Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Who Do I Need To Forgive And Resume Loving

Leviticus 19:18---Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.

Love...keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:4) Jesus said that this was one of the Laws that summed up all the others (Matthew 22:39,40). I'll bet when you read that verse, the 'bear a grudge' part pricked your heart, or at least provoked a memory. We seem so ready to be offended in this day and age. Jesus warned us that this would be true (Matthew 24:12). We have lauded self-esteem but forgotten to warn of pride. Pride sets itself above others and demands that others give us respect and honor. If we hear a word spoken against us, we readily forget all the words we have spoken that are wrong against others and excommunicate that person from our love and grace. In the worst cases, we play the offense over and over in our minds until it festers and becomes an infection in our memories. Just to touch on it brings back the pain. Believe it or not, the cause of all that is self, not the one who offended you. If we esteem others better than ourselves, we will examine their words to see if there is truth in them. If there is, we will apologize and adjust our life. If there is not, we will give those words to God and go on loving that person. How many times have we offended God? Does He harbor each offense and bring them up to you every time you want to pray? Jesus said that God will treat you as you treat others. It sounds like we better be very generous in our forgiveness, don't you think?

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Let The Word Of God Dwell In You

Matthew 13:22-23---He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Perhaps the most famous of all of Jesus' parables is the parable of the sower. The seed was illustrative of the word of God. It was sown on a path, rocky ground weed-filled led ground, and good soil. The seed on the hard path was eaten by birds. That which grew in the rocks withered from heat, because the roots were shallow. The seed that grew with the weeds bore no fruit because of the choking power of the weeds. The seed in the good ground multiplied from 30 to 100 times the amount of seed. The soil is a picture of man's heart. The hardhearted never allow the word to take root. The stony heart does not let the roots grow deep. When difficulty comes, they forsake the word. We are focusing on the seed among the weeds. Jesus said the weeds are worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth. Some hearts will never allow their trust for daily needs to be placed in the Father's hands. They think their own hard work and planning is the way they survive. The fear of lack drives them to concentrate on gaining wealth. Jesus called wealth deceitful. It promises satisfaction and provision, but it can do neither. It can fly away with one little monetary crisis. Today's hot investment is tomorrow's big loser. If your heart is set on these things, you will not bear fruit. In a weedy field, the weeds suck the nutrient from the soil. That keeps the stalk of grain from having sufficient nutrients to form the grain heads. The good soil produces many times over what was originally sown. Is the word of God multiplied in your life? Are you giving the word out because of the increase the word has produced in the good soil of your heart? If not, examine what kind of soil your heart is. The Lord is waiting to change the condition of that soil if you will ask.

The Challenge Of The Cross

The Wonder That Took Place On The Cross

Leviticus 17:11---For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Blood brings life-giving oxygen and nutrients to every cell in our bodies. It carries away the waste from every cell. Without this wonderful process of both bringing nutrition and carrying away waste, we quickly die. Our brains cease to function after only a short time without sufficient blood flow. Truly, blood is our physical life. God told Moses that the reason He designed us this way was so that the blood could make atonement for us on the altar. It makes atonement or covering for our sins. As the priest would slay the once- a- year atonement sacrifice, he would gather the blood to sprinkle before the Ark of the Covenant where God dwelt. The blood brings life, and the blood takes away impurity. Man's rebellion against God is so serious that only death is a sufficient penalty. Since life is in the blood, blood must be spilled as justice. From the foundation of the earth, God determined that it would be the blood of His own Son. That was the only blood that could take away the impurity of the world. All other blood was insufficient to remove sin. They had their own sin that needed to be removed. The blood of animals could cover for a time (atonement) until the sufficient blood was shed, the blood acceptable to God for the sins of the world. Thank God today that He made a way to do what you could never do. Without the blood of Jesus, there would be no hope for the removal of the impurities of your life. Like a person with liver failure, you would have died on your own poisons. But the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Is There Something That Is Competing For Your Love For God?

