October 21, 2017 - Why are people hung up on calling on the name of Jesus when there's no 'J' in Hebrew?

If His name was Yeshua, why do we call Him Jesus?

Question: "If His name was Yeshua, why do we call Him Jesus?"

Answer: Some people claim that our Lord should not be referred to as “Jesus.” Instead, we should only use the name “Yeshua.” Some even go so far as to say that calling Him “Jesus” is blasphemous. Others go into great detail about how the name “Jesus” is unbiblical because the letter J is a modern invention and there was no letter J in Greek or Hebrew.

Yeshua is the Hebrew name, and its English spelling is “Joshua.” Iesous is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name, and its English spelling is “Jesus.” Thus, the names “Joshua” and “Jesus” are essentially the same; both are English pronunciations of the Hebrew and Greek names for our Lord. (For examples of how the two names are interchangeable, see Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 in the KJV. In both cases, the word Jesus refers to the Old Testament character Joshua.)

Changing the language of a word does not affect the meaning of the word. We call a bound and covered set of pages a “book.” In German, it becomes a buch. In Spanish, it is a libro; in French, a livre. The language changes, but the object itself does not. As Shakespeare said, “That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet” (Romeo and Juliet, II:i). In the same way, we can refer to Jesus as “Jesus,” “Yeshua,” or “YehSou” (Cantonese) without changing His nature. In any language, His name means “The Lord Is Salvation.”

As for the controversy over the letter J, it is much ado about nothing. It is true that the languages in which the Bible was written had no letter J. But that doesn’t mean the Bible never refers to “Jerusalem.” And it doesn’t mean we cannot use the spelling “Jesus.” If a person speaks and reads English, it is acceptable for him to spell things in an English fashion. Spellings can change even within a language: Americans write “Savior,” while the British write “Saviour.” The addition of a u (or its subtraction, depending on your point of view) has nothing to do with whom we’re talking about. Jesus is the Savior, and He is the Saviour. Jesus and Yeshuah and Iesus are all referring to the same Person.

The Bible nowhere commands us to only speak or write His name in Hebrew or Greek. It never even hints at such an idea. Rather, when the message of the gospel was being proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles spoke in the languages of the “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene” (Acts 2:9–10). In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was made known to every language group in a way they could readily understand. Spelling did not matter.

We refer to Him as “Jesus” because, as English-speaking people, we know of Him through English translations of the Greek New Testament. Scripture does not value one language over another, and it gives no indication that we must resort to Hebrew when addressing the Lord. The command is to “call on the name of the Lord,” with the promise that we “shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). Whether we call on Him in English, Korean, Hindi, or Hebrew, the result is the same: the Lord is salvation.

Monday, September 11, 2017 - Study #28 - Be Comforted Isaiah 52

Study #28 - Be Comforted - Monday, September 11, 2017

Exercise:  Planet Fitness (Warm up: Push up, J.Jacks, Abs, Squats)
Shoulder, Bi, Tri, Back - 4 sets

World News:  Remembering and Praying for the 9/11 victims from 16 years ago
Praying for the victims affected by Hurricane Irma
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/31/us/iyw-9-11-ways-to-help/index.html

Ch1 p. 22
Reference Scriptures:
Isa. 52:13-53:12;  Acts 3:13; 8:32-33; 1 Peter 2:21-25

Commentary:
The prophet Isaiah wrote about the Savior's suffering and death

The view that the Servant in this passage represents the purified remnant of Israel and ultimately the Messiah.  The NT authors recognized that the description of a Suffering Servant, who "bare the sings of many" fit Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sings of His people.  This chapter's description is the most individualistic of all the Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah, and thus most clearly points to application beyond Israel.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Exalted Servant
13 Behold, My servant will prosper,
He will be high and lifted up and [a]greatly exalted.
14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
15 Thus He will sprinkle many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.
The Suffering Servant
53 Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He grew up before Him like a tender [b]shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should [c]be attracted to Him.
3 He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of [d]sorrows and acquainted with [e]grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely our [f]griefs He Himself bore,
And our [g]sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
[h]Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was [i]pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our [j]well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To [k]fall on Him.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the [l]living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
9 His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
10 But the Lord was pleased
To crush Him, [m]putting Him to grief;
If [n]He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His [o]offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the [p]good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the [q]anguish of His soul,
He will see [r]it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out [s]Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.
Footnotes:

Isaiah 52:13 Or very high
Isaiah 53:2 Lit suckling
Isaiah 53:2 Lit desire
Isaiah 53:3 Or pains
Isaiah 53:3 Or sickness
Isaiah 53:4 Or sickness
Isaiah 53:4 Or pains
Isaiah 53:4 Or Struck down by
Isaiah 53:5 Or wounded
Isaiah 53:5 Or peace
Isaiah 53:6 Lit encounter Him
Isaiah 53:8 Or life
Isaiah 53:10 Lit He made Him sick
Isaiah 53:10 Lit His soul
Isaiah 53:10 Lit seed
Isaiah 53:10 Or will of
Isaiah 53:11 Or toilsome labor
Isaiah 53:11 Another reading is light
Isaiah 53:12 Lit His soul
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Acts 3:13 

Acts 3:13New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His [a]servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

Footnotes:

Acts 3:13 Or Son
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Acts 3:13 in all English translations
Acts 8:32-33 

Acts 8:32-33New American Standard Bible (NASB)

32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.
33 “In humiliation His judgment was taken away;
Who will [a]relate His [b]generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”
Footnotes:

Acts 8:33 Or describe
Acts 8:33 Or family or origin
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

1 Peter 2:21-25 

1 Peter 2:21-25New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Christ Is Our Example
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 [a]and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself [b]bore our sins in His body on the [c]cross, so that we might die to [d]sin and live to righteousness; for by His [e]wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and [f]Guardian of your souls.

Footnotes:

1 Peter 2:23 Lit who
1 Peter 2:24 Or carried...up to the cross
1 Peter 2:24 Lit wood
1 Peter 2:24 Lit sins
1 Peter 2:24 Lit wound; or welt
1 Peter 2:25 Or Bishop, Overseer

Sunday School Lesson, June 4, 2017

Scriptures:
Judges 4-5  New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Deborah and Barak Deliver from Canaanites
4 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. 2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3 The sons of Israel cried to the Lord; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years.

4 Now Deborah, a [a]prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to [b]sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “[c]Behold, the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. 7 I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his [d]many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.’” 8 Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up [e]with him; Deborah also went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the [f]oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.

12 Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13 Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14 Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; [g]behold, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15 The Lord [h]routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left.

17 Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid.” And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a [i]rug. 19 He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a [j]bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him. 20 He said to her, “Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there anyone here?’ that you shall say, ‘No.’” 21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and [k]seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” And he entered [l]with her, and behold Sisera was lying dead with the tent peg in his temple.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. 24 The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had [m]destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.

The Song of Deborah and Barak
5 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

2 “That [n]the leaders led in Israel,
That the people volunteered,
Bless the Lord!
3 “Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers!
I—to the Lord, I will sing,
I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from the field of Edom,
The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,
Even the clouds dripped water.
5 “The mountains [o]quaked at the presence of the Lord,
This Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.
6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
In the days of Jael, the highways [p]were deserted,
And travelers [q]went by [r]roundabout ways.
7 “The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8 “New gods were chosen;
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.
9 “My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
The volunteers among the people;
Bless the Lord!
10 “You who ride on [s]white donkeys,
You who sit on rich carpets,
And you who travel on the road—[t]sing!
11 “At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the Lord,
The righteous deeds for His [u]peasantry in Israel.
Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.
12 “Awake, awake, Deborah;
Awake, awake, [v]sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.
13 “Then survivors came down to the nobles;
The people of the Lord came down to me as warriors.
14 “From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down,
Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples;
From Machir commanders came down,
And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of [w]office.
15 “And the [x]princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
As was Issachar, so was Barak;
Into the valley they rushed at his [y]heels;
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great resolves of heart.
16 “Why did you sit among the [z]sheepfolds,
To hear the piping for the flocks?
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great searchings of heart.
17 “Gilead [aa]remained across the Jordan;
And why did Dan stay in ships?
Asher sat at the seashore,
And [ab]remained by its landings.
18 “Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death,
And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
19 “The kings came and fought;
Then fought the kings of Canaan
At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo;
They took no plunder in silver.
20 “The stars fought from heaven,
From their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 “The torrent of Kishon swept them away,
The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
O my soul, march on with strength.
22 “Then the horses’ hoofs beat
From the dashing, the dashing of his [ac]valiant steeds.
23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord,
‘Utterly curse its inhabitants;
Because they did not come to the help of the Lord,
To the help of the Lord against the warriors.’
24 “Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
25 “He asked for water and she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
26 “She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 “Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell [ad]dead.
28 “Out of the window she looked and lamented,
The mother of Sisera through the [ae]lattice,
‘Why does his chariot delay in coming?
Why do the [af]hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?’
29 “Her wise princesses would answer her,
Indeed she repeats her words to herself,
30 ‘Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil?
A maiden, two maidens for every warrior;
To Sisera a spoil of dyed work,
A spoil of dyed work embroidered,
Dyed work of double embroidery on the [ag]neck of the spoiler?’
31 “Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord;
But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.”
And the land was undisturbed for forty years.

