Month: February 2021

We must not allow our hearts to become hardened and fail to listen to God.

Exodus chapters 7-10 list God’s judgements, coming with increasing severity upon Pharaoh, his court and the land of Egypt. God’s final act of judgement on all the first born was still to be released. In Exodus 4:22, 23 God had told Moses to tell Pharaoh that ‘Israel is My firstborn son, let My son go to worship Me. But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son’. It’s also worth noting in Exodus 4, that the people of God knew first what was going to happen.

Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. Exodus 4:29-31

We should also note that in the first three confrontations the magicians of Egypt performed the same signs! The devil was able to imitate some supernatural events, but was quickly outstripped by the power of God.

After every plague the Bible comments directly about Pharaoh’s heart!

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Exodus 8:15

Every time the Lord came in judgement, Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, had his heart hardened or reacted that way himself. By hardening his heart Pharaoh lost the ability to ‘listen’. He wouldn’t turn and release God’s firstborn, Israel.

Pharaoh’s officials said to him, ‘How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realise that Egypt is ruined?’ Exodus 10:7

Pharaoh, his advisers and his army resisted God and His people to the end and perished.

A different scene recorded by Nehemiah;

‘But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them… Nehemiah 9:16, 17

For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. Exodus 9:21

God’s own people became stiff necked towards Him, despite all His kindness and faithfulness to them. We must remain tender hearted and able to hear the Lord no matter what provocations we must face.

Better to bow the knee and listen, than harden the heart.

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God bless and keep you today.

Jesus is not coming back for the INDIFFERENT – but for those LONGING FOR HIS APPEARING. 2 Timothy 4:8

I awoke this morning with the words, ‘Press On’ in my mind and I actually wrote them down. The sense of, ‘Keep going, don’t stop, don’t give up’.

Paul used these words writing about himself, to the Philippian Church;

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I PRESS ON to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind (forget the past and look ahead) and STRAINING TOWARDS WHAT IS AHEAD. I PRESS ON towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

I PRESS ON to fulfill the Lord’s Calling on me and to Win the Prize awaiting him in heaven. Paul had to encourage himself to PRESS ON, on both these counts.

I also listened recently(on YouTube) to a short clip of the late Derek Prince speaking at a large gathering in New Zealand, entitled, ‘Are you ready to meet the Lord?’ At the end of his message he referred to an earlier time in New Zealand when he’d spoken about the strongman(chief principality) over a nation. He told them that they needed to identify what that spirit was, but as he spoke the Lord showed him the ruling spirit which a friend in the meeting later confirmed. He said the identity was a bit of an anti climax, but he knew it was from the Lord and he had a powerful deliverance ministry. The spirit was, ‘Indifference’.

Dictionary definitions give us a picture of what or who is involved; A LACK OF interest, concern, sympathy. Also a LACK OF enthusiasm. It also implies a FALLING SHORT of a Standard of Excellence. My wife Anne, uses the word ‘Excellence’ a lot, especially concerning the things of God.

Apparently a common saying in New Zealand is, ‘She’ll be alright Jack’. Leave it alone, it’ll work out or be alright. The spirit manifesting in the language of the people! What do people in your area/country say in their daily speech that reveals the strongman over the land?

It seems amazing that such a simple name as ‘Indifference’ could represent the main spirit dominating an entire nation. That’s the enemy’s main strategy to hinder the kingdom of God for the land and its people. Derek Prince felt strongly led in his spirit to call the people to come forward and kneel down before God(very unusual to ask for kneeling, sincere repentance required) and humble themselves if they were ‘indifferent’ to the Lord.

Paul, the great apostle, must have sensed opposition to his own calling and destiny when he wrote his letter to the Philippians. The spirit in this world despises the Lord and vehemently opposes His return. Paul was determined to Press On, complete the job and win the prize.

May God give us all a fresh longing for Jesus appearing today.

God bless and keep you.

 

It’s interesting that the number of Jacob’s family who went down to Egypt were seventy(or seventy two) Gen 46:27. In Luke 10:1 Jesus sent out seventy(or seventy two) others to go out and preach the kingdom. Was God establishing a ‘beachhead’ on both occasions;

A defended position on a beach taken from the enemy by landing forces, from which an attack can be launched.

God knew the final outcome of Jacob’s family going down to Egypt would be enslavement of His people, followed by a huge power encounter with the king and the gods of Egypt. God ‘brought out His divisions’ with all the wealth of Egypt, killed the Pharaoh who’d ill treated them and destroyed their entire army. God’s people were finally on the move to their inheritance in the land of Canaan, where the Temple of the Lord would be built and the worship of the one true God established.

