Nairaland Christian E-Fellowship

Systematic, expository study of God’s Word      

FERVENT PRAYER FOR THE NATION’S RESTORATION
Daniel 9:1-19

This chapter reveals the instructive account of Daniel’s prayer for the restoration of Judah from captivity.  Daniel was not a full-time prophet yet his intercessory and prophetic ministry was as effective as that of any other prophet of his day.  He said, “I rose up and did the king’s business”, yet he found time to read, search, study until he “understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 8:27; 9:2).  The discoveries of his study drove him to prayer.  “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting” (Daniel 9:3).  Daniel combined the secular and the spiritual effectively and advantageously for the progress of the kingdom of God (Daniel 6:1-4,10).

Though Daniel was himself a great prophet, respected by men, kings and angels, yet he was a diligent student of the Scripture.  The greatest and most favoured of saints and servants of God must remain diligent students of God’s Word.  Though Daniel knew, by divine predictions, that the promised restoration was very close at hand, he still prayed earnestly for that restoration.  That is God’s expectation.  His promises are not an inducement to spiritual idleness but an encouragement to prayer, obedience and faithfulness.  “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.  Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Ezekiel 36:36,37).  We should pray more earnestly when we have the conviction that God is about to display His power in the conversion of sinners and also fulfil His great promises in His Church.  An assurance that a great revival is to come should lead us to more consecration and prayer.

1. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION AND CONFESSION OF THE NATION’S SINS
Daniel 9:1-10; Jeremiah 25:11,12; 29:10-14; Leviticus 26:40-42;1 Kings 8:47-49; Ezra 9:5-15; Psalm 106:4-7; Jeremiah 3:13-18,25; 14:7-9,20,21; 2 Chronicles 36:20-23.

Judah’s captivity in Babylon had continued for about seventy years and there was no indication of national repentance.  The last king of Babylon, Belshazzar, had been judged, yet Judah remained in captivity.  God’s promise was still waiting to be fulfilled.  God’s people must seek His face for His promise to be fulfilled.  “After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and ye shall seek Me, ye shall search for Me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: AND I WILL TURN AWAY YOUR CAPTIVITY ” (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Daniel had read this and he did not wait for others to show some interest and desire in the restoration of his people. He set his “face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting”. Daniel was not discouraged by contrary circumstances and pronouncements, he prayed.  God had said to Ezekiel that though Daniel stood before Him, his intercession would not prevail to prevent their judgment (Ezekiel 14:14,16,18,20) yet Daniel “against hope believed in hope” and prayed.  Having “received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:2) he prayed for the forgiveness and restoration of the nation.

Though Daniel was declared righteous by God (Ezekiel 14:14), though he was faultless before men and innocent before God (Daniel 6:4,22) he identified with the nation in making confession and seeking forgiveness for his people.  Instead of saying, they have sinned, he said, “WE have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled” (Daniel 9:5).  “Neither have WE hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets” (verse 6).  “O Lord, to US belongeth confusion of faces, because WE have sinned against Thee” (verse 8).  “Neither have WE obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws” (verse 10).  “WE have sinned against Him” (verse 11).  “Yet made WE not our prayer before the LORD our God, that WE might turn from OUR iniquities” (verse 13).  “WE obeyed not His voice” (verse 14).  “WE have sinned, WE have done wickedly” (verse 15). Daniel approached God with a contrite heart and a humble spirit as he prayed and interceded for the nation.  His prayer was answered speedily because it was focused on God’s glory, and characterized by humility, unselfishness, fervency, self-denial and faith.

2.PROPER INTERPRETATION OF THEIR CALAMITIES AND NATIONAL SUFFERING
Daniel 9:11-14; Deuteronomy 31:16-18; 32:18-29; 1 Kings 9:6-9; 2 Kings 17:18-23; Nehemiah 9:26-35; Isaiah 59:9-15; Jeremiah 32:23; Ezekiel 22:26-31.

