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¹ In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness. Psalm 31

It would be good to end the week with some positive declarations about the God we serve and David gives many in the opening verses of this psalm. God is a REFUGE FOR HIS PEOPLE AND DOESN’T WANTS US PUT TO SHAME.

² Turn your ear to me,
    come quickly to my rescue;
be my ROCK OF REFUGE,
    A STRONG FORTRESS TO SAVE ME. 
³ SINCE YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS,
    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

David recognises that God is the stronghold of his life. I imagine he was thrown back to depending on God time and again. His enemies were so much greater and a constant threat to him and those who journeyed with him. It was out of these days of relentless pressure that many of his psalms, songs of praise, were written. David had to contend for God’s prophetic plans for his life and no doubt we’ll all face similar times while we live here on earth.

⁴ KEEP ME FROM THE TRAP THAT IS SET FOR ME,
    FOR YOU ARE MY REFUGE.
⁵ Into your hands I commit my spirit;
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

We need to ask God for His protection and guidance, to keep us out of harms way. David couldn’t afford to be careless or even casual in his daily life. I believe that many times God delivers us and we’re not even aware of it.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6

In Jesus’ model prayer He taught His own disciples to claim God’s protection against their enemy.

⁸ You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place. Psalm 31

I believe the Lord has kept many of us from falling into the hands of our enemy. Circumstances have been difficult, but without the Lord’s help they would have been much worse. However the second part of the verse is still to be fulfilled and that’s our hope in the day we live in, THE SPACIOUS PLACE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE NOW, IN THE PRESENT DAY.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6

Immanuel, God is with us!

 

What a difference the little word ‘BUT’ makes!

Proverbs often brings out the Contrasting position between the upright and the rebellious, by the use of the word ‘But’.

’But’ is usually a negative, really saying I don’t agree! Beware people who say ‘But’ a lot, they may see Obstacles more often than Solutions. Positive people want to get on board and help work things out.

‘But’ can also signal a change in thinking or position! We see this often in David’s psalms where his position overwhelms him, But then he ‘encourages himself in the Lord’. 1 Samuel 30:6-8

⁹ Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief.
¹⁰ My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
    and my bones grow weak. Psalm 38

David often voices how overwhelmed he feels in lengthy bouts of  discouragement. He and his men were fleeing for their lives on many occasions, even from their own countrymen. Then his perspective changes and HE SEES GOD’S HAND HELPING AND SUSTAINING HIM THROUGH ALL HIS TRIALS.

¹⁴ BUT I TRUST IN YOU, O Lord;
    I SAY, “YOU ARE MY GOD.” (Trusting and Declaring/Speaking out God’s Goodness and Faithfulness is best way to rise above difficult circumstances!)
¹⁵ MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS;
    DELIVER ME from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
¹⁶ LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON YOUR SERVANT;
    SAVE ME IN YOUR UNFAILING LOVE.
¹⁷ Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
BUT let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent in the realm of the dead. Psalm 31

Forgive me/us Lord for having too many ‘BUTS’, help us to walk in a greater level of TRUST. You’re a good God who always wants the best for His Children.

The Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, He is with us.

 

²⁰ ‘If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE ELECT, WHOM HE HAS CHOSEN, he has shortened them. Mark 13

REMEMBER YOU’RE CHOSEN AND BE THANKFUL.

There’s a lot of talk about the End Times in the Church today and the Bible accurately predicts that there’ll be many differing opinions. At the end of Mark’s Gospel Jesus was answering some of His disciples questions on the subject and the ‘ELECT’ are mentioned three times in quick succession. Right to the end of human history God will be acting on behalf of His children and taking their interests into account.

²¹ At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look, there he is!” do not believe it.²² For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to DECEIVE THE ELECT – if that we’re possible. ²³ So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance. Mark 13

The enemy is always working to deceive people and the world has been and still is subject to mass propaganda through the media. The enemy seeks to control the narrative through the media at all times, but God’s Spirit is awakening people to much of this false information. Jesus prophesied that at a future time even the Elect would be in danger of being deceived. God has been using His prophets to waken the Church to the reality of what has been taking place. This is a time to walk closely with the Lord and seek discernment from heaven about the events happening around us.

²⁶ ‘At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And he will send his angels and GATHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. Mark 13

One of the last acts of God will be the sending of the angels to gather ‘His Elect’, from all across the earth. God’s Elect, the true Believers who endure to the end, will be centre stage as we approach the end of this age. MANY PROPHETIC VOICES ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS STILL SOME TIME AWAY. Believers are called to ‘Rise and Shine’ here on earth and that is what the enemy truly fears most, a United Church moving fully in the power of God.

REMEMBER YOU’RE CHOSEN AND BE THANKFUL!

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

 

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, PUT IN EVERYTHING – all she had to live on.’ Mark 12

^43-44 He called his disciples to him and remarked, “That poor widow has given more than all those rich men put together! For they gave a little of their extra fat, (Literally, Out of their surplus) while she gave up her last penny.” Mark 12, The Living Bible 

GOD SEES AND HONOURS SINCERITY!

