NO SHEPHERD (COACH)

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 18

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Sheep feeding on the lush winter grass of the Jordan Valley while three sheep dogs keep a close eye…especially on the photographer, our son Reynold, who is now serving the Lord in Uganda.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 18:4 &16 – And Jehoshaphat said to the King of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”

Then he (the prophet of the true God) said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'”

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was a man of God. However, there is no record that he prayed about the decision to join King Ahab of the northern tribes of Israel. Big mistake! Jehoshaphat understood the seriousness of the war that Ahab was about to wage, and he asked whether Ahab had inquired of the Lord. Ahab immediately sought the word of the prophets which had been chosen to serve the golden calf worship. Elijah had destroyed Baal worship. Finally, at Jehoshaphat’s insistence, a prophet of the true God was summoned. His word from God was one of judgment, and for this he was put into prison.

Can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s poor decisions? He rejected God’s counsel and went along with the bad advice of ungodly people. The result was a disaster. King David had written in Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Jehoshaphat failed to pay attention to the very first sentence of the Psalms of his great-great-great-grandfather, King David. Surely Jehoshaphat knew this verse of his Bible.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, as a result of reading Your Word, I want what You want. Now and always, grant me, I pray, the grace of moving Your Word from my head to my heart and then to my will power, in obedience to You! In the name of the One who always did Your will, Father, Your Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Love sports? Norma-Jean and I are fans! Our grandson-in-law, David Lee, husband of our granddaughter, Elizabeth (her Dad, Reynold does the photography for my blog), played for the Toronto professional football team in the finals two years ago. They won the Canadian championship! I sometimes think that our competition between cities and countries in sports takes the place of the constant wars of ancient times between city states and neighbouring countries. In fact, in the Canada/Soviet Union hockey series of 1972, Canadian Phil Esposito of Sault Ste. Marie declared, “This is war!” Canada won! We’ve produced a documentary featuring Paul Henderson, who scored the Goal of the Century (click here to view part one of my interview with Paul about the documentary and here for part two). Like the coach, God will sometimes order a particular strategy or play. All decisions are based on the playbook. So it is with our book of instructions, the Bible. David Lee, our grandson-in-law, was constantly reading and memorizing his playbook. We noticed that after one great play, the coach patted David on the helmet, probably saying, “Good job!” Someday, I hope my Coach, the Lord Jesus, will say to me, “Well done, David!” After the game, a large number of the players on both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray (see photo below). I’ve never seen so many players kneel together before God at one time. I’m encouraged!

Yours for following the instructions from our heavenly Coach,

David

Many players from both teams gathered at centre field after the game to pray.

My grandson-in-law, David Lee (#91), rushing the quarterback.

Norma-Jean and I enjoying the football game with our son Ron and his wife Ann.

ASA and JEHOSHAPHAT

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 16-17

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Here is the view from half way up the south end of the Golan Heights in Northern Israel. Looking east you can see into the north of Jordan and to the far left you can see the south end of Syria.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 16:12, 17:9

And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians…So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

Asa started out so well, but in the last 5 years of his 40-year-long reign he changed. Because his reliance was no longer on God, God backed off and Asa made bad decisions. When we stop seeking the Lord (honouring Him, praying consistently, watching carefully for His guidance) we invariably mess up.

Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat, was watching his father make mistakes. At some point he must have decided to be different than his Dad. The key to his success may be in 17:6, “His heart took delight in the ways of the Lord.” His great-great-great-grandfather (King David) had left his writings for future generations, and I think that Jehoshaphat had access to the Psalms. He probably read them daily. There in Psalm 37:1-8, it says in verse 4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Of course, when we delight in the Lord, we want what He wants before anything else. Therefore, we will avoid the bad decisions represented by Asa. We will pray fervently for God’s will to be done in all things and we will, as Psalm 37 goes on the say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Amen and amen!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord God, Give me grace, I pray, according to Your promises. I trust in You! I delight in You! I commit my way to You! I rest in You! Therefore, I thank You for Your faithfulness! I receive the desires of my heart! You bring to pass Your will! I do not fret! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

On June 28th, 2013 I had the opportunity to host Billy Graham’s grandson, Will Graham. He quoted the words of John the Baptist about Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease.” He said that this was the way that George Beverly Shea, his Grandpa’s soloist, whose home as a youth was Ottawa, Canada, had lived his life. Chief Superintendent Ronald Mostrey of the RCMP, Ottawa, told of his decision to travel to North Carolina to honour that great Canadian. George Beverly Shea, who had gone to be with his Lord and Saviour at 104 years old, lived a life filled with honour and great contentment. George’s last e-mail to me was when he was 102. He said that he continued to watch 100 Huntley Street online every day and that the telecast was a great source of strength to him. I encourage everyone who reads this to do the same. You can find that telecast by clicking here.

