A VERSE AND A THOUGHT: PSALM 24: 8 - "JESUS - THE KING OF GLORY!!!"

Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle (Psalm 24:8)

THOUGHT:

Our point of reference of historical times for Kings and Rulers of bygone eras, are from books and movies. For most of human history, all major towns and cities had some sort of fortification or system to keep evil out and protect the townspeople.  This was necessary because mankind has always been sinful and evil, since the Fall of Man, recorded in Genesis Chapter 3.

The more significant the town or city, the stronger the fortress, turrets and wider the walls so that you could ride a chariot around it. Then when the ruler of king of that town would return from a campaign, or even hunting out in the countryside, the armorbearer would always have to call out to the Gatekeepers to “Open the Gates”. After the gatekeepers inquired as to the purpose of the visit, the armorbearer would say “It is the King, Let the King come in” (or something to that effect).

In this instance – Psalm 24:8, this is no ordinary King and He doesn’t need permission to come into any part of His Creation. This is the King, Commander and Creator of the Universe.  This is the Lord Jesus Christ. In this current Age, until the church/believers/Christians are called Home at once, in the final raising up, He still announces Who He is to the hearts and lives of all peoples, from all corners of this blessed earth.

The Majestic Lord, Who is currently occupying the Throne on the Right Hand of God the Father, still offers a Royal invitation to join Him in Eternity in Heaven – FOR FREE. There is an equation to fulfilling the requirements to being a resident of the Eternal Kingdom. He had it written down for us – confess (ask forgiveness wholeheartedly – after realizing you’re going down the wrong road); then believe in your heart (with every fiber in your being) that Jesus is Lord, then you SHALL be saved!  Did it cost you money in a church collection plate? No. Did it cost you obeying a bunch of rules and tenets of some man-written religious rule book? No. Did you have to go do something for it? No! Why not? Why would the King, Whom we assume will be a high-taxing, hard-driving, high-living monarch like all the other kings and rulers of the earth, give something away for free?

The free gift from the Royal Throne of Heaven is only free for one reason – the King paid the freight.  He did not send some lesser subject to do it, He came off His Majestic Throne, after creating ALL we see around us, and lowered Himself to be just like us in the flesh. The one major and most significant difference between This Eternal King and the human He became like, for only 33 years is this – He never sinned.  The King only never sinned, He came to explain everything  written about Him from Genesis to John the Baptist as well as the Law of Moses, which He told to Moses.

There is no mind like His. There is no work like His. There is no one comparable. He is not only the beginning and the end, He is in the middle of all history. History will boil down to only His story.

ACTION:

Knowing Jesus as Savior of all mankind is excellent. Knowing Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior is even more important to your final destination. At death, people go one of two places. There is no such thing as purgatory.  In order to KNOW the King as He really is, He must be completely the LORD of your life, as well as Savior. This means everything.  Here is how we proceed:

-     Take your foot off the gas pedal of your life. He owns the vehicle of your life, let Him drive from now on. It also reduces your stress level

-     Leave no corner of your life unswept by the Blood of the Lamb, the Washing of the Word and the Conviction of the Holy Spirit.

-      Allow the Holy Spirit, Who is the Ultimate Gentleman, to turn on the search light and recover every hidden cobweb and buried sin action from even from when we were 5 years old. Then repent of it and move on.

-     If your church does not teach on the Holy Spirit because “that is a Charismatic thing”, forget that – the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and does not follow church or men’s doctrines. He interprets our prayers and the thoughts of our spirit and communicates them with the Lord Jesus Who intercedes with the Father.  If you think your prayers are not answered, consider this – are you fully committed as a Christian to Jesus and if so, repent, surrender to Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to take full control. Do not grieve Him. He goes to the background when that happens. So keep it real, real clean and ask for His intervention. You will not regret it.

Psalm 24 has 10 verses. Verses 9 and 10 are the same as verses 7 and 8, so this is the end of this majestic ode to our great God and King – the Lord Jesus. There is a twofold purpose here. The first one is for the church of the Jesus to wake up from culturally induced slumber and realize just Who He really is! This makes a huge difference as we see less and less reverence for the power and holiness of God in most of our western churches these days, as well as less focus on making disciples.