In Luke 10 Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs to ‘heal the sick and tell them the Kingdom of God is near you’. (70 is a ‘Kingdom number’, Kingdom of God is mentioned 70 times in the Bible and God is also identified as King 70 times. The 70th verse, Genesis 3:14, God’s curse on the serpent after the Fall – with thanks to Troy Brewer on YouTube).

Jesus sent out the seventy to bring or release the Kingdom in a greater measure. It also foreshadowed the coming Church that would carry the Gospel message to all people.

He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest field’. Luke 10:2 Was Jesus aware of the size of the need of the people, but also the coming of God’s  Kingdom in power?

He told them, ‘Do not take a purse or bag or sandals’ Luke 9:3 , 10:4. They were to go out ‘God dependant’, trusting completely that He would meet their needs.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure “. Look 10:21

Jesus and the Holy Spirit were both ‘full of joy’ and expressing it to the Father, (full Godhead in one verse), at the launching out of the seventy in a new, powerful ministry on the earth. God wants to establish His Kingdom on earth and that’s His ultimate goal.

We have seen in earlier blogs how God’s people were mistreated by Pharaoh in Egypt before God Himself intervened for them. Initially their situation got worse and Pharaoh tried to stop them listening to God and His servant Moses, but was no match for the God of Israel.

Like D Day in World War 2, God has formed His beachhead and His Church has landed on earth. There may still be hard fighting ahead, but Jesus won our victory at Calvary. The bridegroom is coming, no matter what obstacles the enemy wants to put in the way. God is with us as He was with Israel in Egypt and the early Church in the days of Rome.

But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13

God bless and keep you today.

God is much bigger than your problems – step back and listen to Him!

Moses reported this (God’s deliverance and their future inheritance) to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage. Exodus 6:9

The Israelites had heard Moses speak about God’s concerns for them, but things had only gotten worse. Their lives were full of suffering and hardship, they were consumed by the difficulties of daily life as slaves in Egypt. The enemy will try to do the same in our lives today (if we allow it), he wants us to be so consumed by the problems we face that we stop listening to the Lord. Often, the solution we need is not on the human level, God wants us to turn to Him and let Him deal with our situations. God’s ways are perfect, our ways may just make things worse, so step back from the problems and begin to seek the Lord.

‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15 AND CALL ON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE (God’s Promise of His help at a vital time);
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’ Psalm 50:14, 15

He who sacrifices thank-offerings(can be praise and worship) honours me,
and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.’ Psalm 50:23

Twice in psalm 50, God tells us to sacrifice ‘thank offerings’ and honour Him and He will deliver us. Take some time to think about these verses, they may be the key to help us in a time of trouble.

Moses and God through Moses was speaking to two groups in Exodus, His people Israel and Pharaoh and his court. In a sense it was laughable for two elderly brothers to stand before Pharaoh and his court and demand to be allowed to go and worship God. A leader of slaves versus the leader of a kingdom, but actually Egypt was the much inferior force. God didn’t just want to release His people, He was using His people to judge Egypt and it’s gods. I believe that will happen again in our day, as the pressures on the people of God increases, so will His judgements.

The Israelites were just not equipped to fight against Egypt and there are battles we are not able to fight today (but God is with us!). The answer for us is to step back and invite God to intervene in these battles (Call on Him in the day of our troubles and give Him thanks and praise). We may also have to speak to the Pharaoh (ruling figure) behind our situations and demand our release to serve the Lord. In the psalms Israel gave the Glory to God for their victories, they honoured Him. A man I once knew said, ‘If we praise God in the victory, we’ll never have to plead with Him in defeat’.

God bless and keep you today.

 

God is in control, His perfect government – ‘Don’t be afraid just believe’. Mark 5:36

Exodus 4, God is preparing to move His people, Israel, out of the land of their slavery. (12 families have now grown to 12 tribes, a nation under God, in great adversity) A power confrontation is coming between the Sovereign Lord and Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. God met with Moses and showed him some signs, with his staff, his hand in his cloak turning leprous and water turning to blood to demonstrate to Pharaoh.

Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him to let Israel go to the desert and hold a three day festival to worship the Lord. Pharaoh turned nasty, didn’t let them go and refused to supply straw for them to make their quota of bricks. ‘The Israelite foremen realised they were in trouble’ Exodus 5:19

Things may get worse before they get better but continue to trust/hold on to the Lord – He is in control!

Mark 5:21-43, we read of two miracles in quick succession.

Jesus was in a crowd, many people were milling around Him, but two people in that crowd had purpose. They didn’t just want to be around Him, they had specific needs to be met. How many of us come to God with purpose, even like Mary, to really focus and listen to what He’s saying? A woman was there, really there/totally present, may well have been her last chance to get well. For her this was serious, she’d been bleeding for 12 years Mark 5:25 and her money was gone. She was probably weak but pressed through in faith to touch Jesus clothes and immediately her bleeding stopped. Hallelujah! After 12 years suffering this woman, a daughter of Israel still believed in her God and her story had a happy ending.

