"Jesus is all, and as we abide in Him, we have access to all that we need: all power, all wisdom, and all strength."
All we will ever want, need, or desire is found in Jesus Christ. If we lack power, wisdom, or prosperity, we will find it in Him. He is, and He has all that we will ever need. We have no lack when we are in Him.
Jesus told His disciples, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
If we pull away from the Vine, who is Christ, we will discover we have little power to affect this world on our own. But when we are connected to the Vine, our source of power, we find that we are able to do all things through Him!
Our source of power is not found in ourselves, but as we abide in Christ, we have all the power we need. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7).
Knowing Him
If we abide in Him and His words abide in us, whatever we ask will be done! When we first come to know Jesus, we mainly know Him through the experiences of others or through the Word of God. But as we seek to know Him for who He is and develop a relationship with Him, we find a place of great power and authority in the supernatural realm. We can indeed do as God does, who "calls into being that which does not exist" (Romans 4:17).
Instead of spending all our time rebuking the enemy, we will find that when we are abiding in Him, we simply say the words and find the enemy fleeing. It is not us or our words that the enemy fears, but it is our connection to the Vine that terrifies him. As long as we will abide in Him, we have all the power we need. Our words have great power in the supernatural realm as we ABIDE IN CHRIST.
His Wisdom
Have you ever faced a problem and you just did not know what to do about it? Well, in Jesus, we find the answer to all life's problems. He is our source of great wisdom. He has the answer to every question. He knows all and, as we abide in Him, we have access to all the wisdom of the ages. Our wisdom is only limited by our level of intimacy with Him.
It isn't enough to just pray; to truly effect the realms of darkness, we must pray with the wisdom of the Lord. His wisdom can only be obtained by abiding in Him. When we try to acquire God's wisdom through our own minds and methods, it becomes, at best, a perverted mess. We become puffed up and of little use to God.
As we abide in Christ, He shows us how to pray and who to pray for. And when we are led by His Spirit, we can effectively target the enemy. We can hit him with great accuracy and not wear ourselves out with repetitious, complicated prayers and methods. Jesus is all, and as we abide in Him, we have access to all that we need: all power, all wisdom and all strength.
The Good Shepherd
Even our ability to abide in Him is found in Him. As we seek Him, He draws us to Himself. He is truly the Good Shepherd that David spoke of in Psalm 23 (paraphrased):
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in want, because in Him I have all I need. My Loving Shepherd anticipates my needs and provides for me before I even know I am in lack. He leads me to places of blessing where I can rest. He restores my soul with His peace and comfort, and makes me righteous so that I may become one with Him.
I shall have no fear, because even in the face of death He prepares a feast of blessing for me to enjoy as my enemies look on in defeat. He gives me all I need and fills me with His power. His goodness and loving kindness are with me as I walk and live in Him. I will never ever leave Him, because He holds me close and keeps me walking with Himself. I will abide with Him forever!"
In the midst of the fiercest battle, I experience the greatest peace--I enjoy the greatest joy. Though satan rages, I still experience the feeling of God's protection and love. I am made fearless, because His perfect love for me casts out all fear (see 1 John 4:18).
This Bears Repeating
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the Vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4).
Our authority does not lie in ourselves! It is a trick of the enemy to get us to focus either on our greatness or our unworthiness and take our eyes off Him. It is not about us at all, but Him. Only as we abide in Him will we have lasting victory and fruit.
It is God's will that we bear fruit, but we cannot apart from Him. We will only exhaust ourselves, and our work will not be of lasting value to the Kingdom. Only in God are we victorious. He is our platform of power; apart from Him we can do nothing!
To Know Him
"I know whom I have believed" (2 Timothy 1:12). Of course you believe in Jesus, but do you believe, trust in, and rely on Him? Do you believe in the greatness of His power? Are you proud of who He is and what He's done? Are you putting ALL your faith and trust in Him, or are you holding back a bit of your heart just in case He does not come through for you? If you know the One in whom you have believed, you will walk in His power and authority.