Secondly, on an individual level, opening the gates to the King of ALL Glory, means the extreme vetting of our hearts and souls to ascertain, in the affirmative, if Jesus Christ TRULY is the Lord of our lives. Anything else is vanity. Amen.

"Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand His previous glory in its height of majesty, and His incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When He was enthroned in the highest heavens He was very God of very God; by Him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded Him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: He reigned supreme above all His creatures, God over all, blessed for ever. Quote from Charles H. Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening Devotional" - March 28, 2018

WORD OF LIFE, PART 17: "SEEING, THEREFORE - PROCLAIM"

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Something very intriguing has been developing all through our study and deeper look throughout Psalm 119. As initially mentioned, each portion has a subhead with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. It is no accident that Verses 1-8, for instances are headed by A (Aleph) which is one of the Names of the Word Who became flesh - Aleph (Alpha in Greek). In the previous portion from Psalm 119:121-128, the subheading is AYIN, which means Eye.

Through this "Eye", we observe the verses calling for the Lord to return to not just instruct, illuminate and inspire us with His Words, Commands and Statutes, but we observe that the insight gained therein, leads to a call for final Divine Intervention against God's enemies. This is also coming, one day soon. However, in the past, God has also judged those who hate Him and His people. We see this in the judgment of famine, drought and pestilence.

Now in the next portion of Psalm 119 today, we see the heading with the letter "PE" which means Mouth. The verses are proclaiming several things we are well served, if we observe:
Psalm 119:129-136
PE
129   Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them.
130   The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
131   I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.
132   Turn to me and be gracious to me, after Your manner with those who love Your name.
133   Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
134   Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
135   Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
136   My eyes shed streams of water, because they do not keep Your law.

Verse 129: What are the testimonies of the Lord and why are they wonderful? Anyone who has truly been born-again and plunged all into the Bible, will know not just the story of Creation (Genesis chapters 1 and 2; Job chapters 38-41) but the many direct, dramatic and even deadly actions from the Heavens which showed God's Power, Presence, Provision and more. From the Parting of the Red Sea for millions to cross on dry land to the immediate destruction of the Egyptian army...from the provision of all manner of quail to feed these same people in the desert to water from rocks....from God withholding rain from rebel Israel in the days of Ahab and Jezebel to Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem....from Jesus being raised from the dead after being killed on a Cross and buried to Peter and Paul raising the dead and healing many...and so much more. From all of this, we see why the Bible is not just the Oracles of God, but the Chronicles of God's Mighty Hand in Action. If all the actions, instructions and events surrounding God were all written down, there would not be enough libraries to contain all the books under heaven.

For this reason, by staying FOCUSED on Who the Word of God reveals and teaches about, we cannot avoid understanding it once our minds are lit up by it (verse 130)! The Eyes of our Hearts have been opened as the song by Paul Baloche goes (Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord), hence the letter Ayin (Part 16). But the true man, woman or child of God cannot and SHOULD not stop there!

First, we are duty bound to proclaim with our mouth (verse 131). In fact Salvation comes when we "confess with our MOUTHS and believe in our HEARTS, that Jesus IS Lord! So we already have to proclaim Him to be in His Kingdom for eternity. Secondly, many Christians do not know the gospel nough to clearly share the Truth and Love of God with others and those neglect this command to proclaim. If the Christian's desire and heart truly seeks after the Lord and His Goodness, we would not just know and see all His Attributes and Testimonies in His Word, but would have at least a modicum of spiritual wisdom to share and teach. Francis of Assisi is misquoted as saying "preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words". Although he did not actually say that, many Christians now use this to mean "Lifestyle Evangelism" is "the stuff". Francis actually said something to the effect of "let your deeds match your words", but even so, he was implying you have to use words!

So-called "Lifestyle Evangelism" never brought anyone to Christ or to their salvation! All that does is show "what a good person you and I are, compared to the other guy. They can SEE Christ in us by our actions. But what we really should wish the world to see in us is Transformation. It should be obvious to everyone, who have even come into contact with us for ten seconds, that there is something about us, which they should know. This something needs to be a life changed by the Holy Spirit, the Evidence of a life saved by Jesus Christ.