Exodus 34:14---For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

We run into trouble when we think of God as we would think of a man. That is all we have to relate to, other humans. With the exception of Jesus' physical life, all human comparisons with God's character are flawed. When we read this passage, at first, we may think of jealousy is an unholy quality. That would be thinking as if God was like man. He is not. He is utterly holy. We can understand Him calling Himself a jealous God if we consider His other attributes. His jealousy is out of a holy heart of real love. Since we are dedicated to Him as His bride, He longs to see us uncompromisingly dedicated to Him. His desires are entirely pure and unselfish. The motivation of His jealousy is His genuine love that knows His ways are best for us. He wants to see us made into a pure and spotless bride. The same word for jealous in Hebrew can be translated zealous. God has a great zeal to see us transformed into the image of Christ. It is out of His great love that we see this jealousy, or zealousness, in God. It is hard to fathom that Someone so great could love us so much. We, in proper response, should allow our love for Him to flourish. We should be zealous about Him as well. We should also be sensitive to times when something may be competing for our love for Him. It is not a good idea to arouse His jealousy. It is there for our good.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Let the King Reign in Your Heart

Matthew 11:12-14---And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

John the Baptist came preaching repentance. Though he was the last to hold the Old Testament office of prophet, his message was not about the Law. It was about the coming kingdom of heaven. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Crowds were drawn to the wilderness to hear John speak and be baptized by him. Their hearts were becoming a level highway for Christ to enter in. Even though the Spirit was forcefully moving people, they had to be willing to buck centuries of tradition and thought patterns to hear and receive the Gospel. The Prophets and the Law pointed to the coming Messiah. The Jews believed that Elijah would return to prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus was telling them that Elijah had come, in John the Baptist. John was the one that prepared the way for the Messiah. All history pointed to the moment in time in which they lived. The revelation of God to man was climaxing in that day. No wonder Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was forcefully advancing since John began his ministry. This was it! But it continues its advance. After Jesus ascension, the Spirit was poured out upon men. The kingdom of heaven continues to forcefully advance. Have you forcefully laid hold of it? It takes an effort to break the traditions and thought patterns of man and let Christ be formed in you. Forcefully lay hold of the kingdom of heaven in all your ways. Don't allow the world to hold you back! Lay hold of the kingdom of heaven.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

In Him We Find Rest

Exodus 33:13-15---Now, therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

Moses had set up a tent where he would go and meet with the Lord. The cloud that led them would come over the tent when Moses went to commune with God. He had a special place he would go. It is a good example for us. We should commune with God throughout the day, but a special place to really hear from God can be helpful. After Moses saw the devastation that sin brought to the camp and was reminded of the fallen nature of man, he asked God to teach him His ways so that he would stay in God's favor. Moses was asking to learn to walk in righteousness. He wanted to forsake the ways of man and live in the ways of God, that he might please God. How can he lead if he does not know God's ways? His reminder that the nation is God's people enforces the need to know God's ways. He had already received the Law, but Moses knew it was more than just rules for living. Instead of giving Moses more rules or a book to study called The Ways of God, He gave Himself. Presence is rightly capitalized here. This is the Prince of the Countenance. It is Jesus going with Moses. That is who is in the cloud as the angel of the Lord. He is the One who meets with Moses in the tent. He is the Way of God. Moses rightly says, "If your Presence does not go with us we don't want to move." I hope you have come to the same conclusion. Sin is devastating. You need to know the ways of God. You need His Presence with you in all you do and everywhere you go.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Carrying A Burden For People

Exodus 32:31-32---And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
While Moses was on the mountain receiving God's instructions, the people had gone their own way, insisting that Aaron make them a god to lead them. Freed from the bondage of Egypt and now thinking they are free of a moral leader, they threw caution to the wind and gave in to their lusts. While Aaron formed a golden calf from their donated earrings, the people partied wildly. God told Moses to get back to the people, for they had already broken the commandments He had just given. God described the people as stiff-necked. In other words, if you call to them, they will not turn their head to hear. They go their own way. God said He will destroy them and begin again with Moses' children to make a nation for Himself, but Moses pled to God with the above prayer. Imagine if Moses had not had such a heart for the people. The nation would be called the Children of Moses, not the Children of Israel. Here we see the real heart of an intercessor. Paul the Apostle had the same burden for Israel. These men shared the heart of their LORD. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that we would not perish. How much are you willing to give of yourself for the lost around you? Pray for a heart for others like Moses and Paul had, and most of all, like our heavenly Father, who is not willing that any should perish.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

What Will You Do?

