Faithful GOD - April 3, 2014

Scripture: Job 1-2
6 Adonai said to the Adversary, “Here! He is in your hands, except that you are to spare his life.”
7 Then the Adversary went out from the presence of Adonai and struck Iyov down with horrible infected sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 He took a piece of a broken pot to scratch himself and sat down in the pile of ashes. 9 His wife asked him, “Why do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” 10 But he answered her, “You’re talking like a low-class woman! Are we to receive the good at God’s hands but reject the bad?” In all this Iyov did not say one sinful word.
13 Then they sat down with him on the ground. For seven days and seven nights, no one spoke a word to him; because they saw how much he was suffering.
Message:
HE is GOD and He is a faithful GOD through the good and the bad times.

Obeservation/Promise:
All of GOD's children are in GOD's hands, He protects us from harm and everything that is not good for us. The only time GOD gives us up from His hands is when He is going to test us and so we go through trials, and great sufferings, but this is all with GOD's consent. But the great about Iyov or Job was that he knew GOD and was faithful to him in both the good times and the bad times. The devil thought that he was just like any other man on earth, that will curse GOD when horrible things happen to him, but he was none like the others and GOD was proud of him the Lord even boasted about his servant to the devil and He was right about Job.

Application/Command:
Be faithful to GOD in the good times where we are not troubled by trials and everything to GOD but most especially in the bad times when we are suffering and going through such misery. GOD is always in Control, even when we see that everything is out of control. GOD has a purpose and plan for everything, therefore trust HIM and stay faithful to Him. No matter how hard difficult life is, all the more cling and hold on to GOD. In the end, GOD will prove Himself faithful and true to us and we His servants will end in praise and rejoicing because He is good!!! 

Shipwreck - March 29, 2014

Scripture: Acts 27-28
11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days.13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli.14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. - Acts 28

Message:
GOD is faithful even when we go through a Shipwreck

Observation/Promise:
There are times that GOD allows us to go through a time of shipwreck. But is always and only to serve His great and good purpose. Nothing that He allows in this world to His children will be a waste because He is a good GOD most especially to those that belong to Him. Paul went through a shipwreck but he already knew that it was going to happen for GOD had warned him and prepared his heart and mind. He not only was level headed among all those that were with him in the ship, he was the only one who made the most our of his experience after being in a shipwreck where they landed in an island with people they don't even know. He always made every opportunity to share the gospel to others and be a witness to the Lord and Savior Yeshua Ha Mashiach. The journey we go though in life is all planned by GOD. HE knows and sees everything.

Application/Command:
GOD supplies our every need in the journey HE has planned for our lives. GOD will never leave us in need because He is a faithful Father who cares for us. Most especially when we go through hard and difficult times, GOD is still behind everything working out the best for us. We only have to look to Him, cling to Him, hold on to Him especially in times of hardship. GOD knew that Paul needed the encouragement of believers after a time of shipwreck and GOD provided that when Paul arrived in Rome where he was sent to be in trial. If we are true to our faith, and Yeshua is really our GOD, we will find rest even in the times of war and storm. Only the true seekers in GOD will find joy and meaning even during a shipwreck.

The delight of GOD - March 26, 2014

Scripture: Psalms 149-150

2 O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. 

Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—
7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains,
9 to execute the judgment written against them. 

This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.3 2 

Message: 
The LORD delights in His People

Observation/Promise:
We delight in many things, we delight in simple things like food and in clothes, cars, and vacations. We delight in our children, our families, our achievement, our plans. But the Lord GOD of the Universe creator of all things, delights in His people. His children, the humble, those that need Him, hearts that seek Him, even broken hearts, He cares with fragility because it is precious to Him. He delights in our love, in our joys, in everything we do for GOD, HE delights in them.

Application/Command: 
Since we know that GOD delights in us, may we always seek GOD with our hearts and when we serve GOD, may we always serve Him with all our strength. Let us not take for granted the love of GOD for us, let us always honor Him with our actions, and thoughts. The delight of GOD is us and no matter what situation we are in life, whether in hardship or in joy, trying or success, GOD is looking after us and HE is actively participating in our lives, whether we know it or not. For He delights in our victory for He is the giver of victory. So Praise the LORD you who belong to the LORD, for He is faithful and He has given you all you need in life to prosper and succeed. He has given you Himself, take Him!!!

Stop Conforming

27 Moses told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” 28 The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
29 Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.”
- Exodus 32


One of the most radical things that a leader would say to his own people is to kill their fellowmen, brothers, relatives, neighbors and friends. What? How could this be? Why would GOD instruct such a tragic thing to the people HE chose to save from slavery? GOD means business. The LORD knew what a wicked people some of them are, and yet HE still saved them from slavery. But GOD gives second chances and so HE proved Himself first revealing HIMSELF to the whole Nation of Israel and they witnessed such great power displayed from the Heavens, amazing miracles that no one should forget about and constantly be in awe of.

Yet these people where hard hearted and stubborn. They complained even while they were being rescued and led out of their slavery. Their minds were so twisted they thought that they were better off being slaves in Egypt than live as free men out in the wilderness led by the Almighty GOD. These people have made Egypt a place of conformity  They have conformed to their enslaved lives, being so used to oppression, freedom seemed like such a hard thing to have. They should have been grateful but their hearts have grown cold towards GOD and they have offended HIM greatly that HE chose to just end them. GOD can end anyone of us, it is in HIS power and doing. But why are we still here today? So we can right the wrongs, repent and turn our hearts back to HIM once again. GOD has given us many chances don't waste it, stop conforming to this world. While you are alive, don't take for granted the chances of GOD, act now and turn to Him. 

Faithful Recabites

12 Then the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: 13 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. 14 The Recabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Jehonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me.15 Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me. 16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Recab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you have refused to listen to me.’

- Jeremiah 35

During this time, GOD was sending the prophet Jeremiah to prophecy against Israel. But Israel wouldn't listen because they still feel strong and able, like nothing can stop them. They haven't experienced the destructions that the prophets have been warning them will happen and so their hearts remained hard and unfearful. This is how calloused their hearts have become because of sin. Many prophets before Jeremiah have already prophesied to Israel of her coming disaster for they have been sinning against the LORD. GOD's mercy and faithfulness has brought Israel warning after warning before HE does what HE has been intending to do against Israel. Still they would refuse to listen. 

Then GOD uses comparison to let the people of Israel understand what HE felt. HE illustrated about the ways of the Recabites and how they have been faithful to obey their ancestor. It pleased GOD that even though it was just an ancestor instructing them not to drink wine, they have been diligently faithful to keep what their ancestor had said to them. Isn't it such a great honor to be praised by GOD before men? As simple as not drinking wine has caused GOD to honor the Recabites before the Israelites. What vows have you made before the LORD? The LORD requires us to worship Him alone, not to have any other gods and to always do what is right. Is this a thing so difficult to do? Let us learn from the faithful Recabites.