Showing posts with label 2017 New Year Resolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2017 New Year Resolution. Show all posts

January 3, 2017

2017 books for the year for all ages

As the chronological year is a boundary for many in this world, I am led today to share some books which will help us walk across the year’s path of divine appointment without the usual hassles which will come upon many in the increasingly volatile physical world. I collected this set of six books at random. I selected them about three months back and lent them to someone dear. she read over them many times and treasured the words of God in the new light. I believe they have really helped her to function better and cope more successfully with her many crisis situations which accumulated over all her life and the lives of her family members. I believe she is now able to appropriate the every blessings that the Lord has prepared for her (and every believer in Jesus) in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). I can see the discernible enthusiasm for life with fresh hope , assurance and confidence in perspective and worldview of this 75 years old grandmother. She has learned to practice the authority of the position of a son of God, and the use of the powerful Jesus’ Name.
The books have been a blessing to many like her in every aspects, physical, mind and emotion. I pray the readers of this blog will gain access to these books and read them many times until you too can practice what the books teach. I would look at such books as manuals or handbooks. Their sole purpose is to help us learn to practice the truth that our God has revealed in the Bible. Read the books and and the Bible together. Let us start the new year with this resolution: Be the Bereans (Acts 17:11).
KJ21 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with allreadiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so. NLT And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
I quote excerpts (from Andrew Wommack’s articles) that briefly introduce to you each of the six books as follows. But the real treasure is in the complete books. Please read them!
A BETTER WAY TO PRAY
Decades ago, I was participating in an all-night prayer meeting bombarding the gates of heaven. I remember beating the wall and yelling, “God, if You loved the people in Arlington, Texas, half as much as I do, we’d have revival!” Immediately, my lightning-fast mind realized that something was seriously wrong with my theology. What was I thinking?
Did I really believe I loved these people more than God did? No, not exactly. Like many Christians, I believed God was angry with the human condition, and it was up to me to turn Him from wrath and judgment. I was interceding, or so I thought, pleading with God on the behalf of others. What could possibly be wrong with that? As I learned later, a lot.
The things the Lord has revealed to me about prayer since then have totally changed my life, and I’m now seeing miraculous results. If you aren’t getting the results you know the Lord wants you to have, maybe it’s time to consider a better way to pray. I’m not saying that anyone who doesn’t pray as I do is “of the devil.” I wasn’t “of the devil” in the way I used to pray. I loved God with all my heart, and the Lord loved me. But the results weren’t there.
First, we need to recognize that God isn’t angry at mankind anymore. He is no longer imputing or holding our sins against us.
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19
We are NOW reconciled to God through Jesus. That means we are in harmony and are friendly with God right now. He isn’t mad; He’s not even in a bad mood. The war between God and man is over. That’s what the angels proclaimed at the birth of Jesus…
LESSONS FROM ELIJAH
One of the most important things the Lord has ever spoken to me is taken from a passage of Scripture involving Elijah the prophet. Once I saw what it was really saying, it linked many other truths together and made a big impact on my life. This is so simple that once you see it, you’re going to wonder how you never saw it before.
Here’s what it says in 1 Kings 17:2-4:
And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, [3] Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [4] And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
Elijah’s provision wasn’t where he was; it was where God told him to go! This is profound!
Some of you have an impression from God to do something. Maybe you’re supposed to start a new business, make a job change, move to another town, go to Bible college, speak to a person, etc. You want to do it, but you’re holding back because the provision isn’t there yet. You’re saying, “God, I can’t do what You’re asking without first seeing the provision. How do I know all these things are going work out‌” This principle in 1 Kings applies directly to your situation. God is sending the provision for your needs not to where you are but to where He told you to go! The question is, “Are you all ‘there’‌” Some of you aren’t experiencing supernatural provision because you aren’t “there.” There is a place called “there” for you.
In verse 4, God said, “I have commanded the ravens,” (emphasis mine), meaning He had already spoken to these ravens and they were on their way to where Elijah was supposed to go.
First Kings 17:5 says,
So [Elijah] went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
(Brackets mine)
In other words, if Elijah had stayed where he was, he could have prayed and fasted, saying, “God, why haven’t You supplied my needs‌” But he wouldn’t have seen God’s provision if he hadn’t gone where God instructed.
One of the reasons we aren’t seeing a greater provision from God financially, emotionally, or in our circumstances is because we aren’t doing what God told us to do. We’ve got a word from God that we haven’t acted on. We’re somewhere other than where He told us to be…
SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY
Knowledge is powerful!