Observations:

Question – Sunday School Lesson – June 4th
1. What reoccurring cycle is seen in the book of Judges?
Ans – Question #1  Disobedience, even thought they were saved several times, they intermarried with the Canaanite’s, and they worshipped their gods.
2. Who was the oppressor to Israel?  Canaanites
3. God sold Isralite into slavery in Jabin (the Cannanites’ King).
4. Israel didn’t subdue the inhabitants of the land.  The Cannanites came from the North part of Canaan.  Jabin organized a league of resistance against Joshua..but Johsua defeated him and burned the city.  Another Jabin (jr.) ruled over a rebuilt city and harassed Israel.
Sisera is the Capitan of Jabin’s army.
Note:  Chariorts was the ultimate weapons in those days, he had 900

The Cry
5. The Israelites cried to the Lord, they were despearted for God’s help after Sisera oppressed 20 years. – Answer Q. #2
6. Who lead the armies of Israel enemies and what part of the land did he hold sway? Answer Q#3. – Sisera (captain of  Israel enemies) – Jezreel
7. Why were iron chariots a problem for the Israelites?  They didn’t know how to make them and they didn’t have it;  They were farmers and they were soliders

Deborah’s leadership
8. Who was Deborah?  A judge
9. How did she differ from other judges?  She was a woman and a prophetess (Her name means Bee) the wife of Lipathdoth (flames or torches).  A Woman of fiery spirit.  Deborah comes closes to our modern concept of what a judge does unlike the other who were known for their military exploits unlike her she sat under a palm tree doing her job.
10. How does our text reveal that Deborah influence extended beyond her home in Ephraim?
Her chief responsibility was of arbitration of disputes.  The palm of Deborah.  People from as far away as the oppress area came to her for justice.  Her wide spread influence was known.  Her commands were obeyed.  She also had integrity.

Her summons to Barak
11. Who was Barak and what charge did the Lord give him? Baraka was from the area of the CAnanite oppression and he was the son of Abinoam.  He was called by Deborah to lead the resistance.
His charge was to :  Go and draw toward Mt. Tabor, take 10k Men of children of Naphtali and Zebulun and He was to lead the way to the appointed location.  They would congregate gradually they would form the big army.
12. Why was Barak reluctant to accept the Lords’ assignment?  God told Barak that he would deliver to Sisera to Israel but he didn’t tell him how.  The forces of nature, the thunder storm and made the chariots useless and make Israel victorious.  Also the odds were against Israel, he had farmers and they were reluctant.  
13. Who eventually got the most credit for Israel’s’ victory? Jael

Young men wearing rompers, this outspread of homosexuality among our young people, who's fault is it?

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - The problem..

When you look around the world and you see different issues in our society one begins to be outrage, one begins to ask questions.  Why do we do the things we do?  Why do we see the things we see?
Homosexuality, Young men cross dressing wanting to look like females and females wanting to look like dudes.  Police brutality.  This current President of ours... (hmmm).  Human trafficking, bullying, just to name a few things..

For example:  One of my friends and I was having a light debate about why do you see so many young men and women that are gay?  More specifically, the conversation was around the annoyance of seeing your men with rompers, skinny jeans, cross dressers, etc.

So the conversation started, why is that you think that there are so many boys that come home and tell their parent (noticed parent is singular)..it takes two people to make a child;  Why do boys come home and tell their parent that they want to cross dress, or look like a girl or just I'm gay.  The argument was, if the boy came home to a father, the father wouldn't allow this.  The Father wouldn't be ok with this.  But the women empathize and says, "It's ok son, I still love you.".  So my friend's argument is that WOMEN is the problem.  He already warned me that I wouldn't like the answer and I didn't.  Why?  I am a woman and I wouldn't be ok if my son came home talking about wearing a romper or that he was gay.  As a matter of fact, I would take him straight to the bible and show him what God expects of him.  To be a man, to look like a man and act like a man.  Then I would make practical application by sharing with him if he needed a job, he couldn't go looking any kind of way.  You will be judge by the way you look.

