CONSIDER THIS: PLUMBLINE

 "I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness….Isaiah 28:17a

CONSIDER THIS: We should not miss what the Lord is saying both through Isaiah here…then Jeremiah….then Ezekiel…. and Amos! These Old Testament prophets were not just prophesying against wayward Israel or Judah! They are warning us today – 2600 years later! The Word of God is the Standard…or the Plumb Line, which is used in construction (in the natural world) to keep walls and buildings straight! Plumb line is Standard. God’s Plumb Line is Righteousness which only comes through Christ as Lord and Savior. If Jesus is not your Lord, the world will join you in equal justice on Judgment Day. The Measuring Line – used to keep things like bricks and mortar aligned properly – will be the yardstick of His Justice. Every Christian would be very wise to heed these words, from the Lord and adjust our thinking and lives, accordingly.

ACTION: Today, measure your own righteousness against the Holiness of God. that you may not lose rewards on that day. He has promised to hold His people to the Plumb Line of Truth. Remember this – “judgment begins in the House of the Lord”. We do this by reading the Word, in some form, daily and praying as much as possible, at all times during each day, of each week, of each month, of this and every year. While we may not see visible signs of immediate transformation, the daily washing of the Word, will happen over time, and bless those who obey it.

Oh Most Merciful Father, Maker of Heaven and earth and the One True Judge of all, help us to see ourselves in the Light of the purifying Word of God, that when we stand before You, on that great and glorious Day of the Lord, we will reflect the Righteousness of Christ, our Lord and Savior and found in Him. Lord, You are the Author of Truth and You will hold all mankind to the Plumb Line of that Truth. In our daily lives, from this day forward, may our every thought and action be in full alignment of this Word so that no fault will be found in us, on that Day. Be with us, guide us, direct us, teach us, let Your Spirit protect us and help us to take every thought captive that we can remain irrevocably surrendered to Your Will for our lives, each and every day, in Jesus’ Holy Name. Search every corner of our hearts, minds bodies and souls and if anything be found which is not of You, we repent of it and remove it from us as far as the East is from the West. We ask all of these things, now and forever, in Jesus’ Holy Name, amen and amen

THE FIRST FAITH....TO THE LAST FAITH

GUEST WRITER: 

RICK STASSI

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 1:16-18

RICK & DANA STASSI
WEBSITE: HERE

How can there be shame in the gospel? For it is Good News of the revelation of God , of Himself, to mankind to show perfection and flesh as ONE. What we first ‘heard’ we then ‘saw’ and now ‘do’.

The shame in the gospel is thus: Jesus was denied by those closest to Him. Jesus was mocked and scourged (Mark 10:34). The Messiah – the unblemished Lamb that came to be the propitiation, or complete appeasement, of sin, was spat upon and hung on a cross with a thief.

But even, more! We deny speaking His name as it is not a part of our cultural vernacular. Jesus is considered and outsider to conversation because we are uncomfortable and the one we converse with is as uncomfortable.

It can be said shame exists even in our walk with God. However, here it is said “I am not ashamed”. Say it and pray it. In the gospel is God’s revelation of righteousness.  As Matthew Henry states (paraphrased) the first faith is from God, Christ yet unseen, to the last faith, Christ thus come and risen. The just or righteous, the obedient and law-abiding, shall live by the last faith and we shall know this faith is evolved. For as once faith was unseen and then fulfilled through the stripes on Jesus’ back,  it is also our initial commitment to Him,  and the works of obedience we do and loyalty we have thereafter.

Wrath of God is now the eternal separation from our God because there is no righteousness where faith is absent. Where faith is absent, God yearns for our heart. We believe God. No wrath is greater than eternal separation in our unrighteousness and what seems righteous to the world is folly. Every man has his set of values. Each man a little different. Without a focal point of moral judgement and an Absolute moral standard, all is relative, it is Relativism. The concept is a simple one. A relative moral standard is diluted by the very body that claims it’s truth.

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” 1 Cor 1:25

Man alone in a self-centered wisdom cannot even approach God’s wisdom. Therefore, a claim that has been diluted holds even less merit. Man is foolish in his claims of goodness.

