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¹⁷ But the WISDOM that comes FROM HEAVEN is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3

We Believers are the only people on this earth who have access to the COUNSEL OF HEAVEN! That’s something to be thankful for today AND EVEN BETTER, THE LORD WANTS TO COUNSEL US. There is no counsel anywhere on this earth that matches the Counsel of Heaven.

Recently we had the opportunity to help some Christian friends who had a small but urgent need. I felt led to give them a specific amount of money, which was less than they’d been quoted to fix the problem. However when they went to pay for the service they required, they had exactly the right amount. The Lord blessed them with full sum necessary.

During this time I also had to pay someone to whom I owed money. They were planning to come to do some further work for us but because of an unusual request we received their visit was delayed. (Someone used our driveway for a photo shoot) In the meantime money came in to enable us to make the full payment, including the additional work.

¹⁴ But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC. ¹⁶ For where you have ENVY AND SELFISH AMBITION, THERE YOU FIND DISORDER (OR CONFUSION) AND EVERY EVIL PRACTICE.

This world promises many things, but they’re not always good for us. We need to ask the Lord for His perspective on the things confronting us. We often find Disorder or Confusion, even among  Believers, as a result of the wrong motives mentioned by James.

⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me. (God often speaks in the stillness of the night) Psalm 16, by David

⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9

One of the Prophetic Names of the Lord in Isaiah, is WONDERFUL Counsellor. We Believers alone are blessed people to have access to His Wonderful Counsel.

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

 

¹⁹ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but THE LORD WAS MY SUPPORT.
²⁰ HE BROUGHT ME OUT INTO A SPACIOUS PLACE;
    HE RESCUED ME BECAUSE HE DELIGHTED IN ME. 2 Samuel 22

David spent much of the early part of his life being chased and harried by Saul and his troops. He, his wives and those who chose to follow him had to live in caves and even the territory of their enemies, the Philistines. Above all people David knew what it was to live in dangerous and restrictive circumstances. We might almost hear his sigh of relief in his Song of Praise, ‘You brought me into a SPACIOUS PLACE, BECAUSE YOU DELIGHTED IN ME’. Was he boasting when he said God delighted in him? I don’t think so, he’d walked a long time with the Lord and knew it was God alone who’d delivered him in many times of trouble. We would rather avoid the trials but God wants us to TRUST HIM TO HIS DELIVER US IN THE TRIALS AND STILL REJOICE IN HIS GOODNESS. At the end of his life DAVID STILL REJOICED IN HIS GOD.

³³ It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
³⁴ HE MAKES MY FEET LIKE THE FEET OF A DEER;
    HE ENABLES ME TO STAND ON THE HEIGHTS.
³⁵ He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁶ You give me your shield of victory;
    your stoop down to make me great.
³⁷ YOU BROADEN THE PATH BENEATH ME,
    SO THAT MY ANKLES DO NOT GIVE WAY. 2 Samuel 22

David goes on to speak about his walk and how the Lord enabled  him to ascend the high places. WE ARE CALLED TO GO ONTO THE HIGH PLACES WITH OUR GOD, TO RULE WITH HIM!

God Broadened the path beneath him, good footing to walk on the path he has for our lives. No matter how narrow and confined our path may seem at times, as we go forward on it God will make sure it becomes wider for us. David walked through his trials with God and at the end he rejoiced in his God. Some of us have had to walk through narrow, difficult places in these days, but by God’s Grace the path BENEATH US IS GOING TO WIDEN. Our God is faithful and nothing is too difficult for Him. Hallelujah

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

 

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is LIFE;
    along that path is IMMORTALITY. Proverbs 12

The Book of Proverbs has many powerful promises for those who are Righteous, not least the promise of eternal life.

The first time the word “righteousness” is used in the Bible is Genesis 15:6, regarding Abram (i.e. Abraham).

