Month: May 2022

Look for and expect Heaven’s Strengthening when facing difficulties.

³¹ ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS (means ‘Set the Direction’ for them).’ Luke 22

We saw yesterday how Jesus prayed for Peter’s future calling just before His own crucifixion. Peter’s Faith did fail but Jesus eventually restored him and he stood as leader of the new Church.

Jesus Himself was supernaturally strengthened by an angel from heaven before His death and sacrifice for all mankind. Luke 22:43

⁷ The Lord said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.’ (Only a handful to defeat an army.)

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. Afterwards, you will be encouraged (Strengthened) to attack the camp.’ Judges 7

No wonder God Encouraged Gideon before the battle, his army had been reduced to a mere handful of men. The amazing thing was that God used his enemy to encourage him and give him hope.

¹⁵ When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, ‘Get up! (Sometimes we have to GET UP AND MOVE WITH GOD.) The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.’

There are times when God speaks and we ‘know that we know’ it’s going to happen! He Strengthens us by a Rhema Word or a Now Word that exactly fits our situation. That’s a wonderful place to be, when we know of a certainty that God’s going to do what’s needed.

There are also occasions when we’re called upon to take sides, which way will we go/how will we choose?

¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. ¹⁶ And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and HELPED HIM TO FIND STRENGTH IN GOD. ¹⁷ ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You shall be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.’ 1 Samuel 23

Jonathan chose to side with David, the man with God’s calling on his life, even against his own father, King Saul. Many times people, including Christians, choose to go with those in power, past/present, rather than those God has destined for power, present/future. We need to know who God’s hand is upon for the future and they may not look anything special at present, but the anointing will prevail. God strengthened David through the support of his close friend Jonathan. Is there someone we could encourage and strengthen today?

God bless and keep you today.

 

³¹ ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. And when you have turned back, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS.’

³³ But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ (Peter was sincere but he couldn’t endure the trial that was to come.)

³⁴ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’ Luke 22

The English word ‘Strengthen’ occurs twice in Luke 22:32 and 22:43 (but they are two different words in the original).

It’s worth noting that the  enemy had to ‘Ask permission to test the disciples’ in this crucial hour. They were all going to be tested, ‘sifted/threshed as wheat’, but Jesus realised that Peter’s Faith was going to Fail under severe testing. Peter wasn’t permitted to stand with Jesus in His time of greatest trial, we could say he didn’t have the Grace for it. So Jesus prayed a specific prayer for Peter, ‘AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED BACK’, Strengthen your brothers.

Peter wanted to stay with Jesus in His trials, but no matter how much he wanted it, he couldn’t. We need to know what the Lord has called us to do, because that’s where we have the Grace to stand.

Peter was the one called to lead the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. He was also the one who addressed the crowd on the day of Pentecost. The one who had fallen the furthest or most publicly, became the leader of the new Church. God knows our hearts and also our weaknesses, He wants to restore those who have fallen and use them even more than before.

The word the Lord used for ‘Strengthen’ for Peter means ‘to set fast’ or ‘to turn resolutely in a CERTAIN DIRECTION’ or ‘to Confirm’. Peter ‘set the direction’ for the early Church under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus realised however that Peter needed His prayers to come through the time ahead. We too should pray for our leaders, spiritual and secular, because the enemy attacks them more. (An Old Book, Prayer Shield, by Peter Wagner identified the need for intercessors standing with Christian leaders.)

’ ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and STRENGTHENED HIM (Divine Help). ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. LUKE 22

The Lord Himself prayed for extra help to go through the coming crucifixion, the Passover Lamb, for the sin of all mankind. How much we owe our Lord.

This word Strengthen means to invigorate, maybe revitalise and refresh. Unlike Peter Jesus knew fully what lay ahead and His human side balked at the enormity of it. Jesus was praying fervently about the situation. Thank God He went through it for us all.

We can and should ask for God’s help to endure trials and that we’ll be able to Strengthen others by what we ourselves have come through.

God bless and keep you today.

 

¹⁸ The one who guards a fig-tree will eat its fruit,
    and whoever looks after their master will be honoured. Proverbs 27

I feel that God may be speaking to some today not to give up and move away to an unknown future. There is always a reward for faithful service, both from Heaven and on earth. We may believe that others are getting ahead of us, but God can change things in a moment. There may be a time frame involved of which we’re not aware.