The pictures Reynold Mainse has taken of the Syrian bunkers (below) remind me to pray fervently for the Syrian followers of Jesus. Recently I visited with two businessmen whose roots are in the Middle East. They were so very solemn as they had just viewed, on an iPhone, the scene of two Christians brutally beheaded by a Syrian mob. They refused to show it to me as they said it was too gruesome. People need Jesus as never before.

Yours for the desires of the heart of God to be fulfilled,

David

This photo and the one below are of Syrian bunkers that were built during 1948-67, when Syria controlled this area known as the Golan Heights. They used the area as a military stronghold from which its troops randomly sniped at Israeli civilians in the Hula Valley below, forcing children living on Kibbutzim to sleep in bomb shelters. Israel now controls this territory.

HEART & SOUL

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 15

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In the Museum of the Ancient Agora in Athens Greece, you can see four fragments of sculptures, probably from the Temple of Ares dating from 435-420 BC. Today’s reading would have taken place hundreds of years before these were carved. King Asa of Judah ordered the removal of all the idols which some had been worshiping (2 Chronicles 15:8).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:7

But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!

God has made us in His image. Therefore, the choice is ours as to whether we serve Him or not. God will not turn us into puppets or robots. At the beginning of our reading, it’s obvious that our decisions about our lives will determine God’s decisions whether or not to bless us or leave us alone to the consequences of His absence from our lives. Verse two tells us that while we are with Him, He is with us, and that if we seek Him, He will be found by us, and if we forsake Him, He will forsake us. God lets us take the lead in our own lives.

King Asa took action, and God responded as a result. First, Asa removed the idols. Second, he restored the altar of the Lord. Third, he made a sacrificial offering to the Lord. Fourth, he even removed his own mother from being honoured as the Queen, because she had made an obscene image of a goddess which was worshiped in neighbouring countries. He cut it down, crushed it, and burned it at the brook just between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. Because of Asa’s decisions to honour the Lord, God responded by blessing Judah with peace.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I have decided to take action in my life to serve You with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I love You! I pray now for Your peace to fill my being at all times. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer with Your “Yes.” I’m experiencing Your peace now as I pray. In the Name of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

There is a powerful statement of God’s response to our move toward Him found in Romans 10:1-15. The Apostle Paul quotes from his Hebrew Bible the words of the Prophet Joel, “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32a). I’ve just taken the time to read chapter two of Joel (click here).

For over 60 years I’ve been telling everybody who will listen to me that I refuse to make it complicated to be saved. It’s so very simple…just call on the Lord. The 100 Huntley Street telecast has produced a very powerful TV documentary on the life of Michael “Bull” Roberts, a career criminal who did just that while lying on a hotel room floor. The Lord responded to this man who had suffered terrible abuse as a child and was declared criminally insane at 16. When he cried out to God, he experienced true love for the first time in his life. I encourage everyone who reads this blog to check out this story by watching 100 Huntley Street (click here).

Yours, because as a 16-year-old I called on the Name of the Lord and was “saved,”

David

Remains of grandeur at the east end of the Roman Agora (marketplace) in Athens that once lead to the Temple of Ares. The Bible teaches that the one true God dwells in our hearts since Jesus came and not in temples made with hands. It was in Athens, surrounded by magnificent temples, that the Apostle Paul said “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).

Looking over the fence into the Roman Ancient Agora where the Temple of Ares was located. Just next door to the Agora is Mars Hill (or Areopagus, “Hill Of Ares”), where Paul delivered his message to the Athenians (Acts 17:22-31).