I just returned from an overseas flight where Jamie and I were upgraded to business class. The seats made out into a flat bed. It was wonderful. It really reduces jet lag. As I was drifting off to sleep, I thought about John Wesley who traversed the Atlantic in the hold of a ship. It took him a couple of months one way, and the conditions were terrible. My flight from London to Denver took nine hours, and I had luxuries he couldn’t have imagined.
All of this is possible because of knowledge. Man hasn’t created anything new; he’s just discovered the laws that the Lord established from the beginning. “Bird brains” have been flying from the start. The same is true with communications, electricity, computing, and a host of other modern breakthroughs. Man is just discovering the laws God created.
Although mankind has made huge discoveries that have totally changed the way we live, it seems like we know less about ourselves than previous generations. While our ancestors didn’t have all the modern conveniences, they had a peace and strength that eludes most today. As our knowledge of our natural world has increased, our knowledge of spiritual things has decreased. In man’s arrogance, he blindly believes all of life’s problems can be solved by himself. But there can be no peace without if there isn’t peace within.
There is a whole universe that man in all his wisdom is ignorant of. That is the world of the spirit. And I’m not just talking about the spiritual realm outside of us but also the spiritual being inside of every person. We aren’t evolved animals; we were created in God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:26). We are spirit beings. The ultimate way to control bad behavior isn’t by more laws, metal detectors, or social engineering; it’s changing the hearts of people, one at a time. Only Jesus can do that.
Yet sadly, even many Christians have lost this spiritual point of view. Very few Christians know who they are in the spirit. In fact, they have been taught by religion that they are sinners by nature—just the opposite of what the Bible teaches…
YOU’VE ALREADY GOT IT
What do you need the Lord to do for you? Do you need the Lord to heal you? How about prosperity? Could you use more money? The truth is, you don’t need the Lord to do anything for you. He’s already done His part. You’ve already got it, whatever “it” is.
This may sound crazy to some of you. You might be thinking, But I’ve got a doctor’s report to prove I don’t have healing or You haven’t seen my bank account. But regardless of what the natural facts are, the truth is that God has already given you whatever you need.
Second Peter 1:3 says,
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
The only thing we are lacking is knowledge.
Most Christians believe that God can do anything, but many of them don’t believe He has done very much. They live in a constant state of trying to get God to do something. They are begging God to move through revival, healing, prosperity, etc. They run from meeting to meeting, trying to get something from God. But they’ve already got it.
The Bible says,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
This says He “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings,” meaning it’s already done. You already have all spiritual blessings. So, asking God or waiting on Him to bless you is counterproductive. And yet the average Christian starts from that position. If they’re sick in their bodies, instead of starting from “by His stripes, I was healed” (1 Pet. 2:24) or “I have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living in me” (Eph. 1:19-20), they’ll take the doctor’s report or the pain in their bodies and say, “I’m sick. God, will You heal me?” They start moving toward victory instead of coming from victory!
One time, I was praying for healing for my son, who was very little at the time. I wasn’t seeing him healed, so asked God, “What’s wrong?”The Lord spoke to me, “You’re fighting to get your son healed instead of fighting because he is healed.” You might say, “I don’t see the difference.” There’s a huge difference! The Lord told me that instead of defending my son’s healing and just releasing what Jesus already provided, I was trying to get Him to do something.
If you didn’t understand this, then I can guarantee you, this is one of the main reasons you aren’t receiving from God. You need to get a revelation of this. Jesus has already provided everything you will ever need. You’re blessed with all spiritual blessings—all of them!
The key for me understanding these things was the revelation the Lord gave me that I’ve entitled Spirit, Soul & Body. God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and He moves in the spiritual realm. Whether or not we see a physical manifestation of what He has done in the spiritual realm is dependent upon what we believe and how we act, not on what He has done. It’s not up to the Lord to heal us; He’s already healed us (1 Pet. 2:24). But He gave His miraculous power to us to release.
Healing has already been provided. Financial prosperity has already been provided. Joy and peace and everything that you will ever need emotionally have already been provided. If you’re having a down day, if things aren’t going right, if you don’t feel good, you don’t need to embrace discouragement, despair, and hopelessness. And yet the average Christian just embraces this stuff, saying, “O God, I ask You to touch me. I ask You to give me joy.” The Bible says you’ve already received all these things. The logical question to ask, then, is “Well, where is it?”
In Galatians 5:22-23, it says love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are in you if you’re born again. It’s right there in your spirit! I’ve had many people come to me and say, “I just don’t feel the love of God. Would you please pray that He would release His love toward me?” Most people think that’s a great request. But it assumes that it’s God’s fault that they don’t feel His love.
The truth is, God has already poured out His love toward you. Look what it says here in Romans:
The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:5b
