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Posts Tagged ‘bible’

A Glimpse of Heaven

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on January 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I have felt the presence of the Lord in my life. I see it as a kind of foretaste of what heaven will be like. It may come as an overwhelming peace, overwhelming joy or an overwhelming reverence, but you do feel it. Maybe some of you have felt His presence, and maybe some of you never have. Some may question whether such an experience is real or imagined. Yet we do find verses in the Bible supporting such experiences. We see in Acts 3:19 that when we repent and turn to God, that He will “send times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord”. Also, Psalm 16:11 tells us “in your presence there is fullness of joy”. That is something tangible. Jesus also said that “whenever two or more of you are gathered in My name, there I am in your midst”. Matt 18:20

If we were to see His glory, that would be another level all together. There are many places in the Bible where people experienced or saw the “Glory of God”. Most of those times people fell on their faces in fear and trembling. There are some places where something else happened.

One such place is when Stephen was stoned. We read that in Acts 7. Verse 55 tells us, “Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and the heavens opened and he saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God”. When Stephen told the Jews this, that is what caused them to stone him. This is where something other worldly happened, he cried out to the Lord, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Verse 60). We also see that when Jesus was crucified in Luke 23:34, He says “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”. What manner of God do we serve? It is almost too unbelievable to imagine that these words were spoken. It would do us well to meditate on the nature and character of the God we serve. Even in the time of death for Jesus and Stephen, they were offering forgiveness to the Jews by asking God to not hold it against them, if they would only accept it. Maybe some did.

Now we come to the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our sins as we forgive the sins of others”. It is instruction for us, that we might become more like Jesus and Stephen. We need to get a glimpse of God’s Glory that we might forgive those who have sinned against us. If we can get a glimpse of heaven, we will be forever changed. We will see our own sins and God’s love and forgiveness, and because of that, we can forgive others. Some have been severely abused and betrayed, but not nearly as much as Jesus Himself. Yet He asked the Father to “forgive them for they know not what they do”. It is a difficult thing! Can we also forgive people for their sins against us? Yes, we can, we can be like Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit and forgive those who have sinned against us. If we can get a glimpse of His Glory and a glimpse of Heaven.

In the book Azuza Street by Frank Bartleman, he talks about getting a glimpse of Heaven. “Could we but catch one strain of heaven’s pure melody, it would spoil us for earthly sounds forever. Could we but catch one glimpse of departed loved ones through the gates ajar, earth would no longer hold us here. We must see things from heaven’s side. Earth’s sounds and spirits are so crude and cruel. Heaven is all love, joy and peace and rest! Thank God!”

May we press in to God and ask Him to teach us His ways, for His ways are so much higher than ours.

Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”.

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Wordless Speech

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on January 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Early this morning around 4:30 am, my wife and I went outside and sat and stared at the “super-moon”. It was chilly outside and the wind was blowing through the southern pines. It was very still and quiet, it was bright and beautiful. When I see God’s creation, I am always amazed and I can not help but praise Him.

I am reminded of Psalm 19:1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world”.

There is a speech, a communication that pours forth without words when we view the majesty of God’s creation. Are we listening? Do we hear it? That silent voice “goes throughout the whole earth”. It crosses all speech barriers and proclaims God’s “handiwork”. Everyone can see it and “hear”, if they are listening. It is not a listening with the ear, it is a listening with the heart. All of creation is meant to speak to us yet without words, it is God’s gift to the world. Through it, He makes Himself known to all who will turn and listen.

Romans 1:20 tells us “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” His creation was always meant to show us His “invisible attributes” and “His nature”.

As the New Year comes back to full swing, may we all take more time to slow down in our busy culture and have a listening heart. May we take time to see the Glory of God, and hear that voiceless speech as it pours forth from day to day, and night to night.

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Such Wise Men Are Too Rare

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on December 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By A W Tozer

Not much is known about the wise men who came out of the East in search of the newborn King of the Jews, but everything that is known is good. They were “wise men” indeed and checked well on every count.

As far as we know, these men did not have the advantage of a written revelation as did the Jews. They only felt after God in hope that they might find Him, and by His infinite goodness they did find Him. By the dim light of nature, aided perhaps by a tradition borrowed from the Jews, they learned that a Redeemer-King was to come out of Israel and their hearts conceived a great longing to worship Him and to lay some gift at His feet.

