Month: June 2021

God ‘sometimes’ Chooses the unlikeliest people (for Himself) AND Uses the unlikeliest people (to help or rescue us). We must allow Him to Choose or miss a blessing.

1 Then Joshua son of Nun ‘Secretly’ sent two spies from Shittim. ‘Go, look over the land,’ he said, ‘especially Jericho.’ So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. Joshua 2

Joshua (means Saviour), had taken up the reigns of leadership in Israel. Sometimes we are thrust by circumstances (death of Moses) into doing things for which we may not feel equipped. God may have put some of us in such a place today, we may not be able but God is! Trust Him and keep going forward, it may only be for a time.

Joshua sent the two spies out ‘Secretly’. Once again it may be wise to keep what God is telling us to do to ourselves! Don’t be in a hurry to tell others what you feel God has given you to do. He may be testing you to see if He can trust you with more important matters. Others around you may not have any understanding of what you’re being called to do and may try to convince you against the leading of the Lord. Joshua was thrust into taking decisions for a whole nation and he wanted to get up to date intelligence.

The two Israelite spies went to the house of Rahab in Jericho just as they’d been ordered. The king of Jericho knew of the spies and ordered Rahab to hand them over.

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, ‘Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.’ 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.)

Rahab laid a false trail for the king’s men to follow. She hid the spies and helped them. Rahab understood what was about to happen and she contended with the spies for the lives of her family and loved ones. She was brave and resourceful and is listed in Hebrews 11 as one of the heroes of the Faith.

17 Now the men had said to her, ‘This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. Joshua 2

The two men who were sent to spy out the land before the final attack became the means of salvation for one resourceful woman and her family. God used those spies to bring salvation to a whole family. Do you need help today? (we are seeking God ourselves this very day). God may choose to send it from the most unlikely place, be open to His help however it comes. He will do things His way, rarely how we think.

God bless and keep you today.

Moses went up the mountain a second time to meet with the Lord and receive the Law on two new tablets of stone.

God revealed Himself to Moses, there on the mountain. He revealed part of His nature and love for the people of Israel, a chosen people.

4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, A GOD MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE (LOVING KINDNESS) AND FAITHFULNESS, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, (or a thousand generations) forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty (God is also completely righteous and just) … Exodus 34

Despite Israel’s earlier turning away from God to worship the golden calf idol, God revealed the Love side of His Nature to Moses. He renewed Covenant Exodus 34:27 with Moses and Israel who had betrayed Him so readily. Unlike the idols of the nations, false gods, Yahweh is a loving Father and wants good for His children.

God bless and keep you today.

(A shorter blog today as a result of an earlier power outage).

3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. Psalm 135

The psalmist wrote Psalm 135 as a call to Israel and all God Fearing people to Praise the true and living God.

4 For the Lord has CHOSEN Jacob (And us believers today) to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.

It is very important to know and understand that we haven’t just stumbled into our faith, but that we’ve been CHOSEN by God Himself to be His children!

You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16

FOR HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:4, 5

God has chosen a family of sons and daughters who will be with Him for eternity and who will Praise Him forever.

13 Your name, Lord, endures for ever,
your renown, Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants. Psalm 135

God is eternally compassionate and caring and He’s Chosen a People for Himself. We do have things to go through here on earth for a time, but these experiences will fit us to be with Him for eternity.

The psalm draws to a close with two contrasting groups of people who are on this journey here in time.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
nor is there breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

We can sum up the idols or other gods that attract people and which they chase after in one word – Lifeless! They have no life in them, unlike God who is the author of ALL LIFE. Nothing exists that God has not created.

The main lesson here is found in verse 18, those who chase after false or substitute gods and trust them ‘will be like them’. What we admit into our lives is moulding and shaping our destiny!

The psalm ends with a Call to Israel and to everyone who Fears Him to worship God. As we follow and worship the Lord we as believers will be conformed to His image.

19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord;
house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord;
you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion,
to him who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.

WHAT WE CHASE AFTER WE WILL BECOME!

God bless and keep our hearts for Him today.

The baby Jesus Himself was greatly protected through Dreams given to Joseph after His birth in Bethlehem.

Actually, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. Matthew 1:20

There are four distinct Dreams recorded in Matthew 2, a lot for one chapter, recording the course of Jesus’ earliest life.

V12, the wise men were warned not to go back to Herod, who was intent on murdering the baby Jesus.

V13, Joseph was told to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt.

V19, Go back to Israel, those who wanted to kill Jesus are dead.

V20, Joseph again warned in a dream, went to the Galilee.

Just think for a moment, Yahweh protected His son, the soon to be Saviour of mankind, through Joseph’s dreams!