34 He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’ Mark 5:34

Jairus, whose daughter lay sick had come to Jesus to beg for His help, but it seemed too late. 

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said. ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’

One daughter was healed and immediately they were told another daughter was dead. Jesus words, ‘Don’t be afraid, just believe’.

Jesus went to Jairus’ house and went in where the child was and said(not prayed), ‘little girl get up. Immediately the girl stood up and walked around(she was 12 years old)’. Mark 5:41, 42

The number ‘12’ stands for government, or God’s perfect government. In all three of these Biblical accounts the number ‘12’ is recorded. God ruled over all these situations and He still does today! As I said at the beginning, things may initially seem to get worse but God is in control, trust Him no matter what the circumstances. He wants the best for us and is well able to deliver it.

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Isaiah 59:1

God bless and keep you today.

 

Moses was a Hebrew but never a slave – his name means ‘drawn out’.

God’s people were enslaved in Egypt, but increased despite their harsh treatment at the hands of the Egyptians. Pharaoh then ordered that all male children of the Hebrews be left in the Nile, the very thing God used to have Moses adopted and raised in Pharaoh’s own palace. Moses was raised a Prince in the palace but never forgot his people. Hebrews 11:24-28

We are always ‘called’ by the Lord for some purpose. Our Calling is both to do something (kingdom purposes) and to become someone (sons of God/the bride of Christ).

Moses had a Calling but he began in his own strength and God soon removed him from the palace. Moses killed an Egyptian slave master for beating a fellow Hebrew. He hid the body but was seen and like Jacob, he too had to flee for his life, into the desert.

13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”

14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”

Moses had an interesting encounter with fellow Hebrews after he killed the Egyptian. He tried to intervene in an argument between two Hebrew slaves but was rebutted by ‘the one in the wrong’. In tough situations people can lash out at one another, even when their common enemy is the cause of the problem. Moses had no authority to judge between the two brother Hebrews and was told so. His motive was right but in the heat of the moment his advice was rejected. Jesus faced a similar situation when ministering to his brother Jews;

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

Jesus wouldn’t assume authority in the situation He faced. We cannot judge others UNTIL we’re given authority to do so. Moses would stand in authority over the whole nation of Israel, but was powerless UNTIL he came into that position AND HIS LEADERSHIP WAS RECOGNISED.

Moses fled into the desert of Midian not knowing anyone. He helped some shepherdesses to water their flock and  protected them (once again he stood for justice). He was invited to their home, shown hospitality and married Zipporah, Name means ‘bird’. God drew people alongside Moses to help him. He was going to be in that desert 40 years, he needed people around to support him. Who has God brought into our lives to stand with us in this season? Be grateful and enjoy their friendship/fellowship while they’re with us, it may not always be so.

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God bless and keep you today.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 Amp Version.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.

As we start to approach Spring here in Ireland and leave Winter behind we start to witness new life.

We definitely have a spring in our step to witness the newness of life in so many ways. I watch the new lambs arriving and think of God as our Shepherd watching over us through every season in our lives.

This passage is so appropriate for all of us .. God has appointed the times and the seasons in our lives. We have to endure the good and the bad. We cannot live on the mountain tops all the time although many would say they could easily, but there would be no growth or development. We need change to cause that to happen.

The assurance in our lives is that God is walking with us through all the seasons.

Change can be challenging in every season but Praise God He is with us.

I remembered the poem today…

Footprints in the sand.
In the good times there were two sets of footprints and in the bad there was only one set of footprints. That was the time God was the closest to us as He was carrying us and taking the load from us.

Even Jesus had to go through seasons in His life.
Isaiah 53: 3.He was a man of sorrows and pains, acquainted with grief and sickness.
The seasons we go through and have to endure are part of the plan God has for us.

So today give thanks with a grateful heart this season is about to change.

[Leader] “Tell me, whose side are you standing on?”
[All] “I’m standing on the Lord’s side.”
[Leader] “Whose side are you standing on?”
[All] “Standing on the Lord’s side.
I stand, I stand, I stand–
standing on the Lord’s side.
I stand, I stand, I stand, I stand–
standing on the Lord’s side.”

The words of an old chorus/hymn came to mind today as I read the ongoing story of Israel in Exodus 1.

TIMES had changed in the land of Egypt, where Israel had been exiled by the Lord, during the seven years of famine. Times are also changing in the world today and we need to be determined to ‘stand on the Lord’s side’, the winning side!