If we truly know God and how great our God is, we will move mountains for Him. The great problem today is our lack of knowledge of who He is and how awesome He is. If we could indeed see His greatness, we would walk in a spiritual authority that would astonish the world.
Our relationship with God determines the authority we walk in everyday. Without a relationship with Christ, we are only walking blindly through this life, guessing at what we believe is God's will for us. If we truly know Him, we will walk confident in His authority as His messengers. We will not hold back from aggressively believing in His power and trusting in His power to raise the dead to life.
In John 4:10, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you; 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." Jesus said to her "If you knew (Him)" you would ask and He would give. The answers to all life's problems are found in those words, "If you knew."
We should seek to know God--not just know about Him, but know Him. As His children, our prayer should be that He would help us to know Him. For if we know Him, we will become His ambassadors on this earth and do the things He did. If we know Him, we will be His friend and bring His light into the darkness. As we begin to know Him, we can experience His glory and power--and then walk in it.
We don't have to be satisfied with knowing about God, we can truly know Him. We can walk with Him like Enoch walked with Him. And, knowing Him is more wonderful than anything else in this life. He is Life! He is the air we breathe and the reason we live!
The more we know God, the greater our faith in Him becomes, because we begin to see just how awesome He is. When we see how big He is, our faith in Him rises, and we see there is nothing He cannot handle. All things were created by Him and all things are summed up in Him (see Colossians 1:16).
How Big is Your God?
One day when my son Cole was only four years old, he was riding in our car with his daddy. They were both very quiet, just enjoying the ride and being together, when suddenly Cole spoke up. He said, "God must wear a really big shirt!" At four years old, as he sat silently in our car, the God of the universe was revealing Himself to this young man. Cole's remark was evidence that he knew God. Even as a child, and maybe especially as a child, he could understand that if God was big enough to hold the whole world in His hands, He must wear a really big shirt.
It was especially important to Cole to know that his "God-friend" is really big, because he has always been small for his age. So, to know that he had a really BIG God, who wears a really big shirt, was comforting to him. Do you feel that way sometimes? Do you need to know how big your God is?
To find a mental picture of how big God is, we can look at Isaiah 66:1. The Lord describes Himself, "Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me?" If God's throne is the Heavens and this enormous world of ours is His footstool, He must, indeed, wear a really big shirt.
Can you see now how big God is? And, this great big Daddy God loves you and wants to be your friend. He wants to take care of even the smallest details of your life. He loves you, and you can take refuge in Him and live confidently in His love for You.
Can We Trust Him?
When we understand His greatness and believe in His power, we will move mountains for Him and astonish the world. As we know Him and how much He loves us, we will walk in His authority and power; then our light will shine before all men, that they might glorify our Father in Heaven (see Matthew 5:16).
Asaph prayed in Psalm 83:18, "Let them know that You, whose name is the Lord--that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." He prayed that we would understand--He is Lord of the Heavens and of the earth; He is Lord over every living thing. Every knee will bow and confess His Name, because He has created all things.
We do not put our faith in a little God, but one who created all things. He really is an awesome God and no matter how big our trouble looks, He is bigger. He laid the foundations of the earth and commands the sun to rise each morning. He told the seas how far to come up shore and understands the expanse of the earth (see Job 38:4-18).
He is able to take care of us at all times. He is able to keep us from falling. He is able to keep us in victory and power.
Pray this with me: Dear Father, release me from the shackles of my fleshly knowledge of You, and show me just how awesome You are, so I might be found in You, and reveal Your greatness to a world that needs You desperately. Help me to know the One in whom I have believed.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Victoria Boyson
Speaking Life Ministries
Email: victoria@boyson.org
reposted from the Elijah List http://www.elijahlist.com/
Devotional: Psalms 103
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. Psalms 103:1-22
This Psalm of David is a Psalm of Psalms. It brings us into the absolute high praises of God. Beginning with David's revelation of God's mercy shown to himself, his pen aptly reminds us of our own blessings and His mercies in our lives. David begins by addressing his own soul. Regardless of any thoughts or emotions, he reminds himself of God's absolute forgiveness which cancels the effects of sin--sickness, disease, death. Rather than receiving what we deserve as sinful men, God instead grants blessings of protection and provision. David acknowledges God's strength for the elderly and the oppressed. He recognizes it is the Lord who not only commands, but also is the executor of righteousness and justice for the widows and orphans--the poor and the oppressed. God is GOD.