Finally, at the very end of Jesus’ life, Pilate’s wife warned her husband, ‘Don’t have anything to do with that INNOCENT MAN… for I have suffered a great deal in a dream because of Him’. Matthew 27:19 But Pilate had to order His crucifixion.

The Book of Acts recounts the birth of the Church on earth and the earliest spreading of the Gospel to the nations. Once again the prominence of Dreams is clearly evident.

16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘“In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below, Acts 2

God is a God of the supernatural and the miraculous.

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 19

Paul and his companions were given Dreams to guide them in the proclamation of the Gospel in the earliest days.

Saint Patrick, originally captured and brought to Ireland as a slave, turned in total dependence to God and was able to escape. But then he received a dream calling to come back, the ‘Voice of the Irish’.

He said that as he read the letter, he heard the people he had known in Ireland calling to him: “We beg you, holy boy, to come and walk among us once again.” The memory of the voices he heard in the dream stayed with him for many years. He wrote: It completely broke my heart, and I could read no more and woke up.”

The language of Dreams has been crucial in the coming of the Messiah and the carrying of the Gospel. The Lord still speaks to us when our conscious minds are stilled and we should take heed.

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The worker is worthy of their hire. Luke 10:7

Donate now at; fathersloveministry.co.uk

We are available to seek the Lord for personal words of encouragement and guidance. We also provide counselling online for those who wish it. Please contact us on our webpage to book these services. A donation is normally required for this ministry.

God bless and keep you today.

The Book of Daniel has a different name for God which sets the tone for much of the Book; ‘The Revealer of Mysteries’. Mysteries abound in Daniel, a Book written when the Jews were in exile, as was Esther. GOD SPEAKS TO US EVEN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES!

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. (Daniel’s gift identified right at the beginning) Daniel 1

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, from God and he wouldn’t tell his wise men what it was, but still insisted they give him the interpretation. He threatened to kill them if they didn’t meet his demands. Daniel sought the Lord and told the king his dream and it’s meaning.

20 ‘Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are His’. Daniel 2

He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 HE REVEALS DEEP AND HIDDEN THINGS;
He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.

28 but there is a God in heaven who REVEALS MYSTERIES.

29 ‘As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the REVEALER OF MYSTERIES showed you what is going to happen’. (Same as Pharaoh in Egypt)

I wouldn’t say that I have a particular gift for interpreting dreams but with my wife’s recent dreams I did get some understanding because the dreams were for us. Seek God for revelation about your dreams, if they’re from Him then He wants you to understand them. He may also lead you to someone who can help. Neither Nebuchadnezzar nor Pharaoh could understand the dreams God gave them, they had to rely on one of God’s people. They had to ‘partner with the Living God’ through one of his servants. Has God given you a dream to lead you to someone He wants you to be linked with? (Please don’t overload them with demands for personal ministry)

Daniel didn’t just have a prominent gift from God, but he also had the wisdom how to deal with the situation, as did Joseph.

14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel SPOKE TO HIM WITH WISDOM AND TACT. 15 He asked the king’s officer, ‘Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?’ Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and ASKED FOR TIME, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Daniel 2

Both Daniel and Joseph, didn’t just interpret the dreams of the Kings, they told what they meant for them. The rulers needed to know what the dreams signified, but also how they should be applied. Dreams affecting nations may well require a Daniel or Joseph. However, God, ‘The Revealer of Mysteries’, can easily reveal what our personal dreams mean for us.

God bless and keep you today.

The young King Solomon had a Life Changing Dream and many people are still having them to this day!

4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ 1 Kings 3

Solomon had gone to Gibeon to worship the God of his father David, it wasn’t random, he was seeking God when he met with Him. His dream was interactive, he had a conversation with God, that set the course for much of his life and reign. It also blessed the people of Israel greatly.

9 ‘So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

The Lord blessed Solomon so much because he asked for something that would bless God’s people and not just for himself. ‘Selflessness’, the opposite of Selfishness, brought him a much greater reward. But we should also note that it all began when he’d gone to worship God, he moved and God responded to his initiative.

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4

Job was a Righteous man who experienced much trouble and suffering in his life, because the devil wanted to prove God wrong about Job. Job’s afflictions continued day and night, his enemy harassed him relentlessly;

13 When I think my bed will comfort me
and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
and terrify me with visions, Job 7

Sometimes people do have nightmares, hopefully not as vivid as those of Job. We can pray and plead the blood of Jesus over our minds and ask God for protection before we go to sleep. I remember reading about a child having recurring bad dreams that continued even after prayer. The parents asked someone to come and pray for their child. They prayed in the bedroom that a guardian angel would sit at the top or bottom of the bed every night while the child slept and the frightening dreams ceased, Praise God.

