Mountain of Salvation

No one Rested Until Everyone Rested

2010-03-30T10:01:00Z

Num 32:5-6
5 They said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan."
6 But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?
NASU

God's intention was for all of Israel to be engaged in the war for the promised land. Though the battles for the inheritances of the tribes of Gad and Reuben had been won. There was a war to be fought still. Moses rebuked them. They responded.

Num 32:16-18
16 Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 " We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.
NASU

They displayed the right spirit. They understood the need, and the times they were in. Moses responded.

Num 32:20-23
20 So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for the war,
21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,
22 and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the Lord and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the Lord.
23 "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
NASU

Notice in verse 21 Moses reveals that this was God's fight against His enemies for His land to be possessed by His people.

Num 32:25-27
25 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do just as my lord commands.
26 " Our little ones, our wives, our livestock and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead;
27 while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over in the presence of the Lord to battle, just as my lord says."
NASU

Num 32:33
33 So Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half-tribe of Joseph's son Manasseh, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the land with its cities with their territories, the cities of the surrounding land.
NASU

Jesus himself was faithful to the end. He put it this way:

John 6:38-40
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
NKJV

The apostle Paul this way:

2 Tim 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
NKJV

Let's emulate them. Our citizenship is in heaven. No one rests here until everyone rests there.

Washington D.C. Update

2010-03-29T09:17:00Z

        Ann Marie and I traveled to Washington D.C. the week of the vote on the health care bill in The U.S. House of Representatives. We arrived on Thurs. March 18. For the next 3 days we walked the House office buildings halls urging Congressmen to vote no on the health care bill. We visited approximately 50 offices of Congressmen who were undecided or leaning yes or no. We spoke with their staff urging the Congressmen to vote no primarily because of the corruption in the process of developing the bill and the egregious offense of requiring taxpayers to fund abortion. We made return visits to approximately 25 offices for a total of, around 75 office visits. In addition, we spoke with around 30 Congressmen. We prayed with and for several of those. We had a special time of prayer early Sunday morning with Congressman Steve King from Iowa and later in the morning with Congressman Jerry Moran from Kansas.
       I had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Bart Stupak on Sunday, the day of the vote. I reminded him of prayer meetings we had both attended in the past and thanked him for standing strong. He obviously did not continue to do so.
        On one visit to Congressman Stupak's office, we found his office locked. A news crew from ABC news asked if I would be interviewed in front of his office. I agreed. I told the interviewer we were there to urge the Congressman to stand strong and vote no on the health care bill because of the corruption of the bill and the subsidizing of abortion.
After the interview, a local pastor Pat Mahoney, asked if we would join him in a prayer meeting on the west terrace of the Capitol building. We did. During the prayer meeting, I noticed Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia on the Capitol steps. We had met and prayed together previously in Nov. 09. I asked him to join us in the prayer meeting. He agreed. Pastor Mahoney recognized him and gave him the microphone. Congressman Broun spoke powerfully and eloquently on taking back our freedom and liberty by repealing the bill. He then prayed powerfully over the meeting.
        We met many special people during the trip. Citizens like ourselves who are concerned for our country and were engaged in meeting members of congress and voicing their strong concerns. Please pray for us and contact us if you are interested in working with us to establish a prophetic presence on Capitol Hill. Our country needs you.

The spirit of burning

2010-02-05T11:46:00Z

Ps 51:6
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
NKJV

We know that our God is a consuming fire. We know that every man's work will be tried by fire.

1 Cor 3:11-17
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
NKJV

Today, let us welcome the refining fire of God into our hearts to test us in the inward parts. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. He is also manifested in us as the spirit of burning.

Isa 4:4-6
4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.
NKJV

If we would judge ourselves by welcoming Gods searchlight into our hearts to test us and examine us and our motives, then He will do the purging and cleansing that only He is able to do. Lord Jesus make us to know truth from the inside out. Send the healing work of the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire into our hearts now, today. The prophet Jeremiah said that our hearts are deceitful. The apostle Paul said that he did the things that he didn't want to do and that didn't do the things he wanted to do. Sound familiar? All true disciples of Christ find this principle, eventually. Repentance and the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus is the double cure. He not only forgives sin, He breaks the power of canceled sin. How precious it truly is to have a living savior who is the great physician. We can receive out patient treatment 24/7. He is always on call for those who cry out from a sincere heart. He still makes house calls. He has a 100% cure rate. He has never lost a patient. His medicine is eternal life. Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth, receive the Glory due your name.