Jesus sat down to WATCH THE CROWD PUTTING THEIR MONEY INTO THE TEMPLE TREASURY. He drew the attention of His disciples to two classes of Givers they saw there and remarked on what He’d seen, His evaluation. Many gave out of their surplus which isn’t wrong, but one very poor woman, ‘Put in everything’. It took GREAT COURAGE TO PUT IN EVERYTHING and still does to this day, but the Lord highlighted her offering. Giving isn’t about money alone, Amy Carmichael gave her life to rescuing and serving orphan girls in India – she gave her all. Just one of many Believers who’ve laid down their lives to help others.

Abraham was willing to obey God and give up His only son Isaac, at God’s command. However, Abraham’s obedience brought incredible blessings.

¹⁶  ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ AND THROUGH YOUR OFFSPRING ALL NATIONS ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED, because you have obeyed me.’ Genesis 22

Job also received a Double Portion after he’d endured severe trials from the devil and lost everything. Even Job’s wife didn’t understand why Job still kept his faith in God. I mentioned that a prophet had said recently, that it was always God’s intention to give Job an upgrade and the devil was just His tool for doing it.

Robin Bullock also spoke recently on Church International that he’d asked the Lord to show him how to live when he came to faith. Coming up to Christmas he made some things to sell and provide for his wife and daughter. But, the Lord told him to give all his money away to a family living in a car. Shortly after he obeyed, they received a call from a lawyer telling him that he’d settled an outstanding case for them and they received one hundred fold! The Lord told him that they should,’GIVE TO LIVE’, a new way for their new life in Him.

We can’t use things like this as a formula to manipulate God, but when we do give out of sincerity Heaven knows and honours our gift. The Lord will give us plenty of opportunities to give to others; we shouldn’t try to devise our own plans to test out God’s blessing.

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

 

² and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it YOU WILL FIND A COLT TIED, ON WHICH NO ONE HAS SAT. LOOSE IT AND BRING IT. ³ And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘THE LORD HAS NEED OF IT,’ and immediately he will send it here.” Mark 11

We’re more inclined to think what we have need of, than what the Lord has need of! After all, He’s the Lord, but He works through the people of this world to bring about His will on the earth. The Lord still needs a people who will put Him and His Kingdom first.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6

The setting for this time of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem was very significant. Jesus was approaching the end of His earthly ministry and the people rejoiced to see Him. This was also the time for the fulfilment of many prophecies.

⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

The disciples didn’t know that the simple instruction they’d been given was a direct fulfilment of prophecy and many times the Lord may ask us to do something simple that’s important to Him. Obedience to His voice in seemingly trivial matters may be of much greater importance than we will ever realise. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because, ‘she missed the time of her visitation’. Luke 19:41-44

Even in difficult times the Lord may ask us to do something, ‘for Him’, that may not seem important, but true followers will want to obey in all things.

‘THE LORD HAS NEED OF IT’, is surely enough reason for us to hear and obey Him.

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

 

¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 1 Kings 19

We said yesterday that God called Elijah from the ‘cave’ and sent him to the ‘desert’ to anoint Hazael King over Aram. God knows where the people He is going to use are located, no matter how hidden from public view. We also said that if we’re still here on earth then GOD WANTS TO USE US WHERE WE LIVE TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM AND BLESS US FOR DOING SO.

God had used Elijah to deliver a mighty blow to an evil regime, all 850 pagan prophets were dead and gone, but Jezebel was still the power behind the throne in Israel. However, God was moving behind the scenes to bring to position and power those who would finish the job. I believe that we are in a similar place today, God’s Hand has been working out of sight, but there’s a final blow coming. Jezebel herself was taken down by Jehu, the new King of Israel. God called three leaders into position to remove the wicked from their positions of power.

¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

These men were like a threefold cord, woven together by Almighty God, with a single purpose, the removal of the wicked from their seats of power and influence. (There are three leaders in position today who are resisting wicked plans) Many people have lived through difficult times in recent years, but God’s Justice is coming. A new month has begun, March 2024, and God’s plans are being outworked today just as surely as when He restored Elijah and delivered Israel. We’re moving to New Times and Good Times for those who love and serve the Lord.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6

May we see the full deliverance and blessings of God soon and very soon.

 

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus’. 1 Kings 19

The record of Elijah’s encounter with God is brief, but once he came out of the cave God was able to get him back on the right path again. God pointed Elijah towards the future and away from the past and the threats he had received. Maybe this is a time for some of us to become re-envisioned, no matter what life has thrown at us. So long as we’re on this earth God has things for us to do and they may be far more significant than we know.

²⁰ NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3

We shouldn’t limit God’s power and plans for our lives, He made us and He knows what He can do through us – if we’ll allow Him.

In the case of Elijah God gave him a threefold task. The prophet who was beaten down was the very one God was sending to anoint two future kings and the man who would succeed him as Israel’s national prophet. It’s also noteworthy that the first of those kings was in a desert. God knows where to find those He’s chosen, whether in the cave or in the desert. Some of us may be in such places right now, but we don’t have to stay there. When we hear and answer the Call of God, He puts our feet on firm Ground once more.