⁶ Abram (Abraham) believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15

It wasn’t Abram’s actions, but his faith that was accredited by God as Righteous, he became the father of all who believed. Our Righteous (standing) is through faith in Christ alone, but we still have to walk it out in this life.

The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q ( צדק‎ tsedek), which means “justice” or “righteousness”. Of the biblical figures in Judaism, Joseph is customarily called the Tzadik. Joseph was a Type of Christ, the Bible records no flaw in the character of Joseph.

Seven further promises in Proverbs 12 for those who are willing to live and walk uprightly before God in this life.

¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals, (KIND AND CONSIDERATE) 
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹² The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS ENDURES.

 

⁴⁰ At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

⁴² At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. Luke 4

We saw earlier this week that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law and then many others came to Him. Early the next morning Jesus withdrew from people, even those closest to Him. The risk for us is that when the Lord uses and blesses us, that we’re happy to go along, ‘under our own steam’. (INDEPENDENCE is the mark of the Old Flesh Man) Jesus didn’t do that, ‘early the next morning He got alone to CHECK IN WITH HEAVEN’. The ever present crowds returned and pressed Him to stay with them, but He knew He had a wider mission.

⁴³ But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴ And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Luke 4

Jesus Prayer Life modelled the need, ‘FOR US TO DRAW APART AT TIMES’ for the good of our own souls and to get further direction and purpose from Heaven. Jesus left the crowds, perhaps in our day the battle is right in our homes, TV and the Internet are such A DRAW at the present time. What are we as Believers being DRAWN BY, the Lord or the things of this world?

Just a little further on in Luke’s Gospel we see Jesus spending the night alone in prayer.

¹² One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. ¹³ When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles, Luke 6

This was a momentous time in Jesus’ life and ministry. He spent the whole night in prayer and chose the man who would eventually betray Him and send Him to the cross. Jesus didn’t take the best way for Himself, He submitted to the Father’s will, which was the complete opposite of man’s will. He later rebuked Peter who tried to persuade Him from going through with the cross.

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.’ Matthew 16

Does God have important things He wants to speak into our lives. Perhaps He’s waiting for us to come and enjoy His presence and give us new vision for our future.

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

May you know God’s love and fresh blessing on your life today. Immanuel, the Lord is with us.

 

¹⁵  … CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, …  But as for me and my household, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.’ Joshua 24

Joshua was handing over the, ‘Reins of government’, of the nation of Israel, but he left the people with a challenge or a decision. CHOOSE ‘THIS DAY’ WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. Don’t put it off, make your decision today. It may be that some of you who are reading this have been thrust into a place of leadership or new decision making after serving alongside someone for a long time. Change comes to everyone sooner or later and the DECISIONS MAY NOW FALL TO US. I understand that believers have already made a decision for the Lord, just as Israel under Joshua crossed into Canaan and began to conquer it. The question is Who will we follow now, in our day?

²⁰ So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. ²¹ Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? IF THE LORD IS GOD, FOLLOW HIM; but if Baal is God, follow him.’

But the people said nothing. (The people wouldn’t decide to serve God alone) 1 Kings 18

Israel had come under the influence of Jezebel and Elijah had to confront 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah on Mount Carmel. God revealed His power through His prophet and rescued His people from gross idolatry.

David, who had already fled the nation to live in the land of the Philistines, fell into more trouble when the Amalekites raided his camp. David was a good leader for the people around him, but trouble came unexpectedly and he was blamed, very typical.

⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength (Encouraged himself) in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30

David didn’t give up but sought the, pursued the Amalekites and rescued his people, including his own wives. So pertinent to the situation Israel is currently facing.

The practical side for us as believers, ‘Commit your day to the Lord and CHOOSE to follow Him.’ Making/Declaring that decision will close many unwise doors and open many positive ones in our lives. As Amanda Grace says, ‘Get the Lord involved early’.

CHOOSE today to serve the Lord and enjoy life as a much loved child of the King.