Matthew 9:36-38---But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

When you look at a crowd, what do you see? Jesus' heart breaks for them because they are so helpless. That image of sheep without a shepherd is full of implications. They don't know where to go for food or water. There is no one to tend to wounds. The wolves come in whenever they please and devour as many as they like. We are harassed by our flesh from within, and the carnality of others from without. Then there is the Devourer. He is ready to give us whatever we lust after that will destroy us. Harassed and helpless! Jesus used the analogy of a harvest loaded and ripe. If no one gets out there and picks it, the harvest is wasted. I have seen it happen when there is a bumper crop. The fruit is just waiting to be picked. But when you can't find enough help, and in our world today it is hard to find laborers that will work at a wage that makes it profitable, the fruit starts to drop to the ground. Those that will work give it their all every day and go home exhausted. The Fall winds come and shake the fruit off the tree. Finally, the freeze comes and destroys what is left. If you are willing to share the heart of Jesus, what should you do? Our first thought is practical. Run out and join them. But that is not what Jesus asked us to do. He requested that we ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest field. You have to know how to pick without damaging and wasting the fruit. Running out and trying to help is not the solution. Prayer is the answer! God is training the harvesters. Pray that He will send them. God wants you to participate through prayer, by praying His will into the earth.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Jesus' Transforming Touch.

Exodus 29:37---Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it, and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
There is a principle here that Jesus referred to in the New Testament. Some things were dedicated to God in such a way that they could not be defiled from without. If someone brought an offering and placed it on the altar, and they later found the offering was defiled, there was no need to purify the altar a second time. The altar made the gift holy. We see that principle displayed in the life of Jesus. Whatever He touched or touched Him became whole. Normally, if a leper or person with a bleeding tumor touched someone, the person they touched would need to go through a cleansing ritual. Not so with Jesus. Instead of defiling Him, the one who touched him was healed. The Most Holy object purifies the defiled one. Jesus is our altar. He is the One upon Whom we cast our lives. We place ourselves upon Him on the cross, but instead of defiling Him, we are raised with Him, whole, cleansed, and holy. The altar has sanctified the gift, for it is Most Holy. It doesn't matter how defiled you are, if you present your body a living sacrifice upon the altar of Jesus upon the cross, you will be made holy. His holiness is more powerful than any defilement or impurity because of His blood shed in your place. Have you placed yourself upon the Most Holy Altar? Once you have, then you are to go out into the world transformed (Romans 12:1,2) to bring that transforming touch to all who come into your life. The holiness imparted to you should also transform, not be conformed to, the world around you.

God Made A Way

Exodus 28:35-37---And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy placebefore the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.

Once a year the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of the Atonement Lamb. There he would sprinkle the blood before the Lord. Around the bottom of his robe were bells that sounded as he walked so that he would be identified by God as the priest that brought the atonement blood. A tradition says that the other priests would tie a rope around his ankle in case they had to drag out his dead body. If the priest was not right with God or did not function according to God's command, he might be struck dead! On the turban and over the priest's forehead was a gold plate that read 'Holy to the LORD'. As the priest entered, he would be in the presence of the glowing ball of light, the Shekinah Glory, that hovered over the ark. It was a visible manifestation of the invisible God. The great curtain that the priest went through to enter this place was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died. We now have free access to God. We do not need to fear sudden death because of our sin in the presence of a Holy God, for the atonement blood of Jesus is over us. That blood is the blood all the other sacrifices looked forward to. Our minds are dedicated to God as His instruments, and so, God sees the same golden sign over our foreheads, 'Holy to the LORD'. We are made priests unto God (2 Peter 2:5).

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation Never Give In Or Give Up

The Kind Of Man Creation Obeys

Matthew 8:25-27---And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?  Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

In a recent low water level of the Kinneseret Lake, a boat dating back to the first century was found preserved in the mud. Archeologists know it was a Jewish boat from that time because there are murals remaining to this day of those boats. If this is the same kind that Jesus and His disciples were in, twelve people would have made a very full boat. There was a quarterdeck up front, under which the nets could be stored. Jesus was probably under there sleeping on the nets. He was an early riser. Before the day got going, He got His instructions and fellowship with His Father. He must have been wiped out physically to have slept through the storm. Jesus was an all-out kind of person. This seems like another one of Satan's attempts to stop Jesus. Other Gospels tell us that He was on His way to the Gentile region of Decapolis. The Gospel was going to make great advances there. We can expect resistance when we are obeying the will of the Father. The Jews considered the depths of that lake to be the Abyss. To think they might drown was more than just a fear of death. They woke Jesus and pleaded for Him to save them. Jesus first rebuked them for their lack of faith. The rebuke was not that they did not do what He was about to do, but that they feared. Faith believes that God is greater than any difficulty or situation we find ourselves in. Jesus' chosen ones need never fear. Their Shepherd is greater than all. Then he rebuked the wind and waves, and there was a complete calm. What kind of man is this?   What is your answer? It has a great deal to do with whether you will have fear or faith. If your answer is, "He is my Savior, Creator, Master, and friend!", then you need never fear what comes your way.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Becoming A Bond-Servant Of Jesus

Exodus 21:5-6---And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul, and he shall serve him forever.