Daniel did not “charge God foolishly” for the nation’s calamities and suffering.  He knew God to be faithful, righteous and merciful, “keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments” (Daniel 9:4).  In his intercession for Judah he said, “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee”.  “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness” (Daniel 9:7,9).  God is always faithful to His covenant promises when His people keep their part of the covenant.  If there is any failure, it does not begin with Him.  God has committed Himself to show favour only while His people are obedient.  As a just and righteous God He cannot encourage evil and sin by bestowing His special blessings on the wicked.  Daniel interpreted Judah’s trials and troubles scripturally.  “Therefore the curse is poured upon us because we have sinned against Him” (Daniel 9:11).

If God’s people had continued a holy people they would have been “high above all nations in praise, and in name, and in honour” (Deuteronomy 26:19), they would not have been in captivity under the dominion of any nation.  Shame and confusion came upon them because they had “sinned and done wickedly”.  Daniel justified God for all the trouble, suffering and calamity which came upon Judah and Israel, upon their kings and the people.  Their suffering was the penalty which their disobedience and wickedness deserved.  It was necessary for God to punish the backslidden and apostate nation in order to preserve His glory, the honour of His law and to save His government from contempt.  Even men on earth appreciate governments when they punish evil-doers and keep justice, making the world a relatively safe place to live in. Angels and saints will justify and praise God throughout eternity for His righteous judgments.

3.  PASSIONATE INTERCESSION FOR COMPASSION AND THE NATION’S SALVATION
Daniel 9:15-19; Exodus 32:11-14; Nehemiah 1:4-10; Psalm 79:4-11; Isaiah 64:9-12; Lamentations 2:17-19; Romans 10:1-4; Isaiah 55:6,7; Micah 7:18-20.

Daniel, like Moses, was a great intercessor.  He pleaded with God passionately on behalf of his people, Judah.  He prayed on account of God’s faithfulness, mercy, compassion, love, righteousness and past deliverances (Daniel 9:4,15).  He prayed for the nation’s forgiveness and restoration.  In his great desire for the nation’s deliverance and restoration to great mercies, he pleaded, “O Lord our God”, “O my God”,  “I beseech Thee”, “Let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy people”. “Hear the prayer of Thy servant and his supplication”,  “cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary”. “Incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations”.  “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, FOR THINE OWN SAKE, O my God”.

His heart being burdened and broken because of the condition of his people in captivity, Daniel’s language in prayer was earnest and strong.  With words of fervent request he sought divine intervention for the oppressed, captive people.  He consistently entreated the Lord to be merciful, to forgive, deliver and restore them to former state and glory, “for the Lord’s sake” (Daniel 9:17,19).  He was making his requests so that the excellent glory of God might be displayed and His glory be promoted on earth.  All true prayer has its foundation in a desire that the glory of God may be promoted and the excellence of His character displayed.  The answer to his prayer was not delayed (Daniel 9:21-23) because his request was pleasing to the Lord.

* * * * * * *

Congregational Song:

GREAT GOD OF WONDERS

1. Great God of wonders! all Thy ways
Display the attributes divine;
But countless acts of pard’ning grace
Beyond Thine other wonders shine:
Who is a pard’ning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

2. In wonder lost, with trembling joy
We take the pardon of our God:
Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,
A pardon bought with Jesus’ blood.
Who is a pard’ning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

3. Pardon - from an offended God!
Pardon - for sins of deepest dye!
Pardon - bestowed through Jesus’ blood!
Pardon - that brings the rebel nigh!
Who is a pard’ning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

4. O may this strange, this matchless grace,
This God-like miracle of love,
Fill the wide earth with grateful praise,
As now it fills the choirs above!
Who is a pard’ning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

For the free downloading of the audio and video message click on the link below and go into the "current Bible Study" hyperlink.

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How are you my brother in the lord

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Our fellowship is with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

please remember this lady in your prayers. i dont know what to say things like this breaks my heart.  may God intervene and heal this womans heart.