The Shaking

2010-01-29T11:53:00Z

Heb 12:26
6 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."
NASU

I believe we are now in a time and season of God's shaking. Those who are sensitive to His works in the church world and in the secular world will see His Hand at work. I believe He is shaking two things in particular. Illegitimate authority and unfaithful stewardship.

Ps 75:6-7
For exaltation comes neither from the east
Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another.
NKJV

God allows kings and rulers to ascend into authority. He can remove them at will.

Isa 22:16-21
16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
17 Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.
19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
KJV

God requires faithfulness of ministers. He grants them stewardship in matters concerning His church. He requires an accounting of that stewardship.We will see a new shaking in the worlds of secular and church government. In fact, it began in 2007.

Heb 12:27-29
27 This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
NASU

A Proper Perspective

2010-01-21T10:31:00Z

Ps 30:7
7 O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong;
NASU

The author, David, understood the importance and necessity of proper perspective in his relationship to God. God first. Humility helps us to not only deflect attention away from ourselves but toward God. Notice the Divine order in the above verse, written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. O Lord: a cry from the heart reflecting liberty in his love for God. By your favor: the action motivating God's power on behalf of David is God's undeserved love for him. You have made: all credit ascribed to God. My mountain to stand strong: lastly, that which pertains to our need is provided by God to whom this psalm of praise is directed.

Truth

2010-01-16T11:43:00Z

In his notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson wrote. "It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."

We live in an age in which men often agree with Pontius Pilate. He asked the question of Jesus, what is truth? This attempt to excuse ourselves from accountability is very predictable and easily dismissed. Our need of a savior drives us to the truth. Jesus is the truth. We have need of truth for the very salvation of our souls.

Jesus said:
John 3:19-21
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 " For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
NASU

May our Lord Jesus Christ be merciful to us and our nation. May He awaken the souls of men and women of the United States of America to our compelling need of His saving grace. May we know the Truth and may He make us free.

Ex 34:10
10 And He said: "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
NKJV

Fuel the Fire, Lord

2010-01-12T13:27:00Z

Isa 9:5
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
NASU

Saints of God: The weapons that the enemy of your soul has formed against you will be discovered to be the fuel that feeds the celebration fire of his defeat. A manifestation of that victory that God has wrought for you will be as evident as the light and heat given off by a large bonfire.
Look at the next two verses.

Isa 9:6-7
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
NASU

In the last sentence of the above verse we see God referred to as the Lord of hosts. This name refers to God as the commander of angel armies. May we see this Son, Jesus, given to us, as a mighty warrior; moved at the cry of His people. He is mighty to save. That weapon which the enemy has formed against us will fuel the fire of our victory celebration.

Isa 54:17
7 " No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord.
NASU

Eph 6:10-12
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

The Transformer

2010-01-10T12:35:00Z

2 Cor 3:18
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
NKJV

A secret of the Christian life is living in the presence of God. When we go into our closet to pray, we desire to see Jesus. To have an audience with Him. We learn to enter into His presence with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We learn to hunger and thirst after Him. In time we begin to recognize His presence. As we behold Him, we are transformed, or changed, into His image. This process of transformation is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to us, His words are spirit and they are truth. They have the same effect on us as the miracles He performed when He walked the earth. They change us. Let's look at one example.

John 2:1-11
2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him
NKJV

The very nature and substance that was in the waterpots was changed into something else; something new. Note verse 11. This miracle manifested His glory. We are manifestations of His glory as we behold Him and are transformed from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. When He speaks His word to us by the Spirit and we hear, receive by faith, and obey, we are transformed.

May we receive the precious Holy Spirit, and every word, and manifestation of His power. May we be constantly changed; from grace to grace; glory to glory; and victory to victory.