So let is be said, we are saved into righteousness through Jesus Christ and our hearts soar to His elevated throne. Righteousness is for we who are just. We who are just are righteous because we have faith. We have faith because we know that faith was first heard then seen on the cross. I plead you hear these words. Seek Jesus unashamed. Follow Him unashamed. Speak His name to the world so man will hear. 

It is Good News that all sin is appeased and placed on the cross and death is defeated. Life is born for we who seek it. We have eternity. We are the just and faithful.

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 20

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 20


GOD IS JEHOVAH-NISSI (THE LORD IS MY BANNER)


The practice of going into battle with a banner or a standard before you, is as old as the Bible - literally!


The book of Exodus, Chapter 17:8-16 records the famous battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. It is famous because it contains the account of Moses high up from the battle. Whenever Moses held his hand up, the Israelites would be winning the war. When his arms grew tired and fell to his side, the Israelites started losing and would be beaten back!


Finally Moses' brother Aaron and Hur, came up to Moses and both men held up Moses' hands so he won't get tired.  Aaron and Hur did that until sundown and the great Joshua, God's General, had completely beaten the evil Amalekites!


The Lord told Moses to write down this account in a book (now called Exodus). Moses built an altar to the Lord and called it "THE LORD IS MY BANNER" or Jehovah-Nissi! He declared "He is my Banner, a Hand upon the Throne of the Lord!! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation"!

Amen.


As a side note, God did war against Amalek again in the Bible. There was a man in the book of Esther named Haman who tried to destroy the Jews again, just like his ancestors - the Amalekites. This was when God chose both Mordecai and Esther to save his people. God's woman - Esther- became the Queen of Persia!


THE LORD IS MY BANNER (or Standard).


His Standard goes before us today. You and I, who are saved, follow the Blood-stained banner of the Cross of Christ. The Cross is our Standard. Our spiritual hearts are the altars. Our bodies, the Temple (of the Holy Spirit). We sacrifice ourselves at this altar daily to our one True God. 


Father in the Name of Jesus, I thank You, oh God Most High, that You have given us the Victory against our own Amalekites - the modern day demons of sin, lust, greed and the flesh.


God, my Father, You are the Standard, the Plumbline of Truth, the Banner of Truth, Who goes before me and fights all my battles and wins them, just as You did for Your great general Joshua, who took Your people into Canaan, the Promised Land.


Lord, Moses held up his hands and Your Servant Joshua won the Battle. But, Lord, he needed help, because his hands got tired! Today, of Father in Heaven, we who wait upon You will never get tired, if we follow You as You said. We will run and never get tired. We will soar like the eagles.


Today, oh Lord, we fly under the Blood-stained banner of the Lord Jesus Christ...my Lord and Savior. Jesus set the standard when He gave all at the Cross, that we might be saved and grafted into the Kingdom. I accept that Standard for my life.


Jesus told me take up my own Cross daily and follow Him. That banner of the Cross goes before me as a symbol of my undying surrender to Him and my perpetual dying to the deeds of my flesh.


Jesus told me His Word is Truth and the Scripture cannot be broken. That banner of the Word of God is embedded on my heart and mind and goes before me as the Living Bible and Word in action, as I seek to walk in Christ's Light daily.


Jesus told me the Counselor, the Helper will come to lead me unto all Truth. That banner of the Holy Spirit has firm hold of my eternal soul and access to the very core of my being, in order that all 9 Fruits of the Spirit will shine through me, as a banner of Christ's Love and Salvation living within me.


I thank You God for that privilege.
I thank You God for that honor.
I thank You God for that Truth.
I thank You God for that free gift from You!


I lift up my hands in Praise as Moses did.
I will never tire of worshiping You in everything.
I will lift up my heart in Praise.
I will lift and exalt Your Holy Name daily, for it is Good and I will seek to inspire many to come to Faith and Trust in You, in the Mighty Name of Christ Jesus, the King, amen.

TOMORROW: GOD IS WISE

(image by bing images)