Walking in the Spirit
June 12, 2009
 
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)
 
This promise in our text is followed in a later Pauline epistle by two nuanced commands in the letter to the church at Galatia.
 
"This I say then," Paul says, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).  Then again, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).
 
Although they appear to be the same command in English, there is a significant distinction in the original Greek language in which Paul penned the letters.
 
Both the Romans 8:1 and the Galatians 5:16 passages use the word perepeto, which carries the connotation to "walk around" and to "be at liberty."
 
The second iteration in Galatians 5:25 uses stoicheo, which means to "step precisely," to "march," or to "go in procession." Same command, but different emphasis.
 
The context of Galatians 5 stresses the difference between a lifestyle of fleshly behaviour and a life controlled by the Holy Spirit.  The "fruits" of the flesh and the "fruit" of the Spirit are diametrically opposed.  They cannot exist together; they are not harmonious (Romans 8:5-8).  We either "mind" the things of the flesh or the "things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5).
 
The Christian walk has great liberty (Romans 8:21), but that liberty must "step precisely" in honesty (Romans 13:13), good works (Ephesians 2:10), and in truth (2 John 4-6).  Our walk is expected to be by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) and we are to conduct a spiritual warfare in the Holy Spirit's power (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) protected by the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). HMM III

   

GETTING THERE
   

"Master, where dwellest Thou? . . Come and see." "Come with Me." John 1:39

"They abode with Him that day." That is about all some of us ever do, then we wake up to actualities, self-interest arises and the abiding is passed. There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.

"Thou art Simon, thou shalt be called Cephas." God writes the new name on those places only in our lives where He has erased the pride and self-sufficiency and self-interest. Some of us have the new name in spots only, like spiritual measles. In sections we look all right. When we have our best spiritual mood on, you would think we were very high-toned saints; but don't look at us when we are not in that mood. The disciple is one who has the new name written all over him; self-interest and pride and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

Pride is the deification of self, and this to-day in some of us is not of the order of the Pharisee, but of the publican. To say "Oh, I'm no saint," is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It literally means that you defy God to make you a saint, "I am much too weak and hopeless, I am outside the reach of the Atonement." Humility before men may be unconscious blasphemy before God. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you one. It would be all right, you say, if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is just what He will do! "We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Make no conditions, let Jesus be everything, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for

God's Word is the seed of Divine life that comes into our hearts and causes our faith to grow. The seed must remain planted and be kept watered before it can produce its harvest. It is God's Word planted, watered and steadfastly trusted that saves, heals and gives all of God's blessings.
As Christians, our only responsibility is to trust the Holy Spirit, keep God's Words in our mind, our mouth and in every conversation (Joshua 1vs8). So, allow God's Word in the midst of your heart continuously and not occasionally.

RESTITUTION: A bitter pill to swallow!
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A restituted personRestitution is an act of putting right all things that were wrongly done or acquired illegally. In some Christian religion circles, it is emphasised that a polygamist must stick only to his first wife, thereby relinquishing others. How easy is this perceived spiritual mandate to those concerned? Ask Olu Osunde, Biodun Muhammed and Modupe Okusanya. Christians.

Faith cometh by hearing says the bible. It is a rare privilege and special grace for a lost ship to gradually give attention to the voice of the shepherd and progressively retrace his step.

Notable men of God like Brother Kumuyi, Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Adeboye and many others have stressed the importance of restitution as emphasised by the holy bible. However, since we cannot but choose one out of the many definitions of restitution as drawn from the bible, we shall make do, in this case, with that of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God who defines restitution as follows: “Restitution is an act of putting right, what has been done wrongly, restoring what has been taken wrongly and repairing or giving an equivalent to loss or damage.”

The man of God did not only stop at defining restitution but added “This is a very important step for every believer for a clear conscience and good testimony.”