LESSONS LEARNED?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 13-14

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is located on one of the roof portions of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. Here, you can see two Ethiopian nuns in front of their home in the courtyard of the church.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 14:11

And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”

Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, had forsaken the counsel of his father and that of the elders, and the nation was split in two. Jeroboam, who had returned from exile in Egypt after the death of Solomon, ruled the north and Rehoboam the south. When Rehoboam humbled himself and prayed, things would go well. But he sought the Lord only when he was in trouble.

Jeroboam also forsook the Lord and appointed false priests and established the religion of Egypt, the worship of golden calf gods. War between the north and the south was fairly constant. What a tragedy!

Rehoboam died. His son Abijah ruled in the south. War continued. Then came King Asa, great-grandson of King David. Our key verse says it all! Can we learn from these stories, or must we repeat over and over the poor decisions of former generations?

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, help me to learn the lessons of history, I pray. Like Asa, I cry out to You for Your help. May I receive the grace from You to rest on You. I ask this, not only when I’m in trouble, but every day! In the Name of the One who cried out to You again and again as recorded in the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!!! (Luke 22:39-46).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Information on excellent, educational, and informational reading is important for me. A great read is a book called, “The Blessing.” It’s all about experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit. The authors, Trask and Goodall, begin the book with these words about their country, “The decadence and darkness of our nation is more profound than it has been since the founding of this nation more than two centuries ago. The only power that can cleanse and restore this nation is the power of Christ.” I have read parts of this book before, but this time I’m reading it all carefully. My wife bought copies for each of our grandchildren. We have given them out at a gathering of our family when we had the opportunity for a serious devotional exercise. Click here for ordering information on “The Blessing.”

Like King Asa, I recognize that only God can help me, my family and all with whom I’m in contact.

Yours for the most powerful blessing, the intervention of the Holy Spirit in our lives,

David

The entrance to one of the rooms at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.

Centuries old Christian symbols in the walls of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church courtyard.

CLEAN!!!

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 11-12

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

During his years of ministrey in Assiut Egypt, my father, Roy Lake Mainse, wrote out the words of a favourite hymn that he lived by that was written by J. B. Coats. This piece of paper was kept inside the cover of his Bible. He wrote the first part as a constant reminder of the importance of God’s Word and the second part heralds the importance of truth (click on the photo to enlarge for easier reading).

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 12:14

And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

There is always a cause for any effect! King Rehoboam would listen to the voice of the Lord and Judah would prosper. But when prosperity and success were granted, he would forsake God’s laws, and very shortly afterward they were in trouble again. It’s not that God moved away; it was the king and other leaders who moved away from God.

The prophet reminded Rehoboam of his sinfulness and again the king and priests humbled themselves before God. Therefore, they escaped destruction. Like Rehoboam, we will inevitably get into trouble when we fail to seek God. When we begin to do our own thing and not God’s, trouble is not far behind! Let us return daily to the Lord, so that the enemy will not prevail.

As our key verse reminds us to prepare our hearts to seek the Lord, so does this daily blog. Let’s stick together on this journey. Please be reminded that anyone can start at any time, and in two years we’ll complete the entire Bible. Amen! Amen! Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer in Jesus as Saviour and Lord, keep me in a daily, living relationship with You. Thank You for this fresh bread to eat every day. In Jesus’ name I praise and worship You! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Besides the words written in the photo above, I also found written inside the front cover of my Dad’s old Bible these words: “Sin will keep you from this Book, and this Book will keep you from sin!” The Apostle Paul wrote about the fact that the Word cleanses us and washes us with the “Water of the Word.” Why do we need this cleansing? To produce “A glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” We are to be “Holy and without blemish.” The daily washing of the Word will accomplish this goal! (Ephesians 5:26-27).

I grasped the concept of constant cleansing in my late teens. It was from a sermon my Dad preached on 1 John 1:5-10.

Yours for consistency in being washed by the Word of God,

David

WISDOM

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 9-10

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In Jerusalem, attached to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Here, an Ethiopian nun does bead work to support her church.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 9:23

And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

The people of Ethiopia believe that their Queen, the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon, became pregnant as a result of a relationship between her and King Solomon. Menelik, their son, became their first great King, and the people converted to the religion of Judaism as a result. A New Testament reading for today may be the story of the Ethiopian who was the minister of finance for another “Queen of Sheba” whose name was Candace (Acts 8:26-40). The Ethiopian treasurer, who was Jewish, had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and on his way back home God miraculously brought the Deacon Philip to witness to him of Jesus. He was reading from the Prophet Isaiah as he travelled, probably Isaiah 53, and as Philip explained God’s plan of salvation, the official believed in Jesus and was baptized. As a result, the Church of Ethiopia was born. A majority of the Jewish people in that country became Christian. It is so to this day.

