testimony

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Psalm 105 – A way out of depression

Search the Scriptures study: Psalm 105

Psalm 105 opens with a call to remember and recite the mighty deeds of the LORD. It is a historical retrospect (vs. 45) with a view to encourage obedience to the redeeming LORD; “Remembering” had a moral purpose, not just an intellectual process.

verses 1-5 What are the imperatives?

Give thanks to the LORD.
Call on His name.
Make known His doings.
Sing to Him.
Sing praises to Him.
Talk of His marvelous deeds.
Devoutly praise His deeds.
Glory in His holy name.
Let the heart of those rejoice who seek and require the LORD (as their indispensable necessity).
Seek the LORD.
Remember His marvelous deeds.

Psalm 119:164 – 7 times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees.

Doing these imperatives is a good way out of depression.

verses 7-10, 42 – reasons for God’s intervention: He is mindful of His covenant. It is forever imprinted on His heart. He commanded and established the word to 1,000 generations.

Luke 1:72-74 – He sealed the covenant with Abraham. We are delivered from our foes, so that we might serve Him fearlessly.

Why won’t He ever fail or forsake us? For His Name’s sake. (Hebrews 13:5b, 6, 20, 21) Joshua 1:5 – He is always the same. As He was with Moses, he is with us.

God protected, delivered, trained and provided for His chosen people. Will He do less for us?

I Samuel 12:22 – It pleases him to make us a people for Himself.

Fire

According to Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, fire is “heat and light emanating visibly, perceptibly and simultaneously from any body.”

In the popular acceptation of the word, fire is the effect of combustion. The combustible body ignited or heated to redness we call fire; and when ascending in a stream or body, we call it flame. A piece of charcoal in combustion, is of a red color and very hot. In this state it is said to be on fire, or to contain fire. When combustion ceases, it loses its redness and extreme heat, and we say, the fire is extinct.

What is combustion? It is “the act or process of burning,” “the rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.”

What is oxidation? Getting into chemistry here. Oxide is “a binary compound of oxygen with another element or radical.”

I got a little daily calendar named “Prayers That Avail Much.” Today’s prayer: “Father, in life as well as in death, I am Yours! I am committed to obey Your will for my life. I am submissive to You and Your Word. Help me to bring glory to You with my life by seasoning every place the sole of my foot treads with the fragrance of the knowledge of You. I will pull people from hell every day of my life with the delivering power of the Holy Spirit! Let it be said of me, by saint and sinner alike, when I leave their presence. ‘The Lord has been in our midst.’ To You be all glory and praise! Amen.”

My monthly prayer guide was also on those lines:

Pray for the Spirit of burning. “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion…shall be called holy…when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion…by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.” Isaiah 4:3-4

A washing by fire! a cleansing by judgment! he who has passed through this will be called holy. The power of blessing for the world, the power of work and intercession that will avail, depends on the spiritual state of the Church. And, that can only rise higher as sin is discovered and put away. Judgment must begin at the house of God. There must be conviction of sin for sanctification. Beseech God to give His Spirit as a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning–to discover and burn out sin in His people.

Ask–the prayer is after His own heart–for the spirit of deep conviction of sin to come among His people. Ask for the spirit of burning. Ask in the faith of His Name–the faith of what He wills, of what He can do–and look for the answer. Pray that the Church may be blessed, to be made a blessing in the world.

Wonderful Sermon: John the Baptist and the Fire of God

God’s Word is a Fire – sermon outline from the Preacher’s Files.

Mount Sartaba description. In the 2nd Temple time, Sartaba was a chain of beacon stations transmitting signals by fire alerting to the beginning of the month and of religious festivals. This picture is from our trip and the climb to the top. The signal fire was lit at the top of the mountain.

Just as in nature fire can be useful or destructive, I believe in human nature fire can be good or bad. Let us have the fire of God burning ever more brightly in our hearts each day, leading us into a life of purity and a shining light to lead others away from the fires of hell into a life shining brightly for God’s glory.

Psalms 99 and 100

In Psalm 99 God’s holiness is demonstrated. He is high above the peoples. His name is holy and He is holy. He keeps His testimonies. He establishes righteous kings. God’s holiness is not abstract but active. God is concerned with the affairs of man. He knows what is going on and loves our kids more than we do.

Revelation 15:3-4. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

chapter 99, vs. 3 – “Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.” Terible means awe-inspiring.
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Psalm 76:7, 12 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Psalm 99:6-8 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

Psalm 100 – what do we know about the LORD?

He is God
He made us
We are His people
He is good
He is merciful and everlasting
He is faithful and true
He is truthful to all generations

What should we do in light of what we know of God? Verse 2 – Serve Him with gladness. Come before His presence with singing.

I worked cutting meat for a year after college. One day I worked on memorizing Psalm 100 and sang it all day long. Whenever needing a spiritual lift and encouragement I would sing Psalm 100. Here is someone singing it.

Psalms 97 and 98

Back to the Search the Scriptures studies. It was 55 years ago today my father passed away when I was 3 1/2. I always remember the day.

Psalm 97 speaks of the LORD’s character – righteous, just, glorious and holy. How does that effect us and the world around us? We rejoice and are glad. His adversaries are burned up. His light illuminates the world.

