Monday, February 3, 2020

A FIRE AND A ROCK

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 23

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

 

Looking from the area on the south side of the Temple Mount you can look across the Kidron Valley and see the Mount of Olives with thousands of graves along the western slope.

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

 

Key Verse: Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,

“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

 

The word “oracle” is repeated eight times in today’s reading. Obviously many were claiming to be prophets of God, but they were proven to be false prophets. The dictionary defines an oracle as one who gives “a message that is typically ambiguous or obscure.” That’s quite the opposite to the message given by Jeremiah! “A hammer” and “a fire” are strong and powerful words. Here is a prayer chorus sung in some gatherings: “Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. Break me! Melt me! Mould me and use me!” The Word of God, as we read it in our daily two-year blog journey through the Bible, should have that effect on us. The idea of an “oracle” was so misused by so-called prophets that God said, “Do not say, oracle of the Lord.” Why? “You have perverted the words of the living God” (Jeremiah 23:36).

The other misused word featured in Jeremiah 23 is “shepherd.” The title “pastor” denotes a shepherd in our time. For an inspiring look at what God considers that a true shepherd should be, let’s read again Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m praying the words of the chorus I mentioned above. By the hammer and the fire of Your Word, I ask You to do whatever is necessary in me to make me all You want me to be. In and through the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Messiah) I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have often stood on one side or the other of the valley pictured above and meditated on the fact that a huge number of people are buried with their feet pointed toward the Eastern Gate in the wall of Jerusalem, the gate through which it is prophesied that the Messiah will enter into a rebuilt Temple. Most of these people expect to be given resurrected bodies, which will enable them to stand up facing the Messiah as He enters through the gate. Modern science shows that all that is needed to recreate one’s entire being is one microscopic speck of DNA dust. It’s all there! My Bible is still open to John 10 as mentioned above, and my eyes have just moved across to the opposite page where I see John 11:24-45. Jesus, the Prophet and the Son of God, spoke words that had the impact of a “Hammer” and a “Fire” when “He cried with a loud voice, ‘LAZARUS COME FORTH!’ And he who had died came out!” I don’t understand how all this happened, but years ago I made a lifetime decision to believe with childlike faith. I’ve not parked my brain! I read, ponder, and wonder. But at the same time I believe! I’m currently reading a book by a nuclear physicist who believes that Einstein’s Theory of Relativity shows that time is not locked into our perception of a 24-hour day. God is outside of time (the basis of true prophecy about the future), and therefore we should not be thrown for a loop by the modern development called “quantum physics.” Well, that’s another subject.

Yours for keeping the faith and also giving it away to the whole world!

David

24 thoughts on “Monday, February 3, 2020

  1. Praying David’s prayer. We stand united, this morning, to our Living God–Jesus the Messiah in whose Name we proclaim our steadfast faith! The day we give our hearts to Christ is the day we become re-born. Let us stand firm in declaring our praise for Him. Thank You Jesus, for Your unfailing love, forgiveness, and grace. We are Your sheep. Blessings fellow saints in the Lord. Stay warm and safe.

    “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 ESV

    Faithful one – Robin Mark
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxviwvjyg1w

  2. Dear Lord God, thank You for Your Word and Your workers today. Bless all the Mainse family, and all those who faithfully work to give out Your Word. Have Your way in Your children today, Lord, and in this world You made. We ask that You raise up Godly leaders in every part of the world, people who are not ashamed to follow You. Use all of our contributions also to build Your Kingdom, we ask in Jesus’s great name, amen

  3. Such an amazing photo of the Mount of Olives. Thank you Reynold.

    Dr. Jim Denison: “I first heard the gospel when I was in seventh grade, but I rejected its invitation to trust in Jesus. The reason was simple: I was afraid he would lead me where I would not want to go.
    I still face this fear today. I would guess that you do as well.
    When we’re afraid God will not use our lives as significantly as we wish, let’s remember this fact: His plan for us is far more fulfilling than any plan we could make for ourselves. It is his will to use us as fully as we are willing to be used. You can absolutely know that your life will make its greatest impact when it is fully surrendered to your Lord.”

    We are climbing Jacob’s ladder: https://youtu.be/9llGMqCRP6g

    Have a blessed day all saints.

  4. I have used the analogy,and it’s only ‘an analogy,of ‘ a Hoola Hoop floating on the surface o swimming pool.Imagine it’s circle represents ‘time’ and God stands in the middle of this circle.He can then reach out and touch this circle anywhere He chooses and (for the sake of argument) it has no end or beginning.That helps to imagine ‘time’ in a mortal’s mind.I wrote a poem about time several years ago.Yall have a great day.
    Time

    Time is a dream where everyone partakes,
    Like a bubble on the circle of eternity,
    Where God can reach out as He makes
    Each one ready to find infinity.