Exposing the unfruitful works of darkness

2010-01-08T10:10:00Z

Hab 2:16
16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
KJV

Lies, deception, greed, bribery. Business as usual. God is exposing. Now. The veil of secrecy that covers the deeds of the unholy and unjust. God is exposing now. God is merciful. He is not willing that any perish. So, He calls all men, everywhere, to repent. God is just. He is calling His church to Holiness and He is calling this nation to righteousness. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant. To expose the foreskin means God is revealing those in leadership in the church who are not walking in covenant relationship with Him. Walking in unholiness. Those in civil government who are engaged in lies, deception, and bribery in order to acquire and retain political power; God is unmasking. That which they have done in order to hold and wield power will become their very shame. The shameful spewing on their glory.

Isa 10:1
10 1 Woe to those who enact unjust decrees
and draft oppressive legislation
CJB

Today is the day of salvation. Let us seek The Lord while He may be found. Let us ask for mercy. Embrace repentance. God hears the cry of the humble. God resists the proud, self righteous, and unrepentant.

Intercessors; rejoice! Cry out. Spare not. The Lion of the tribe of Judah hears you.

Eph 5:11-14
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:

"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."
NKJV

Light in the Darkness

2010-01-07T09:02:00Z

Jesus said:
John 3:19-20
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
NKJ.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, He said:
Luke 22:53
53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
NKJV

For true believers, at that hour, Jesus triumphed over the power of darkness.
Col 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NKJV

I would like to look at another kind of darkness. A place where God revealed Himself.

Gen 15:12-13
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram...
NKJV

God was speaking to Abraham about His covenant with Abraham, the father of faith. There was great darkness.

When God was giving the commandments of the old covenant to Moses, there was darkness.

Ex 20:21-22
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses...
KJV

God was in the thick darkness.

Matt 27:45-55
45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49 But the rest of them said, " Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
NASU

See the New Covenant being birthed at the death of Jesus, in the midst of the darkness. Truly this was the Son of God.

God reveals himself in a darkness that is different from the darkness of sin. It is different from the darkness of deception and rebellion. It is a place that He will bring His chosen instruments into, in order to reveal Himself to them. He reveals His covenant to them. He ratifies it. He always glorifies His son, Jesus, in this place. Jesus is the light of the world. Look here for a moment, and consider the privilege of preaching Jesus Christ's gospel to this lost and dying world. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 4:12-17
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
15 "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES —
16 "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
NASU

Some have been in a place like the darkness of the dungeons of Joseph, Peter, Paul, and Silas. Some have been in a place of darkness like the cave of Elijah. God is making known to you the power of his covenant. You will come out with a fresh revelation of Jesus and His power. A new commissioning is coming. You will be sent to people bound in the darkness of sin and Satan's power. God will send you with the message of deliverance from sin, hell, sickness, and demonic bondage.

Isa 60:1-3
60 " Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 " Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
NASU

Lord Jesus, make us flames of fire. Cause us to burn with the revelation that you are the Light of the world.

Night Vision

2010-01-06T08:43:00Z

Ex 10:21-23
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
NKJV

God reveals His secrets to His servants, the prophets. As the world lies in moral darkness and fear, the truth of the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the spirit of prophecy, will shine brighter and brighter. God gives His people night vision.

Ex 14:19-20
19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.
NKJV

If you are reading this post and don't know Jesus Christ, now is the time to get right with God. You don't have to live in fear of the things coming upon the earth.

King David's testimony was:
Ps 18:28
28 For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
NKJV

God wants to give us Night Vision.

Prov 4:18-19
8 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
NKJV

John 8:12
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
NKJV

In this year ahead God is giving us Night Vision. The truths that we have received through the scripture, and by the Holy Spirit, are going to shine brighter and brighter.The spirit of wisdom and revelation shall be a holy fire encamping over us and giving us spiritual illumination.

Isa 42:16
16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them.
NKJV

Jesus is the good shepherd of His sheep. He will not leave us nor forsake us. Only He knows how to make darkness light before us.

Jesus said:
John 12:46
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
NKJV

Father thank You for giving us 2010 Night Vision in this year of our Lord 2010. You give to us abundantly, over and above all that we can dare ask, think, or say according to the power that works in us. To Jesus Christ be the glory. Amen.

