Assignments - May 8, 2014

Scripture: Judges 1-6
12 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” 13 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.
14 When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”
15 She said, “Let me have another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. - Judges 1

9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. 11 So there was peace in the land for forty years. - Judges 3
Message:
We are all called to do special assignments from the LORD.

Observation/Promise:
Caleb's daughter was a special girl, though she was only mentioned in the bible for a few lines, her story was that she married a man who was going to be a great leader and judge for Israel. Othniel might have been just a regular guy with simple dreams, a guy in love with a woman named Acsah which caused him to leave his simple life so he can fight the battle, win and have her hand. But Acsah was a girl who knew what she wanted, she wanted a field and asked her father for it even though it was not legitimate or usual at that time for daughters to ask their fathers an inheritance since it was only the sons who were allotted an inheritance. But her faith brought results for her and she not only asked her father first but she asked her husband before she had to ask her father. Her husband may not have agreed to it at first but eventually allowed her to ask. After a while the story of this couple continues as Othniel, Acsah's husband becomes a great leader and judge of Israel. Othniel may not be a person who dreamt of being a great leader but Acsah had a bigger perspective in life and from the start she always knew and wanted greater things.

Command/Application:

Men are called to be leaders, some great some small. But wives make a huge impact and difference in a man's life. They are the ones that help form leaders by the way of their support and love for their husbands. A single woman can alter the destiny of a man's life, and this is their special assignment from GOD. We all have assignments in life. What is yours? What is your partner's assignment? Know this and work on it!

Appointed - March 22, 2014

Scripture: Acts 25-26
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ -Acts 26
Message:
Appointed and sent to do great things for the Lord. Victorious with whatever circumstances.

Observation/Promise:
GOD has appointed each and everyone of His children to do a specific work for a specific purpose. We have different tasks but one Lord, some are called to evangelize, to preach, win souls, others are called to make disciples, plant churches, take on missions, work or do business but whatever GOD has called us to do in life, it is HE who has appointed us. HE will bless our obedience, and faithfulness, but most of all HE will bless us because HE is faithful. GOD has called us for specific tasks because He has created us and He knows that we do best at what HE has called us to do because this is what HE created us to be. 

Command/Application:
Make sure you know what GOD has called you to do and do it. If you don't know find out what it is because what you do in life will determine the success. Seek GOD about His purpose for your life, HE will reveal it because HE loves to reveal and speak to His children. If you are walking in line with GOD, HE will provide for all things, and bless you even if you are in prison like Paul. If you are not walking in line with GOD, you are working against GOD and you will struggle with everything that's going on. Do not fight with GOD as Paul did at first, seek Him and you will find, you will know, you will be blessed. HE has appointed you, be a blessing!

GOD's good plan

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 ... and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
- Ephesians 1

GOD has a plan, a great and grandiose plan for each of us and for the whole world at large. Why would HE go through all the trouble of creating a world, being hurt repeatedly by the humans HE intentionally created to love and worship Him? But GOD's heart is always for the good to every human person and creature alike. Therefore God's plans are good, they are to fulfill His own pleasure because His pleasure is always good. Paul explains GOD's plan the one day at the right moment, HE will bring everything together, both male and female, animals and plants, every living creature under the authority in Christ. He works out everything according to His plan. If you are part of this world, then you are part of GOD's plan. GOD's plan is always good, do you want to know what His good plans are for you?

If you want to know GOD's plan for you, you have to understand who GOD is, His greatness - who He is, His goodness - what He is like, His power - what HE can do. To know GOD, first we have to believe that HE exists and that HE is real and that HE is at work in every little thing in this world. You have to understand what He did to show His love for you, what Jesus did on the cross some 2,000 years ago is something that every seeker should take hold in His life - GOD sent His Son to die for you. Why? That's how much He loves you. Jesus is the proof of His love. Jesus was raised to life and right now is seated on the right hand of GOD is proof of GOD's power. Death is something everyone is certain about, but JESUS conquered even death and so will those who truly believe in Him. Do you want to be part of God's good plan? Believe and keep seeking Him.

One with Him

6 “‘Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest?
Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’
7 But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it,
when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?

- Jeremiah 47

10 “A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!

A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!"

- Jeremiah 48

The LORD GOD Almighty, Yeshua where by all name is saved is the Prince of Peace. So how can the sword of the LORD cause such harm and destruction among men? People are crying out rest from chaos and war but it does not rest, even when they cry out to GOD. The sword of the Lord does not rest because HE is the one who commanded it to attack and bring destruction. How can He be the Prince of Peace when He is starting the war? Jeremiah 47:4 For the day has come to destroy... Yes, the GOD of peace has ordained a day to destroy all those that are not in submission to His Lordship. He is a GOD of peace, but how can there be peace when there are lawbreakers in the land? Therefore He has to create destruction first before real peace can begin to take place.

If you know the work of the Lord and what He is doing this very moment, if this day is a day of destruction, then you will not lament with all those who want false and temporary peace. You will not cry out, you will be still in GOD because you are one with His will, one with His thought, one with His heart. And this is what we all should be as followers of Christ. We should know the very state of GOD's thoughts for these are the seasons He brings into our lives and into our surroundings. A curse on anyone who is not aware, who is lax in doing the Lord's work. A curse it is because they will think that the destruction is not of GOD, and they will think opposite from what GOD thinks, and so they will be in a place of hopelessness because they are offended and they ask "How could GOD allow such a thing?" Therefore, know your place in GOD's work and do not relent what HE has called you to do. If GOD has instructed to fight with your sword, then by all means do it. But how can we be instructed if we are not listening in the first place. Everyday seek His will and be one with Him in heart, mind, and in strength.