What a sad turn of events in the second chapter of today’s reading. There are some things one can only learn by living long enough. Solomon’s advisors were probably in their sixties and seventies. By ignoring their advice, King Rehoboam lost the ten northern tribes, and the Kingdom was divided. War between the north and the south was narrowly avoided. How sad! Our choices have consequences! Let us choose to pray fervently as David and Solomon did. There is no record of Rehoboam praying for wisdom, as did his father. Instead of asking God for guidance, King Rehoboam asked his boyhood friends for counsel and followed their advice. The history of Israel is proof of the consequences of poor choices.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for the wisdom to listen carefully to the guidance of those who pray much and who know how to hear Your answers to their prayers for wisdom. I need You every day to provide me with an understanding of Your will in all things. In Jesus’ Name I ask for Your wisdom, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Someone has said that every movement for good or evil in the history of the world can be traced to the decision of one person. Rehoboam’s decision to listen to friends of his age rather than the elders of Israel resulted in the beginning of the disintegration of a great nation. The decisions of Philip and the Ethiopian treasurer resulted in good things.

When Crossroads ministry took on the challenge of helping the Ethiopian people during the famine of the 1980s, I had many experiences that impacted my life. One of these was standing on a street in Addis, the capital city, and hearing a young priest calling the people back to God. He said that the government had turned away from the God of their fathers to communism and atheism, and the famine was God’s judgment as a result. Whether this was true or not, God knows. However, I was tremendously impressed by the fearlessness of that young man. I do believe that God heard the prayers of the Ethiopian people, and a part of His provision was that the partners and viewers of 100 Huntley Street responded so very generously. Canada’s ambassador to Ethiopia at the time said in a speech to the Empire Club at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, “100 Huntley Street and their supporters saved the lives of at least 50,000 people from death by starvation.” On pages 77, 78 & 79 of my book, This Far By Faith, there is an amazing Ethiopian story. I would like to see this book in the hands of as many people as possible (click here for ordering).

Yours for seeking diligently for God’s will in our decisions,

David

Beyond the courtyard of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, you can see the steeple of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

One of the doorways into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

HE IS GOOD

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 7-8

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Light rays from the stained glass in the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth fall upon the wall where Jesus is depicted upon the Cross. Other photos of this beautiful church are at the bottom of today’s posting.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:3

When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

In yesterday’s reading, Solomon repeatedly asked for forgiveness, for God’s presence to rest in the Temple, and for God’s blessing on the priests and the people. He had not asked for any supernatural manifestations. God did declare, “I have heard your prayer and I am with you!” Now God confirms His Word with signs following. Today’s reading tells us that fire and the glory of the Lord appeared. During the 40 years of the wilderness journey, God had manifested Himself to His people with fire and with the cloud of His glory, and now He shows the people that He is still with them. The people worshipped God with the familiar words, “He is good and His love endures forever.”

The fire of God was seen, and the sound of a mighty rushing wind was heard at the beginning of the building of Jesus’ Temple, the Church (Acts 2:1-4). Also, the supernatural sign of speaking in tongues was manifested. The 120 became the living Temple of God, Jesus Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Twenty years have passed and we find Solomon and the people content, enjoying peace and safety, and in a dangerous place spiritually. We must guard against complacency, taking the blessing of God for granted. Solomon was about to step on the slippery slope of compromise which turned his heart away from his original commitment to the purity of his relationship with God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You for the manifestations of Your presence. I pray that I will so live that You will be pleased to continue the signs and wonders which accompany Your presence. I worship You for You, Yourself, Lord Jesus, not for what You do. Your Word declares that “signs follow them that believe.” I soak in Your presence day after day. Praise You, Lord, for You are “Good.” Your “Mercy endures forever.” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In 1981 Crossroads Christian Communications sponsored “Salute to Canada,” 25 LIVE 90-minute telecasts from 25 cities over a period of 31 days. I have many memories of praying with the leaders of cities, of provinces, and of the country. One farmer was so enthusiastic that he cut the words, “Welcome Salute to Canada” into the wheat on a hillside which we read as we approached Edmonton, Alberta. The theme Bible verse for “Salute” is in today’s reading…2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” I believe that God is in the process of doing just that some 30 years later, as I do my part and as others join in with the call of God to be “humble” and to repent of “wicked ways.”