God loves you whether you feel it or not! His love has been poured in your heart—in other words, in your spirit. And His love isn’t conditional upon your good actions, or holiness. You’ve got to start from this place that “God has already provided everything, and if I don’t feel His love, it’s not that God didn’t give; it’s that I don’t realize what I have.” When you know that you have something, it takes the struggle out of it. It takes you out of condemnation. It takes you out of a legalistic mentality of trying to earn things from God. It removes doubt. How could you ever doubt that you’d get something that you already have? It’s really that simple…
HARNESSING YOUR EMOTIONS
The Bible teaches us that our thoughts are the determining factor which controls our actions. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Notice that carnal mindedness doesn’t just tend toward death — it is death!
No one can consistently perform differently than the way they think; therefore, we cannot change our actions without changing our thinking. It’s not just what we think about that needs changing, but we must change our thinking process. Our emotions are linked directly to how we think.
All people have a perception, or image, on the inside of them of what they are like. This image is not necessarily based on facts but on feelings. One negative experience can distort a person’s perception of themselves for a lifetime.
For instance, some people who are beautiful may think of themselves as ugly or undesirable because of unkind words spoken to them as a child. Some who achieve great success still see themselves as failures, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
To a degree, psychology has correctly diagnosed this problem. Psychologists use terminology such as “self-esteem” or “identity” in relating these truths; however, today’s secular wisdom is totally inadequate to help a person change the inner self image.
First, most people shift the blame for bad self-esteem, or self-image, to someone else. It has become popular to blame others for every negative thing in our lives. People often say, “I came from a dysfunctional family,” “My problems came because I’m part of a minority group,” “It’s that woman you gave me” (Gen. 3:12). Other people are not our problem!
All of us have had negative experiences. The choice is ours whether we become bitter or better as a result of them. For every person who can claim some dysfunctional behavior because of a traumatic experience in their life, there are others who have had similar or worse things happen to them, yet they overcame their circumstances. Why? Because problems do not dictate failure; we have a choice.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” God Almighty gave us a choice. God doesn’t make the choice for us, and Satan can’t make it for us. We have the privilege and responsibility to choose blessing or cursing.
Placing the blame on others is denying the real problem, and it will prevent finding a solution. If other people are my problem, I’m in trouble because God did not give me the ability to control other people. The devil will always send someone across my path who knows how to hit my hot button.
If the problem is within me, then there is hope because through Christ, I can change. This is freedom. Regardless of what others do, I can prosper through Christ.
After psychology tries to place the blame for your problems on someone else, they try to bolster your self-esteem by having you focus on the positive things in your self and minimize the negative attributes. That’s not what the Bible teaches. Jesus said, “For without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5)…
THE EFFECTS OF PRAISE
Living a life of praise is not only the most enjoyable way to live, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to change your life. Praise isn’t like the caboose that just follows what happens, but it’s more like the engine of a train that makes things happen. Your faith isn’t complete without praise. Colossians 2:7 says that you abound in faith with thanksgiving. No thanksgiving equals not abounding in faith.
Praise affects you, it affects the devil, and it affects God. It touches everything and every part of your life. Likewise, a lack of praise affects you in a negative way, turns the devil loose in your life, and doesn’t bless God. You have to get this area of your life right.
Nearly everyone agrees that praise is good, but very few feel any responsibility to praise God when they don’t feel like it. I don’t know anyone who wakes up in the morning and plans on being depressed. They would like to be happy and praise God, but they don’t feel they have any control over this. They think that praise is just a response to what happens and that if everything goes right, they will automatically do it. That is definitely not the case.
The Lord told His disciples the night before His crucifixion not to let their hearts be troubled (John 14:1). This wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command. Yet most Christians today would think this was insensitive and unreasonable. They would say that Jesus wasn’t being understanding and compassionate.
These disciples were about to see Jesus arrested and then flee in fear for their lives. They would see Jesus unjustly condemned and then crucified and buried. And He was telling them not to let their hearts be troubled! To the average person, that’s unreasonable.
Jesus ended His discourse to His disciples that evening with a promise that they would have trouble (John 16:33). Wow! What an understatement! Yet He said to be of good cheer. How was this possible? He said it was possible because He had overcome the world.
At the time Jesus said that, He hadn’t been crucified, much less resurrected and seated at the Father’s right hand. It was because of faith that the disciples were supposed to rejoice. He had promised that He would be resurrected and then reign, and if they were in faith, they would rejoice—and so would we.
We live in a negative world, a fallen world where it seems that the ungodly are getting more and more prominent. So much of what we hear is just negative, and we have to make a deliberate effort to be positive and counter the culture we live in. Praise is a great tool to help us achieve that…

