Month: June 2022

Nebuchadnezzar received severe discipline from the Lord, which resulted in his acknowledging that God ruled over all.

Then I PRAISED the MOST HIGH; I HONOURED and GLORIFIED HIM WHO LIVES FOREVER. Daniel 4

The scene changes in Daniel 5 when a new king and a new generation rise to power.

5 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. Daniel 5

King Belshazzar (means Bel protect the king) then took a very foolish step, he ordered that the gold and silver goblets his father had brought from the Temple in Jerusalem be brought to the feast.

⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

Then they used them to drink toasts to their false gods and once again judgement came swiftly. Kjell Sjoberg, a man I used to travel with, said sooner or later the enemy always goes too far and then God intervenes. We are seeing this happen again in our world today.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand (highly visible) in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

Make no mistake, earthly rulers will tremble whenever God moves. ‘You believe there’s only one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.’ James 2:19

The king called for his wisemen and even though he promised them great reward they couldn’t interpret the words the hand had written. He became even more afraid.

⁷ The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed round his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’

This reward is declared three times in Daniel 5:7, 16 and 29. Daniel ultimately received the reward even though it meant little to him. The public declarations of an earthly king had to be honoured and obeyed, HOW MUCH MORE THE WORDS OF ALMIGHTY GOD!

Just as in the time of Joseph, when Pharaoh had his dreams Genesis 41, the Babylonian wisemen were unable to help. The wisdom of this world is of no use when God intervenes in power. They had to seek out a man of God to tell them what was going to happen.

¹⁰ The queen (or queen mother) hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. ‘May the king live for ever!’ she said. ‘Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. … Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.’

THE WORLD DOESN’T HAVE THE ANSWERS WHEN GOD INTERVENES, BUT HIS PEOPLE WILL HAVE.

God bless and keep you in these days.

God’s dealings resulted in a very changed man in King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4:28-37 He also works to bring about similar change in us.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. ⁵ I had a dream (A WARNING DREAM) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. Daniel 4

It all began with a dream from God, a warning to the King. Dreams often come when our conscious minds are inactive. (In Matthew 1&2, we have five mentions of dreams around the birth of Jesus. Matthew 1:20, 2:12, 13, 19, 22 Most of them were warning/guidance dreams to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly guardian.)

Nebuchadnezzar was at peace in his palace, but in his mind he became filled with Pride before God and triggered the consequences of his earlier dream. (God hates Pride)

³¹ THE WORDS WERE STILL ON HIS LIPS, when a voice came from heaven,

^{32 “}You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes (Satan boasted of this to Jesus when tempting Him Matthew 4).”

³³ IMMEDIATELY what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. Daniel 4

This was one of ‘God’s Sudden-lies’, as soon as the words had been spoken Judgement fell. We will see many such things in our own time, the hand of Heaven is moving now in the affairs of men.

³⁴ AT THE END OF THAT TIME, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I PRAISED THE MOST HIGH (GOD IS ABOVE ALL!); I HONOURED AND GLORIFIED HIM who lives forever.

There was a set Time for him and after it had been served he was set free AND RAISED UP AGAIN.

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and BECAME EVEN GREATER THAN BEFORE.

When justice had been served Nebuchadnezzar was restored even greater than before. GOD DOESN’T HOLD GRUDGES, He restored this king, also Job and even Israel to ‘BETTER THAN BEFORE’. Thank God He’s such a good and forgiving God!

³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, PRAISE AND EXALT AND GLORIFY the King of heaven, because EVERYTHING HE DOES IS RIGHT and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The last recorded words of this great king were words of worship, he was a changed man. He also points out a wonderful truth about our God, He does everything well;

³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. ‘He (Jesus) has done everything well,’ they said. Mark 7

When God does something, He does it perfectly. It’s one of the traits of His hand in any situation.

May God bless and keep you today.

 

It’s what we are inside, not outside, that counts.