Imperfect and sketchy as their faith must have been, God honored it and whispered to them the wondrous news of the approaching Advent. That they were not mere ivory-tower religious dreamers is proved by the fact that they immediately set out to make the long journey, determined to follow the star till it led them to the Savior. Theirs is a good example, and their story a noble and heartening one to meditate upon in this day of universal religious lethargy.

So rich is this story, so replete with lofty and elevating details, that it has been read and told for 20 centuries without exhausting its treasures or dulling the shining luster that surrounds it. Each hearer finds in it something new and fresh each time it is told. But to me at this approaching Christmas season the story of the wise men says two things and says them loudly.

One is that a longing soul with scanty theological knowledge is in a better position to meet God than a self-satisfied soul, however deeply instructed in the Scriptures.

The wise men were Gentiles, “being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Yet they saw the star and left all to make the long, dangerous journey to lay worthy gifts at the feet of Jesus. They acted on small knowledge and found the Messiah. That is to their everlasting credit.

On the other hand there were in those days chief priests, high priests, scribes, lawyers, rulers of the synagogues—all keen-eyed students of the Scriptures and experts in the Law and the Prophets; yet as far as we know not one of them had any spiritual awareness that the great day of Israel’s visitation had come. They could tell the wise men instantly what the prophets had written about the birthplace of the King, but their knowledge was formal merely. They themselves were blind to its real meaning. Gentiles had to come and rouse them from their strange stupor, if indeed they were ever aroused, for there is little evidence to show that they understood the wise men or knew what all the excitement was about.

The second message the story brings is that the wise men came to Jesus not to gain something from Him but to give something to Him.

This circumstance is so unusual as to be almost incredible. We must shake our heads to dispel the clouds from our minds and wait a moment to let our thoughts clear before we can grasp such an idea. It is all so contrary to everything we have been hearing all our lives. Imagine coming to Christ with any other motive than to gain something from Him!

This one act stands almost alone in the life of our Lord. Almost, I say, but not quite, for Mary later broke the alabaster box and poured the precious ointment on His head, and after His crucifixion the two Marys came to look for Him; asking nothing, expecting nothing, but impelled by a selfless love they came to bear His body away. Beyond this there is little evidence of anything as pure and lofty as the worship offered by the wise men. Possibly there was more than we know, and charity would dictate that we at least hope that there was.

One thing that makes the act of unselfish worship appear so beautiful is that it is so rare. Apparently the people of Jesus’ day thought of Him as a source of help merely, and it is the “merely” that makes the whole thing questionable. A source of help He was indeed, a fountain in the desert, a star to guide the mariner, bread for the hungry, health for the afflicted and everything that fallen and sinful man can need. Yes, He is our helper, but not our helper merely. He is our Lord and our God as well, and infinitely worthy of our ardent, poured-out love and devotion altogether apart from anything He may do for us.

While Christ walked on earth many came to Him, and the motives that brought them were almost as many as they who came. They sought to make Him a king for political gain; they sought preferment for personal ends, as the brothers James and John. They came for healing, for deliverance, for help for themselves, their children and their friends. Among these motives, if some were questionable, others were good and legitimate, but none was wholly free from selfishness of a sort.

Once a leper came to Jesus. In his great distress he could think of only one thing—getting rid of his repulsive sores and becoming a well man again. He came because he wanted something, and the Lord understood and gave it to him. His motive was not the highest, but it was acceptable. Later he came back with a heart full of gratitude and fell on his face to worship Jesus. The first pleased the Lord, no doubt, but the second pleased Him more—The Price of Neglect, A W Tozer chapter 39

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My Good Friend Peter Peters

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on December 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

For many years, Peter was one of my closet friends. We challenged each other spiritually, many times over lunch. He was a year or two older than me but we shared many of the same things growing up. We were both heavily influenced by the Jesus Revolution in the early 1970’s and grew up in 1950’s America. It was always fun to discuss those days and to see the similarities since we grew up in different states. He was raised in Florida and I was raised in northern Illinois. The same Spirit influenced our lives yet we were miles apart! We were kindred spirits. Peter passed away a couple of years ago and I miss him dearly.

What was different about Peter was that as a child he contracted polio. He spent time in an “iron lung”. All the years that I knew him, he was in a lot of pain with severe back and spine issues. When I first met him he used crutches and as time went by he had to start using a wheel chair. He was still able to drive so he would pick me up for lunch and when we got to the restaurant, I would get the wheel chair out of the trunk and help him get in to it. We both cherished those lunches.