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’ Genesis 41

For someone there may be unexpected promotion because of an unforeseen change in circumstances. Joseph had revelation and understanding from God that made him the natural choice of an authority figure. People in authority need people they can depend on to do their work!

For others of us there may not be any dramatic rise in status, but again Faithful Service doesn’t go unnoticed. The Israelites had to make everything for the Tabernacle exactly as the Lord commanded Moses and worked until everything was completed and their work was recorded and acknowledged in God’s Word.

⁴² The Israelites had done all the work (Of the Tabernacle) just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴³ Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. SO MOSES BLESSED THEM. Exodus 39

The Bible speaks about endurance in the things God has called us to, so for others of us  it may be that we should stay in place and not give up.

⁴ If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
    do not leave your post;
    CALMNESS CAN LAY ‘GREAT ERRORS’ TO REST. Ecclesiastes 10

Someone may be annoyed with us because things haven’t worked out well, but if we stay calm and trust God He will work things out for the best.

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3

God always wants the best for us and He’s Faithful even in difficult circumstances, seeking Him before we take  rash steps is always wisdom.

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Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Lord is no man’s debtor, Hallelujah.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are available to seek personal words of direction and encouragement for those who want them. Please contact us on our webpage above. We can also provide counselling online, contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

The Lord bless and keep you today.

¹² “WAKE UP, WAKE UP, Deborah!
    WAKE UP, WAKE UP, break out in song!
ARISE, (ON YOUR FEET MSG) Barak!
    Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.” Judges 5

A prophetic ‘Wake Up’ call from God through the prophetess Deborah. God was moving now against the enemy of His people. There was a battle coming and Barak was told to take captive those already marked out for him. He was told to Arise/Get on His feet, MSG and get ready to fight and do what he’d been called to do. It must have been both scary and very encouraging for Israel to suddenly hear God calling them to arms. They’d been ‘cruelly oppressed’ for twenty years, but now God was moving on behalf of His people.

I believe that this is exactly where we are today! God is moving and calling His people to ‘Wake Up and Arise’. God’s people have been living under oppression for a long time, beaten down, and God is going to put an end to it. People with vast resources, like ‘Sisera’s nine hundred iron chariots’ have opposed God. The Lord Himself is moving against our enemies to bring them down and we must stand with Him.

Then the land had peace for forty years. Judges 5

I said yesterday that we’re being called to ‘Rise and Shine’. The time is coming, like never before, for the people of God to Shine in this dark world and tell people about Jesus. (I do believe a lot of hidden things will be revealed, also in the Church.)

23 These are the last words (NB Important Words) of David:

 

Then the land had peace for forty years (40 years, time of a generation; rose to serve God wholeheartedly – coming once again in our day). Judges 5

The Victory Song of Deborah and Barak, which we mentioned yesterday, was longer than the Biblical account of the battle against the Canaanite enemies. God and His people were deserving of more Praise than the enemy.

There’s much of note in this prophetic Song of Victory.

² ‘WHEN THE PRINCES IN ISRAEL TAKE THE LEAD,
    WHEN THE PEOPLE WILLINGLY OFFER THEMSELVES –
    praise the Lord! Judges 5

There are those who are called to lead, but the people have TO OFFER THEMSELVES in service to God for His purpose.

⁴ ‘When you, Lord, went out from Seir,
    when you marched from the land of Edom,
THE EARTH SHOOK…
⁵ THE MOUNTAINS QUAKED before the Lord …

Antarctica and the southern oceans are experiencing repeated large earthquakes, God is ON THE MOVE to expose hidden works in that area today.

¹² “WAKE UP, WAKE UP, Deborah!
    WAKE UP, WAKE UP,  break out in song!
ARISE, Barak! (Barak means Lightning, a lightning strike)    Take captive your captives …

Four times the word says WAKE UP! Then ARISE Barak – strike the enemy. God has been trying to awaken His people to what has been going on in our time, just as He did with Deborah.

Verses 13-18 identified those who took part in the battle and those who did not. Heaven knew and recorded the part each played in the fight against the enemy. The last verse of this section notes that some went at risk of their lives;

¹⁸ The people of Zebulun risked their very lives;
    so did Naphtali on the heights of the field. 

The enemy kings fought, but this time there was no plunder for them – God was on the Battle Field!

¹⁹ ‘Kings came, they fought,
    the kings of Canaan fought.
   … they took no plunder of silver.
²⁰ From the heavens the stars fought,
    from their courses they fought against Sisera.