⁶ He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about YOU HYPOCRITES; as it is written:

⁸ You have LET GO OF THE COMMANDS OF GOD and are HOLDING ON TO THE TRADITIONS OF MEN.’ Mark 7

The Pharisees and teachers of the law had come all the way from Jerusalem to criticise the Lord and His disciples. Their line of attack this time was eating with unwashed hands (washing our hands before eating food is sensible, but has no value for Righteousness/Right Standing before God). Their focus was external and the traditions of the elders. Jesus quoted the Words of the Prophet Isaiah to them, that THEY ONLY HONOURED GOD SUPERFICIALLY WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT NOT FROM THE HEART.

According to Isaiah, LIP SERVICE IS NOT GOD SERVICE!

God wants and expects a lot more from His people. They were following men’s traditions and had turned from God’s commands. We need to be sure that we have hearts towards God and not just following what others may tell us.

⁹ He went on, “Well, good for you. You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions!” Mark 7 MSG

Jesus challenged them on how they told people not to honour their own parents, if they’d set aside their money as a gift for God. Religion always wants our money, even at the expense of taking from the very ones who’ve given us life.

¹⁴ Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. ¹⁵ Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.’ 

Jesus then had to explain this privately to His disciples;

¹⁸ ‘Are you so dull?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? ¹⁹ For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.’ (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 

External food doesn’t stay in the body, but what’s in the heart does. To use a modern phrase ‘Stinking Thinking’, what we carry inside our hearts is crucial. This scripture ends with a list of thirteen things which people can carry in their hearts;

²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’

We can be religious outwardly and still have corruption in our hearts – the religious Pharisees did and Jesus chastised them.

May God protect us keep our hearts true to Him in these days.

¹⁵ But the seed on GOOD SOIL stands for those with a noble and GOOD HEART, who hear the word, retain it, (understand it) and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8

Jesus told the Parable of the Sower to large crowds and His disciples were with Him. (Recorded in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15) He explained that the seed is the Word of God and the Soil is the human heart.

⁹ His disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men KEEP WATCH WITH ME FOR ONE HOUR?’ he asked Peter. Matthew 26

Jesus was facing the greatest trial of His time here on earth, His coming crucifixion. It would be the last time he was with any of His disciples, Zechariah’s prophecy was completely fulfilled;

‘“I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” Zechariah 12:3

It would also be the last time He was alone, watching and praying! Jesus withdrew to bare the sorrow of His heart and to compose His soul before the severest of trials began. He was disappointed that the three disciples closest to Him failed to stay awake with Him. Sleep overcame them.

⁴¹ ‘WATCH AND PRAY SO THAT YOU (Peter) will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Matthew 26

Jesus addressed Peter, who denied Him three times before His crucifixion. Peter’s flesh betrayed him at a critical time, he gave way under the pressure of the hour. Jesus’ words speak to us also, can we not spend some time with Him? Spending time with Him, watching and praying, will strengthen our inner spirit man and help us not to fail when unexpected trials come. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins only half were prepared with additional oil, they’d spent time with the Spirit. The oil wasn’t transferable and each only had what they alone were carrying. The truth is that OUR SPIRITS LONG TO BE WITH THE LORD, BUT THE FLESH (The weak part) often dominates.

Jesus rebuked the ‘men’ with Him for not keeping watch, so perhaps this word is more important for men, but obviously applies to all His followers. I believe that women generally are more faithful in prayer, at least that would be my past experience. The Parable of the Virgins ends with the Bridegroom saying He never knew those who were kept outside. They were chaste virgins, but had no personal relationship with Him. Any relationship takes time to establish, but especially a love relationship. Other demands are gladly set aside for the sake of building those bonds.

Many in the Western Church today have believed that we make a one time decision and that’s it, we’re elected. However, the Lord rebuked His own disciples and had to reinstate Peter after his denials. We all need to take time to build our relationship and Watching/Prayer must be a part of that. We ignore it at our peril.

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

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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.

Take a ‘Hope bath’ in the Word today. (²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, Ephesians 5)

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
¹⁸ There is SURELY A FUTURE HOPE FOR YOU (Confess ME/US),
    and YOUR (MY/OUR) HOPE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF. Proverbs 23

The Word of God tells us repeatedly that ‘Our Hope’ will not be cut off, so we need to guard and stand on this promise.

