Hosea 2:“In that day, I will answer,”
says the Lord.
“I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds….
And the sky will answer the earth with rain.
22
Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries
of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees.
And they in turn will answer,
‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’
22
Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries
of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees.
And they in turn will answer,
‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’
22
Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries
of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees.
And they in turn will answer,
‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!
Romans 1: 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Hosea 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!
The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:
“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,
no knowledge of God in your land. 2 You make vows and break them;
you kill and steal and commit adultery.
There is violence everywhere—
one murder after another. 3 That is why your land is in mourning,
and everyone is wasting away.
Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea are disappearing.
To Know creation, we must know Creator, and He can only be known through Jesus: https://chrisaomministries.com/2017/02/27/do-you-want-to-go-to-heaven/
As I read this mornings account, I am reminded of our spiritual responsibility as leaders, to exercise God’s authority in the earth, through prayer, in this, our generation:
Ex 17:11 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.
We must submit first to God, and His authority in our lives, then from that position, use spiritual authority to change our generation.
In order to have authority, we must submit to authority, then we can do true eternal damage to darkness:
Clearly, in Jesus, we have authority from heaven to be exercised in the earth. In order for the kingdom to go forward, we must continue to stand for righteousness and holiness, purity and God’s power.
Let’s Pray:
“Father, I stand for my home, my community, my state, and my nation before Your throne, exercising Your authority against principalities and powers, and every demonic power and person serving darkness. I enforce Your kingdom in righeousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and expect Your power to manifest today, destroying wickedness, and prospering Your people, in the name and authority of Jesus, Amen!”
As I read this morning’s Bible reading in One Year Bible, I began to think about broken people trying to leave broken lifestyles. Let’s read it together.
Ex 13:17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.[a] Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.[b]
We all know the story, 10 plagues, Moses and Pharoah, “Let my people go!”
Imagine if you will the mindset of these people. Beaten, broken, enslaved for as long as anyone could remember, suddenly delivered by the hand of God, yet not yet fully trusting God fully yet.
Remember when God called David, and Samuel had a hard time accepting it:
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
He knows what we are made of, and what it takes to build a strong foundation of faith into our hearts, that one day will allow us to be the warriors, delivers, and victors in life’s battles.
If any of you have seen the movie ‘Captain America’ there is a scene where the commanding officer says something like, ‘there is no way we can make a soldier out of him’, then in one of the drills, Cap falls upon a grenade to protect the other guys in his platoon, and the hardened soldier gets some instruction. He had looked at the small stature and fraility of the man, yet his courage in battle revealed his heart.
In this case, God knew the children of Israel were not ready for a battle yet with the Philistines, so He led them on a longer route.
Anyone read the Christian classic: ‘Hinds Feet on Hinds Places?”
It is the journey where a fictional character named ‘poor little much afraid’ is transformed through a journey with the Shepherd, to receive her hinds feet to be able to leap around the mountains with a new name: ‘Grace and glory” It’s a great read, but the point that comes to mind is the way that that Shepherd leads her on their journey, the horror of being led directly away from her destination into the desert, instead of up the mountain.
Seems the Shepherd was wiser than her though, because near the end of the book, she discovers the extra miles in the desert had strengthened her to climb the steep dangerous cliffs, and in exhilaration she discovered she had conquered her fears, and was able to leap the tall heights with ease and joy.
Over the years, I have worked with broken people, each struggling with some deep dark secret pattern of destructive behavior. Addicts especially come to mind, and how relevant this verse is in their lives. They cannot be around alcohol or drugs of any form for some time, until they become strong, the temptation is too great.
In this Bible reading, the children of Israel were about to come in between a rock and a hard place, with far worse than the Philistines to face, the entire army of Egypt was about to back them up to the Red sea, and you know the rest of the story, God fought for them that day, as a whirlwind, a sea parter, and One who is altogether faithful.
Maybe you are in a fight for your life today. Literally, or spiritually, it doesn’t matter.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ASV)
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.
Jesus is the way, and also the waymaker. He will provide, He will deliver, He will lead you away from battles you are not yet qualified to fight. He knows, He cares, He loves.
Let’s Pray:
“Father, I need you to lead and guide me today. Show me Your will and Your way. Deliver me from the brutal circumstances that seek to destroy me, and show me the straight and narrow way Jesus promised is available to me. Amen”
Matt 11:20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
God is love! God is good! God loves to mighty miracles of healing, deliverance, and prosperity. Yet, authentic miracles, demand a response. When someone critically ill is healed by the power of God, God expects people to turn to Him in thanksgiving and praise.
Remember the ten lepers healed, only one came back to say thank you?
Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
Notice how Matt 11 continues:
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
God does signs, wonders, and miracles still today. We must respond in thanks, praise, and give honest testimony of His power.
The welfare of our city may well depend upon it!