    Time is made with a start and a finish,
    Where eternity had never known such,
    So He could measure without anguish
    Every deed we do and each heart we touch.

    Time is a miracle that hides our lives
    Where darkness is a future yet unknown,
    For this darkness has treasure that gives
    Light unto the many who’s truth he’s shown.

    Time is a gift that will show The Master,
    That we freely choose to love fellow man,
    Or we fall in selfish disaster,
    Where some choose to reject His holy plan.

    Time will end at Heaven’s gates where His love
    Will welcome His holy Lamb and His sheep,
    With new work in His Kingdom above
    To find the reward that each one shall reap.
    G W (Bill) Marshall / 06 July, 2013

    • I forgot the most important part and had to do0a forced shut down of my puter when it froze and stayed frozen upon leaving Youtube.
      ” Lord God, I’m praying the words of the chorus I mentioned above. By the hammer and the fire of Your Word, I ask You to do whatever is necessary in me to make me all You want me to be. In and through the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Messiah) I pray. Amen!!! ”
      David’s prayer has different word but his prayer is also my prayer.
      This is my prayer,the ones below I found while searching for it.I’ve said too much.God bless this blog and it’s pastors.
      Search Me

      Search me,oh Lord,I’m yours,
      Remove the cobwebs that hide,
      Find out what my heart stores,
      Then put the wrong far to one side.

      Search again,oh Lord,for light,
      Let not darkness cloud my mind,
      That I may freely do what’s right,
      For I want a heart clean and kind.

      Search my soul,Oh Lord,for me;
      Don’t let me be vain and phony,
      For such get lost and can’t see,
      Then become the devil’s crony.

      Search my heart,oh Lord again,
      Leave no trace of greed within,
      Then I can show,without pain,
      The love betrayed by my sin.
      G W Marshall / 08-Nov-013

      The King’s Task

      Set fire to my soul,oh Lord,
      Make me burn with truth and love,
      So our honour can be restored,
      With wisdom from Your throne above .

      Oh Master,you lifted me up high
      From the depths of hell’s pit,
      To complete me and quell my cry,
      But there’s no debt I can remit.

      You have shared with me your strength
      And buoyed my heart from grief,
      So I can go with you to any length
      To give your words of truth’s relief.

      Sorrow has no power over your word,
      But when Satan’s lies are believed,
      Faith is robbed by what’s inferred,
      So your light now must be retrieved.

      Because of shadows over this land,
      I ask you now to let me speak,
      In words you place in my hand,
      That shows your might beside the meek.

      I seek humility to keep me strong,
      So give me that is all I can ask,
      Then I will seek within the throng,
      With this beggar doing the King’s task.
      G W (Bill) Marshall /January 08, 2013

      Can I Go Too

      From the cross you journeyed to Hell,
      To retrieve those lost from your light,
      Then ascended from where Satan fell,
      To leave your army to do what’s right.

      I am a soldier,I belong with my King,
      I will follow you there through the flame,
      I will stay there for you so you can bring
      Those tormented by unending shame.

      I have no crime You have not forgiven,
      So truth will be my armour and shield,
      For truth is a world I can then live in,
      A piece of Your Kingdom I’ll not yield
      G W(Bill) Marshall /May 19, 2013

      Oh Lord

      Send me,oh Lord,where danger is rife,
      Send me,my Master,that I might serve,
      Send me,my Friend,I give You my life,
      Send me,my Christ,but give me nerve.

      Let me,oh Lord,show Satan’s black eyes,
      That a common man can give his all
      And one so lowly suffers and dies,
      Before You return to watch him fall.

      Use me,oh Lord,I am worthy as dirt,
      Make me,my King,a nameless soul,
      That I might,Your Holy Name assert;
      Let me,Oh Jesus,fulfill Your goal.
      G W Marshall / May 24, 2013

      Let Me

      Let me please You,oh Lord,
      Let me leave a kiss upon Your hand,
      That You may wield a mighty sword
      To cleanse the evil from this land.

      Let me serve You too my God,
      Let me sacrifice my life for You,
      So that You can point Your holy rod
      To show what a sinner will do.

      I am nothing to call a treasure,
      But my life I freely now will give,
      That You might at Your leisure
      Return to show us how to live.
      G W (Bill) Marshall / 19 July, 2013

  5. I left a comment a couple of days ago about my girlfriend’s funeral I just want to say that it went fine and it was memorable so thank you to those who responded to my comment thank you again from the bottom of my heart it is great it is greatly appreciated

Leave a Reply to Nan Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.