Brother Abraham, a newly converted Christian could simply be described as someone who truly listened to the word of God, meditated on it and practicalised it. He was once a drunk, fornicator as well as a liar and an examination fraudster.

However, Brother Abraham secured favour in the sight of the Lord as he was led to Christ after a miraculous encounter. As the young man was trying to build his personal relationship with God by meditating on his word, he subconsciously glued his attention to the bible book of Leviticus chapter 6 verse 2-5 which states clearly that lying, cheating, deciet, robbery and other vices are wrongs which should be made right by way of restitution. The story of Zacchaeus who promised to give back all he wrongly acquired in multiple fold in the book of Luke chapter 19 verse 8 also came running across his mind. He then concluded that if restitution could feature prominently in the old testament as well as play a key role in the new testament, then it needed to be taken seriously.

The youngman, who was then almost completing his study in a university, threw his ordinary level WAEC results away as he said he cheated to make the papers. He returned to his secondary school and started the process all over again from Senior Secondary Two, (SS 2).

He was called various unprintable names for his decision but today, he’s a lawyer who is fervent in the lord.

Glory be to God that Brother Abraham could do his restitution without any scare over his decision. However, Pa Alfred was not that lucky, the only consolation, which is of great importance, is his assurance of salvation as he paid a price that could devastate and make a man to burn-out. The man carried his cross and created a vacuum that no mortal man could block. Here is the simple story.

Pa Alfred was 60 when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. He had acquired four wives before then and the church elders advised him to let go the three wives he married after the first wife. The wives and their children were suddenly detached from their loving husband and father. The first wife was really no longer with the man again as had they separated for long. Pa Alfred is now a bachelor as the bible does not give him the chance to remarry since his first wife is still alive.

God is faithful to his word as he is no man that he can repent. He is not God of confusion despite some situation get too difficult to be explained except by God’s spirit.

Tribune Church’s finding revealed that in some cases, restitution could looks difficult if not impossible, for example a number of men were asked, "how would you react if your friend says he was sleeping with your wife until now that he has repented." We got frightning responses and we shall use Bro. Sam’s response as a summation of them all since they all spoke almost the same way “Only God would tell if that friend would leave my house alive,” says Bro. Sam.

With the seeming dilemma at hand, Tribune Church approached church leaders for their views on restitution, when and how it could be done.

Pastor Chris Godsent of the Deeply Covenated Family (A.K.A Life of God Evangelical Church) said “restitution is doing thing you had earlier done wrong well. Showing that you have truly repented by revisiting all those things you did wrongly with a view to making amendment. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and when he met Jesus Christ and he was assured of salvation, nobody forced him to say he would repay everything he had wrongly taken from any man in four folds.

“A very clear thing about restitution is that in some cases, you must be strongly backed by the spirit of God to act less you pay heavily for it. If the spirit of God leads you, no matter how delicate the case may look, He will back you up. For a former armed robber to go into a family to say he killed their bread winner would need the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“I believe restitution is one of the things that a new convert should be taught so that such a baby Christian could mend his way."

“Leading someone to make restitution requires that the pastors are deeply involved with the help of the holy spirit so that blunders are avoided. In some highly delicate cases, restitution could just be setting your conscience free before God by confessing your sin genuinely and begging for forgiveness. Like the death of Stephen, Saul was behind it all but when he repented, he did not go to the people of Stephen but placed his focus on God, his conscience did not condemn him.

In his own contribution, senior Apostle Michael Ogundana of the Holy Light of God Church, Aladura, said “While the case of Zacchaeus is a good example of restitution that should be emulated by Christians, It is not in all cases that a man can get the person he has done wrong against.

“We are under grace and so, one may need to just focus on God in true repentance. Tell me how a police man who has taken N20 from countless motorist would pay back. If he has the money to pay, can he get all the drivers? Zacchaeus had an opportunity that may not be available today because he could identify the people he did wrong against.

“I must also let you know that the cost of restitution could be so high that one is not able to pay. If you marry more than a wife and you have to restitute by cleaving to your first wife, the bible demands that you don’t just send the other woman or women away.