The Israelites had a very humane and self-respecting way of dealing with financial difficulty. If you could not make ends meet, you could sell yourself as a slave for a seven-year period. Very clear laws protected the way you were to be treated. During the seven years, you would have food and shelter. At the end of the time, you were set free with money to begin again.If you chose to stay with your master if you found that place to be more suited to you than the outside world, you could give yourself as a lifelong slave to your master. Some slaves found their master to be kind and generous, and life in their service was much more secure and meaningful than struggling to make a way for themselves. When one decided to do this, his master would take him to the door of the home. His right ear would be pierced with an awl to the doorpost. He would then be a lifelong bondservant. Why pierce the right ear? The door represents the entrance and exit to the home. Now his ear is to be attentive to the needs of this home, attending to its needs alone. Several of the writers of the New Testament refer to themselves as a love-servant of Jesus Christ. They had given themselves for life to have their ear attentive to the needs of the heavenly home. They would no longer consider a life outside in their own house but now turn all their attention to the directions given them in their new home.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Jesus Is Willing To Reach Out And Touch You

Matthew 8:1-3---When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

The Jews lumped all types of skin diseases under one category. God had given Moses specific instruction about quarantining those who had a skin disease. They were to live apart from others. If anyone approached them they had to warn them by shouting, "Unclean!". To touch a person that had a skin disease required the one who touched them to go through a cleansing ritual to see if they had contracted the disease. This man's disease must have been quite obvious. He may have had what we call leprosy. There was no need to tell Jesus what it was that he needed cleansing from. It is hard to imagine not having the touch of another person for a long period of time. The man must have been not only suffering physically but emotionally as well. As he yelled, "Unclean!", the people parted as if an invisible wedge cleared the way to Jesus. "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." The man expressed His faith in the ability of Jesus. He called Him a master. Jesus does not have servants and great wealth. He is a different kind of lord. He is master of His creation. Then Jesus did something that required faith. He touched the man. If the man was not immediately cured, Jesus would have been considered defiled. Jesus would have to go through the cleansing ritual. Jesus responded, "I am willing. Be clean!" His touch and words made the man whole. We cannot defile Jesus. His purity overcomes our defilement. He is willing to touch and cleanse you. Are you suffering? Know that He is willing. He will touch you. His purity is greater than your defilement.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

True Life

Exodus 20:17---Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.

The first five commandments deal with our relationship with God. The last five deal with our relationship with mankind. They are very clear outward actions like not murdering, not stealing, and not lying. Every one is an indication of a problem with the heart. This last one, however, deals directly with the desires of the heart. The Law is a schoolteacher that brings us to Christ. When we consider this last one, we realize that something in us must change. It is not an action that we do but our very desires that must change. We can want to change our desires, but new desires only come out of a new heart. A new heart can only be given to us by the indwelling life of the Son of God. He's the only One that can fix our 'wanter'. The old heart is always thinking a little more will satisfy it, but no matter how much more we get, it never does. When Jesus' life indwells us in an unhindered way, we find the problem, we call "keeping up with the Joneses", is gone. In its place is a desire for the heavenly. We are glad for the prosperity of the Jones' family, but we desire things above. "Set your affections on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1) When we sense ourselves breaking this tenth commandment, we are being warned that we are stepping out of the new life of the Lord in us and back into the old self that is motivated by greed, which is idolatry. Then we should yield again to the new life and move back into a walk in the Spirit. Is your 'wanter' fixed?