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

God doesn’t just speak to us in Religious settings, He is always seeking to reveal Truth and Light to us, be open and expectant!

²⁹ Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

³¹ Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  ³² I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.’ Luke 5

We saw yesterday that after Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, he went to his house and ate with him and his companions. We’d think His response to the Pharisees would be obvious, but their WORKS BASED RELIGION AND PRIDE REJECTED HIS WORDS.

Jesus went to eat in the house of Simon the Pharisee where He was attended by a, ‘sinful woman’. No-one is Righteous before God. Isaiah 53:6 Once again the Pharisee judged Jesus in his heart for allowing the woman to touch Him. He questioned Jesus’ validity as a prophet, never realising He was the Son of God.

⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – FOR SHE LOVED MUCH. BUT WHOEVER HAS BEEN FORGIVEN LITTLE LOVES LITTLE.’

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Luke 7

No such Forgiveness was extended to Simon or his household.

Jesus, while passing through Jericho stopped and spoke to a rich tax collector called Zacchaeus.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” (This time it was the people who were critical of Jesus, going to the house of yet another outcast.)

But Zacchaeus demonstrated an immediate change of heart, or repentance, when he was in the Lord’s presence.

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (The stronghold of Mammon over him was broken)

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19

Sometimes we can learn more in an informal setting than a formal one and the Lord speaks in both. Lord, please give us eyes to see and ears to hear in our everyday lives.

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

²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, ²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Luke 5

LEVI GOT UP, LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED HIM. All the words in verse 28 are verbs, action words, we can’t be left in the same place we were originally. A Calling is a ‘Watershed Moment’, it may well determine the whole course of our future.

The Call of Elisha by the prophet Elijah was a good example of God’s Call on a life.

²⁰ Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,’ he said, ‘and then I will come with you.’

‘Go back,’ Elijah replied. ‘What have I done to you?’ (Little or no encouragement to take up the Call)

²¹ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the ploughing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became HIS SERVANT. (High Calling, to be Elijah’s successor, but with a humble beginning, as his servant. Often God’s way for His servants) 1Kings 19

Derek Prince once said the further we go in our walk with the Lord, the less the possibility to turn back. As we progress along God’s path for our lives, the way back to our old life crumbles behind us.

Jesus, was challenged once again by the Religious Pharisees because He and His disciples ate with those they called sinners and tax collectors in Levi’s house. Luke 5:29, 30 The Pharisees were Religiously observant and they focused on externals. Religion has a negative slant, it looks for failure to comply with the current rules. The Pharisees were Religious Police and they still exist today in many places today. A friend has recently been pondering the phrase, ‘Grace without Truth and Truth without Grace’. We can’t have one without the other, we need both Grace and Truth operating together.

Levi left everything, as did Elisha, to enter upon their new way of life. It’s interesting that though the people in Levi’s home were treated as outcasts, the Bible records that many of them were true followers of the Lord.

¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. Mark 2

Jesus told the parable of the the two men who went up to the Temple and stood before God.

¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself (A TELLING REMARK) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. Luke 18

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18

GOD HONOURS HUMILITY, BUT HATES PRIDE.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel

²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and WENT HOME PRAISING GOD. ²⁶ Everyone was amazed and GAVE PRAISE TO GOD. Luke 5

Who is getting the Glory/Praise, man or God? This is an important question for much Christian ministry today.

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. Matthew 6 Amplified Bible

The Lord said ‘NO ONE’, can serve two masters, it’s not possible! Our hearts will be drawn to either one or the other but not both. We may think we can have, ‘the best of both worlds, but it’s not possible – we only delude ourselves’.

The beloved doctor Luke wrote the Gospel bearing his name and the Book of Acts. He recorded many miraculous healings, not unusual for a physician and also the people’s response to them.