December 30, 2016

a new season of grace and power to do miraculous signs and wonders

Acts 14:3  But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.
Acts 15:11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts 20:32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
Ephesians 2:8-9 [Full Chapter]
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 1:2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Ephesians 1:6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Ephesians 2:5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Ephesians 2:7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Ephesians 3:2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
Ephesians 6:24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

December 18, 2016

Watchman’s Resolution: be trained to be like the Master.

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,” (Luke 1:68-70 NKJV) This is good news! Today the watchman is reminded of the power of God’s word, which is seed, to be sown in the believers’ hearts in order to germinate and grow into a plant that bears fruits in every aspect of our lives. The fruit will be good, acceptable and perfect for it will align with the will of God. The seed, like any seed in the natural law, will take time. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn. This law has not changed. That’s how the earth has been sustained. I pray we all understand this truth and live this truth, burning with a passion to read God’s words and store the words in our hearts until the time of harvest.
Last night the watchman was woken to read a passage in the Old Testament from the Book of Ezekiel. Here are some of the verses about the spiritual state some of God’s people are in. Are they relevant in today’s churches? (Those of you who read these are watchmen. This message is for prayers as you watch over the souls of men in your respective stations.)
(Bible verses are quoted from New King James Version (NKJV)unless otherwise annotated)
1. There exists a Rebellious House: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house…” Ezekiel 12:2
2. Now is the time frame: Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the Lord God.’” Ezekiel 12:28
3. The target is the religious hypocrites: O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. Ezekiel 13:4-5
4. A warning against spiritual superficiality in God’s house: I will raise my fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions, …
“This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash! 11 Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstones and mighty winds will knock it down. Ezekiel 13:9-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
5. A warning about false belief perpetrated by the enemy using his agents to hunt and captive souls of men in churches: “Now, son of man, speak out against the women who prophesy from their own imaginations…ensnaring the souls of my people, young and old alike. You tie magic charms on their wrists and furnish them with magic veils…By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against all your magic charms, which you use to ensnare my people like birds…22 You have discouraged the righteous with your lies,..And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life,.. (Ezekiel 13:17-23 New Living Translation (NLT))
6. The young remnants need prayers: Yet there will be survivors, and they will come here to join you as exiles in Babylon. You will see with your own eyes how wicked they are, and then you will feel better about what I have done to Jerusalem. 23 When you meet them and see their behavior, you will understand …” Ezekiel 14:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)
Coming back to the word seed that Jesus has sown. We can see clearly that the above gloomy conditions need prayers. But prayers alone cannot sow word seeds. We need to speak the words of God. We need the laborers to sow the word seed and to harvest the field. The today’s questions that we must ask ourselves are:
Can I do something? What are my gifts? What training do I need to be equipped to be a laborer as sower or harvester? Let this be our new year resolution: be trained to be like the Master. (Luke 6:40, 7:22)