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Obey God

Exodus 19:4-6---Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Redeemed from the oppression of slavery; now what? Now obey, and you won't go back into slavery. As a people free from the things that enslave the world, they can be priests to the world. That was God's intention. He wasn't just building a little social club. Instead of becoming inwardly focused on themselves, they were placed on the trade routes of the world to be an example of what a nation led by God looked like. God was about to give them the Ten Commandments. First He asked if they wanted to accept the call. Then He instructed them, through the Law, how to be that example the world needed to see. If they could live that way, they would be priests to the world. In the days of Joshua and some of the reign of David, that was true of them. David's conquest of Israel's neighbors brought the influence of the Law to the surrounding nations. You have been redeemed from slavery too. It is not just to hang out in your church social group. It is to affect the world around you. Though you are not under the Law as your guide, you have a more intimate Instructor, the Holy Spirit. If you have dedicated yourself to being the LORD's vessel in every area of life, you will need His constant instruction to be the example the world needs. You become a priest to those your life comes in contact with, directing them to the Word of God and showing them an eternal perspective (1 Peter 2:5). You are an heir of this promise through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Do Current Events Point To The End Time?

The Torn Veil

The Banner Held High

Exodus 17:12-13, 15---But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
The rod of God was in Moses' raised hands. To the Israelites, this was one of the many pictures that symbolized the power of God with them. The rod had been the instrument of destruction for Pharaoh's army. It became like a banner to them, like a flag carried before them into battle. It constantly encouraged them that the LORD was present. We need the same kind of encouragement as we go into battle, especially when it is a hard-fought battle. We find the LORD Himself to be our banner. His promises to be with us encourage us if we keep our eyes on them. But like Moses, there are times when we are physically or emotionally exhausted. It is just plain hard to keep holding the banner high. We need an Aaron and a Hur to come alongside us and help hold our hands up. That is one reason God placed us in a spiritual family. Who do you go to? It is usually those that the LORD has brought beside you at that particular time. It varies through the years so that we do not take our eyes off the banner and place them on one of these helpers. Jehovah Nissi , the LORD is my banner. If your life has been dedicated to Him, then He is your banner as you go into the battles of life. You know He will be with you. When you grow weary, look around, for He has surely brought along some brother or sister to help hold the banner high until that battle is over. Since we are in a covenant relationship with Him, our enemies are His and His enemies are ours. If God is for us, who can be against us?

The All-Sufficient Heavenly Father

Matthew 7:7-8, 12---Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Man has a tendency to act as if heaven was stingy. We go to God and ask as if His resources were limited. Our poverty in asking, seeking and knocking reflects our poverty of understanding the gracious heart of our Father. He speaks, and resources come into existence. Perhaps we have this mistaken attitude because we so often see people who will not go to Him for their needs. We refuse to hear His answer to our need, and so we continue in our impoverished ways. God is more willing to give than we are to receive. Heaven is filled with answers to prayers that are yet to be prayed. When we get a right attitude about God's attitude, we find our own attitude toward giving is changed. If I believe He desires to share His all-sufficiency with me, I have no problem sharing with others in need. Then I can do to others what I would hope that they would do to me. I don't have that greedy attitude that says I must make sure I have what I need first. Instead, I look at my lack, give to those that are in need, and go back to my heavenly Father for the replenishing of my need. With resources like that, I can give to anyone that comes my way. Jesus is giving us insight into why the Law was given. First, it should give us a new perspective of the goodness and graciousness of the love of God for man. That should cause us to love Him in return. Then, it tells us how to live with our fellow man with concern and love. Rebellion (sin) says we are not our brother's keeper. It says we are only to look after self. The spirit of the Law is loving concern for those in need. Are you walking in the Spirit?

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Complaints Against Men Are Often A Complaint Against The LORD

Exodus 16:8---Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."

After the plagues, parting of the sea, destruction of Pharaoh's army, and provision of water at Marah, you would think the Jews would realize that it was God that delivered them and spoke to them through Moses. What does it take for us, after all, that we have seen and read, to know that it was God who spoke to us in His Son? Do we know He has been our Deliverer? The people were complaining about not having anything to eat. "Can God provide a table for us in the wilderness?" What happened to their herds? That was their wealth, but they were unwilling to see them as God's provision. God will provide quail and manna so that they may be convinced (16:6). How patient God is with us! What will it take to convince us? If we will open our manna, the Word of God, every morning and evening, we will find it is God who gives us our daily spiritual bread. Then our hearts will be convinced that it was indeed the LORD who delivered us. Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven." (John 6:51) "The word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) We should collect our daily manna just as the Israelites did. The last part of that verse is an encouragement to pastors. When your pastor is preaching the Word of God and those in the church grumble against him, they are not grumbling against him, but against the LORD. Be careful whom you oppose as you may be opposing the LORD.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Stay Focused on His Kingdom