The Psalm continues with further reminders of Moses--both his personal relationship with God and as the deliver, prophet, and law giver of Israel. Moses was the man to whom God spoke "face to face". He then brought all that God taught him to the people of Israel in the form of the written law. God confirmed His Word given through Moses by the signs, wonders and miracles shown to all Israel. The law teaches us how to worship God, pointing out man's ultimate inability to please God by perfect obedience--and yet the focus AGAIN is God's mercy. He remembers we are dust! We are His creation--unable to redeem ourselves--in desperate need of His saving grace. God's provision for removing our transgressions for those who fear Him--provides everlasting access to the throne room of grace, the inner courts of heaven.
What does it mean, "for those who fear Him"--"for those who keep His commandments"? The outward signs that you have a reverent respect or fear of God could be shown by whether or not you keep His commandments--the Law. But, if you are a really disciplined person you could appear to be keeping the Law--but your heart would be the proof of whether you are obeying because you love God and want to please Him, or because you want to avoid the consequences of disobedience. The first commandment is to love the Lord God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength--if you can't choose that as the primary objective in your life, the other commandments can only be obeyed to avoid the consequences or for your own pride--to look good to others or even to God. But God knows our hearts. It takes a heart turned completely toward God to begin to understand His ways, His perspective, His love for us and others. David had such a heart and this Psalm is written from the perspective of this kind of relationship with his God. David was not perfect. He recognized and admitted his sin, his mistakes, his need for God's forgiveness--without pride or excuses.
David's love and gratitude for the Lord crescendos in an appeal beyond the praises of his own soul and the men and women of God's creation to all the angelic hosts. He recognizes that they of course have purpose in God's Kingdom and in His plan of redeeming creation and he invites them to join in this song of high praise. This is a song of praise of God Himself, not merely the things He has done--but who He is. David's invitation for all of creation is unabashed, unreserved praise for Almighty God. I pray that you and I can enter in today to this high form of worship with pure hearts and self-abandoned love for the King of the universe, blessed be His Holy Name!
Copyright © 2007 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.
Devotional: Psalms 91
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalms 91:1-16
Psalms 91 is a Psalm most noted for being a Psalm of protection. Many a soldier goes off to war, even today, with this Psalm on the lips of those he knows who have promised to pray for him. The soldiers themselves who know the Bible will recite it and pray it for themselves and their comrades. My oldest son was one of those who had committed this Psalm to his heart when he was 5 years old and was thankful for the promise of God and the prayers of us who not only prayed this Psalm for him daily--but really believed that God would protect him. And He did!
My son has many testimonies today of God's saving grace in wartime. Against the wise advice of his mother, he was not always able to stay in his M1 tank. There were 3 day missions where they hid in the bushes waiting for snipers to set up near them to attack the passing convoys. There were the never ending roadside checkpoints where suicide bombers and various stressed and crazy people do dangerous things. Even their camp had incessant barrages of RPGs as they walked from barracks to mess and dove under the tanks for protection when they heard that familiar whistling sound of an incoming RPG.
We know of a young man here in Jerusalem who is in the IDF reserves and served in the Lebanon war, in July 2006. This young man is a believer and was on the front lines. The battle was so intense at times that he was known to be shouting Psalm 91--in the midst of firefights. His testimony to his fellow soldiers, as well as to us, was he trusted God for deliverance. He was also heard shouting, praying in tongues, as he fought with his troop for their lives. Once they took refuge in a house which was then attacked with anti-tank missiles. If you recall the destruction they cause you will know that God spared them--as the building remained intact and they were safe inside. Another time this young man found himself face to face with a grenade launcher pointed at him, not 3 feet away. There was a white blast and the attacker disappeared--God's grace left this young man unharmed.
Psalms 91 was the first scripture our family memorized together. Our faith took us through difficult times with growing faith in God's promise of protection and grace for whatever circumstances we found ourselves in. We lived this Psalm, we believed this Psalm, and all the rest of the Bible, as we grew in the Lord.
I would like to point out to you the last few verses of this Psalm where the wording changes from a prayer of protection to an answer to the prayer. God Himself answers this heart cry of His servant. The psalmist's cry is a cry of faith. He has seen God's hand move on his behalf and he expects that the Lord will be faithful to do it again and again--not only for himself, but for all those who put their trust in the Lord. It is not so much the words that he uses, he is only recalling to God the Father what He has already done and promised. This man knows the value of dwelling in that secret place in God. It is his unwavering faith, his confidence in the Lord, that God calls setting his love upon me--which moves God's heart to answer so tenderly. Can you just picture Father God looking down toward his beloved--a man who was not perfect, yet his heart responds completely toward God on every occasion of chastisement and correction, trials and attacks.
This love the Father has toward us whom He has created, is that same love that brought His Son, Jesus, to this earth to die for our sins--that we might be forever reconciled to God. When we respond to God with the kind of absolute love and trust that reflects His Love, it touches his heart. Just as when a toddler steps into Daddy's shoes and tries to imitate his father, God is moved by our admiration. His love is stirred and He responds with the promise to always respond. God not only will send his angels, but He Himself will respond to our need. We have God's attention, we have been given the gift of His favor and blessing. He only desires our loving, trust which results in absolute obedience and a burning desire to please Him. As we dwell in this place of trust in Him, we abide in His shadow of protection and blessing. Nothing can harm us, no weapon formed against us can prosper. Hallelujah!
Copyright © 2007 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.Heavenly Whirlwinds and Chariots of Fire-by Paulette Reed
Rev. Paulette Reed
www.dotmm.org
Soaring on the Wind
During this hour of restoration and acceleration in the Church of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is propelling us to live "on earth as it is in heaven." As the master artist paints us into circumstantial corners, our trust and faith are being forced to expand along with our tent pegs. We realize more and more that God is in control - we are not. Control is only an illusion and robs us of total reliance on the Holy Spirit. Any attempt to control will also inhibit people from the ability to freely love as Jesus loves. As we yield and hang on to the mighty right hand of God, He picks us up and twirls us like a child's top. He lifts us, taking us where He will, when He will. . . His will. Then, He sets our feet upon holy ground, and says, "Occupy."
As the Divine exchange continues until the day of completion - Jesus' life for ours - we love Him more each day with all of our hearts, minds, and souls. Because of our love, we also serve Him more each day, with zeal. However, friends, when assignments change and the breakthrough angels show up, there are whirlwinds awaiting us. We must live as a wheel-within-a-wheel, soaring with each spiritual storm developed by the Creator, believing there are angelic hosts waiting to assist and protect us and advance the kingdom of God. Do not resist the wind, for it insists upon change and many will be "unstuck" by its forcefulness. No matter what circumstances you are in, come hell or high water, the Lord wants to lift you up and take you out. Change is coming.
"Air Force One" - Taking Off and Landing
As God is raising people into new positions at an unprecedented rate, we continue the crucial preparation. Many Christians are downscaling, buying smaller homes, determined to get out of debt, and the like. They are ready for rapid discipleship deployment - not even taking an extra tunic. The Lord may send us across the street or across the world. Perhaps the King of Glory will open the gates and translate us to another continent, or pour out heavenly revelation to be written down for the church. Whatever the charge, we shall be ready. Beloved, the more we let go, the more we lay hold (Galatians 2:20) so when the Lord speaks we can immediately say, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).
It's important to consider that those on the receiving end must be prepared as well. As God sends gifts to His body - prophets, administrators, apostles, ministers of helps, pastors, evangelists and teachers - the ox must never be muzzled while it is threshing. Be prepared, church, to take care of those whom the Lord sends to you, for we always reap what we sow; an undeniable kingdom principle. We must always honor God's "gifts" to the body, so the house is not desolate.