December 11, 2016

a horizontal outlook from a watchman

Today I woke with one thing in my mind: an outlook. An outlook can mean: a person’s point of view or general attitude to life: broaden your outlook on life.
a view: the pleasant outlook from the lodge window.
a place from which a view is possible; a vantage point.
the prospect for the future: the deteriorating economic outlook.
What is my outlook in the new horizon? I speak from my little horizon. The spot where I position in a time and a space in time.
Attitude: My general attitude to life will not change much. By adding one chronological year does add wisdom in the conventional sense, such as an increase in the knowledge in modern technology. Virtual reality put us increasingly into the world of the computer. The year has made an exponential difference in this aspect, which in turn impacts all other aspects of life. Overall I have benefitted from solid Biblical spiritual study.
Physical view: Well I have gained some views too by being a traveler. Looking out of different windows in the world has broadened my perspectives. I must admit that many parts of the world are truly beautiful to the eyes. The physical earth is still beautiful.
Vantage point: Spiritually yes. Two big international events took place in two important (as Biblical type) nations this year and confirmed spiritual promptings received beforehand. Changes ahead.
Prospect for the future: Do I see an economic outlook? Yes, I do. My only advice is for readers to read the story of Joseph again and ask the Lord which year you (as an individual) are in now. The fourteen years of prosperity and famine do not fall on the same chronological years for everyone. What about the globe? Or even one particular nation? You may ask. The same principle applies You have to ask the Lord which year now your nation or the globe is at.
Here are some photos I took over this year on the different horizons of life.  Take note that the horizons are not stagnant or fixed. There are at least two sides: my side of the perspective and the other side across the horizon. Someone stands at the other side and looks toward my side and it becomes his horizon. If I look far enough I may see myself there. Remember, the earth is round.
At different New Horizon I have stood. Have I?




November 29, 2016

Why fast and pray? Because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

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It is the time of the year when Christians fast. I note that my two earlier fasting blogs have made it to the top ten read currently.
https://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/queen-esthers-fast/
https://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/fasting-god-wants-nt/
In the two articles I shared the famous testimony of Queen Esther whose three days’ fast with no food and no water together with her Jewish countrymen in her city stopped the annihilation of the Jews and Israel as a people. I also shared what it means for New Testament Christians based on the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.
I have posted in the following blog about the alertness required in this last forty days before the New Year, through fasting, praying and reading God’s words:
https://ghostwriterforgod.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/in-forty-days-what-it-means-in-the-last-forty-days-in-2016/
“This watchman will take heed of what the Lord Jesus has urged His followers and the apostles’ similar advice:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 13:33: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 14:38: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Ephesians 6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1 Peter 4:7: [ Serving for God’s Glory ] But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”
Fasting makes one more watchful and alert. The war is not yet over in the spiritual realm which manifests in physical consequences as readers would have noted in your own political countries and geographical regions. Even in the most powerful countries in the world. There is no certainty of absolute victory in the human terms, just as the Bible has declared. Can Christians stop being spiritually vigilant?  The answer is a big NO. The Lord Jesus and the apostles clearly teach us to be vigilant. Fasting is a way to stay vigilant.

Let us take heed of Nehemiah’s advice and practice as he re-built the Jerusalem walls:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Nehemiah 4 New Living Translation (NLT)
Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding
4 [a]Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?[b] Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”
4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[c] the builders.”
6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.
7 [d]But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.
10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”
12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”[e] 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”
21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.[f]
Footnotes:
4:1 Verses 4:1-6 are numbered 3:33-38 in Hebrew text.
4:2 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4:5 Or for they have thrown insults in the face of.
4:7 Verses 4:7-23 are numbered 4:1-17 in Hebrew text.
4:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4:23 Or Each carried his weapon in his right hand. Hebrew reads Each his weapon the water. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