¹³ EAT HONEY, MY CHILD, FOR IT IS GOOD;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
¹⁴ Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you, (God wants sweet things for us His people, it’s the enemy who brings bitterness to us)
    and YOUR HOPE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF. Proverbs 24

Many of the Psalms speak about Hope, David often declared his Hope in God (he made a demand on heaven).

¹⁸ But God will NEVER FORGET THE NEEDY;
    the HOPE OF THE AFFLICTED WILL NEVER PERISH. Psalm 9

The psalmist states that God will remember these two groups of people who desperately needed reassurance.

³¹ but those who HOPE IN THE LORD
    WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40 

HOPE ignites encouragement and renews our determination to press on. That’s why it’s good to Praise God in difficult times.

⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD,
    FOR I WILL YET PRAISE HIM,
    my Saviour and my God. Psalm 45

Jeremiah (the weeping prophet) also had some great things to say about God’s Hope for Israel.

¹³ O LORD, THE HOPE OF ISRAEL;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
  … THE SPRING OF LIVING WATER. Jeremiah 17

Jeremiah calls God, ‘The Hope of Israel’, part of God’s identity for His people and no less so today.

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, PLANS TO GIVE YOU A HOPE AND A FUTURE. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, Jeremiah 29 

Israel were in exile, taken away from their own land after repeated warnings from the Lord. But even when they were so far away from their home, God reassured them of His care and their eventual return. God gave them His promise and hope for the days ahead. It was important for them (AND US) to know He was with them and had only good plans for their future.

May God bless and keep you in these days.

 

Our God versus our work and our lives?

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred (shaken, like an earthquake) and asked, ‘Who is this?’ Matthew 21

We could rightly believe that normal life came to a standstill, yet no-one understood that the greatest event in human history was soon to unfold. But, the city was stirred.

The next chapter, Matthew 22, begins with the ‘Parable of the Wedding Banquet’.

² ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, BUT THEY REFUSED TO COME. Matthew 22

⁴ ‘Then he sent some more servants and said, “Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready (The King had gone to a lot of bother to prepare a feast for the guests). Come to the wedding banquet.”

Then we’re told some reasons why the people didn’t come.

⁵ ‘But they paid no attention and went off – one to HIS FIELD, another to HIS BUSINESS. (This is expanded in Luke 14)

We all have free will to choose and God won’t override it. One went to His Field, another to His Business. They were Self-absorbed or Self-centred, they put their own affairs above the Master’s. Sadly that’s the case with so many today, even believers. Even while sitting in places of worship, many of us are thinking of ourselves and our lives.

⁸ ‘Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹ So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” ¹⁰ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

The chapter goes on to tell about the mistreatment of the King’s servants and His anger towards those who were guilty. It ends with a disturbing footnote;

¹⁴ ‘For many are invited, but few are chosen.’

We all have duties that we’re responsible for here, things we must attend to, but the things of our lives mustn’t consume us. We were bought at a high price and our every breath is from the King.

The King will have his banquet and everything will stop once again for the Lord’s presence, just as when He entered Jerusalem. May we be there to celebrate it with Him.

God bless and keep us till that day.

The order of things now may well be reversed in eternity.

³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19

Jesus was speaking to His disciples and Peter had asked Him a direct question.

²⁷ Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields FOR MY SAKE will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Sacrifice for the Lord now will never be lost in the future.

This discussion with the disciples was preceded by Jesus’ meeting with the ‘Rich young man/ruler’, the only person recorded who ‘left Jesus sad’. Matthew 19:16-24 He would have been a man of standing, enjoying all the benefits of his wealth. By the standards of this world he was one the ‘First’.

Matthew Chapter 20, begins with a parable of ‘The workers in the vineyard’. It opens with the words, ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like’, as do many other parables.

20 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. Matthew 20

It continues with the owner going out TO THE MARKET-PLACE at the third hour (9am), then the sixth hour (midday), again at the ninth hour (3pm) and finally at the eleventh hour.

The owner went to the ‘market-place’ and the Church may be called there much more in the coming days to find workers for the Lord! When evening came (there’s only a certain time, a day to work) the owner told his foreman to pay them BEGINNING WITH THE LAST ONES HIRED AND GOING ON TO THE FIRST. ALL ALIKE RECEIVED ONE DENARIUS AND THE FIRST WERE ANGRY.