Peter told me that as a child, he always “knew God”. He did not blame God for his condition, he was “content with his weakness”. He had a wonderful ministry of helps and encouragement to others. I can still see him sitting there at the back of the church in his blue wind breaker, with people coming to him for advice and encouragement. I myself sat with him back there for some of that encouragement. It was the Apostle Paul who wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10 “I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong”. That was Peter! A living example of being content with the hand that God had dealt him. Peter was at peace with it and was used of God in many ways. He was not mad at God, he was content.

He was always glad when people wanted to pray for him to be healed, but he told me that in his heart he always knew that God had him that way for a reason. That is a hard thing for many to understand, especially in some churches where there is so much emphasis on healing and deliverance. Peter had a deeper wisdom and understanding. He understood why, when the Apostle Paul prayed and asked for healing, that the Lord denied him of that healing three times. 2 Corinthians 12:8 “Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness, most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me”. I have never met anyone who understood this more than Peter. Peter’s depth in the Lord was formed by his suffering; many people do not understand that.

Even Jesus Himself in Hebrews 5:8 “learned obedience thru the things that He suffered” and in Hebrews 2:10 “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author (Jesus) of their salvation perfect through suffering’. Hebrews 11:34 talks about those who “out of weakness were made strong”.

That was Peter, out of weakness he was made strong! And he shared his strength with many.

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Be Ye Perfect

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on December 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I have always wondered about the verse in Matthew 5:48, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. How can I be perfect? We read in Ecclesiastes 7:20 “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins”. That is me, I follow Jesus, but I am not perfect, I still have “little foxes” that I deal with. Yes, we are made perfect through the blood of Christ, but we are still maturing as we walk along “the way”.

This brings to mind the verse in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth”. We are at a disadvantage when we study the scriptures, since it was given to us in Greek and there are many different translations. That is not a bad thing, it just means that we have to be more diligent and “handle accurately the Word of truth”. For me it means studying the Bible, looking at different translations and try to understand Greek words. This is very helpful in understanding what the Bible says. When one looks at the Greek word for “perfect”, the eyes of our understanding will be opened a little.

The call to “be perfect” is a directive that follows Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, where He outlines the attitudes and behaviors expected of His followers. The Greek word for “perfect” is “teleios,” which implies completeness or maturity rather than flawlessness. This phrase suggests a call to spiritual maturity and moral integrity. In the context of the Sermon, it follows teachings on love, forgiveness, and righteousness, indicating that perfection involves embodying these virtues fully. The use of “therefore” connects this command to the preceding verses, which emphasize loving one’s enemies and praying for those who persecute you, suggesting that perfection(maturity) is linked to love and mercy.

So when we read that we are to be “perfect”, it means we are to be “mature” in Christ. We are told in Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil”. Also in Ephesians 4:-16 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love”. We are to grow to be a “mature man” in Christ.

There is much to say about being a “babe” in Christ vs being “mature” in Christ. Paul, in all of his letters addresses this problem. In 1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul says, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ”. I encourage you to study 1 Corinthians.

Let us “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.

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Mysteries and Hidden Things

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on November 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We are told in Daniel 2:17-23, that Daniel prayed to God about the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. We are also told that mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision in the night, and that Daniel then blessed the God of Heaven. Verse 21- 22 says “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him” (ESV). In Psalm 139:12 we are told “…even the darkness is not dark to You, for darkness is as light to You”.

Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight, all things, whether it be the thoughts or intents of our hearts, mysterious dreams in the night or all the mysteries of creation. All things are laid bare; He has all knowledge. But for us there are still many things hidden. We must seek the Lord to learn His ways, like Daniel, we must seek Him to discover and understand the things that are hidden from us.

There is a hidden manna, that God will give to those who overcome. Revelation 2:17 says “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it”. Barnes Commentary – Will I give to eat of the hidden manna – The true spiritual food; the food that nourishes the soul. The idea is, that the souls of those who “overcame,” or who gained the victory in their conflict with sin, and in the persecutions and trials of the world, would be permitted to partake of that spiritual food which is laid up for the people of God, and by which they will be nourished forever.

There is a hidden wisdom that Paul speaks of that will be given to those who are mature in the Lord. “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-10).

