Month: February 2025

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD; YOU ARE THE KING OF ISRAEL.’ John 1

The calling of Nathanael, or more commonly today Nathaniel, resulted in this exchange between the Lord and his coming disciple. Nathanael is derived from two Hebrew words, ‘Nathan meaning to give’ and ‘el meaning God’, literally means ‘God has given’ or ‘gift of God’. The name is most commonly used today in the United States and the United Kingdom. Western people are often unaware of how much our society has been founded on Judeo-Christian traditions, (which are under huge attack) but this name, along with much else, has been passed down through many generations.

‘The name Nathaniel has a strong and enduring presence, THANKS TO ITS RELIGIOUS ORIGINS AND MEANING. Its association with being a divine gift has allowed it to transcend time and cultural boundaries, making it a significant name with a rich history and CONTINUED RELEVANCE IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY.’ Quoted from Ancestry U.K.

⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’

⁴⁶ ‘Nazareth! CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME FROM THERE?’ Nathanael asked.

‘Come and see,’ said Philip. John 1

Nathanael wasn’t impressed by Jesus town of origin, apparently it wasn’t a Beverly Hills or Mayfair address. ‘Can anything good come from there?’ Many people and places get poor reputations but if we actually take time to meet them, they may be much better. THAT’S WHY WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT BELIEVING MALICIOUS GOSSIP! The Bible says that we aren’t to accept one person’s word on something, especially about someone’s character. THE BAD REPORT of the ten spies cost a whole generation in Israel their inheritance. Numbers 13:32

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, ‘Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’

⁴⁸ ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.’

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’ John 1 

Jesus made His introduction to Nathanael by giving a powerful word of knowledge, showing him that He’d seen him before Philip called him. He also spoke of Nathanael’s character, something he didn’t do with the other disciples. Nathanael stayed faithful to Jesus until He revealed Himself in His resurrected body at the Galilee. He remained faithful to the Lord throughout his life, his character held firm.

JESUS KNOWS YOU AND I BEFORE HE CALLS US, WE’RE NOT IN THE KINGDOM BY MISTAKE!

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹ May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. (Yes Lord, Amen!)
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and grant you support from Zion. (Yes Lord, Send us Help!)
³ MAY HE REMEMBER ALL YOUR SACRIFICES
    and accept your burnt offerings. Psalm 20, of David

David wrote at least half of the Psalms, the longest book in the Bible. He continually cried out to God for help from his enemies and that is reflected in his writings. But David’s psalms were also written encourage all the others who would read them to call out to God in their own times of distress. ‘May the Lord answer you, may He send you help and may He remember your sacrifices.’ MAKING OFFERINGS TO THE LORD IS LIKE AN INVESTMENT, but not in the things of this world. (Personally, I think we should NEVER GIVE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FROM THE LORD. WRONG MOTIVES MAY BLOCK BLESSING, GOD DOESN’T NEED OUR SACRIFICES, BUT HE DOES REMEMBER THEM!) The offerings we give to the Lord here are recorded in heaven and may be returned to us in future blessings.

⁴ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked.

The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a MEMORIAL OFFERING BEFORE GOD. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. Acts 10

Cornelius, like David, was a military man, a centurion in the Italian Regiment. Cornelius’ prayers and offerings had come up as a memorial before God and an angel came and told him to send for Peter. Cornelius, his family and friends were the first recorded gentiles to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. (It’s interesting that David was not allowed to build God’s temple in Jerusalem because of bloodshed, but Cornelius, another soldier, WAS CHOSEN to receive the Spirit).

⁷ SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS AND SOME SOME IN HORSES,
    BUT WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.
⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
⁹ Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call! Psalm 20

David concludes the psalm with a reference to the military weapons of the day, but like Cornelius he saw beyond this physical realm. Both men, separated by centuries in time, looked beyond mere military might to an all knowing and all powerful God. In the final verse, David, as is often the case in his psalms, calls to God for complete victory over the enemy. We so need this mentality in the days ahead, God wants to help us take down our enemy and His enemy. David often felt overwhelmed, but then rose up in faith to declare complete victory.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

³⁴ ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; TAKE YOUR INHERITANCE, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world”. Matthew 25 

Chapter 25 is the end of Jesus’ teachings in Matthew’s Gospel, after that He moves on towards the cross and His sacrifice for mankind. He gives three teachings in this chapter and they all reach a defining moment , when the Lord appears. They also focus upon the deeds of those involved and how their deeds determine their destiny.