¹³ ‘But he answered one of them, “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

They expected more because they’d worked longer, but it was the OWNER WHO SET THE WAGE.

¹⁶ ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ 

This time the order is reversed, no doubt to bring out the message of the parable. It’s not our work, but God’s Grace that determines what each one will have and He’s a generous God. No one will receive less than a day’s wage, but He’ll bless many others simply because He’s God. This time it’s about upgrade for those who were last, standing waiting all day for a chance to work.

“The share of those who went into battle and the share of those who stayed with the supplies will be divided equally.” 1 Samuel 30:24

King David also gave an equal share of the spoils to those who’d waited with the supplies.

God bless and keep you today.

Jesus accurately discerned the true source both times!

¹⁵ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the (Christ) Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Matthew 16

Jesus’ original question was, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ The people gave various answers, which is all too common. Jesus pressed the matter with His disciples, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered correctly, but Jesus knew that it had in fact been revealed to him from His Father in Heaven.

In the next section of Matthew 16, Peter again spoke to Jesus, but this time the result was less favourable.

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the ELDERS, the CHIEF PRIESTS and the TEACHERS OF THE LAW (three Strands of the Religious Hierarchy – ALL opposing the Truth), and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16

Jesus began to prepare His disciples for His coming crucifixion and all the trauma that would involve. Once again Peter was the one to respond to Jesus.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ (Sometimes people are reluctant to face reality, because it’s contrary to what we desire.)

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! YOU ARE A STUMBLING-BLOCK TO ME; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’

Jesus completely rejected Peter’s words because He knew that the devil was now speaking through one of the disciples closest to Him. It was possible for both God the Father and the devil to speak through the same disciple! We tend to think that such and such a person are of good character and a responsible leader, therefore they’re always right, but not necessarily according to Christ’s response. We must LEARN TO DISCERN!

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to understand. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, WHO BY CONSTANT USE HAVE TRAINED THEMSELVES TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL. Hebrews 5

I have mentioned before an account of a NEW BELIEVER going to a meeting with a visiting speaker, but they didn’t have peace about the spirit of what was being shared and left. Others who’d been walking longer with the Lord stayed on and suffered from the corrupt messages. Even the youngest in the Faith can discern, if we’re alert and willing to listen to our consciences and the voice of the Spirit.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Going the extra mile settled Rebekah’s destiny.

¹² Then he prayed, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. … ¹⁴ May it be that when I say to a young woman, “Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,” and she says, “Drink, and I’ll water your camels too”– let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.’

¹⁵ BEFORE HE HAD FINISHED PRAYING, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. Genesis 24

‘A Suddenly’ of God, immediate answer to the servant’s prayer (in his heart V45, not even spoken out). When we are moving in line with God’s will, events can progress very quickly. Rebekah was attending to her evening duties, collecting water from the well and suddenly a stranger asked for help. She not only obliged the man, but gave him more than he’d asked of her. God is ‘the God who sees’, El Roi (Hagar, alone with her son in the desert Genesis 16:14). He sees what’s done to help others and the rewards can be out of all proportion to what we ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 God’s blessings are coming to some today, because we’ve been faithful to Him and helped others.

³² So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. ³³ Then food was set before him, but he said, ‘I WILL NOT EAT UNTIL I HAVE TOLD YOU WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.’ Genesis 24

The servant COUNTED HIS MISSION AS BOTH URGENT AND IMPORTANT and he wouldn’t eat until he’d told the family. They agreed to allow Rebekah to return with him to become Isaac’s wife.

⁵⁵ But her brother and her mother replied, ‘Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.’

⁵⁶ But he said to them, ‘DO NOT DETAIN ME, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.’

Others May try to detain us from the things of God, but the chief servant (a type of the Holy Spirit) wouldn’t be delayed. God’s calling on our lives should be our priority, the most important thing to us.

Rebekah was willing to go at once with the man and enter God’s destiny for her life. She became a mother of God’s people Israel.

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.