Yours for God to “Hear from Heaven…forgive…and heal,”

David

P.S. Below is a photo from “Salute to Canada” (click on it to enlarge)…

On Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Another view inside the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth.

Outside view of the Church of Annunciation.

ARISE

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is the High Priest at the life-sized replica of The Tabernacle of Moses that was on display at the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, during the summer of 2012. In Solomon’s Temple, the altar was of larger dimensions (2 Chronicles 4:1) and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. Because this altar was larger than the one used in the wilderness Tabernacle, it had a ramp leading up to it. A ramp was used because the use of steps to approach the altar was forbidden by the Torah: “Do not climb up to My altar with steps, so that your nakedness not be revealed on it” (Exodus 20:26).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 6:10

So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

“The Lord has fulfilled His Word!” God keeps His Promises! When He charges one or more of His people with a task, He provides the wisdom, the strength, and the means to proceed with the job right through to completion. We still have an unfinished task. Jesus said to His followers, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). For another version of Jesus’ commission to us read Matthew 28:16-20. Let’s keep at it every day. Soon the job will be complete. Imagine the celebration we’ll have at Christ’s return when the last living stone is placed in the building of His Church.

In today’s reading there is a warning of the dire consequences of sin against God. As a young man, Daniel experienced being taken captive to a faraway land. But while there, he prayed three times a day for God to restore Israel. Read again 2 Chronicles 6:36-42 to discover what may have been the content of Daniel’s prayer, and then check the book of Daniel 6:10-18. As we proceed, we’ll find that God answered the prayers of Solomon, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and many others for restoration. We can count on God! In the last book of the Old Testament, God says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord Jesus, grant me the grace I need to be an industrious and faithful worker in doing my part in the building of Your great Temple, Your Church, glorious and triumphant. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I read each morning from one of the later translations of the Bible from the Hebrew and Greek languages known as “The New King James Version.” As this translation was being completed, I would often have the scholars charged with the translation work on as my guests on the 100 Huntley Street TV program to explain certain passages and why they were translating a particular portion as they did, making changes from the 19th century translation on which I was raised. There have been new translations roughly every 100-150 years since the original King James authorized version was completed in 1611, and the 20th century brought us many more English language versions. A spoken language is constantly changing the meanings of words, hence the need for new translations from the original languages which are no longer spoken…Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, and the first complete Bible translation language, Latin. The New King James Version was done by scholars from various denominations looking over each other’s shoulders to make sure there was no particular denominational bias coming through. I’m confident that this translation is true to the original, divinely inspired Word of God.

Yours for consistently reading and meditating on the Scriptures, and then applying the Word to our lives,

David

THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 3-5

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A beautiful mosaic in Jerusalem inside the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. This church was built over Caiaphas’ house where Jesus was put in a dungeon for the night after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. The translation of the words on the left is, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.” John Paul II, in his visit to Quebec City, referred to this Bible verse in this way, “Pierre est un petit pierre, mais Jesus est le grand Pierre” (Peter is a little stone, but Jesus is the great Rock).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 5:14

…the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

There is no doubt that the blessing of the Lord was on the project of building the Temple. The glory of His presence was so intense that the priests could not stand up in their places. The authorized King James translation of 1 Chronicles 5:13-14 says, “The house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.” The inference is that the priests could not proceed to their assigned places of service in the liturgy of worship. God, Himself, showed up and took charge. We may ask ourselves the question, “What would happen in our churches if this same manifestation of God’s presence occurred?”