In the New Testament, Jesus spoke in parables and many who did not accept Him did not understand the parables. Even the disciples at times did not understand the parables. The disciples were not ready for meat. We must mature in the Lord to be able to find the things that are a mystery. In our own lives before the Lord, we must be mature and we must be overcomers. God does not give that hidden wisdom to those who have not sought the Lord and matured in the Lord. We are to be seekers, and that means we must set aside time with the Lord. Jamieson Commentary- Those matured in Christian experience and knowledge alone can understand the true superiority of the Christian wisdom which Paul preached. Distinguished not only from worldly and natural men, but also from babes, who though “in Christ” retain much that is “carnal” (1Co 3:1, 2)

Hebrews 5:12-14 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil”.

Let us press onward and inward, into a deeper walk with the Lord. As we endure trials and temptations in this world, let us be steadfast in the Lord and allow the Lord to “train” us. Let us continue to pray, “deliver us from evil”. “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”.

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Days of Deception

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on November 15, 2025| 2 Comments »

Never in the history of the world has there been the level of deception that we are now experiencing. Never has there been so much power available to governments, corporations and political parties. The spreading of lies and deception through media outlets and the internet should awaken us to the fact that we are racing toward the end of all things.

Is this just some sort of societal advancement? Is this just the natural progression of humanity, the advancement of technology? Or is it God removing his restraining hand? We are told in the story of the tower of Babel, that God confused their languages because he basically wanted to restrain the people from being able to accomplish whatever they put their mind to. Genesis 11:6-7 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other”. I clearly see that as God restraining them. But the advancements in all areas of our lives, it seems that man can accomplish anything he puts his mind to, His restraining hand is being removed!

We see from 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 that Paul acknowledges that even in those days, there was a “secret power of lawlessness at work” and that there was someone “restraining the lawlessness”, I believe that it was God who was doing the restraining, by whatever means He chose.

In these days, with the advancements in technology and the increasing deception that is coming with it, is God removing His restraining hand? I believe that He is! We also know from 2 Thessalonians that God Himself will send a strong delusion on the earth. That is frightening.

The “mystery of lawlessness” is ever increasing in our modern world. Are we aware of it? Do we see it? Or are we just enamored by the ever-increasing technology and the possibilities of AI? Do we see the danger of these new technologies? Do we see that governments, corporations and political parties will control all of these technologies? Do we see that these tools can and will deceive us if we are not wholly walking by the Spirit? Lord help us!

 We have to realize that God does control all of what is happening these days. He warned us about it and there is great comfort in that! Knowing that all things are in His hand. He chooses when to restrain and when to remove His restraining hand! We know from scripture that He will send a delusion, let us not be surprised by that. We have to believe that we can avoid the delusion and avoid the deception. We have to be discerning and study our Bibles that we may have insight into these days. I urge you, spend more time in your Bible! Pray the Lord’s prayer, “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil”. As the Lord for more of His Spirit!

2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness”.

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More Advice for Worship Leaders

Posted in Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music, tagged , , , , , on November 5, 2025| 1 Comment »

Play songs that the congregation knows. As worship leader you are there to lead them. You are there to get help them engage praise and worship. I can not stress this enough. You are not there to perform a song because you think it is cool. There are high energy songs that are heavily produced that the congregation is just not able to sing. Make sure to sing songs that are singable by the congregation. You are to lead the congregation.

Make sure the lyrics of the songs that you are playing are doctrinally sound, lyrics focusing more on God and His greatness, and less on lyrics that focus on “me”. Also, there are many songs that are overly emotional, and that emotion can be confused for the Spirit. You need to be careful. We are told in Acts that God will send “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord”.  Acts 3:20.

Make sure the key you are playing in is suitable for the congregation. I personally try not to have key changes, but I know that is not always possible. I may have a set of songs in the key of G so that the transition between the songs flow better, allowing for more spontaneity during times of “free praise and worship”. Again, the congregation is part of the reason that I do that. You must remember that there are a lot of people who have no musical talent or even have an ear for music. There are many who can’t sing very well at all.  Avoiding key changes makes it easier for the congregation. I may start the service with a couple of faster songs in the same key and then switch to a longer set of songs in the same key. For me, I try to make it flow better between songs.