Matthew 6:25, 33-34 ---"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

In the verse just prior to this, Jesus told His disciples they had to choose between serving God and serving money. Loving one causes a detesting of the other. If you are going to rely on your own ability and what you can earn, your trust in God will fade. If you rely on God and His provision, your trust in self will fade. We all choose where we will place our faith. We may say it is of God, and yet our actions show we are relying on the money we earn. Jesus is asking a question we should consider. What is life about? What is the importance of life? Is it to be dressed nicely and eat the nicest food? Or is it about the kingdom and His righteousness? You will act on what your heart really believes. Do we live for our taste buds? Once put so plainly, we see the absurdity of it. This is the way unbelievers live. If we have come to believe in the God who desires intimate fellowship with us, then we should be living for much greater goals than food and clothes. Surely, as we live in pursuit of His kingdom and righteousness, He will take care of those things for us. How wonderful and worry free the life of the Christian should be! We have a God who provides our needs day by day. We have found life to be more than the physical. We have found that our provision is not from our ability. We may struggle and go through difficulty, but we have purpose and meaning in our life. The great Provider will provide our every need in His perfect time. Rest in Him. Trust Him to be who He declares Himself to be. Focus on the real importance of life, and your temporary lack of a physical need will seem as insignificant as it really is. Before you know it, He will meet the need.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Let God Be The Song That Rises Up In You

Exodus 15:2-3---The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.

The Israelites are now praising again. The enemy is washing up on the shores, and they are freed. But are they? They have escaped the land, but the system and ideas of Egypt are not yet out of them. The enemy army is dead, but the nation of Egypt will rise again and harass Israel. This is a perfect picture of us when we are delivered from sin. We are out of the world (positionally), but the Spirit of God will continue to get the world out of us through our experiences in life as we walk with Him (experientially). They have learned that the LORD is their strength, though when they get to the border of the Promised Land, they will think they are not strong enough, completely forgetting this lesson. May the LORD help us remember that He is our strength! He is our song! The joy that bubbles up in melodies of praise is the LORD. He is the song on my lips and in my heart. He is my joy, for He has become my salvation. Who is my salvation? Jesus! He has freed me from my enemy. He defeated death, hell, and the grave. That should always be our song and praise, as we exalt the One who has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. The mightiest Warrior is with me. Why should I fear an enemy? If God is for me, who can be against me?

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Forgive Like You Want To Be Forgiven

Matthew 6:12-14---Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

In the last half of the prayer that the Lord taught His disciples, Jesus teaches us the need to forgive others. We are to ask God to forgive our indebtedness to Him in the same way that we have forgiven other's indebtedness to us. It is human nature to become bitter toward those who have been unjust toward us, yet, we are daily unjust toward God. He pours out so many good things upon us, but we rarely return the gratitude that is due Him. We rarely respond to His love with the love that is due Him. He asks us to be perfect. (5:48) That would mean responding as we should. Yet, He remembers our human condition and asks one thing. Forgive others like you want to be forgiven. Imagine the transformation that would take place in the world if individuals would do just that! The prayer ends with a request to not be led into temptation, but instead, to be delivered from Satan. This prayer is in recognition of our weakness. It asks for divine intervention to keep us from areas in which Satan would ensnare us. Spiritual people don't consider themselves capable. They rely on the strength of the Lord. In the Spirit, they know they can do anything the Lord calls them to do. At the same time, they see how weak their flesh is and ask for heaven's intervention. The only way they will finish strong is by the grace of God. The one comment Jesus makes on the prayer is to point back to forgiveness. If you forgive others when they wrong you, you can be assured that God will forgive you. This teaches us that the heart of God desires to see me walk in peace, and longs for strife between individuals on this earth to cease. Are you walking in the light of this?

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

God Cares

Exodus 12:37-38---The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks, and herds.