The Glory of the Lord

2010-01-04T16:24:00Z

Hab 2:14
14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
KJV

On Christmas Eve, Ann Marie and I along with Gil Adams of the Ski Beech Ski Resort on Beech Mountain, North Carolina presented our 19th annual Christmas Eve Service. Every year we meet at 4:30 in the afternoon at the outdoor ice skating rink. For the last 15 years or so, a theme emerges that seems to give direction for the upcoming year. Our scripture verse above is the theme this year.

On January 3rd, 2010, on Fox News Sunday Brit Hume made this remark about Tiger Woods:
"He's said to be a Buddhist; I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, 'Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.'"

That remark is true and is like throwing a life ring to a drowning man. Bless Brit Hume for his courage and boldness on national television. May God raise up believers in this year to boldly declare His love and forgiveness to all lost souls. May Jesus Christ receive the reward of His suffering and be glorified.

Phil 2:9-12
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
NKJV

Mark 8:38
38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
NKJV

Enlighten our Eyes

2009-12-31T08:51:00Z

Deut 32:13
13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
KJV

We know from scripture that Rock was Christ. We notice the humble attitude necessary to partake of the honey and oil.

1 Sam 14:29
29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
KJV

Religious rituals are troublesome and wearying without the necessary benefits of the life giving flow of the Holy Spirit. Our souls need reviving daily. We must partake of the Bread of Heaven, Jesus Himself. The manna had the taste of honey.We must drink of the Blood of the Grape. Jesus said "I am the vine."

Eph 1:17-18
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
NKJV

May we be enlightened, empowered, and strengthened in our walk toward that land that is far off. May we behold the King in his beauty as He revives us daily.

20/10 Eagle Vision

2009-12-29T10:02:00Z

Ex 19:4
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
KJV

Deut 32:11-12
11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
12 So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
KJV

We see in these scriptures how the Lord describes Himself and us as eagles. An eagle's vision is superior to human vision.

Job 39:27-40:1
27 Does the eagle mount up at your command,
And make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there it is."
NKJV

Verse 29 above describes the eagle's ability to observe afar.

Isa 33:17
17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty
They will see the land that is very far off.
NKJV

I believe that in Isaiah's prophecy above we can see God's promise of prophetic insight. In the coming year I look for the waiting, watching, and righteous remnant to have a clearer vision of our Lord Jesus and His purpose and plan. This will be facilitated by His revelatory gifting. We will be allowed to see beyond the previous limits of our spiritual gifting. 20/10 vision in the physical is twice as strong as 20/20. So too, in this upcoming year spiritual strength will be imparted to our spiritual vision that we may see "the King in His beauty and the land that is very far off"

20/10 Vision

2009-12-28T13:59:00Z

On Christmas Day I was asked to pray for a friend's wife. She had a problem in one eye. I anointed her with oil and began to pray for her. The Holy Spirit came upon me as I prayed for her vision.
The Lord desires to give 20/10 vision in 2010 to those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying, and who are willing to be obedient. Spiritual 20/10 vision means those in the church who have it will begin walking with clearer and more accurate knowledge of the things that are coming.
Jesus said that when the Spirit of Truth comes He will lead us into all truth and show us things to come.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus told us so.
I have more to share on this word. I will be doing so in the coming days, Lord willing.

Government

2009-12-24T11:04:00Z

Isa 1:21-23

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot,
She who was full of justice!
Righteousness once lodged in her,
But now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
Your drink diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels
And companions of thieves;
Everyone loves a bribe
And chases after rewards.
NASU

Isaiah saw two views of government. The present and the future. Above we see the former. That would pass away. Below we see that which Isaiah saw would begin with the birth of our Savior.

Isa 9:6-7

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
NKJV

Today we remember the birth of Jesus. The fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Tomorrow we engage in the establishing of His righteous rule. The eternal increase of His Government and peace. That Government was the inspiration of the founding fathers of The United States of America. We the people know that governance by bribery was never intended by God or our founding fathers. Bribery is not "small stuff'" as one Senator recently described it. If bribery has become part of the "art of compromise" as another Senator described politics in order to justify his practice of bribery then let us have a renaissance in the"art" of compromise. Renaissance by definition meaning " to be born again".