So I retaliated and said, I know 100 women (speaking of Hope Nation) that would not allow for such foolishness...so how could it be a woman's problem?  I'm a woman so I'm in that number.  So he said, so who's the problem?  I said, Men.. If Men would stand up to their sons and be a man and be an example to their sons, their sons wouldn't look any kind away.  My real life example is the young men at Hope Nation.  

His real life example is people he see every day, at the mall, at the schools and the boys that looks like this is always with a woman (the mother) and the mother is ok with this.

So I tabled the conversation to resume another day.  This morning I prayed about it and God gave me an answer. 

It is not a woman's problem, it is not a man's problem.. It is a SIN problem.  The rompers, the kids being GAY, it just a symptom of the problem.  How do you fix the problem?  I'm glad you ask.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Study Bible

God's Promise and Warning
…13"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15"Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.…

New American Standard Bible

Cross References

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Numbers 6:27
"So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them."
Deuteronomy 28:10
"So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.
2 Chronicles 6:33
then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.
2 Chronicles 6:37
if they take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have committed iniquity and have acted wickedly';
Psalm 60:2
You have made the land quake, You have split it open; Heal its breaches, for it totters.
Ezekiel 33:12
"And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, 'The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.'

Treasury of Scripture

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

my people

Isaiah 63:19 We are yours: you never bore rule over them; they were not called by your name.

which are called by my name [heb] upon whom my name is called
humble

Friday, April 28,2017 - Godliman Street - 1 Samuel 9:1-10 - Daily Word

1 Samuel 9:1-10

Commentary:
  Through Samuel's years and into old age, Samuel had sought friendship and fellowship with God, and his words were weighty with truth.  People knew him to be a prophet of the Lord.  So Saul and his servant set out for the town where the man of God was v10.

Oh, that our lives would so reflect Jesus that we would leave a mark on our neighborhoods, and that the memory of our godliness would linger on!

I'm not sure, Lord, how my neighbors would describe me.  But I want to be close to You and to be a light in my corner of the world. Today's reading 1 Samuel 9:1-10;

1 Samuel 9:1-10New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Saul’s Search

9 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of [a]valor. 2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” 4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, or else my father will cease to be concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious for us.” 6 He said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

Thursday, April 27, 2017 - What Lasts Forever? - Daily Word

Daily Word

Psalm 102:25-28

Commentary:

In life, so many things have changed... It is scary, really scary.  Nothing stays forever.

Just in two years, you can experience a career change, newfound friendship, illness, death.  Good or bad, a life altering experience may be lurking just around the corner, waiting to pounce!  We simply don't know.  What great comfort, then, to know that our loving heavenly Father does not change.

The psalmist says, "You remain the same, and your years will never end" (Ps. 102:27).  The implication of this truth is immense.  It means that God is forever loving, just, and wise.

Whatever the attributes of God were before the universe was called into existence, they are precisely the same now, and will remain so forever.

In the New Testament, James writes, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).
In our changing circumstances, we can be assured that our good God will always be consistent to His character.  He is the source of everything good, and everything He does is good.

It may seem that nothing last forever, but our God will remain consistently good to those who are His own.

Psalm 102:25-28New American Standard Bible (NASB)

25 “Of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 “[a]Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
27 “But You are [b]the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 “The children of Your servants will continue,
And their [c]descendants will be established before You.”

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 - Daily Word -2 Kings 23:12-14, 21-25

2 Kings 23:12-14, 21-25;  2 Kings 22:8-13;    1 John 5:21

Commentary:
As an eight-year-old, King Josiah came to power in an idol-worshiping, sex-obsessed culture.  His father and grandfather had been two of the worst kings in all of Judah's sordid history.  Then the high priest discovered the book of the law.  When the young king heard its words, he took them to heart (2 Kings 22:8-13).  Josiah destroyed the pagan altars, burned the vile items dedicated to the goddess Asherah, and stopped the ritual prostitution (Ch. 23).  In place of these practices, he celebrated the Passover (23:21-23).

Whenever we look for answers apart from God- consciously or subconsciously - we pursue a false god.  It would be wise to ask ourselves:  What idols, literal or figurative, do we need to throw on the fire?