The first parable, which we touched on yesterday, dealt with the ten virgins waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. Five of them were called wise (Five is the number of Grace and we all need Grace from God) because they had brought additional oil and the others were declared foolish, as they had no reserves of oil. Both were prone to drowsiness, but the wise rose up and greeted the bridegroom when He arrived.

¹⁰ ‘But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut’. Matthew 25

That moment when the wait is over and we will all stand before the Lord!

The second is the parable of the talents, given in differing amounts to three servants. Likewise, we’ve all received different talents, some greater than others. The tragedy of the one talent servant was that he didn’t try to DO ANYTHING with his talent. How many ‘one talent servants’ are in this position today, not using anything they have for the good of the Kingdom here and now. Look for opportunities to serve and do something for the Lord and His people, He gave up everything for us.

^{28 “}So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance”.

The third and final parable is very shocking because of its finality, the ultimate separation of all people into two categories, SHEEP OR GOATS (Only two categories!) This distinction will come when the Lord sits on His judgement throne and all mankind passes before Him. The determining factor will be our treatment of others, especially those who belong to the Lord.

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” 

⁴⁰ ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, YOU DID FOR ME.” Matthew 25

Once again those who didn’t help others in need are placed on the Lord’s left hand. There are only two destinations, no middle ground for any of us. We must be sure to live as the Lord’s now in order that we can ENTER INTO OUR INHERITANCE IN ETERNITY.

The summary of Jesus final words of teaching recorded in Matthew 25. Stay vigilant, use what’s been given you and care for the needy, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. You’ll be glad you did when the Lord appears.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

⁴² “THEREFORE KEEP WATCH (Be Watchful), because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24

Jesus was speaking to His disciples at the Temple, where they’d drawn His attention to the impressive buildings and no doubt His answer shocked them to the core.

² “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “TRULY I TELL YOU, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Matthew 24

The Romans would eventually come in AD70 and ransack the religious centre of the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation. The Jews couldn’t imagine such a terrible thing would happen, but it did. However, by then a new dispensation had begun, that was centred on the person of Christ and not on a religious edifice. It’s easy to become focused on magnificent man made objects and systems here and miss out the truth, which is often more elusive. (God is shaking many things around us in these days)

At the end of Matthew 24 and the beginning of chapter 25, the Lord gives us three examples of people who should have been watching for His coming, but were in danger of being caught out.

⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24

The house owner had no idea when the thief was coming and was therefore liable to be robbed of his valuables. Derek Prince said that he believed that people (church members) who weren’t awaiting the Lord’s return could never be truly holy. They were distracted by other things.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Matthew 24

The Lord gave the servant a trust, but because he was away a long time this servant neglected his duties and ‘Lived it up’, enjoying the things of this life.

⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. Matthew 24

Chapter 25 continues with the account of the five wise and five foolish virgins. They all became drowsy and were sleeping when the bridegroom arrived, but five were completely caught out, because they had ‘No additional oil for their lamps’. Oil usually represents the things of the Spirit, they had no spiritual resources to call upon in the hours of darkness.

¹¹ ‘Later the others also came. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!”

¹² ‘But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”

¹³ ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25

WAITING WILL OFTEN EXPOSE WEAKNESS! We can’t afford to become slack in our daily walk, we need to keep the Lord in the forefront of our lives. He waits to see how we’ll react when He doesn’t come to our expectations. He is faithful, but there will be times when we’re left to wait alone, we mustn’t give up but stay watchful until He makes Himself known.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

²⁶ “There is no one like the God of JESHURUN,
    who rides across the heavens to help you
    and on the clouds in his majesty. Deuteronomy 33

²⁶ There is none like God, O Jeshurun [Israel], Who rides through the heavens to your help and in His majestic glory through the skies. Deuteronomy 33, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC

JESHURUN means “upright one” or “blessed one” and is used to express affection for Israel, maybe like a “pet name” God has for His children. This chapter is when Moses spoke the Lord’s blessings over the twelve individual tribes, but this section speaks of a blessing over all the people of God.