“You have to settle them well so that they don’t suffer. If a woman goes prostituting or she commits other sinful acts as a result of the failure of the man to settle her well as part of restitution, the man is still a sinner.

Talking about restitution which involves restoring or repaying losses in a way that makes amends, one question that comes to minds is, does the bible teach that restitution is necessary? However, going by the law of God in Exodus: 22:1 it says, If a man shall steal an ox or a sheep or kill it or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheeps for a sheep.”

Also in Leviticus 5:15, the bible emphasises that; if a soul commit a trespass and sin through ignorance in the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring for his trespass under the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks with thy valuation shekels of silver after the shekel of the santuary for a trespass offering and he shall make amends for the harm that the halth done in the holy thing and add the fifth part thereto.” Therefore, going by these scriptural refferences, we can boldly say restitution was something that was required under God’s law in the old testament.

But was restitution practised in the new testament which bible schoars reffered to as the dispensation of grace, where we are not more under the law but under grace.

However, Zacheus in Luke 19:1-9 told Jesus he would repay four times what he had taken dishonestly. Jesus did not ask or command him to do so, neither did he stop him from doing so. Can we then say the tax collector, Zacchaeus' actions was in obedience to the Jewish Law of God.

Jesus said by faith alone we are saved - Ephesians 2:8-9 “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.’ Going by this scripture, one can deduce that even though restitution is still a valid thing and something that is and was required under the Jewish concept of God’s law, both in the old testament and in the old testament respectively, yet restitution is a “work” or “an action” which may not necessary lead to being saved in Christianity.

Also, from Zacheus’ example, restitution can be said to be a personal thing between us and God. Immediately he had an encounter with Jesus Christ (salvation), His Spirit began to speak to him concerning things in his life that he had done that he needed to set right; what a wonderful pattern to follow.

Restitution is part of repentance process but the beautiful thing about the two is that one has been accomplished and the other puts into action, what has been accomplished.

According to Rev. Fr. Patrick Ekpada (OCD) of The Carmalite Fathers Community, Ibadan. Restitution is a kind of amendment made for one’s sin(s) after confession in the catholic church. It is like a payment made for damages done. In the Catholic church, restitution is a necessary condition for absolution from sin after confession. However, it is weighed against the gravity of the confessor’s sins.

Usually, the practice is to ask the person to recite certain prayers in the church such as The Lord’s Prayer and the ‘Hail Mary’ as restitution.

The priest can also ask the person to make amendment by returning an items stolen in the case of a theft.

The person making restitution may do this himself or have it done through the priest or any other person as the case may be. Care must be taken not to jeopardise the interest of the person in question.

However, he opined that not every sin can attract restitution. Speaking further, he buttressed the church’s view on restitution with the encounter between Zacheus and Jesus Christ in the bible where the former vowed to replace all that he had acquired unjustly or extorted from the people over the years in four fold, Luke 19:8 - And Zacheus stood and said to the Lord, behold, the half of my possession, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone by false, accusationl, I restore four times as much. He added that the practice is sanctioned in the old Jewish tradition as recorded in the old testament where sinners were made to pay for their sins in two fold.

Recently, the General Overseer of Evangelical International Gospel Church, Archbishop Abraham Oyelakin Oyeniran held a revival of restitution in Seme border between May 22 and 31, 2009 setting, albeit inadvertently an agenda for another controversial discourse.

Defining restitution, he said, “it is the act of making right what is wrong particularly in your day-to-day life activities.

He added that “those who have sinned through stealing, armed robbery, lying, fornication, adultery, fraud, polygamy, bigamy, homosexualism, must do restitution to qualify for the end-time retreat.”

By Bishop Oyelakin’s definition and the vices listed, there appears not to be a clear disparity between restitution which in practical term must be done at the instance of a priest and a mere plea for forgiveness of sin which most times is discreetly carried out. This is done on daily basis, according to Bishop Oyelakin.