Let’s Pray:
‘Father God, release signs, wonders, and miracles, here, in my life, my city, my nation! Reveal your love, power, and glory! Father I pray that as you do, we continue in childlike awe, humility, and thankfulness, never losing our sense of awe and gratefulness, for who you are and what you do. May each of us who receive from you today, be faithful to testify of your goodness and grace, in your name we pray Lord Jesus , Amen!’
Matt 14: 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
We are like these disciples sometimes: when we find ourselves in trouble, and cry out to God, and He actually shows up in power, many of us get scared of the very one who has come to deliver us.
It has been said: If you live in a graveyard too long you stop crying when someone dies.
I remember after the death of a family member, how I hurt. I had spent months, perhaps years in fervent prayer for their healing, but they died anyway. Inside my heart, I simply gave up. I attended one of myriad conferences down at what was then known as ‘The Toronto Blessing’, and like many times, went for prayer and ended up knocked down on the carpet, as several pastors gently laid hands upon me and were praying in the Holy Spirit. I whispered to the Lord, ‘Lord, I hurt…My heart feels like a stone inside of me” Suddenly, in a vision, Jesus was kneeling beside the pastors that were praying for me looking at me with deep, intense, love. I asked Him, Lord, “Why will you not heal my heart?”
Suddenly His countenance changed, and He was angry, and He said: ‘Because you will not let me!”, and I suddenly saw it. I had walled Him, and everyone else out of my heart, a prisoner of my own pain. It hurt too much.
Yet He knew! He cared, and like a dam breaking, I began to shake and sob and say, ‘Lord, I’m sorry, it hurts”, and like a rush, His power shattered the dam, and I wept until I could weep no more. Felt like pus being drained from a wound, but the pressure, the pain, was gone. My grief, sorrow, heartache, and ‘clinical hardness’ of heart were washed away. It was such a deep experience, that I went home after the meeting, and slept 12 hours.
Yet, the burden was lifted, I was free to love, to live again!
Maybe you are right there. Something horrible happened in life, and perhaps for years, you compartmentalized God, keeping Him out of the most painful areas of your life, because it simply hurts too much.
He is coming to you, over the wind and the waves….
‘Jesus, do for them, what you did for me. Give them the courage to receive your love, your touch, your savage inbreaking of your love. Take out the bitterness, the hardness, the trauma, and break down the walls so that we can live and love again, Amen’
Read this verse, and I see it happen in people’s lives daily:
Job 19:2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
Ever been around people that knowingly or unknowingly attempt to destroy your faith? You are carefully learning to use your words with caution, praying, trusting and believing God with ever fibre of your being in your hour of test, and then you discover people who speak, mockingly or contrary to the very thing you are believing for! That’s why the Bible says to in Pr 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
God knows, God cares, and: 1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Let’s pray:
‘Father, we wrestle not against flesh and blood…Help me to not not compromise what I have believed you for, before people, because of people. Help me to guard my heart against negative reports, words, and people, and to love them, no matter what they do. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’
Matt 11: ! 1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
I love this verse! I see a Word picture painted here for the work of the ministry. We listen to Holy Spirit, and go into all the world and preach and teach the Word of God. Then, after the Word is preached, Jesus, Himself, goes where we have been to preach and teach in the cities where we have been! We prepare the way of the King! He backs up our work, with His presence, power and authority.
This is the work of the ministry, obeying Holy Spirit to prepare the way for the King. When we pray and accurately obey Jesus and GO, seeking to represent Him well, after we leave, He Himself visits people and situations after we leave, backing up our life’s message with His power.
He commands His disciples, then He Himself comes to build upon our work, establishing His kingdom in power and love!
Let’s Pray:
‘Jesus, mighty God, come and teach and preach in every household you have already sent me into with your Word! May they hear your voice, as you preach, teach, and demonstrate your love, in authority and power! Amen’
Job 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Doesn’t matter where in life you are right now. If you are with God, you are increasing, because He loves you and loves to show Himself strong to His children.
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, you see where I am at, and I am seeking you for increase today, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’
There is a daysman!
Job 9:32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
The Word ‘daysman‘, basically means ‘judge’: One who renders judgement, or rebukes.
Job had to look down the corridor of time to One who would come, to judge between us and God, the only true mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, the only way to God.
In his anguish, he cried out for salvation, for one who could mediate between him in his distress, and a Holy God, but at this point, he sees none. Later, Job discovers him by faith declaring Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Now God goes from the feared one, to become our loving heavenly Father, by the blood that Jesus shed for us to provide access.
Maybe God is some strange far off feared being to you today. He does not need to be. He loves you, and has provided a way for you to know Him, Jesus.
Mt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mt 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Ac 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Let’s call on His name, and receive His kingdom today:
‘Jesus, we call on your name! Come into our lives, and fill us with your Spirit today. Show us your love and plan for our lives, Amen’
We must submit first to God, and His authority in our lives, then from that position, use spiritual authority to change our generation.
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