November 22, 2016

IN “FORTY DAYS”: What it means in the last forty days in 2016


In forty days it will be the end of Year 2016. How does a follower of Jesus Christ spend the last forty days of this year? How important is forty days to the Lord God Creator Himself? I shall attempt to look at what God means by day and night and what forty days mean to Him. For those who have never encountered Jesus in a personal way, I pray you meet Him in these last days before you face the New Year 2017.
DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF DAY/NIGHT (SEASONS, YEARS)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Here is a narration of what God means: Genesis 1:3-5,14 [Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.]
So it appears that God uses physical discernible signs (light. darkness) to separate two sections of time. Such sections are respectively called day and night. Other signs also include the physical variations of nature and living things (including a human growing/aging) presented by seasons and years.
Why “forty” days (And forty nights)? Here are some Bible verses on “forty days”. We can read that “forty” signifies a period in which one begins or ends. it is a term of assignment on earth. It is a period of performance record. It is a length of time just enough to show whether one passes or fails the test. It is a time in which an event takes on a spiritual implication which in turn impacts the physical outcome. What will you do from today until the end of this calendar year 2016?
This watchman will take heed of what the Lord Jesus has urged His followers and the apostles’ similar advice:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 13:33: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 14:38: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Ephesians 6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1 Peter 4:7: [ Serving for God’s Glory ] But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “FORTY DAYS” IN THE BIBLE:
IN THE BEGINNING OF EARTH TIME
Genesis 7:4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” Genesis 7:12 And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. Genesis 8:6 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.
THE BEGINNING OF MOSES’ MINISTRY JOURNEY AS A SERVANT OF GOD; “DOUBLE FORTY”
Exodus 24:18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
34:28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 9:9,11,18 9:25 “Thus I prostrated myself before the Lord; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the Lord had said He would destroy you.10:10 “As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you.
THE FIRST SPYING ASSIGNMENT AND ITS FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCE; “DOUBLE FORTY; “EXPONENTIAL IMPACT” FROM “DAY” TO “YEAR”!
Numbers 13:25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.
14:34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.
A SNAPSHOT OF THE TORMENTOR(ENEMY)’S TACTICS
1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine (GOLIATH) drew near and presented (STRUTTED) himself forty days, morning and evening.
ELIJAH’S PREPARATION TO COMPLETE HIS LAST RACE AS A PROPHET OF GOD
1 Kings 19:8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
EZEKIEL’S PROPHETIC ACT AS A TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD
Ezekiel 4:6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.
JONAH’S MISSION AS A TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH
Matthew 4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Mark 1:13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Luke 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
THE END OF JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH BEFORE ASCENDING TO HEAVEN
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
FOR FURTHER READING, I LIST BELOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “FORTY” IN THE BIBLE.
Mentioning 146 times in Scripture, the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation, as a time of consecration and as a period of trial. The number forty can also represent a generation of man. Because of their sins after leaving Egypt, The children of Israel were punished by wandering the wilderness for 40 years before a new generation was allowed to possess the promised land. Jesus, just days before his crucifixion, prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2). Forty years after his crucifixion in 30 A.D., the Roman Empire destroyed the city and burned its beloved temple to the ground.
Forty day epic periods of great flood [Gen.7:4,12,17, 8:6].
Forty years was the age of Isaac when he married Rebekah [Gen.25:20].
Forty years of Moses in Egypt [Ex.7:7; Deut.34:7; Acts 7:30].
Forty years of Moses in Midian before return to Egypt [Acts 7:30].
Forty years from the Exodus until Moses’ death [Deut.1:3;34:7].
Forty years Israel ate manna [Ex.16:4,15,35; Deut.29:5; 1Cor.10:3] which means “what is it?” , “spiritual food”.
Forty days Moses was on the Mountain to receive from God the Law of the Sinai Covenant [Ex.24:18].
Forty days the children of Israel were tested while Moses was on the mountain [Ex.32:1].
Forty days Moses was on the Mountain after the children of Israel committed the golden calf idolatry [Ex.34:28]. He received from God and wrote down the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments again.
Forty days the Israelite 12 spies surveyed the land of Canaan [Num.13:25].
Forty years was Caleb’s age when Moses sent him as one of the spies to check out the promised land [Josh.14:7].
Forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness [Num.14:33; Deut.1:1-3; 8:2].
Forty years from the giving of the Law at Sinai to the conquest of the Promised land [Josh.5:6].
Forty year intervals of peace in the age of the Judges (Judg.3:11; 5:31; 8:28)
Forty years Eli the High Priest judged Israel [1 Sam.4:18].
Forty years David ruled as King of Israel [2 Sam.5:5; 1 Chr.29:26-27].
Forty years Solomon ruled Israel [2 Chr.9:30].
Forty years Josiah ruled Judah [2 Kin.12:1-2].
Forty days and nights Elijah traveled to Mt. Horeb/Sinai [1 Kin.19:8].
Forty days reluctant missionary/prophet Jonah was assigned to station in the Assyrian city of Nineveh [Jon.3:4] preaching repentance message.
Forty days Ezekiel was instructed to lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgressions [Ezek.4:6].
Forty years of judgment that Ezekiel prophesied on Egypt’s desolation [Ezek.29:11-13].
Forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan [Matt.4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2].
Forty days Jesus taught His disciples PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND APPEARED TO OVER FIVE HUNDRED FOLLOWERS after the Resurrection. On the fortieth day He ascended to the Father in Heaven [Acts 1:3; 1 COR.15:3-7].

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