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
Oh, amen to that wonderful prayer, this morning, David! Yes, we have the power, Lord, to lay our lives down to serve You, amen! Praying for your daughter, Charlene, to come to know the Lord–that the door will be opened and she will receive Him into her life, Jeannine. To all of us who have aches and pains, may the blood of our precious Lord wash over us, today, and bring us comfort. Blessings to all, dearests saints.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt 11:29 NIV
Spirit of the Living God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK-O5nfL1Mo
Thank you Beverly, I have been trying to remember the words to that hymn, so was glad to hear them again.
Have a blessed day everyone!
Thank you for that Hymn this morning Beverlee, standing in agreement with you for Charlene, to come to the Lord. Please pray for me, I am bringing two mormon missionaries to a bible study this evening, I never thought they would be allowed to come, may God’s truth and light surround them. I have found another song similar to our Hymn this morning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH6uHnxGQNM
Thank you Beverlee…also enjoyed singing
“Holy Spirit Rain Down”
God’s Word: whether written or spoken is powerful! I don’t understand it either! but I am happy to hear the Word and to study the Word!
Over a period of 4-5 years an electricial meter malfunctioned at a local hotel to the tune of about $600,000, now the Council is suing the Hotel for this money.
Please pray that the Mayor and Council would forgive this amount! The power has already been used, the City survived, and this would be the right thing to do!
It was a simple case of a malfunctioning electricial meter!
I pray the same prayer as you David it is powerful also today we have to be careful
who we are around not listen to false profits, and check to see if what we hear
is Gods word.
My father is buried in a cemetery that does the same thing, they are laid to rest facing east, in expectation of the Lord’s return in that direction. Even in death, these sleeping saints are a living witness to our sure faith of our Lord’s return, it is a beautiful thought.
For anyone who is willing, could your please add my 92 year old mother to your prayers– her left knee and leg are very sore and stiff, and it is very painful for her to put weight on them, but the longer she sits to avoid walking the worse it gets, and she is unable to take the medication that would reduce the inflammation–so asking our Lord to heal her knee and leg. Thank you and Amen
Coming in agreement in prayer will you Donna for healing for your Mother…that the pain subsides…and she is to walk without pain…in the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray, Amen!
Amen
Lord God I pray that You will comfort this 92 year old precious child of Your! Her left leg and knee need Your healing touch Lord! Lord guide this precious child to maybe go to a pool and get into the water for therapy, also Lord provide her with a stool so that she is able to put her legs up she she is sitting down! Lord bless her family who love her and want her to be in good health! I know of Your healing touch Lord! I pray that You will lovingly touch this precious child and her body will be healed to Your Glory and Praise and with thanksgiving! In Jesus Name We Pray AMEN!
I wrote this on that very subject of ‘time’.
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 of us ready to find infinity.
Time is artificial,providing a start and finish,
Where eternity had never known such,
So that He could measure without anguish
Every deed we do and each heart we touch.
Time is the first miracle that hides our lives
In the darkness of a future yet unknown,
For this darkness has treasure that gives
Light unto those who’s truth he’s shown.
Time is a gift where we can show The Master,
That we freely choose to love fellow man,
Or the greed of selfishness’ finite disaster,
Where some may reject His holy plan.
Time will end at Heaven’s gates where His love
Will welcome His holy Lamb and His sheep,
Beginning new work in His Kingdom above
And finding the reward that each shall reap.
G W (Bill) Marshall / 06 July, 2013
And Jesus knows all our DNAs, Amen? What excitement that must have been for Mary, Martha and all the Jews standing around. Like the description of the Word as a ” hammer and fire”. Prayed your powerful prayer David. Glad that your mother came through her heart operation Pam.
Pastor David, I thank God you did not park your brain and walk away but rather that you PARK for a purpose:
Pause to ponder,
Analyze the message,
Refresh and rehearse the Words of God,
Keep those words always fresh in your mind and close to your heart.
Thank you for being a great shepherd to is diligent to hear what God is saying to His people today and relaying that word faithfully to us.
Many blessings on you and your faithful team who assists you.
Thank you Beverlee for that prayer this morning as I need it as well as for Donna M’s mother. Lord touch us both as only You can as You have paid the price for all healing, in Your precious Name. Amen! Also thank you for the songs Beverlee and Sherry.
Yes, Amen to that wonderful prayer this morning…sang that sung a few times this morning…and many times before…What powerful words!!!
As YOU WILL, LORD!!
Its my desire to follow Jesus…the Good Shepherd…open our eyes Lord, that we would see, open our ears Lord that we would hear…all that is Your desire for us, to follow Jesus, that the Father be Glorified.
Please pray for a single mother with two young sons…for financial provision…that they would not end up on the street. her name is Sabrina, the sons are Joe and Mayean.
Jesus we call on you to supply all her need. Thank you for answered prayer. Amen!!
Heavenly Father we ask you to provide Sabrina the resources she needs to be financially strong now and into the future, for her sake and the sake of her children Joe and Mayean we ask this in Jesus’ name Amen
Asking for the Lord’s blessings on Sabrina, Joe and Mayean! Please provide for all their needs, housing, clothing, food and finances, fill them with your Spirit Lord. Thank you
Lord God I pray that You will send all the provisions that Sabrina and her 2 sons need to live! I pray Lord that You will provide financial increase above and beyond this family’s needs! I pray they will rejoice and celebrate Your goodness! Lord I pray that You will keep this precious mom and her 2 boys safe, provide them other people who will be there for support, Lord I thank You for all the blessings You will bestow on this family. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY AMEN!
Thank you David and all your team for this daily devotional blog. May God bless you. This daily blog has helped me in my spiritual journey to become closer to God. May I ask what book you are reading that you mentioned in Feb. 3rd’s blog?