There are 15 Psalms or Songs of Ascent, sung by the Jews when they were going up to Jerusalem (perhaps returning from exile) to worship God. Obviously a time of great joy and ecstasy, as if they were dreaming and not reality;

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were LIKE THOSE WHO DREAMED. Psalm 126

The writer of Ecclesiastes makes some interesting comments about dreams;

3 A dream comes when there are many cares,
and many words mark the speech of a fool.

7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God. Ecclesiastes 3

Not all dreams are spiritual, some result from the cares of life, others perhaps from too much pizza (what we’ve eaten)

May God speak to us through our dreams and give us understanding to know their true significance.

God bless and keep you today.

We looked yesterday at the ‘Ten Dreams of Genesis’ and noted that Ten is a significant number in the Word of God. God Himself highlighted that dreams were an important means of speaking to His people. Genesis is the only book of the Torah (first five books of Bible) to contain dreams.

12 Miriam and Aaron BEGAN TO TALK AGAINST MOSES because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 ‘Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?’ they asked. ‘Hasn’t he also spoken through us?’ And the Lord heard this. Numbers 12

Be careful who you ‘SPEAK AGAINST’, rarely does anything good come from it!

6 He said, ‘Listen to my words:

‘When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I SPEAK TO THEM IN DREAMS (at night in the stillness)
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in RIDDLES (dreams can be God’s Riddles/Puzzles for us to interpret and some have this gift);

Dreams like prophecy MUST BE TESTED. Do they line up with the Word? (the Holy Spirit never contradicts Himself). Do they sit well/agree with our own spirit? Do they fit our circumstances? Does anyone have something that confirms the dream?

13 If a prophet, or one who FORETELLS BY DREAMS, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ 3 YOU MUST NOT LISTEN to the words of that prophet or dreamer. Deuteronomy 13

The account of Gideon saving Israel from the Midianites contains a dream by someone else, even an enemy! God can use others to speak to us, even though they may not intend to do so.

9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING (Others May Have GOD’S ANSWER to Your Dilemma). Judges 7

13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend (God’s Timing is Perfect, also for us) his dream. ‘I had a dream,’ he was saying. ‘A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.’

14 His friend responded, ‘This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.’

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped. (God had answered in an unusual way, be open to the gentle prompts of the Spirit, no matter how odd they may seem) Numbers 7

God bless and keep you today.

19 ‘Here comes that dreamer(Joseph)!’ they said to each other. Genesis 37:19

Joseph’s brothers were annoyed by his prophetic dreams and decided to get rid of him; so began God’s plan for his life.

My wife has had two detailed dreams recently, both of which she fully remembered, a good indicator that they’re important. We were together in both dreams, so they were significant for both of us (most dreams are for ourselves). Dream interpretation can be a skilled task, but do ask God and maybe others for help to understand what you’ve received and do RECORD AND DATE SUCH DREAMS.

In the first dream, her brother’s wife was in the back of a meeting, she was surprised at her being there. But it wasn’t actually about her, but someone of the same name, previously known to me a long time ago. The number 2 was also in the dream and there was a second person, related to the first one. So the actual number 2 was relevant. So part of the dream was about two people from my distant past. The Lord had given direction about something that needed to be dealt with now. There was more to it, but I’ve just tried to illustrate how a part of her dream could be interpreted.

So how important were dreams as a means of God speaking to people in the Bible? In the Book of Genesis (Book of Beginnings) there are actually ten dreams listed. Ten is a significant number in Jewish traditions e.g. the Ten Commandments. The Torah is the first five books of the Old  Testament, but the ten dreams all occur in Genesis.

1 First dream, a Philistine king, Abimelech, was told not to touch Abraham’s wife, Sarah, and return her unharmed or they’d all die. God protected Abraham and his wife. WARNING Genesis 20:1-7

2 Jacob dream’t of the ladder going up to heaven as he fled his brother Esau, REVELATION OF GOD. Genesis 28:12

3 The Lord told Jacob to go back to the land of his relatives and He would be with him, DIRECTION. Genesis 31

4 Laban was told not to do anything to Jacob, ‘either good or bad’. WARNING Genesis 31:22-24

5 & 6 Joseph’s two dreams about his parents and brothers bowing down to him. PROPHETIC Genesis 37

7 & 8 Joseph interpreted two dreams of Pharoah’s wine steward and baker, one freed and other executed. PROPHETIC Genesis 40

9 & 10 Pharaoh had two dreams, WARNINGS about the future for the land of Egypt, 7 years plenty followed by 7 years famine. Joseph interpreted the dreams and was promoted to govern Egypt. His own earlier dreams were fulfilled when his brothers came to him for food. Genesis 41

We can’t build our lives on dreams alone, but neither should we ignore them as the Bible shows that God may speak through our dreams. The Talmud, Jewish Laws and Customs, says 4 conditions of Prophetic Dreams are

– occur in the early morning (deeper sleep, less of our consciousness?)