I

Building a House

2009-12-02T11:46:00Z

Matt 7:24-27
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
NKJV

Jesus is speaking in these verses to the fact that we are all responsible for the stewardship of our lives. We are building something whether we intend to or not. The house we build with our lives will either stand or there will be a great fall. Let us learn obedience to Him and His word. Let us be yielded to Him that we may find grace to build for Him.

1 Cor 3:10-11
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
NKJV

Finally, let us understand that we have an opportunity in this life to have the house of our life filled with treasures of heaven to distribute to those who might simply ask and receive. Our Lord Jesus says:

Matt 13:52
52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
NKJV

Abundance

2009-11-21T08:09:00Z

Ps 65:11
You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
NKJV

God abundantly forgives.
He gives peace like a river and joy unspeakable, full of Glory.
He is faithful and His mercy is new every morning.
He always blesses over and above all we can ask, think, or say.
Let the heathen rage, the sea roar, and the wind blow.
If Jesus lives in you, He will rise up and say "Peace, be still".
Not only will the wind and waves obey, but every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Blessed be His Name Who daily loads us with benefits.
He is worthy to be praised, honored, worshiped, and glorified.

America's Oldest Holiday: Thanking God: A 500 Year Tradition

2009-11-19T19:17:00Z

Thanksgiving is the oldest American holiday. Although we generally attribute the first Thanksgiving to the Pilgrims in 1621, several other special times of thanksgiving preceded it on land that would eventually become part of America.

In 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas, Coronado and 1,500 of his men celebrated a time of thanksgiving to God for His blessings.

In 1564 at St. Augustine, Florida, French colonists also engaged in a special time of thanksgiving to God.

In 1598 in El Paso, Texas, Juan de Oriate and his expedition held a similar celebration to God.In 1619 in Virginia, the Jamestown settlers held an official Thanksgiving celebration.

The Pilgrims

The first Pilgrim Thanksgiving in 1621 with Samoset, Squanto, and their other Indian friends and benefactors, was not the most dramatic Pilgrim Thanksgiving. The most dramatic Thanksgiving occured two years later.

During that summer, the Pilgrims suffered a severe and extended time of drought. They knew that without a change in the weather, there would be no fall harvest. The winter would surely bring severe starvation and death to their community. Therefore, Gov. William Bradford gathered the Pilgrims together for a time of prayer and fasting.

Shortly thereafter, a gentle rain began to fall. Governor Bradford explained in his History of Plymouth Plantation:

[The rain] came without either wind or thunder or any violence, and by degrees in abundance, as that ye earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith, which did so apparently revive and quicken ye decayed corn and other fruits as was wonderful to see, and made ye Indians astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing.

The rain saved the corn. One of the Indians who observed this miracle remarked:

Now I see that the Englishman’s God is a good God; for he hath heard you, and sent you rain, and that without such tempest and thunder as we used to have with our rain; which after our Powawing for it, breaks down the corn; whereas your corn stands whole and good still; surely, your God is a good God.

The drought had been broken; there was an abundant harvest—-cause for yet another Thanksgiving. The Pilgrim practice of designating an official time of Thanksgiving quickly spread throughout the other New England colonies as annual traditions were established of prayer and fasting in the spring, followed by prayer and thanksgiving in the fall.

The First National Thanksgiving America’s first national Day of Thanksgiving occurred on September25, 1789. It was the nation’s first official act set by Congress after that body completed the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

READ MORE - Download Article HERE

Spirit of Might

2009-11-18T11:21:00Z

Jesus is The Head of the Body, His Church.
As He is, so are we.

Isa 11:2
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
NKJV

The Spirit of counsel and might are linked together in this passage.
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God.
The apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is made unto us wisdom.
The passage below in Proverbs links it all together.

Prov 8:14
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
NKJV

We receive the counsel of Jesus which is wisdom.
His strength; to obey, persevere and overcome are ours, all by faith.
His strength is made perfect in our weakness. May He be glorified in our lives today.
The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.