Verse 10a – Those who love the LORD must hate evil. In Romans 12, verse 9, Paul says to let your love be the real thing – sincere – hate what is evil – turn from wickedness – hold fast to what is good.

Psalm 98 – What are the acts of the LORD past and future that cause the psalmist to praise Him? He has done marvelous things and given us salvation. He has shown His righteousness towards the house of Israel. God shows His mercy, loving-kindness, truth and faithfulness. All the ends of the earth witnessed the salvation of our God. Acts 13:47, 28:28 – He will come to judge and rule the earth. He will rule with righteousness and He will judge with equity.

Ephesians 5:19, 20 – How we can worship? “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments], and making melody with your heart to the Lord, at all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”

A hymn:

Zion’s King Shall Reign Victorious

Words: Thomas Kelly, 1806

Music: Austria, by Franz J. Haydn

1. Zion’s King shall reign victorious,
All the earth shall own His sway;
He will make His kingdom glorious,
He will reign through endless day.

Refrain
Mighty King, Thine arm revealing,
Now Thy glorious cause maintain,
Bring the nations help and healing,
Make them subject to Thy reign.

2. Nations now from God estrangèd,
Then shall see a glorious light,
Night to day shall then be changèd,
Heaven shall triumph in the sight. Refrain

3. Then shall Israel, long dispersèd,
Mourning seek the Lord their God,
Look on Him Whom once they piercèd,
Own and kiss the chastening rod. Refrain

watch a little video on holiness

God goes before and makes a way

Chosen People Ministries I received information from this ministry in the mail yesterday (see map). It is a wonderful ministry of sharing Messiah with Jewish people and has existed for over 100 years.

Psalm 85

1 For the Leader. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

2 HaShem, Thou hast been favourable unto Thy land, Thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob.

3 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast pardoned all their sin. Selah

4 Thou hast withdrawn all Thy wrath; Thou hast turned from the fierceness of Thine anger.

5 Restore us, O G-d of our salvation, and cause Thine indignation toward us to cease.

6 Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations?

7 Wilt Thou not quicken us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?

8 Show us Thy mercy, O HaShem, and grant us Thy salvation.

9 I will hear what G-d HaShem will speak; for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

10 Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land.

11 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

12 Truth springeth out of the earth; and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

13 Yea, HaShem will give that which is good; and our land shall yield her produce.

14 Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall make His footsteps a way.

New American Standard: vs. 13 Righteousness will go before Him and will make His footsteps into a way.

Somehow the two versions have different verse markings. I read this chapter the other night and have been praying this last verse for my children. Righteousness goes before G-d and His footsteps make a way for us. As the Jewish people have returned to the land of Israel, it has blossomed and is truly fruitful. I heard one Jewish person speak about this. He said it doesn’t matter who grows things in America; things will grow, but in Israel things only grow when His people are there.

Gimel – Gamol

I’m studying the Hebrew alephbet and it is so very interesting. I give a copy of my little study to the assisted living group some Sundays. We read the section in Psalm 119 corresponding to the Hebrew letter.

The 3rd letter, which is also the number 3, is Gimel. It means camel or reward and is associated with acts of lovingkindness. The root word (garnol) means to nourish until completely ripe.

Gamol means camel and forms of the letter gimel resembles the long neck of the camel. We know the camel is physically equipped to endure long journeys which helps them endure the many dangers of the desert. So, the camel is a gomel chesed – performs kindnesses.

Gimel is also a picture of Yeshua as our Redeemer. John 4:42 “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Our Redeemer was born in the world and runs forth bearing charity for the poor and standing behind the door. He is our nourishment. But if anyone turns away from His love, He represents judgment and recompense.

Gimel is also a picture of the Holy Spirit. Aleph, also #1, and Bet, also #2, equal Gimel, #3. Gimel, #3, represents the Holy Spirit coming from the Father (Aleph) and the Son (Bet).

The role of the Holy Spirit is 3-fold – convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment to come – John 16:8.

Jesus said, when the Holy Spirit comes He will “take what is mine and declare it unto you.” (John 16:14)

more about Gilgal

From Gilgal to Bochim: The legacy of Joshua

Gilgal

Bible Study on Gilgal

Bible Dictionary – Gilgal

Proverbs 12

This month our church is reading the book of Proverbs. I used to often read the proverb chapter for the day. One of my favorite chapters is the 12th.
Verse 28 says, “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.”

There are two ways to go – vs 18 – “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. vs. 20: Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.” Living in right standing with God yields a peaceful tongue, bringing peace and comfort to those they speak to.

We have been busy redoing our computer area; our family room is basically a computer room with 2 adults and 2 teens. See the contrast:

the green olive tree

Last night I read Psalm 52 and verse 8 was interesting and made me want to learn more about the olive tree, a tree you will see very much in Israel but not here in the Midwest of the U.S. The olive tree speaks explains more.

“But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.”

A green olive tree has good fruit

Jeremiah 11:16 – The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit…

heart and soul – post about the green olive tree. He was also struck by verse 8 of Ps. 52. A green olive tree is one that is being taken care of and bears fruit. It needs to be pruned. One thing a couple sources said is that the olive tree will grow back even if it is cut to the ground. This reminds me of at least one person I know who’s life’s situation and circumstances have left them devastated financially, physically, etc. Their lives are testimonies to their trust and steadfast faithfulness to God.