We can expect God to demonstrate His approval upon those things we’ve been called to do by Him. The heart of the promises of God, and the history of their fulfillment in the Church that Jesus said He would build, is that signs and wonders happened regularly. In the French language on the mosaic pictured above, Jesus is saying, “I will build My Church.” When we are His hands and feet, His body functioning as He intends, we will experience, “the glory of the Lord.” Let us take time right now to extend our hands to Heaven and worship. Let us gather in our churches at every opportunity for corporate worship.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord God, in the next chapter (chapter six), eight times over Solomon asks You to “hear from Heaven.” I am totally confident that You hear me now as I pray for Your Presence to be over me, under me, and around me. As King David wrote, “In Your Presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Amen!!! (Psalm 16:11…Click here for all eleven verses of King David’s hymn of worship).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m overwhelmed by God’s Presence just now. My language is not capable of expressing my heart to God. At the beginning of the Church, God gave His 120 people, who had waited in His presence in an upper room for ten days, a mighty manifestation of His Presence. There was the sound of a strong wind. Tongues of fire appeared upon their heads. They began to speak to God and of God in languages they had never learned. They spilled down onto the streets of Jerusalem with such enthusiasm that Peter had to explain that they were not actually drunk. As a result of all this, and Peter’s message in the known language, some 3,000 people that day came to believe in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 2:40-41).

In my blog two days ago, I shared with readers the story of the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The newspaper article connected him to Holy Trinity Brompton church in London (click here for a repeat of that article). It was at that church that, as I leaned against an ancient pillar so that I would not fall backwards, I experienced the glory of the Lord in a more powerful way than ever in my life. I simply could not stand, and in fact fell on my face and was unable to move for some time. I describe this in more detail in my latest book, This Far By faith, pages 33 and 34. I urge every blog reader to get your copy of this book. Crossroads asks for a donation of any amount in order to cover the costs and in support of its great outreach for Christ (click here for information as to how you can get your copy of my book right away).

Yours to believe with you for God to manifest His glory to us and through us!!!

David

P.S. On Father’s Day yesterday, I had the joy of “tag-team” preaching a service with my son, Ron. Below is a photo of us on the platform, as well as a photo of me with Ron and his two sons.

Father’s Day “Tag-Team” preaching with my son, Ron, at Braeside Camp in Paris, Ontario.

On Father’s Day with my son, Ron, and his boys, Eric (left) and Adam (right).

Reverend Rick Hiebert portrayed the High Priest during the summer of 2012 at the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, at the life-sized replica of The Tabernacle of Moses.

PRAY AND BE BLESSED

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 1-2

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Western Wall or “Wailing Wall” is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. A fence separates the areas where the men pray (the larger space on the left) from where the women pray (on the right).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 1:10

Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?

Putting God first, the people second, and himself last was an excellent beginning for young King Solomon. God responded to Solomon’s prayer and gave him such wisdom and favour that Israel rose to even greater prominence and prosperity than ever before. Trade, imports and exports flourished with surrounding nations. When Solomon was blessed by God, so were all the people of Israel, and so were millions of others.

By this time the tent Tabernacle of Moses was at least 500 years old. Building the Temple to permanently house the Ark of the Covenant was essential. The wealth of Israel enabled them to build such impressive structures that people, such as the Queen of Sheba, came to marvel at the wonder of it all.

Had this initial recognition of Solomon’s need for divine guidance continued, the future would have been very different for Solomon’s descendants. But forsaking spiritual purity for business expediency led to spiritual poverty; compromise with the evil practices of surrounding nations eventually led to national disintegration.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, there’s a very serious lesson here for me to learn. Please grant me not only wisdom I pray, but also a consistency of purpose to be spiritually pure, to live a life of holiness, every day, in every way. I ask these mercies in the Name of the One who always did that, Jesus, Himself. Amen!!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Notice the papers in the cracks in the picture below. This act of placing prayer requests in the Wall does not necessarily make prayers more effective, but, like fasting, it underlines the fervency with which we desire God’s will in our individual lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray. I encourage written prayers. The act focuses our attention. I’ve often written my most urgent prayer request, put it on the wall where I pray and also place the request in the centre drawer of my work desk where I cannot miss praying about it several times a day. Often, if the request is not too personal, I’ll drop it in the offering receptacle at church along with my tithe and offering envelope. Along with expressing the need in writing, I also write a statement of my confidence in God’s promise of His provision.

Yours because I believe, like Solomon, that there is a personal God who hears and answers prayer,

David

Young Jewish boys praying at The Western Wall or “Wailing Wall.” Notice the papers in the wall in front of the first three boys. Men and boys must all wear little hats when praying at the Wall.