half the New Testament. What was his take on himself and what was his take on God? Did he rest on his laurels? No, he knew that he needed to keep leaning and keep learning. He kept his eyes ever focused on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. May the Lord help us to do likewise today, during this new week, and always.
[1] Psalm 121:1-2
[2] Psalm 123:1-2
[3] Proverbs 28:14
[4] Philippians 3:13-14
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Unbewitched In Jesus
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” [1]
“In calling the Galatians foolish, Paul did not mean they were morally or mentally deficient. Instead, Paul used the ancient Greek word anoetos, which had the idea of someone who can think but fails to use their power of perception.
The knowledge and understanding were there, but they were not using them.
The thinking of the Galatians was so clouded – and so unbiblical – that it seemed that some kind of spell had been cast over them. Barclay translates bewitched as put the evil eye on. The ancient Greeks were accustomed to and afraid of the idea that a spell could be cast upon them by an evil eye. The way to overcome the evil eye was simply not to look at it. Paul wanted the Galatians to keep their eyes steadfastly upon Jesus.
Some people are too accommodating to wrong, unbiblical ideas. This is a sign of spiritual immaturity, even as a baby will stick anything into its mouth.
Paul wondered how the Galatians could have missed the message because he made it clear enough to them. Any opinion which takes away from the glory of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice is a detestable opinion. Get the real atonement of Christ thoroughly into your soul, and you will not be bewitched.” (Spurgeon) [2]
In the Bible, Elymas the sorcerer tried to stop a Roman politician from believing in Christ. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was an intelligent man. He wanted Barnabas and Paul to share God’s Word with him. Elymas tried to stand in their way. [3] But Paul, “filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him, and said...
‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ [4]
“And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” [5]
Takeaways: Don’t be bewitched. Do believe in Christ. Pray especially for political leaders that they will want to listen to God’s Word and believe in Jesus.
[1] Galatians 3:1
[2] EnduringWord.Com Galatians 3
[3] Acts 13:6-8
[4] Acts 13:9-11
[5] Acts 13:11-12
“In calling the Galatians foolish, Paul did not mean they were morally or mentally deficient. Instead, Paul used the ancient Greek word anoetos, which had the idea of someone who can think but fails to use their power of perception.
The knowledge and understanding were there, but they were not using them.
The thinking of the Galatians was so clouded – and so unbiblical – that it seemed that some kind of spell had been cast over them. Barclay translates bewitched as put the evil eye on. The ancient Greeks were accustomed to and afraid of the idea that a spell could be cast upon them by an evil eye. The way to overcome the evil eye was simply not to look at it. Paul wanted the Galatians to keep their eyes steadfastly upon Jesus.
Some people are too accommodating to wrong, unbiblical ideas. This is a sign of spiritual immaturity, even as a baby will stick anything into its mouth.
Paul wondered how the Galatians could have missed the message because he made it clear enough to them. Any opinion which takes away from the glory of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice is a detestable opinion. Get the real atonement of Christ thoroughly into your soul, and you will not be bewitched.” (Spurgeon) [2]
In the Bible, Elymas the sorcerer tried to stop a Roman politician from believing in Christ. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was an intelligent man. He wanted Barnabas and Paul to share God’s Word with him. Elymas tried to stand in their way. [3] But Paul, “filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him, and said...
‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ [4]
“And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” [5]
Takeaways: Don’t be bewitched. Do believe in Christ. Pray especially for political leaders that they will want to listen to God’s Word and believe in Jesus.
[1] Galatians 3:1
[2] EnduringWord.Com Galatians 3
[3] Acts 13:6-8
[4] Acts 13:9-11
[5] Acts 13:11-12
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Praise to the Almighty! (Psalm 62:2, 5, 8-11; 63:2)
“Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.” [1]
Soul, hush, listen, God is ready to save!
“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” [2]
Don’t hurry through this time with God. Expect to receive from Him.
“Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah” [3]
He is a good, good Father. Draw near to Him. He enjoys helping you. Pour out your heart to Him. God is your refuge... your safe place... a safe Father to whom you can speak whatever you need to talk about. He created you. He loves you.
“Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor.” [4]
So, many tout the power of people, but they are vapors that appear for a moment and afterwards are gone. God is eternal.
“Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” [5]
Don’t resort to manipulation, pressure tactics or thievery. Don’t set your affections on dollars. Set your heart on God. He will do great and mighty things that you could not even begin to consider or imagine. He is a good, good Father.
“God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God.” [6]
Yes, God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth is powerful!
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.” [7]
“Yes, worshipping You, God, is where power and glory exists! You inhabit the praise of Your people. Praise be to Your holy Name!”
[1] Psalm 62:1
[2] Psalm 62:5
[3] Psalm 62:8
[4] Psalm 62:9
[5] Psalm 62:10
[6] Psalm 62:11
[7] Psalm 63:2
Soul, hush, listen, God is ready to save!
“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” [2]
Don’t hurry through this time with God. Expect to receive from Him.
“Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah” [3]
He is a good, good Father. Draw near to Him. He enjoys helping you. Pour out your heart to Him. God is your refuge... your safe place... a safe Father to whom you can speak whatever you need to talk about. He created you. He loves you.
“Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor.” [4]
So, many tout the power of people, but they are vapors that appear for a moment and afterwards are gone. God is eternal.
“Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” [5]
Don’t resort to manipulation, pressure tactics or thievery. Don’t set your affections on dollars. Set your heart on God. He will do great and mighty things that you could not even begin to consider or imagine. He is a good, good Father.
“God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God.” [6]
Yes, God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth is powerful!
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.” [7]
“Yes, worshipping You, God, is where power and glory exists! You inhabit the praise of Your people. Praise be to Your holy Name!”
[1] Psalm 62:1
[2] Psalm 62:5
[3] Psalm 62:8
[4] Psalm 62:9
[5] Psalm 62:10
[6] Psalm 62:11
[7] Psalm 63:2
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