There are action points listed in this passage which will help lead us toward this end, so that we can accomplish what we are called to - teach/disciple/tell the world about Jesus. Here the are: 
- Verse 132 (turn, regard, look with favor and look my way, even for a brief moment that Your Glory will light up my life and Your Love for me will shine through me, oh Lord).
- Verse 133 (let me remain firmly grounded in Truth, so that no lie of the enemy will sway me, even for one second....and even if we get blind-sided as often happens, the sin and corruption of the dying world, will be swiftly swatted away).
- Verse 134 (deliver/protect/get me out of the way of evil men and women who not only do not have my interest at heart, but seek the destruction of the testimonies of the people of God - Christians).
- Verse 135 (continue to regard Your people with favor, oh God even as You correct/discipline/instruct and guide us to the Wisdom of Your Holy Word).

These four verses will lead to an ongoing dynamic and sweet relational abiding in Truth and the Wonder of Holy God. They also are a plea which places the responsibility on the Holy Spirit to light up the inner being of the Christian so that our spiritual eyes will be wide open, and remain this way. It is only when the Eyes of our Hearts are open, that we can then proclaim what we know to be true - the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

WHY JESUS MUST BE YOUR LORD

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 
(Romans 10:9-10)
There is a HUGE and severely important reason why the majority of western (and mostly North American) Christians do not live in victory, but fear and trembling. The reason actually revolves around the Lordship of Jesus Christ. To fully flesh out this in thesis form, it could take a couple volumes of books but the matter really boils down to some simple truths. 

For a century or more, a church service or sermon would end by the preacher asking variations of the following: "would you like to ask Jesus into your....fill in the blank (heart, life, mind, soul)". Another modus operandi is to say ask folks to come forward "if you feel the Lord tugging you". That one is a two edged sword. A long time ago in my early walk, I did go forward - not to be saved, but to give a man a piece of paper with my sins written down, so he could nail it to the Cross in an act of repentance. All of these methods revolve around one thing - "ASKING JESUS TO BE YOUR SAVIOR"...or pick your words: "trusting Him" or "giving your life to Christ as Savior".

Very rarely you will see, hear or know a preacher/evangelist tell you that Jesus MUST be the LORD of one's life. In my opinion, and those of us who are maligned as "Lordship" people, their approach is severely lacking in doctrinal authenticity and could lead to many a false conversion. Nowhere in Scripture does the Bible prescribe that a sinner ask "Jesus to be His Savior". Everywhere, we see the word "LORD"...and the verse above from Romans 10:9 is absolute proof!

In fact that first phrase of Romans 10:9 is proof of His Lordship! It underlines what Christ Himself says in Mark 1:15 - "Repent and believe the Gospel". In Romans 10:9, there is no "as" in the original so the text really is "of you confess with your mouth Jesus Lord" - that is acknowledging, agreeing, confession and proclamation that Jesus is Lord...and the belief comes from this declaration of Faith.

What really sealed the deal for me is this is Romans 14: "For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Now, this is not a future event we shall bow the knew to Christ as Lord THEN. This has already happened! He is LORD NOW! Thus, He MUST be LORD of your life and mine NOW, not then. This all comes down to commitment, obedience and surrender.

What am I saying - that a person who does not accept Christ as Lord of their lives is unsaved? First of all, that is only going part of the way. To be fully a child of God, in the realm of the eternal and to have received the blessings of eternal life, one's sins have to be forgiven. It is not works to ask forgiveness for your sins and THEN accept the free Grace that cometh our way to enable the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord AND Savior of the world and us. The desire to change, have a change of heart when we come to the end of ourselves and the choice is stark before us THAT is the point where He will enable us to seek Him out, make peace through Him and use that Godly sorrow which Holy Spirit has put there in our spiritual heart, to leadeth us to repentance.

Here is where the full measure of Grace begins as we see the unpleasant and unsavory people we are... in the Nostrils of God... the kind of sinner we are and cry out "God, Father, Jesus, please forgive me!" When I was called by the Lord unto salvation, no one witnessed to me or had me repeat a mindless prayer. I knew fully what I was doing and made a conscious choice. Even so, it was only when I wrote my current (at the time) sins down and made an effort to have then nailed to a Cross that I really felt FREE and under the Lordship of Christ. Since that day, Catie bar the door. I am a seminary dropout with only a Bible diploma, via mail study, from Liberty University. It is the Lordship of Jesus Christ, total surrender to the leading and teaching of His Powerful Holy Spirit, my best Friend and the Father's Grace and love, which keepeth me daily.