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 1 Kings 19

God sent Elijah back to face and eventually see the destruction of the very things that had undone him. He was to raise up three leaders and also to realise that seven thousand others stood along with him for God.

¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

When we accept and embrace God’s plans we will walk in victory. Elijah crumbled under pressure, as did the apostles, but God raised them up again and He’s doing the same now. Hallelujah

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

 

¹¹ The Lord said, ‘GO OUT AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ 1 Kings 19

We saw yesterday that Elijah had fled from the threats of Jezebel, the queen who supported the prophets of Baal. The man of God had won a great victory and Israel had turned back to worship the living God. In today’s language we might say that Elijah had a bad case of burnout, he simply couldn’t take anymore and now he was hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb. The first step in Elijah’s restoration was God’s command, ‘GO OUT AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN ‘. God didn’t go inside the cave to meet with Elijah, He called Elijah out onto the mountain.

THEN a great and POWERFUL WIND tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND. After the wind there was an EARTHQUAKE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE. ¹² After the earthquake came a FIRE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE. And after the fire came a GENTLE WHISPER. (Still small voice NKJV) 1 Kings 19

God demonstrated His power to Elijah on the mountainside, but God wasn’t in those awesome events. Believers must distinguish between supernatural power demonstrations and the presence of the Lord. When God did finally reveal Himself, after the ‘Supernatural Fireworks’, it was in the Whisper. Can we get still enough to hear the Lord’s Whisper? It’s so easy to miss a Whisper, but God didn’t shout at His prophet nor does He speak harshly to His children.

God recommissioned His servant Elijah to GO and carry out the next steps in His plan for the future of His people. God is working out His steps for His people on earth again in the present day, the enemy has oppressed God’s people for too long. God isn’t going to settle for a partial victory. So good that God cares for both the individual and the people, He wants the best for us all, but we have to walk that out with Him in this fallen world.

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

 

Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

¹⁴ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. (I’VE DONE MY BIT LORD!) The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ 1 Kings 19:9-10, 13-14

Elijah had a major confrontation, at close quarters (CQB – Close Quarters Battle) with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah and after the Lord gave him victory, he’d slain them all. But the woman Jezebel had threatened to take his life and he’d fled from her to a cave on Mount Horeb, where he had a powerful encounter with the Lord.

Elijah was at a very low point/totally deflated when he had his encounter with the Lord. Elijah had definitely decided he’d had enough of fighting the Lord’s battles in Israel. The verses above are quoted twice in quick succession. OUR WORDS LOCATE US and Elijah told God that he didn’t have anything more to give, but his words weren’t fully accurate. When we’re feeling down it’s so easy to only look at the negative and exaggerate the things which stand against us. I remember reading a short quote by Stonewall Jackson, ‘Never take Counsel of your fears’. Elijah had allowed his fears to get the better of him.

The Lord CALLED ELIJAH OUT OF THE CAVE to meet with Him. We have to step out of the darkness of our own caves before we’re able to see in His light. Despite his fears Elijah came out of hiding to see the Lord, God’s revelation of Himself. God knows what we need and if we’re willing to step out He will meet us and give us fresh revelation to enable us to go on.

¹⁴ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

Elijah presented his case before God, his reason why he couldn’t go on any longer, but God corrected the prophet.

^{18 ‘}Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’

We should never allow ourselves to think or say that we are alone in facing opposition and trials. God ‘had reserved 7000 for Himself’. God has an army on the earth today and the enemy is very much afraid of that army rising up in power against him and his minions.

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail/be victorious against it. Matthew 16

God is not going to lose this war and if we take courage, come out of the darkness of the cave and stand with Him, we can come through to the place of victory with Him. Hallelujah

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

 

²² Deliver Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles! Psalm 25

In the recent American Football Final, the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers by 25 to 22. On a recent Elijahstreams broadcast we learned that there was only one chapter 25 in the Bible with 22 verses! The prophet speaking believed that God was repeating through this event that He was in the process of rescuing His people, the Church and Israel.

Another famous prophet, the late Bob Jones, declared that when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl a huge revival was coming. The Chiefs have won the trophy three times in the last five years, beginning in 2020. Before this they hadn’t been in the Final for fifty years. (The period of Jubilee!)

I believe that Psalm 25:22 is a Word of Encouragement for the time we’re living in today. Life has not been easy for many people and some have become discouraged at the seeming lack of progress in the move of God, but GOD IS NEVER LATE! Opposition to God and His plans is futile, He will have His way and breakthrough will come to His people.

Psalm 25, which was written by David in a time of stress and great difficulty has much to encourage us. I’m just going to post a few verses and if you’re blessed you can read the rest for yourselves.

25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No-one whose hope is in you                                                                          will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame                                                                        who are treacherous without cause.

David and probably many of God’s people today are living in circumstances which are not honouring to God, He wants the best for His people. So a first step would be to walk free from Shame, just as Israel walked out of Egypt.

¹² Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
¹³ He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall release my feet from the snare.

David, by the Spirit, declares great blessings for those who fear God and walk with Him. I believe that this is God’s heart for His people in our time, Hallelujah.

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