²⁶ “THERE IS NO ONE LIKE THE GOD OF JESHURUN,
    who rides across the heavens TO HELP YOU (US)
    and on the clouds in his majesty.
²⁷ The eternal God is your (OUR) refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your (OUR) enemies before you (US),
    saying, ‘Destroy them!’ Deuteronomy 33

The above two verses were used as a proclamation by Derek and Ruth Prince and they personalised the verses by declaring ‘US and OUR’. Declaring scripture is powerful because we’re quoting God’s words back to Him and He says ‘His word can never return to Him void/empty but always achieves His purpose’. Isaiah 55:11

THERE IS NO ONE LIKE OUR GOD AND THE GOD OF ISRAEL, NO ONE. The most powerful person in the universe is on our side and He comes to help us when we need Him most, TODAY!

The final words of Moses’ blessing are reassurance of God’s love for His people and wanting the best for them. Proclaiming His word daily will remind us of His goodness towards us and that His desire is to bless us greatly.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

23 Then Jesus said to THE CROWDS AND TO HIS DISCIPLES: ² ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. BUT DO NOT DO WHAT THEY DO, FOR THEY DO NOT PRACTISE WHAT THEY PREACH. Matthew 23

Jesus spoke to the masses AND to His own disciples about the ‘Flaws of Failings’ of the Religious establishment in Israel in His day. He addressed in the strongest terms where the religious hierarchy were wrong and how they were enticing others along the wrong paths. I believe that many decent people with good hearts are liable to be drawn away from THE FREEDOM OF THE KINGDOM AND INTO RELIGIOUS BONDAGE. We often here today about celebrities who have joined this or that religion, trying to add credibility to the false.

4 But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. (Doctrines taught by demons) ² These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won’t even bother them. 1 Timothy 4, The Living Bible 

So the enemy has planted people within the Church whom he will use to deliberately lead others astray. Jesus warned the crowds and His disciples to be wary of such. This is a time when we must be very cautious about accepting things at ‘FACE VALUE’ and not asking for God’s validation on what’s before us. I had an incidence recently where the Lord told Anne, ‘My feet were being derailed!’ The enemy can and will use even people we know to draw us away from God’s path for our own lives.

The greatest deception in the day we live in has come through mainstream media. We have become a society of news consumers and the enemy has used this to great effect to manipulate people’s minds, including many believers. Much of society and the Church have been drawn away from the Lord and from TRUTH. It’s a sad fact that so many today are actually opposing God’s rescue plans for mankind at this time and even calling them wicked.

Matthew 23 recounts what Jesus called the ‘Seven Woes’, seven judgments that were going to fall upon those who were harming the people, God’s people. We have entered a season when God’s judgment is coming upon the wicked, but we must be careful not to side against God in these matters. Christians are often told we must be compassionate, which is true as God forgives us much, but Jesus didn’t overlook corruption in His day and a holy God cannot tolerate it now. The phrase, ‘Judgement onto Justice’ is coming to pass now and we mustn’t interfere with it, no matter the consequences. Ask the Lord for His perspective on what’s happening and be prepared to wait until He speaks.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

³⁵ She (Leah) conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. Genesis 29

JUDAH, whose name sounds like and can be derived from the Hebrew for PRAISE, was Leah and Jacob’s fourth born son. In human terms he was some way from the front of the line but because of life’s events and the failures of his elder brothers, Judah became a leader in the family and eventually the major tribe in the nation of Israel.

Judah comes to the fore when Joseph was captured by his brothers. Reuben pleaded with them not to take his life but to throw him into a cistern and he planned to rescue him and return him to his father, but that wasn’t God’s plan.

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. ²² “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. Genesis 37

Reuben intended to rescue Joseph and somehow get him back home to Jacob. However, it was Judah who spoke up and determined Joseph’s fate by suggesting that they spare his life and sell him to passing traders. (Slavery has been around for a very long time)

²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. Genesis 37

We understand from what Joseph later said that it was the Lord who initiated all this, but Joseph’s brothers were unaware of it until they met him again in Egypt.

It’s interesting that a younger brother has given us some wise advice this very morning regarding an outstanding legal matter. Judah was the fourth eldest, but he had wisdom from the Lord to help his family. The Lord chose Judah’s descendants to bring blessing to the world and rescue it’s people.

God’s purpose for our lives will prevail as we continue to walk with Him and I believe His callings on many lives are going to come about rapidly in the days we’re entering. We all need to tread carefully before the Lord and pray that His purposes for our lives will come to fruition and that nothing will derail them.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.