If there is a “free time of worship and praise”, I do not play a chord progression. If I am playing a set of songs in E, I will just simply play full measures of E to Esus, back to E to Esus, etc. Stay in that simple mode. If you play a progression of chords, again you will lose the congregation. Doing a simple E to Esus repeatedly will keep it simple for the congregation. Again, you are there for the congregation to help make it easy for them to engage in “worship and Praise”.       

Modern churches have created a huge problem; they have brought in musicians just because they can sing and play an instrument and they just end up performing. Many churches are satisfied because they have a really good worship team, even though they are devoid of the spirit. I have seen it repeatedly, congregations just standing not engaged because they don’t know the songs or the songs are hard to sing.

Again, this is all about the congregation. What can I do to help encourage the congregation to be engaged in praise and worship. I hope a few of these tips will help.

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The Day of Visitation and the Days of Vengeance

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on October 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Romans 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise, you also will be cut off.

The Visitation and Kindness of God

The days of Jesus were days of extreme mercy and kindness to those who received Him. Oh the blessing to those who received Him. He brought miracles, healing to the sick, hope for the downtrodden and forgiveness of sins. When John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus if He was the One, His response in Luke 7:22 was “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me”. We are told in Luke 11:44 that many “did not recognize the time of His visitation”. His coming was going to usher in a New Covenant, and they would not have it. Matthew 27:20 “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.”

That time had been predicted, and invaluable blessings were promised as the result of His advent; but they would not know it. They rejected him, they put him to death, and it was just that they should be destroyed. (Barnes Commentary)

The Vengeance and Severity of God

Those days of extreme mercy were going to be followed by days of extreme vengeance. We are told in Luke 21, that Jesus foretells of the destruction of those who did not believe and the destruction of Jerusalem. Luke 21:20-24 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains and let those who are in the midst of the city depart and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled”.

The severity of this judgment is told in Matthew 23:23-36. Verse 34-36 says. “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city, so that on you will come the guilt of all the blood of the righteous shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, [the judgment for] all these things [these vile and murderous deeds] will come on this generation” (Amplified).

To me it is staggering! The blood of Jesus, the blood of the prophets and the blood of the martyrs were going to be laid at the feet of that generation.  The killing of Jesus would bring the day of vengeance that would culminate in the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the utter destruction of the Temple. Jesus not only told them that they were going to be held accountable for His blood and the blood of the prophets and martyrs, but they were also so blind to the truth that they themselves called out and said, “His blood be on us and on our children”. Matthew 27:20-25 In their passion of hate, they uttered these words, they cursed themselves. It is interesting in Acts 5:28 that the high priest and elders were complaining that the Apostles were trying to lay the blood of Jesus at their feet. “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us”. Their hate was so strong that they themselves wanted Jesus’ blood to be upon them and their children, but now they complained that the Apostles were doing just that. It was too late for the high priest and leaders and all of Jerusalem that did not accept Jesus, their destruction eminent, About forty years later, the Romans brought a severance vengeance and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. Josephus also tells us that one million Jews died in the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The severity of God.

Hebrews 3:7-11 “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. Therefore, I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest’”.

We ourselves have the opportunity to accept Jesus; His kindness is still towards all who are needy. His compassion and mercies are new every morning. We all can behold the the kindness and severity of God; to those who reject Him, severity, but to you who accept Him, God’s kindness, and we must continue in His kindness; otherwise, we also will be cut off.

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The Shade of a Huge Rock

Posted in Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music, tagged , , , , , on October 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Isaiah 32:1-2 “Behold, a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. And each will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land”.

Isaiah 25:4 “For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat”.

Many years ago, while I was in a very severe testing in my life, a dear friend/mentor told me that one day I would be “like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land”. He told me to meditate on those verses in Isaiah. Now years later, as I look at these verses, I see that the testing of the Lord is what forms us. We become conformed to His image and learn obedience through testing and suffering. Even Jesus “learned obedience through the things that He suffered (Heb 5:8)”.

Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple”.

Oh, to be such a disciple! To have learned of the Lord how to be like Jesus, “to sustain the weary with one word”! To be a refuge and shelter from the storms of this life! To have rivers of water “flowing from our innermost being” (John 7:38). To be like a “shade of a huge rock in a dry and parched land”!

We can be these things to those around us. In our churches, in our lives outside the church and in our families. We have something in us that the world does not have. We have the Spirit, and it can flow out of us to show mercy to all around us. Lord help us to be more like You!

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