In the area of what was the city of Rameses, where the Israelites lived, archeologists have recently uncovered Hebrew dwellings from this time period. Never forget you are reading true stories as well as the hand of God upon human history, revealing Himself to all who will see. One plague after another hit the things the Egyptians considered to be gods, but God spared the Children of Israel. God was demonstrating the truth to the Egyptian nation in each and every plague. If blessings (Joseph and the dreams of the Pharaoh) will not turn us to Him, then He will allow plagues that in the end will be for our good, if we heed the message. In the above verses, we see that God was successful in converting a great number of them. When the Children of Israel left "many other people went up with them." I imagine this was when Moses wife was converted (Numbers 12:1). These Egyptians, as new believers, joined this great throng coming out of Egypt. They had seen the true God demonstrate through the plagues that He was the only God. They believed His message. They also saw the lives of the Children of Israel and, though culturally very different, they chose to band with those who followed the true God. Many are converted today to the hardships of life as they see that the gods they cling to cannot save or even help. We must be there with an example that our God does care and will help so they can join a different nation that is coming out of the world, a nation whose citizenship is in heaven.

What Every Church Needs

Privileges of Adoption Into God’s Family

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

The Cross of Blood

Exodus 12:22---Take a bunch of hyssop dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.

The Hebrew word for basin meant a drainage trough at the base of the door that kept rain from crossing the threshold and muddying the house. That is why it is sometimes translated threshold. Follow the Israelite head of his home as he takes a specific type of branch, hyssop, and from the base of the door marks the top and the sides. What has he just done? He has made a cross over the entrance of his dwelling. Now come forward in time over a thousand years to a hill just outside a gate of Jerusalem. There is a man bleeding from his feet, his head, and his hands. Jesus is bleeding there for you so that the Destroyer cannot take your life. A Roman soldier grabs a branch with a sponge on the end to moisten Jesus' lips (John 19:29). What kind of branch is that? Hyssop! Jump forward to today, two millenniums later. Night has come upon the earth for the world is in darkness, but in the house of the Lord, there is light. Morning is coming. A new day will soon dawn, but until it does, you had better stay in the house (the fellowship of believers). The Destroyer is out on the streets and anyone not behind the cross of blood is fair game to him. "In Him (Jesus) is life and the life is the light of men."

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Keep Me Safe Under the Shadow of Your Wings

Exodus 12:13---The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

The Exodus is a story of deliverance. After God showed the Egyptians that He was greater than all things they worshipped as gods, they still refused to let the Israelites go to worship Him. The last plague was the death of the firstborn. Pharaoh was worshipped as a god by the Egyptians, and his son would take his place. This was the last god of the Egyptians to be plagued because God is merciful. God gave His people a way to escape the angel of death. They were to take an unblemished lamb and kill and eat it. The blood was to go upon the doorposts. If the blood marked their dwelling, God would pass over them. The word in Hebrew is that of a mother bird hovering over her chicks. God is not going to just skip over their home but stand as their protector, their shield (Isaiah 31:5). If the blood was applied, no destructive plague would touch them. The Lamb has been slain. The lamb God had promised to Abraham that He would provide died on Calvary. His blood was spilled that you and I could mark the doorposts of our home. When we do, we can be assured that He will hover over us to shield us from the plagues that come upon the world (Psalm 91). It is not that we will not face difficulty and tests, but that they will not be destructive to us. Instead, they will mature us. The trials will be productive instead of destructive, and so we can count it all joy when we face them. If the blood is applied to your heart, the Lord will protect you. The Destroyer will not be allowed to enter your dwelling.

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation

Hear God Today

Exodus 7:16-17---Then say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert. But until now you have not listened. This is what the LORD says: By, his you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood.

The indictment against Pharaoh is that he will not listen to the LORD. God is always speaking in the world to set the captives free. Are we listening or are we as guilty as Pharaoh? When we refuse to listen to God, that is, not just to hear but to take to heart, then He must use more drastic methods to get our attention. Pharaoh would not listen because he had respect for other gods. They are not truly gods but just creations that the LORD had made. God began to show Pharaoh that Jehovah alone is God. The most revered god of Egypt was the Nile. It was the first to be touched by a plague. Each plague struck something that Egyptians worshipped. When you read the story, notice that during the early plagues Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Even though God had demonstrated that Pharaoh's gods are nothing, he refused to take the word of God to heart. About halfway through the plagues, God hardened his heart. Pharaoh had enough evidence that the LORD is God, but he would not yield. Now the real god of Pharaoh is obvious. It is Pharaoh himself. The things that we refuse to hear the LORD tell us to forsake will be taken from us or shown to be worthless. What will we do when we find the real god we have worshipped is self? Will we turn around before we cross that line?

Coffee ☕️ And Conversation