²¹ MARCH ON, MY SOUL; BE STRONG! (Hallelujah, Great encouragement for the battle)

The people today have been plundered by the enemy for a long time, but God is moving to end the stronghold of His enemy.

²⁴ ‘Most blessed of women be Jael, (her name comes from the Hebrew for ‘wild mountain goat’, also from verb ‘to be useful’)
    the wife of Heber the Kenite,
    most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

Jael slew the enemy who thought he’d found a safe place in the tent, but he lay down never to wake again. (No safe places for the enemies of God)

The Victory Song ends with A CALL to God’s people to be like the sun when it rises in its strength. RISE AND SHINE, God’s call to us today, a unique generation is coming in the earth to fulfil His End Time purpose. May He be greatly honoured and glorified as in Deborah’s Song.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Then the land had peace for forty years. Judges 5

The last words of a Song of Victory by Deborah and Barack after the defeat of Jabin, the Canaanite King.

²³ On that day God subdued Jabin the Canaanite king before the Israelites. ²⁴ And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin the Canaanite king until they destroyed him. Judges 4

The account of Deborah and Barak is told in just two chapters, Judges 4 and 5. Chapter 4 introduces the characters and records the victory and death of the enemy commander, Sisera, in the tent of Jael

Deborah sent for Barak and told him that the Lord was going to give him victory over Israel’s oppressors. She explained to him exactly how God was going to win this victory for His people.

‘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.”’ Judges 4

But Barak wasn’t willing to go alone, he insisted that Deborah come with Him to the battle and lost the honour of winning the victory.

^{9 “}Very well,” Deborah said,  “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honour will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.’ Judges 4

Deborah not only prophesied how the Lord would defeat Israel’s enemy but she also told Barak, who would now get the glory for the victory, a courageous lady called Jael. (Deborah also showed her courage by standing on the Word the Lord had given her and going with Israel to the battle.) It has been recorded for us in the Bible, so God wants us to understand that those He calls, He also equips.

All of Chapter 5 is given over to the Song of Victory that Deborah and Barak sang to celebrate the death of their enemy. It also marked the ‘beginning of the end’ for the Canaanite king Jabin, who was oppressing God’s people. I believe there will come a time in future when God’s people will sing songs of victory over our enemies. There may still be battles to fight and win, but God isn’t going to be defeated today anymore than He was by the Canaanites and ‘their nine hundred chariots’. (Weapons of war)

Then the land had peace for forty years.

Peace follows Victory, a God-given Victory. May we too be like the sun when it rises in its strength.

God bless and keep you today.

¹⁸ THERE IS SURELY A FUTURE HOPE FOR YOU,
    AND YOUR HOPE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF. Proverbs 23

After two blogs from 2 Kings 5 last Thursday & Friday it was interesting to hear an address on Gehazi yesterday. He took the reward Elisha refused; he wouldn’t wait and his whole family line was cursed.  Elisha pronounced God’s judgement on him because he’d taken for himself from what God had done.

Saying 15

 

Today’s blog may be a word of caution for someone!

¹⁹ ‘Go in peace,’ Elisha said.

AFTER NAAMAN HAD TRAVELLED SOME DISTANCE, ²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, ‘My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I WILL RUN AFTER HIM AND GET SOMETHING FROM HIM.’ 2 Kings 5

We saw yesterday that Naaman bridled at Elisha’s treatment of him, BUT later he calmed down and listened to the advice of his servants. TRULY, WE DON’T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME, BUT WE CAN LISTEN AND CHANGE and know God’s blessings if we humble ourselves. Naaman was healed and had a revelation of Almighty God.

‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’

¹⁶ The prophet answered, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.’ And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

Elisha was not permitted by God to accept anything for Naaman’s cleansing and we don’t know why. But Elisha wasn’t swayed by Naaman’s desire to bless him, he stood firm and took nothing.

Naaman foresaw he would have to accompany his master, the King, into the temple of his god when he returned home and asked forgiveness in advance for this. Many might have criticised him when he did this, but Elisha, the man of God told him to, ‘go in peace’. He didn’t judge and neither should we judge others because of their particular circumstances, which we may not fully appropriate.