¹⁶ They were all filled with awe AND PRAISED GOD. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. Luke 7 (Jesus ruined a funeral when He raised the widow’s son)

¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up AND PRAISED GOD. Luke 13

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the PEOPLE WERE DELIGHTED/REJOICING with all the wonderful things he was doing. Luke 13

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ HE THREW HIMSELF AT JESUS’ FEET AND THANKED HIM – AND HE WAS A SAMARITAN. Luke 17

Jesus declared that only one Samaritan had returned and given Glory/Praise to God. IF YOU WANT FAVOUR WITH GOD, BE THAT ONE WHO REMEMBERS TO RETURN AND THANK THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Give God all the Praise and Glory and He’ll be able to pour more blessing upon you.

Hallelujah, we serve a good God. Immanuel

²² BUT GOD HAS HELPED ME TO THIS VERY DAY; SO I STAND HERE and testify to small and great alike. Acts 26

 

The words of Paul as he stood in court before King Agrippa and Governor Festus. The Religious Jews were looking for a way to murder Paul and stop him testifying TO THE TRUTH AND ABOUT JESUS, which the enemy really hates. The enemy spewed out all kinds of lying allegations about Paul with the aim of silencing him. Paul had been physically attacked and even left for dead by those who opposed the Truth of the Gospel, but now they sought to use the Law to silence him.

A new word has been coined recently, ‘Lawfare’, using legal accusations to harass and even bankrupt those who stand for the Truth. This harassment may be used on a greater scale today, but it’s not anything new and intimidation of God’s Children isn’t just through the courts.

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and A LAWYER (They used a legal professional to oppose God’s Servant) named Tertullus and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ² When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix:

Paul was an able orator and with the Lord’s help he presented his own case before King Agrippa and Festus. A further scripture in the epistle of James (the Lord’s half brother) shows a similar situation but with a different lesson for the Church.

⁶ But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones WHO ARE DRAGGING YOU INTO COURT? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? James 2

The Church was dishonouring the poor, which wasn’t right in the sight of their creator. However, we see once again that some of the wealthy were, ‘dragging believers into court’. Once again money being used to oppose and hinder the Church of God. (No doubt the god Mammon is behind much of the opposition)

Paul said in the face of all opposition that the Lord had ENABLED HIM TO STAND. Sometimes that’s all we can do, is STAND before adverse conditions and ask the Lord to help us get through to the other side. In every situation it’s those who are left standing who win the victory. WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION STAND FOR THE LORD AND HE WILL REWARD YOU.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel

 

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT. 1 Peter 2

We have a High Calling which can come simply and suddenly!

One day Jesus was teaching the people by the Sea of Galilee when he saw two boats by the water’s edge. He got into Peter’s boat and asked him to pull out a little from the shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. Luke 5:1-3

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

⁵ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ Luke 5 (Only Luke’s Gospel records Jesus’ instruction to pull out from the shore and fish)

Peter had given the Lord the use of his boat and now Jesus told him to put out into the deep water and prepare to fish. When they let down their nets they caught so many fish that their nets began to break and they called their friends in another boat to come and help them. Then both boats began to sink with the huge catch of fish in them. Luke 5:6

Experienced fishermen who’d fished all night and caught nothing, but a word from the Lord and their catch was so large that both boats were sinking. They were all astonished by the catch they’d taken, but Jesus said something else to them that was life-changing.

¹⁷ ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1

Jesus call to His first disciples came in the workplace and their response was immediate, they left everything to follow Him. God’s Call can come to us anytime and anywhere. It may be a gentle whisper (like the recommissioning of Elijah on the mountain 1 Kings 19) or it may be with signs and wonders. The important thing is that we recognise His Call and yield to it. Believers heed the initial call to salvation, but what other calls does the Lord have for our lives? There are further opportunities along all our paths, but we have free will to take them up or pass by. The parable of the Good Samaritan who stopped on his journey to help a stranger in need is a good lesson for us. God’s Call often means laying aside our agenda and accepting His Higher Purpose without any guarantees, but His ways are far above ours if we’ll embrace His Call.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel