Faith in Action
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
A place to share your victories and gain inspiration from the testimonies of others. Helping others through the ministry of sharing the good news. What has GOD done for you today?
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Take Comfort In The Hope Of The Lord
Isaiah 40: 28-31
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
We can to take comfort in the Lord our GOD! Isaiah 40 informs us that when we place our hope in the Lord our GOD we shall be able to accomplish what ever task GOD has set before us through his power and strength to sustain us.
The passage makes many references to just how mighty our GOD is and how there is none that can compare.
Isaiah 40:6-8
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:12-20
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[d] of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
or showed him the path of understanding?
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
to set up an idol that will not topple.
It is important that we remember there is no name higher than GOD'S name, there is nothing in this world that shall out last GOD'S word or his love for us. Isaish 40 simply allows us to see that whatever it is that may marvel us here on earth is all GOD'S creation and can not compare to him.
Father God in the name of Jesus we pray for your forgiveness of our sin, for misplacing our hope in anything or anyone other than you. You are mighty and deserving of our praise.
We thank you for your grace and your mercy that you have shown us in our lives and we acknowledge your word and recognize that you could simply breath on us and cause us to fall as the grass and the flowers, but instead you have shown us love and have left your word that is everlasting.
So we shall stand on your word and take comfort in your word that if our hope is in you; we shall renew our strength, we will soar on wings like eagles, we will run and not get weary, and we will walk and not faint. All these things we pray in the name of Jesus Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
We can to take comfort in the Lord our GOD! Isaiah 40 informs us that when we place our hope in the Lord our GOD we shall be able to accomplish what ever task GOD has set before us through his power and strength to sustain us.
The passage makes many references to just how mighty our GOD is and how there is none that can compare.
Isaiah 40:6-8
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:12-20
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[d] of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
or showed him the path of understanding?
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
to set up an idol that will not topple.
It is important that we remember there is no name higher than GOD'S name, there is nothing in this world that shall out last GOD'S word or his love for us. Isaish 40 simply allows us to see that whatever it is that may marvel us here on earth is all GOD'S creation and can not compare to him.
Father God in the name of Jesus we pray for your forgiveness of our sin, for misplacing our hope in anything or anyone other than you. You are mighty and deserving of our praise.
We thank you for your grace and your mercy that you have shown us in our lives and we acknowledge your word and recognize that you could simply breath on us and cause us to fall as the grass and the flowers, but instead you have shown us love and have left your word that is everlasting.
So we shall stand on your word and take comfort in your word that if our hope is in you; we shall renew our strength, we will soar on wings like eagles, we will run and not get weary, and we will walk and not faint. All these things we pray in the name of Jesus Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Our Short Coming Are For His Glory!
Everything that we go through is for the glory of GOD! Each and every time we overcome what appears to be defeat is for GOD's glory and he is greatly to be praised. It is a demonstration of his miraculous power. His word tells us in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness that all these things will be added unto us.
Matthew 6:31 advises us not to worry about these things that concern us such as our lives and lifestyles, what we shall eat, or what we shall wear. If we can believe and trust that GOD has our very lives in his hands by increasing our faith by excepting him as our Lord and Saviour, turning from our wicked ways, following his commandments through obedience, and loving him then we can not fail as his word can not fail.
No matter what it may look like or how it may seem we shall be victorious because his promises are yes and amen! Wow, now that's walking in the true authority of GOD with his confidence demonstrating his power and might. For his word tells us in John 12:32 that if he be lifted up he will draw all men until him.
So let us go out as GOD's children with GOD's confidence facing the day, overcoming the temptations one by one, defeating the works of the evil one, so that all may see GOD's miraculous works and be the light of the world that he has called us to be. Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Father God Jehovah, how greatly are you to be praised. We come to you with thanksgiving, standing on your every word to not worry about anything, but instead we shall pray about everything, making our request known asking for what we need, and always remembering to thank you for all that you have done and to give you all the glory! We shall remember to minimize our troubles and to magnify your grace for your word is greater than any problem that we may face. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray! Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
Matthew 6:31 advises us not to worry about these things that concern us such as our lives and lifestyles, what we shall eat, or what we shall wear. If we can believe and trust that GOD has our very lives in his hands by increasing our faith by excepting him as our Lord and Saviour, turning from our wicked ways, following his commandments through obedience, and loving him then we can not fail as his word can not fail.
No matter what it may look like or how it may seem we shall be victorious because his promises are yes and amen! Wow, now that's walking in the true authority of GOD with his confidence demonstrating his power and might. For his word tells us in John 12:32 that if he be lifted up he will draw all men until him.
So let us go out as GOD's children with GOD's confidence facing the day, overcoming the temptations one by one, defeating the works of the evil one, so that all may see GOD's miraculous works and be the light of the world that he has called us to be. Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Father God Jehovah, how greatly are you to be praised. We come to you with thanksgiving, standing on your every word to not worry about anything, but instead we shall pray about everything, making our request known asking for what we need, and always remembering to thank you for all that you have done and to give you all the glory! We shall remember to minimize our troubles and to magnify your grace for your word is greater than any problem that we may face. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray! Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
Friday, July 8, 2011
God Is Just, But His Favor Is Not Fair - Matthew 20:1-16
Matthew 20:1-16
1 “For the Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like A Landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
___________________________________________________________________________________
In The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard we often miss the first line in the first verse "For the Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like A Landowner " In other words this is a parable and all about the Lord our God and the Kingdom of Heaven and less about an individual.
This parable demonstrates and provides a vivid picture of how God's favor is performed in our lives. If we take the time to reflect and think back, we will clearly see that God has shown us the same favor the that workers received which came in the last hour but still received the same amount as the workers that came in the first hour.
God has shown us favor and provided many of us with unearned or undeserved blessing. Whether it be a job position that we were not qualified for, being allow to enter into the store a minute after closing, a late charge or penalty being waved on a past due bill, getting approved for a bank loan without the credit history to support such, having the least seniority and being overlooked or passed over in a company wide layoff, not drowning or being swallowed up by the lake or sea when we did not even know how to swim.
For God sits high and looks down low and favors the least, the lost, and the last. While many times we may not understand how it could be that we were not granted favor in particular situations; we just have to remember that knows and he is always working all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes.
I acknowledge God and give him praises right now as I reflect on sitting in the emergency room with my wife whom was in tremendous pain from a broken bone in her leg. It seem in human as the clock ticked by hour by hour and she had not been seen. Eventually, after much patience and frustration she was allowed back to see an exhausted doctor full of sorrow as he explained that the ER had lost three patients to death that morning.
You see it would have been fair to say that the patients in the waiting room arrived first and therefore should be treated first, but instead it was the patients which came in via ambulance fighting for their lives that were given the first opportunities available to be treat by the ER staff. What will you stand for FAIR or JUST. What if it were your son or daughter in that ambulance?
Father GOD in the name of Jesus we thank you for your mercy, favor, and grace as you are all knowing, in your omnipresence, being all places at all times. We thank you right now for perfecting all things that concern us. We accept that while we are trying to figure it out you have already worked it out and we just release and turn over all burdens to you and we will give you all the glory and praise. In the name of Jesus we pray Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
1 “For the Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like A Landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
___________________________________________________________________________________
In The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard we often miss the first line in the first verse "For the Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like A Landowner " In other words this is a parable and all about the Lord our God and the Kingdom of Heaven and less about an individual.
This parable demonstrates and provides a vivid picture of how God's favor is performed in our lives. If we take the time to reflect and think back, we will clearly see that God has shown us the same favor the that workers received which came in the last hour but still received the same amount as the workers that came in the first hour.
God has shown us favor and provided many of us with unearned or undeserved blessing. Whether it be a job position that we were not qualified for, being allow to enter into the store a minute after closing, a late charge or penalty being waved on a past due bill, getting approved for a bank loan without the credit history to support such, having the least seniority and being overlooked or passed over in a company wide layoff, not drowning or being swallowed up by the lake or sea when we did not even know how to swim.
For God sits high and looks down low and favors the least, the lost, and the last. While many times we may not understand how it could be that we were not granted favor in particular situations; we just have to remember that knows and he is always working all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes.
I acknowledge God and give him praises right now as I reflect on sitting in the emergency room with my wife whom was in tremendous pain from a broken bone in her leg. It seem in human as the clock ticked by hour by hour and she had not been seen. Eventually, after much patience and frustration she was allowed back to see an exhausted doctor full of sorrow as he explained that the ER had lost three patients to death that morning.
You see it would have been fair to say that the patients in the waiting room arrived first and therefore should be treated first, but instead it was the patients which came in via ambulance fighting for their lives that were given the first opportunities available to be treat by the ER staff. What will you stand for FAIR or JUST. What if it were your son or daughter in that ambulance?
Father GOD in the name of Jesus we thank you for your mercy, favor, and grace as you are all knowing, in your omnipresence, being all places at all times. We thank you right now for perfecting all things that concern us. We accept that while we are trying to figure it out you have already worked it out and we just release and turn over all burdens to you and we will give you all the glory and praise. In the name of Jesus we pray Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Only GOD Can Save Us
The word from this morning comes from Daniel 3. This is a great testament and can be referred to draw strength daily!
Today there are many King Nebuchadnezzars; they certainly have different names but yet they still attempt to draw us away from the one true and living GOD the Lord Jesus Christ and tempt us to serve their images of God - in the forms of Careers, Education, Social Status, and Materialism.
Large and wealthy corporations would have us to believe that if we give them all of our time, energy, efforts, and talents, they will deliver us all the desires of our hearts.
Prestigious and prominent colleges and universities lead us to believe that they hold all the answers to the universe and we are to contribute to further their discoveries of untold knowledge that will protect us from sickness, illness, and discomfort.
Social networking, reality TV, and popularity attempt to assure us that we can do all things to influence, manipulate, and control outcomes of people, places, and things.
Savvy marketers, will tempt us to believe that everything and everyone has a price. That money will determine the way we are revered, the level of service we receive, and demonstrate our character.
However, just the same then and today, one who serves these idols may receive but should not be deceived. God shines on the just and the unjust. It is not the corporations, universities, social standings, or possessions that deserve our praise and worship. It is our father in heaven that has created all things and is able to protect and shield us from all hurt harm and danger.
While the corporations may provide us a health plan, the doctors can only utilize the facilities and education to treat us and only GOD can perform our healing.
While social standing can comfort us with hundreds or even thousands of well wishes only GOD can give us the peace that surpasses all understanding.
While possessions such as fine linens and garments on our backs, fine homes, shiny automobiles, and land may stimulate and appeal to our senses. Only GOD can provide us everlasting life as everything else shall fade and pass away to rust, moths, and or thieves.
Dear father GOD, Jehovah, please forgive us for our sins! Let us come to remembrance of who we are and who's we are. We are your children whom you sent your son Jesus Christ to give us the salvation that no amount of money can buy, that no amount of education or good deeds can obtain, that no position or leadership role that we hold can supply, and that any possession that we have to offer for salvation had come you.
Father just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to worship the King Nebuchadnezzars' golden idol, let us with your power, strength, grace, and mercy do the same. Let us reference your word and wittiness it's power to heal, sustain, cleanse, deliver, and save.
In the precious name of Jesus we pray AMEN, AMEN, and HALLELUJAH!
Today there are many King Nebuchadnezzars; they certainly have different names but yet they still attempt to draw us away from the one true and living GOD the Lord Jesus Christ and tempt us to serve their images of God - in the forms of Careers, Education, Social Status, and Materialism.
Large and wealthy corporations would have us to believe that if we give them all of our time, energy, efforts, and talents, they will deliver us all the desires of our hearts.
Prestigious and prominent colleges and universities lead us to believe that they hold all the answers to the universe and we are to contribute to further their discoveries of untold knowledge that will protect us from sickness, illness, and discomfort.
Social networking, reality TV, and popularity attempt to assure us that we can do all things to influence, manipulate, and control outcomes of people, places, and things.
Savvy marketers, will tempt us to believe that everything and everyone has a price. That money will determine the way we are revered, the level of service we receive, and demonstrate our character.
However, just the same then and today, one who serves these idols may receive but should not be deceived. God shines on the just and the unjust. It is not the corporations, universities, social standings, or possessions that deserve our praise and worship. It is our father in heaven that has created all things and is able to protect and shield us from all hurt harm and danger.
While the corporations may provide us a health plan, the doctors can only utilize the facilities and education to treat us and only GOD can perform our healing.
While social standing can comfort us with hundreds or even thousands of well wishes only GOD can give us the peace that surpasses all understanding.
While possessions such as fine linens and garments on our backs, fine homes, shiny automobiles, and land may stimulate and appeal to our senses. Only GOD can provide us everlasting life as everything else shall fade and pass away to rust, moths, and or thieves.
Dear father GOD, Jehovah, please forgive us for our sins! Let us come to remembrance of who we are and who's we are. We are your children whom you sent your son Jesus Christ to give us the salvation that no amount of money can buy, that no amount of education or good deeds can obtain, that no position or leadership role that we hold can supply, and that any possession that we have to offer for salvation had come you.
Father just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to worship the King Nebuchadnezzars' golden idol, let us with your power, strength, grace, and mercy do the same. Let us reference your word and wittiness it's power to heal, sustain, cleanse, deliver, and save.
In the precious name of Jesus we pray AMEN, AMEN, and HALLELUJAH!
Daniel 3
Daniel 3
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A Word From Mrs. Juanita - "The Providence Of God!"
Good Morning Everyone,
The word Providence means Foresight and Forethought; the Care of God over His Creatures; Divine Superintendence or Direction for and over His creation. All rational beings act with forethought and foresight. These are attributes they have by Nature. Even animals exercise care and make provision for their own off-spring....However,
How much more is it true of the infinite God to make Provision For and Exercise Infinite Care Over All His Creation??? Although all rational beings exercise providence according to their powers, the Word reaches its Full Significance only when it is applied to The Infinite God... The Providence of God is the Care, Preservation and Government He Exercise Over All He Has Created, in Order That they May Accomplish the ends for which they were Created........Selah...........
It is the Infinite Care God Takes of His Universe from the numbering of each hair of each head and the falling of each sparrow to the Unfailing Upholding of all The Vast Universes of His Own Power! It is the Eternal Power which is at work Precluding all fortune, All luck, and All chance......... God's Ultimate Purpose Of Providence has been to Create a Race of Beings who would find their highest degree of happiness in the Highest degree of Holiness and who would, in proportion to their Highest Holiness and Happiness, Glorify their Creator. Eph. 1:12... Still Trusting In Christ, or Trusting The Government? ? ? .. Selah ...
Holy One, These changing seasons and changing times remind us that our lives will have their ups and Downs, Great Griefs and Joys, Hardships and Great Gifts, But our desire is to please and to Bless You Father.... We know that When we pray according to Your Word that You Joyfully hears us, because we are living and Walking in the Truth. Father, it is exciting to Know that the Prayers of the Saints are forever in Your Throne Room... Therefore, we will Pray Always in All Kinds of Prayer and Supplications and Run with Patience this race that is set before us.. Always - looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of Our Faith. O Lord, We know that the Righteous will not be forsaken nor their seed beg for bread. We are Thankful for our inheritance we possess in Christ Jesus, And To Know That -
We are Your Set Apart Ones.... In Jesus Name Amen..... Amen....
"Seeing Ourselves And Our Motives More Honestly!"
~ Let God Sort Out Your Motives ~
- God Bless You-
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