Gehazi, the man running from behind, (MAY REPRESENT OUR PAST), COMING TO MAKE A DEMAND UPON US! The demand may seem genuine and may even be couched in religious language or to bless someone else by a gift. BEWARE AN UNEXPECTED OR UNANNOUNCED VISITOR FROM THE PAST, ASKING US TO BLESS SOMEONE. People (A Gehazi) coming to us with selfish and corrupt motives, which are false and contrary to God’s will.

Fathersloveministry is a faith based ministry, please Donate on our webpage today and help support the Father’s work;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Lord is no man’s debtor, Hallelujah.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are available to seek personal words of direction and encouragement for those who want them. Please contact us on our webpage above. We can also provide counselling online, contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

The Lord bless and keep you today.

¹¹ Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger,
And it is his honour and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harbouring resentment]. Proverbs 19 AMP

²⁰ LISTEN TO ADVICE AND ACCEPT DISCIPLINE,
    AND IN THE END YOU WILL BE WISE. Proverbs 19

We don’t always get it Right First Time, but WE CAN LISTEN AND CHANGE OUR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL!

In 2 Kings 5 we read the account of Naaman, commander of the King of Aram’s army. Naaman was ‘highly regarded’ but he had a serious Problem, leprosy or a skin disease. (That problem was to lead him to the Lord – problems have to be addressed and may bring change into our lives that we wouldn’t accept in any other way.)

Naaman eventually arrived with his horses and chariots at the door of Elisha’s house, but Elisha didn’t honour him;

¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’ 2 Kings 5

The prophet Elisha told Naaman, ‘Go, wash seven times in the Jordan and you’ll be cleansed’. He was given the instruction to receive his cleansing, but without any recognition of his position and he left angry at the way he was treated.

¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’ SO ‘HE TURNED’ AND WENT OFF IN A RAGE.

How Many times ‘Have we also Turned’ and gone our own way, but God waits for us to listen and return to Him.

¹³ Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, “Wash and be cleansed”!’ ¹⁴ SO HE WENT DOWN AND DIPPED HIMSELF IN THE JORDAN SEVEN TIMES, (He did exactly what the prophet had said and received his miracle) as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Naaman went off in a rage BUT THEN he listened and obeyed. Not only was his flesh restored, but he came to know the Lord, his change of heart altered the course of his entire life. (Jesus spoke of Naaman’s healing to the Religious Jews of His day.)

Is God calling some of us to change the path we’re living on at present?

¹⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

¹⁸ Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for/Hope in Him! Isaiah 30

He wants to be gracious to us but we have to take HIS PATH TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS HE HAS FOR US. It’s worth changing course to know God’s Favour on our life.

God bless and keep you today.

 

¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’ Acts 21

We saw yesterday that Ruth clung to Naomi and wouldn’t leave her. Paul too, would not be persuaded by his friends.

Paul was returning from his lengthy third missionary journey and we read in Acts that he stayed with people in their homes. Will there be a resurgence in the Gift of Hospitality in our own day, because of animosity towards followers of Jesus?

⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. Acts 21

Paul stayed with Philip and his daughters who prophesied, but it wasn’t any of these sisters who gave Paul the word that would shape his destiny.

¹⁰ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”’

It was a man called Agabus who brought the Word of the Lord to Paul. People may be prophetic, but God chooses who will give His words to each of us and it may be different from what we think.

Paul spent much of his time after this as a prisoner, but it was during those days that he wrote four New Testament epistles; Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. Paul sacrificed his own preferences for the greater good of the Gospel and for us today!

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. BUT GOD’S WORD IS NOT CHAINED. 2 Timothy 2

Amy Carmichael, was a well known missionary to the children of southern India, rescuing many girls from Temple prostitution. She arrived in India in November 1895 and never left until her death in 1951. Amy spent most of the last two decades of life in her room following a bad fall. (I believe the Lord asked her if she would allow Him to fully have His way in the remainder of her remarkable life.) During those years Amy wrote thirteen new books and countless letters to give personal encouragement and help to others, perhaps her most fruitful years of service.

Two of her many quotes;

“It is a safe thing to trust Him to fulfill the desire that He creates.”

“One can’t help anyone whom one doesn’t Love enough to bear with, even as our angels bear with us. We must be most trying to them at times.”

She asked that no stone be put over her grave at Dohnavur. Instead, the children she had cared for put a bird bath over it with the single inscription “Amma”, meaning “mother” in the Tamil language.

Is the Lord asking us to sacrifice something today, so that He May get the greater glory and will we give it?

God bless and keep you today.