Heavenly Whirlwinds
As we look at whirlwinds as type and shadow, we note the "suddenly" and "separation" that accompanies them. "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" (II Kings 2:11).
Beloved, when we've been prepared and trained by the Sower, then He can "take us up" to learn of heaven and plant us where He will. Heavenly whirlwinds may catch us up geographically, spiritually or emotionally, but either way God will do a work in us - through them. The whirlwinds of God may seem uncomfortable, but we must learn to live in the eye of each spirit-storm. The Prince of Peace is the center of our being even when, especially when, we seem swept away by life. Remember that if God can entrust us with the power of each cyclone, He can use us more and more for His glory. The glory is in the wind and God is the underlying, motivating force of life. So, even when we may not realize it, He is always moving on our behalf, going before us to divide the waters so we can cross over (II Kings 2:14). Beloved, whirlwinds are a vertical experience; they rise as incense, taking us closer to heaven each time so we can flow with our Supernatural Father. It's in the swirling, on the Potter's wheel, that we are molded into Christlikeness. For, God's way is in the whirlwind and the storm (Nahum 1:3).
Some of you reading this may feel isolated and forgotten. Does it seem no one in your sphere of family and friends understands, or even tries to understand? Don't lose heart! Though the ways of God seem mysterious and perplexing, we can know with certainty He is purposeful in all He does. He has not abandoned you, nor left you behind. You are drenched in the anointed oil of His perfect plan, and have been hand picked for His special forces! God has tailored your current experience to evoke the sweet aroma of your worship and, at the same time, to train you to reign.
Sometimes we hear people say, "Well, so-and-so is just too heavenly to be any earthly good." Personally, I've never met anyone like that. I have met many, however, who are too earthy to be any heavenly good. It's when we learn to please the Father and live on earth, as it is in heaven that His mighty power can and will be released. Elijah had pleased the Father with his life of faithfulness. It wasn't so much about the ascension as the expectation; watching for the whirlwinds of God's glory, not missing the opportunity to soar. Elijah didn't even have time to reason with intellect - He just believed and consequently was taken up; promoted so to speak. God is returning us to the basics of Christianity, dear ones. We cry out, "Lord, teach us to pray!" He answers, "I did, a couple thousand years ago 'on earth as it is in heaven.' " Oh, may we honor and cherish the Lord's Prayer - the perfect daily petition - as we decree its fulfillment. May we arise and shine for the light has come (Isaiah 60).
Calling all Chariots!
When we learn to trust the storm winds of the Spirit, we also learn to trust our Heavenly Father to send help in the midst of them. It's when Elijah, "was no more" that Elisha's dependence upon God greatly increased. He had to go on alone to see God show His power. Whether physical, moral or mental, some may feel that separation is so very difficult. But rejoice, for Jesus says, "He expounds all things to His disciples when He's alone with them" (Mark 4:34). Alleluia! Friends, you may never grow more spiritually or emotionally than by transplantation and isolation. Now, pick up the mantle that fell to the ground in the glory wind and cross over!
Do you recall when Israel had been split in two, weakening her borders and clashing with her neighbors? It was then that Elisha, a prophet in his own right, was trapped and desperately needed God. It was then that he prayed for spiritual eyes to be opened. This man of God did not have time to debate doctrine. He needed the Helper! "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." In addition, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see. Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (II Kings 6:16 and 17).
Oh beloved, may our spiritual eyes be opened so we can see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire waiting, ready to protect us, the church. In accordance with the Word of God, it appears there is an abundance of help available for, "The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands" (Psalm 68:17). We must know and believe the golden chariot is always with us - in us. It is in the holiest part of "the temple" and we have access to it (I Chronicles 28:18).