What appears most difficult is the moral constraints associated with the demand often made of an intending pastor especially if he is a polygamist. By restitution, such to-be priest must discard his excess wives and hold on to the very first one as his legal wife. The practicability of that no doubt, puts the Christendom in a tight corner, raising the question as to why God would always want to use or call those He knows has contravened His laws.

In Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) “you cannot be a pastor or an elder if you are a polygamist. You can’t even hold a position in the church. If you are already in a position of honour and you contravened the laws, you will instantly be demoted. So, with that, the church does not even tolerate let alone leaving a room for restitution” says Esther Adeola, a member of ECWA.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/14062009/church_news.html

It's Up To You!

Throughout the Scriptures, God reveals to us just how important and powerful prophecy is. One of such portions of Scripture is found in the thirty-seventh chapter of the book of Ezekiel:

"The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest" (Ezekiel 37:1-3).

God took Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones. There were dead men's bones everywhere, as far as the eyes could see all over that open valley. And in Ezekiel's description, the bones were very dry indeed. Then God asked Ezekiel a pointed question, "Can these bones live?" In other words, "Can things change here?" Ezekiel looked around and probably thought to himself, "It looks really bad here, I doubt that they can," but he replied, "Well, Lord, Thou knowest!"

He was telling God in other words, "You only know if they can live or not. It's up to you to decide! If you want them to live, they'll live. If you don't want them to live, they won't." He threw the ball right back in God's court! The Lord's response was very instructive. He told him, "It's not up to Me, Ezekiel; it's up to you to do something about these bones and see to it that they live!" God then told him what to do. He said,

"…Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:" (Ezekiel 37:4-6). God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and tell them, "Oh ye dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord. God's going to cause breath to come into you and you shall live!" God was teaching Ezekiel how to change things through prophecy, and He taught him exactly what to say in his prophecy.

"And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

Ezekiel saw that as he prophesied to the dry bones, something began to happen, so he prophesied some more as God taught him and gave him words to speak: "So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone" (Verses 6 & 7).

Can you picture this! Imagine this huge heap of bones with each bone shifting around, searching for its members, and joining together until they all formed human skeletons! What a great noise they must have made in that open valley! Understand what God is talking about here. He's letting you know you can prophesy to the things you want changed. You can also prophesy to God Himself.

Observe what He said: "Prophesy unto the wind." That wind represents the Spirit of God. He said, "Come from the four winds, O breath." The original Hebrew word rendered "breath" here can also be stretched to mean "breath of life," which is synonymous with the Holy Spirit of God.

Ezekiel 37:10: "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath (of life) came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."

Prophecy: The Spoken, Revealed Word of God
Prophecy is the spoken Word of God; it is the revealed Word of God by which He leads and guides His people. The man who prophesies speaks with the ability of God's Spirit.

When God said in Joel 2:28, "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy," He meant that everybody in the Kingdom will have this ability of God to prophesy, to speak forth God's Word and cause it to come to pass. We'll all be able to bring about changes that will affect our lives and the lives of others around us positively.

What power, what great knowledge this is! How exciting to know you're not at the mercy of life's circumstances. If the life you have is not appealing to you, you can change it. You can control your destiny by the power of God made available to you through prophecy!
Some people don't believe this but it doesn't matter whether they believe it or not. God didn't say they must believe it; He says the one who believes is blessed but the one who doesn't is damned. So the choice is yours to make.

If you say you believe, what have you done so far with what you've believed? If you haven't done much with it, what you need to do is believe even more and make up your mind to put what you believe to work.

The Amen
June 16, 2009
 
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
 
The word "amen" is a most remarkable word.  It is transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best-known word in human speech.
 