6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:6, 7

God began to develop the nation of Israel, His own people, but they became too numerous for the Egyptians and were ruthlessly oppressed by them. They had been a favoured people under Joseph and that Pharaoh, but the new Egyptian king turned against them. Despite their harsh life under the new regime God’s people continued to increase and Pharaoh decided to murder all the male babies.

In the middle of the story of the growth of a nation, two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are recorded by name. They were told to murder all the boys at the point of birth.

The midwives, however, FEARED GOD and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Exodus 1:17

We shouldn’t read this and think that these two women didn’t fear Pharaoh, who could have had them removed in an instant, but they did Fear God! In our present age many unborn children have been removed without any Fear of God, a very sad fact and no small matter in God’s eyes.

Pharaoh called them to ask why they hadn’t obeyed his orders. They told him that Hebrew women gave birth too quickly, before they arrived. The building of a people was central to God’s purposes for the salvation of mankind, He could not have allowed that to be prevented, though the enemy didn’t give up easily.

20 So God was kind to the midwives and THE PEOPLE INCREASED AND BECAME EVEN MORE NUMEROUS. 21 And because the midwives FEARED GOD, he gave them families of their own. Exodus 1:20, 21

God protected and blessed the midwives and His people. Their conditions were harsh but God blessed them and they thrived in their tough environment. There’s plenty of evidence in history that the Church can also grow rapidly under persecution. We on earth can be discouraged by tough conditions, BUT GOD! God is working out His plans for the return of the Lord and His coming Kingdom. He will have His way and we need to STAND ON HIS SIDE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Luke 10: 38-39 Amp Version.

And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.
But Martha ( overly occupied and too busy) was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me (to lend a hand and do her part along with me)!

We can be anxious like Martha or we can be like Mary and build a relationship and spend precious time with Jesus.

Mary wanted to sit at His feet to listen, look and learn. She knew she needed to feed her spirit.

Jesus said Mary had chosen the better thing.
Our lives will bear little or no fruit if we make the wrong decision.

We all understand that the food was important to Martha and who would not want it to be perfect if we were entertaining Jesus.

I ask tonight has something taken your focus away from Jesus?

Do you live a frantic lifestyle always busy with work, hobbies or television rather than a life focused on Jesus.

Martha is frustrated and annoyed because Jesus is not rebuking Mary as she was not being helpful in a way that was pleasing to Martha.

Who are you trying to please in your life that is more important than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I once heard my spiritual father say …you can select the best and have the rest.

May we choose the better way that we can be refreshed and used for His Service.

Forgiveness – opening our hands and our hearts and letting go the pain of the past.

The story of Jacob/Israel ends, Genesis 50, with a further act of reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. They were afraid that now that their father Jacob was gone, Joseph might turn on them for revenge after the way they’d treated him. Wrong Motive – Right Outcome!

16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions(Jacob never did, they feared Joseph) before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to FORGIVE YOUR BROTHERS THE SINS AND WRONGS THEY COMMITTED IN TREATING YOU SO BADLY’ (there were real wrongs to forgive). Now please FORGIVE THE SINS of the servants OF THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER (brothers in the natural and the spiritual). When their message came to him, Joseph wept. Genesis 50:16, 17

The word Forgive is translated in other Bible versions as, ‘FORGET THE WICKEDNESS of your brothers’, don’t think about it again. A visiting preacher said, ‘You’ll know you have forgiven something when you stop talking about it’, good point. Put the wrong behind you and move on!  Another version says, ‘BEAR WITH’ the wrongs of your brothers and Strong’s Concordance also has the thought, ‘LIFT, CARRY, TAKE’. Jesus bore/carried people’s sins and we’re called to do the same.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:18-21

Reconciliation worked here because there was humility and good will on both sides. Joseph, the wronged and ill-treated brother, was twice referred to by Jacob as the ‘prince/one over his brothers’. Genesis 49:22, 50:26 Joseph CHOSE LOVE AND RECONCILIATION WITH HIS BROTHERS, RATHER THAN THE RIGHT TO DICTATE TO THEM. Many times human nature wants to rule over others, wants to be boss in place of showing love, bearing with one another. Be warned, it’s not the Kingdom way.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray;

And forgive us our debts, as (in that manner) we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12

In the way we forgive or with the measure we forgive, in that way, we too will be forgiven.

Sadly hurts and wrongs often arise with those nearest and dearest to us, natural families and within the family of believers. Jesus himself was betrayed by ‘one who shared his bread’.

Unforgiveness is a prison that will hold us in the past. We can choose by an act of our wills to forgive the past wrongs and move on. Our feelings will catch up if we’re whole hearted and don’t allow ourselves to dwell on the past.

Choose to go forward and not be locked in painful memories.

God bless and keep you today.