2 Kings 23:12-14New American Standard Bible (NASB)

12 The altars which were on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the Lord, the king broke down; and he [a]smashed them there and threw their dust into the brook Kidron. 13 The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled. 14 He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones.

Footnotes:

2 Kings 23:12 Or ran from there
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

2 Kings 23:21-25

2 Kings 23:21-25New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Passover Reinstituted
21 Then the king commanded all the people saying, “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.” 22 Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 Moreover, Josiah [a]removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might [b]confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. 25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

Footnotes:

2 Kings 23:24 Lit consumed
2 Kings 23:24 Or perform
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

2 Kings 22:8-13

2 Kings 22:8-13New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Lost Book
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

11 When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, [a]Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

Footnotes:

2 Kings 22:12 In 2 Chr 34:20, Abdon, son of Micah
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

1 John 5:21

1 John 5:21New American Standard Bible (NASB)

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Monday, April 24, 2017 - His Word the Last Word

Daily Word
Psalm 63:1-11

Commentary:

The psalmist
 David wrote, "On my bed I remember you;  I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings" (Ps 53:6-7).  Wheter we are in great difficulty or enjoying a time of peace, our last though at night can ease our minds with the rest and comfort God gives.  It may also set the tone for our first thought the next morning.

What better way to end our day than by reading God's word or meditating on a memorized verse!

The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.

A Psalm of David, [a]when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You [b]earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh [c]yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with [d]marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings [e]to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my [f]life to destroy it,
Will go into the [g]depths of the earth.
10 [h]They will be [i]delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a [j]prey for foxes.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 63:1 1 Sam 22:5; 23:14
2. Psalm 63:1 Lit early
3. Psalm 63:1 Lit faints
4. Psalm 63:5 Lit fat
5. Psalm 63:8 Lit after
6. Psalm 63:9 Lit soul
7. Psalm 63:9 Lit lowest places
8. Psalm 63:10 Lit They will pour him out
9. Psalm 63:10 Lit poured out by
10. Psalm 63:10 Lit portion

Thursday, April 20, 2017 - Daily Word Judges Colossians 3:12-17

Thursday, April 20, 2017
Colossians 3:12-17
Workout:  Total Body

Colossians 3:12
"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Colossians 3:12-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and ^[a]patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is ^[b]the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ ^[c]rule in your hearts, to which ^[d]indeed you were called in one body; and ^[e]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of ^[f]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[g]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing ^[h]one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing ^[i]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Commentary:
  Wherever we go, we will encounted people who need compassion.  Perhaps these words from the apostle Paul can help us view everyone around us in a different light - as people who need the gentle touch of grace.  "As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Col. 3:12).  He also suggests that we "bear with each other and forgive one another" v13.  
   As we show compassion, we will be pointing others to the One who poured out His heart of grace and compassion on us.

Wednesday, April 19 - Daily Word Daniel 10:1-14

Daniel 10:1-14

 Commentary:

 The confidence that God hears our prayers can cause us to become anxious when His reply doesn't come when we want it. We are prone to wonder whether He cares. Yet Daniel's experience reminds us that God is at work on behalf of those He loves even when it isn't obvious to us.

  Scriptures 

 Daniel 10:1-14 (KJV)


Daniel 10:1-14King James Version (KJV)

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

April 17, 2017 - Daily Word Romans 8:22-28

Today's Reading
Romans 8:22-28

King James Version (KJV)

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Commentary:

 When we accept our small part in His greater purpose, we can echo  these words: "God is good, and that's all there is to it.  Whatever He decides, I'm at peace."

With confidence in the Lord's goodness, we can trust Him to answer every prayer according to His will and for his glory.

Saturday, March 25, 2017 - God's Merciful Love

PM Devotion

I read Joel Chapters 1-3

Commentary/ Practical points.

1.  Now is the time to turn to God and obey Him.
2.  We please God through repenting (turn away from sin and turn to God).
3.  God is not impress with outward displays and public rituals.
note: In the O.T., people would tear their clothes off to show repentance and sadness
4.  The Holy Spirit living within us is evidence of God's generous love.
5.  God warns us about His judgment of sin because He is merciful and wants all men to repent and be saved.

Scriptures:
Joel 1-3King James Version (KJV)

1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

9 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord's ministers, mourn.

10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,

15 Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

16 Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

18 How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19 O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

20 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

2 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

3 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:

6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:

8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.

9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.