Friends, this is the only way to have the peace that passeth all understanding. Is Jesus Christ the Savior, Messiah and the Anointed One? Yes, He is. But for that to truly mean something, He MUST be Lord of your life and mine, after rejuvenation and the washing away of all iniquity. Think on these things, obey Him and He shall lead thee unto the path of all truth! Amen.

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 5

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 5
GOD IS ADONAI:




Adonai is such a complicated yet simple (in a sense) Name of God that it could take days to study it alone...and then you could never fully get to the end of the meaning of the word because it is as magnificent as Jesus is Himself!


The Bible uses both the singular and the plural of the word ADON. Adon is singular and could refer to men or angels (as in my Lord...when you and I are being polite or if a real angel visited us).


HOWEVER the plural ADONAI refers ONLY to GOD!!!


It would take too long and we would lose the attitude of prayer to explain the dozens of references in Scripture to Adonai. It would make an amazing personal or church Bible study to do that. But for now. Let's just look at two things.


Adonai speak of two important things to our Walk with God: Submission and Relationship.


Our Jesus confirmed He was Yahweh Who spoke to Moses in the Burning Bush when He told the Pharisees in John 8:58 ESV "Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” The words "I AM" is YHWH or Yahweh in the original Hebrew.

Yahweh is the Name you bow down to. You cannot be a child of God unless you submit to His Lordship and His Hand over your life. The minute you come to the end of yourself and realize that, repent of your sins and seek His Forgiveness, that is the ONLY point you are now saved!

This is the top end of the spectrum 

Romans 10:9 says "if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved". The the word LORD here is "Kyrios" or Master or you and I coming to the realization that Jesus has FULL OWNERSHIP and RIGHTS over us! 

This is the point where you full accept His Lordship and rule over your life. Once you give up the rights to, or as the Bible says "die to yourself", you are now a Child of the King....or He has you in His Hands. There is no more secure and better place to be than in the Hands of Jesus. 

This is the point where relationship begins.

This is the point where we, lowly mortal man, reaches up to Him and call Him Lord and Master!

You are not saved or a follower of Jesus if He is not your Lord and Master!  This is the essence of this relationship, my friends.  The Bible is clear by the exact meaning of the words it uses. Either we believe it or we don't. There is no middle ground or black and white.

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, I submit to Your rule over my life. I recognize and confess and admit that YOU alone are God! 

You are the first born of all creation.

You are the pre-existent God Who knew me before I was born.

You are the Great I Am, Who called Moses from a bush in the Sinai mountain.

You are the Great I am, Who confirmed in to the rebel Pharisees.

You are Adonai, the Lord and Master of my life.

You, Sir, have full ownership of me!

I surrender ALL rights I have to rule and run and even ruin my life to you.
I surrender all that I was, am and ever will be to You rule and direction FOR me.

I surrender every fiber of my being to you.

I surrender every thought, whim and every thing I will ever do to you.

I surrender all
I surrender all

All to thee my Precious Savior, I surrender ALL! ALL! ALL!

Take me, mold me, bend me, Adonai, my Lord and my God.

Take me, use me, send me, my Master and friend.

Take me, lead me, never leave me, my Shepherd and leader.

Jesus, Adonai, be the Lord of my life!
I am a possessor, not a professer.

You said that Your sheep know Your Voice and not one of Yours will be lost.
Adonai, my Master and Lord, that can only be so if I fully belong to You, Jesus!
So now, I again, confirm and affirm my complete submission to You, my King and thank you for rescuing me time after time and for giving me assurance that I am Yours and You are mine.

Bless you Adonai and bless our Daddy - Abba Father, with Whom we have covenant relationship, BECAUSE of You and the Cross of Calvary, 

In Your Most Holy and Precious Name, I pray, amen!

TOMORROW - DAY 6 - THE NAME 'ELOHIM'