The word is directly related--in fact, almost identical--to the Hebrew word for "believe" (aman), or "faithful."  Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly," an expression of absolute trust and confidence.  When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an "amen."  When God makes a promise, the believer's response is "amen" --"so it will be!" In the New Testament it is often translated "verily" or "truly."  When we pray according to His Word and His will, we know God will answer, so we close with an "amen," and so also do we conclude a great hymn or anthem of praise and faith.
 
The word is even a title of Christ Himself.  The last of His letters to the seven churches begins with a remarkable salutation by the glorified Lord: "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14).  We can be preeminently certain that His Word is always faithful and true because He is none other than the Creator of all things, and thus He is our eternal "Amen."
 
As our text reminds us, every promise of God in Christ is "yea and amen," as strong an affirmation of truth as can be expressed in the Greek language.
 
It is, therefore, profoundly meaningful that the entire Bible closes with an "amen."  "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (Revelation 22:21), assuring everyone who reads these words that the whole Book is absolutely true and trustworthy.  Amen! HMM

When and why should a person fast &how long

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Renewing of the Holy Spirit
June 19, 2009
 
". . . the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5)
 
The Holy Spirit's eternal impacts on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way.  To begin with, the Greek words are unusual—"regeneration" being used only twice in the New Testament and "renewal" only five times in various forms. They come together only in this passage.
 
"Regeneration" (paliggenesia) means to "birth again."  The connection to our salvation is well established and does not need much explanation here.  "Renewal" (anakainosis) in its variations is a bit more difficult to describe--especially since there is the possible linguistic connection to the "washing" (bath) of regeneration.  That is, the section could be translated "the Holy Spirit's bath of regeneration and renewing"--thus equating the two terms.  Most translations, however, treat the terms as separate actions or conditions for which the Holy Spirit is responsible.  This fits best with the rest of the biblical data.
 
Perhaps the most well-known passage focusing on renewal is Romans 12:1-2.  In this precious reference, we are commanded to present (yield) our bodies as holy and acceptable living sacrifices, and to refuse to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed (metamorphoo = "permanent change") by the renewing of our mind.  The instrument by which the transformation comes about is the new mind (intellect)--a grace-gift imputed at salvation by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 10:16). This renewal takes place in the "inward man" (2 Corinthians 4:16) which "is renewed in knowledge" (Colossians 3:10) according to the image of the Creator.  Thus, the renewal comes about intellectually, through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, as we seek, study, store, and obey the magnificent Word of God. HMM III

All praise to Thee, my God, this night
For all the blessings of the light:
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings. Amen.
                                                         ~~~~~~
All praise to Thee, my God, this night

The Glory of the Children
June 21, 2009
 
"|The| glory of children are their fathers." (Proverbs 17:6)
 
Most Christian men are aware of the familiar exhortation to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4) and the warning "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged" (Colossians 3:21).  Biblical messages to fathers frequently reflect the very real societal need for family discipline and godly leadership in the home (Proverbs 22:6, 15; Genesis 18:19).
 
Our text is a bit different.  Although the message certainly implies godly leadership, the immediate focus is on the children.  Children, we are told, receive "glory" from their fathers! How is this to come about?
 
Glory, in the biblical sense, centres on the value, the worthiness, or the reputation of the person or event so recognised.  For instance, the Scripture teaches that the Lord Jesus "shall come in the glory of His Father" (Matthew 16:27; Mark 8:38; etc.), and that the reputation of God the Father was conferred on Christ Jesus: "For He received from God the Father honour and glory" (2 Peter 1:17).
 
So, fathers, please learn this critical principle.  Your reputation is reflected onto your children.  Your behaviour in the workplace is assumed to be an indicator of your children's potential.  What you say or do in moments of unguarded or uncontrolled passion will pass on to your children--for good or ill.  The common saying "like father, like son" is recognised across time and culture as an accurate measure of human existence.
 
The Lord insists that "the iniquity of the fathers" will be passed  "upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation" (Exodus 34:7).  Would it not be far better that your children receive glory from your righteous life than shame (Psalm 89:45) from your iniquity? HMM III