Time Spent Wisely

4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

- Psalm 39

It is wise to ask GOD for wisdom like King Solomon did. His request pleased GOD so much that the LORD not only gave him what he asked for - wisdom, but also gave to him, fame, riches and health. But King David in this verse asked for a very important thing too. To know how short his time is, so that he can make the most of his time on earth which the LORD has given him. Yes it may seem that we have all the time in this world, but we can actually waste our time with unnecessary things if we do not make use of it wisely. We can never know what we are supposed to do each day unless we inquire of GOD and acknowledge Him.

We can also spend our days working hard to get money, when in fact, GOD has already provided these things for us because His love and faithfulness is unchanging. We may not understand that the time we spend on working might not be the best time on Saturdays because it is best to spend time with your young children on Saturdays while they are young. And you will never know these things until one day, you may have all the wealth and money in this world, but you don't have anyone to share it with. Not even your children are there because they've grown up so fast and now are living their lives. Don't wait until it's too late, ask the LORD what to do with your time, even with your gifts and hope in Him alone. But it is constant that time spent with GOD in His word, in His presence, is time spent wisely.

Hope in Knowing GOD

28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you never heard from who or where? Have you never understood about what??? About who GOD is! HE is the only hope anyone could ever have in this world. If you are hopeless and anxious with troubles, there's only ONE to run to and seek refuge in. It is the LORD who is GOD, the Bible is a book written by GOD by people whom HE chose to write the books about HIM. If you have never heard or understood, you have to read HIS word and read it again and again until you understand just how much we need GOD in our lives. We take our focus on our troubles when we set our eyes on GOD.

There is so much hope when you read HIS word. You will begin to understand that not everything is dependent on you and that you don't need to be in control of everything in life because we cannot control everything. There is so much peace to know that there is someone greater than humanity that controls the entire universe. There is so much comfort that this someone is a Loving Being that is all powerful and never weak. That this Loving Being loves us and that we can call HIM our Father. It is so wonderful to know that our Father wants us to trust HIM and when we do, we will not lose strength but will soar with HIM even when it seems the world is crumbling. It is amazing to know that GOD is our Father and we don't have to be hopeless because HOPE is found in HIM.

Only One

5 For you are not a God
who takes pleasure in wickedness;
evil cannot remain with you.
6 Those who brag cannot stand before your eyes,
you hate all who do evil,
7 you destroy those who tell lies,
Adonai detests men of blood and deceivers.
8 But I can enter your house
because of your great grace and love;
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in reverence for you.

- Psalm 5:5-8 CJB

Who is the true and living GOD? What is HE like? We can understand HIS character and being only when we take time to know HIM by reading HIS word. King David knew GOD, and in HIS Psalm HE describes GOD who is a righteous GOD, who is not pleased with evil. HE is a GOD who hates the proud and will do away with those who do evil. HE will not let the wicked go unpunished, in fact HE will do away with men who tell lies, men who murder, and who is full of deceit. It is a wonderful thing to know that there is a GOD who  watches over good and evil, rich and poor and executes judgement on everyone according to the motive of their hearts and render justice.

Do you know this GOD? This GOD of the Bible? Yes, there are many gods in the world, many books of religion that tell about their god. But there is only one GOD that is true and alive. Only one GOD whose love for humanity is so great, it is a sin to ignore HIS love and reject His offer of salvation.  If you know this GOD, then you are one who can enter HIS house because you understand and have experienced HIS love and grace. There is no lack in life with someone who knows and loves GOD. He can worship GOD in His holy temple and have the greatest joy and fulfillment just by doing so... 

Chosen

14 “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. 15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.18 I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’
21 “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”
- Acts 22:14-18,21

Are you chosen? How is it that a certain man who belongs to a chosen nation - Israel was again chosen by GOD? Does it necessarily mean that if you are an Israelite you are chosen? Yes Israel is chosen by GOD to know HIM and do His will but if a certain Israelite does not follow or do His will, do you think that he is still chosen? You can't be chosen if you don't chose GOD too. Each of us are offered a place in GOD's heart regardless of race, culture, or whatever has happened in the past. All of us are called by GOD but only few become chosen when they chose GOD by accepting HIS call. What does it mean to be chosen? It is to chose to live for GOD in one's life. It is to know HIS will. When you chose GOD, you will see GOD and hear His voice. 

When we chose to follow GOD, immediately GOD instructs us to do something... we are to get up from where we are and be baptized, so that our sins are washed away when we call on the LORD JESUS or YESHUA Ha Mashiach, and His blood which He shed on the cross, to cleanse us from all of our sins and unrighteousness. We need this cleansing before we can do anything else for HIM. Sin create walls that stand in the way between us and GOD. Our unforgiven sins block us from hearing GOD and seeing GOD. Notice that right after Paul was baptized, he  saw JESUS in a vision and he heard the LORD JESUS tell him specifically what to do. When you hear from GOD it will be as clear as waters during the day. Are you seeing GOD, or hearing GOD's voice? Do you want to have this kind of life? Read and meditate on Acts 22:14-18 and you will understand what GOD wants you to do.