– dream about someone else

– contains interpretation as part of the dream

– dream is repeated over and over (confirmation)

(Thanks to Rivka Levy, The ten dreams of Genesis).

The crux of the matter, detailed and impactful dreams should be recorded and considered carefully, as God may be speaking to us.

God bless and keep you today.

After Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, God declared certain things that were going to happen as a result.

The snake who had deceived them was given a prophetic judgement by the Lord God Himself;

14 So the Lord God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this,

‘Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD,
and you will strike his heel.’ Genesis 3

Right from the beginning (Genesis means Beginnings) God has said that there would be an ongoing conflict between humanity and the deceiver. Jesus, the second Adam, won the victory for us on the cross but He suffered much while doing so.

In Judges 3 & 4, we read the story of Deborah (means ‘bee’, maker of honey/sweetness), the only female judge of Israel. Many of the judges were warriors who delivered Israel from her oppressors. God used Deborah as a deliverer through the hands of Barak (means lightning, as in strike) son of Abinoam.

6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: “Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the River Kishon and give him into your hands.”’

8 Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’ Judges 4

God had punished Israel for their rebellion against Him, but He also delivered them when they had a Righteous leader, Deborah. Barak did carry out God’s judgement on the Canaanite oppressors but lost the honour because of his insistence that Deborah accompany him to battle.

Sisera, the Canaanite captain fled to the tent of Jael, wife of  Heber the Kenite. There he met his end when Jael drove a tent peg through his head; she too ‘Crushed the enemy’s head’. God swore that mankind would eventually do this to the enemy.

The Song of Deborah and Barak, in Judges 5 records some significant things about the battle. Not all the people joined in, whole tribes were missing;

In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
16 Why did you stay among the sheepfolds
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan.
And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?
Asher remained on the coast
and stayed in his coves. Judges 5

Heaven joined in the battle and fought for Israel,

20 From the heavens the stars fought,
from their courses they fought against Sisera. Judges 5

Will this be repeated at the close of the age when the Messiah returns to rule and reign from Jerusalem?

If you’re being blessed by this ministry, Please Donate and support the work, we can only reap as we sow, this is true in the natural and the spiritual. We may be financially and spiritually impoverished because we haven’t been sowing to God’s work.

The worker is worthy of their hire. Luke 10:7

Donate now at; fathersloveministry.co.uk

We are available to seek the Lord for personal words of encouragement and guidance. We also provide counselling online for those who wish it. Please contact us on our webpage to book these services. A donation is normally required for this ministry.

God bless and keep you today.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight (or direct). Proverbs 3

It’s so easy to ‘lean on our own understanding’, to slip back into that place where we trust in ourselves to find the best path and forget about the Lord. Yesterday was a busy day for us, but also not straight forward in some respects. I wondered if we’d taken on too much, ‘bitten off more than we could chew’ and said so to my wife. She, on the other hand, was sure God knew all about the arrangements for the day and would deal with it all perfectly. He did!

God actually used an overlap/bringing together of two situations to bring about release and blessings on a much greater level than would have been possible individually. My natural thinking was looking at the two situations apart but God eventually brought them together and both were enriched as a result. We do need to use wisdom (though it’s often man’s wisdom), but God will often take us beyond our understanding and give us His solutions instead.

The late Derek Prince commented that God often asks us to do things when it’s not convenient. We then have to make a choice, His will or ours. Are we willing to trust Him to work things out in His way, when it doesn’t appear to be best for us? It will cost us at times to say Yes to the Lord, but if we do He’ll use our sacrifice to bring blessings.

David had received a prophecy that he would one day be king of Israel. This resulted in him being hunted unceasingly by King Saul. It became so bad that he went to live with the Philistines, Israel’s greatest enemies. During this time, David twice had the opportunity to take Saul’s life.

8 Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has given your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.’

9 But David said to Abishai, ‘Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,’ he said, ‘the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.’ 1 Samuel 26

David could have taken Saul’s life, a man who was hunting him and his men relentlessly. Today we would probably say it was expedient (of an action, Convenient though possibly improper or immoral).

Will we choose the way that’s Convenient OR take the way that we know God wants for us. I believe that all Heaven waits to see what we will do.

God bless and keep you today.