Our Father, Who art in heaven, "Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, Your lightening lit up the world, the earth trembled and quaked" (Psalm 77:18). Continue to show us your power, Father. We thank you for the whirlwinds that take us up to the heavenly realm with you, for they are full of your glory. May we have visitations like Elijah so we can live on earth as it is in heaven? Even when Your fiery chariots separate us, we rejoice knowing they catch us up to You. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. Please, please open our spiritual eyes that we might see far beyond what the five physical senses could ever perceive. We believe, Holy Father, that Your glory is in the whirlwinds; that the hills are full of horses and chariots protecting Your church as we march victoriously, and occupy. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory - forever.
Rev. Paulette Reed
www.dotmm.org
Copyright (c) 2007 All Rights Reserved
Devotional: Psalms 118
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
Psalms 118:1-17
This Psalm of David boldly declares that all should join in jubilant singing of God's mercy toward their king and the nation of Israel. God had given King David victory over the peoples that had risen up against Israel and God had established the nation of Israel in prosperity. David declares that it is not his own ability or strength that has caused Israel to be blessed, but it is God's mercy toward him and all Israel.
Mercy is a gift, not something you earn. The Bible has many occurrences of the word "mercy" or "mercies", 116 times in the Psalms alone. Of those, 42 times it declares God's mercies are for ever. David is boldly declaring that because God has been merciful and will always continue to be merciful, there is much cause for ALL Israel to be singing and rejoicing with thanksgiving for the never-ending mercies of God.
Because of God's unchanging mercy for the righteous we are guaranteed victory. Those who trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel (Jacob) are the righteous by definition in the book of Hebrews. Those who have circumcised hearts are the offspring of Abraham (Romans 4:11). Do we really believe and trust in God's mercy? So often we look for "solutions" to our problems from man's wisdom. God can of course use man, his logic and wisdom, to affect His Purposes, but He does that as we look to Him for the answers and truly trust in His mercy and faithfulness.
We cannot continue to look upon our situation, rather than trusting God to:
- answer you
- be on your side
- help you
- be your strength
- deliver you
so that in His Name YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR ENEMIES, because the Lord does valiantly!
Hallelujah! There is plenty to be thankful for, to sing and rejoice--no matter how bad things get or how bad they look. Remember that if you could just see for one moment God's perspective you would see that He is in control of every situation. And we are told that blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed (John 20:29). David was confident in God's ultimate victory and it caused His heart to overflow with joy and singing. He is the one who is called a friend of God.
May our hearts burn for that kind of confidence in God's mercy. Read it in the Word, and then begin to look for God's mercy in your life--expect it as David did. You will not be disappointed.
Copyright © 2007 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.
Devotional: Psalms 16
A Secret Treasure of David. Watch over me, O God; for in You do I put my trust. Oh my soul, you have said to Jehovah, You are my Lord; I have no goodness apart from You. As for the saints in the earth, they are the excellent, in whom is all my delight. But their sorrows shall be multiplied who run after another god. I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood; and I will not take their names on my lips. Jehovah is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup; He shall uphold my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yea, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will bless Jehovah, who has given me wisdom; my heart also instructs me in the nights.
I have set Jehovah always before Me; because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices; My flesh also shall rest in hope; For You will not leave My soul in hell; You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will make Me know the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joys. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:1-11
This special Psalm of David begins as a short simple prayer, then moves into David reminding himself of the goodness and faithfulness of God and ends with his confident declaration of his Hope in the Lord. What an amazing Psalm, and what a wonderful example of directing our petitions to the Lord. The Lord knows our needs before we ask. But He desires our communication so we must ask, and we must remind ourselves of His Goodness, as David does for much of this psalm. Once your soul embraces the Goodness of God, the declaration flows as a natural result of the expectancy that God will be faithful and that there is indeed no greater expectancy or desire than to live eternally in His presence.
David is not just speaking of heaven's glory, when his flesh will be glorified and he will abide in God's presence. His declaration is that of experiencing these things now AND forever. Our souls, our intellect and emotions, need constant reminders that the reality we live in here on earth is not what is real and permanent. God's presence in our lives ought to be our focus--then all the things of earth grow "strangely dim". If we all wrote down the hundred of times that God has been faithful to us we would begin to live in the expectancy of seeing God's goodness in the land of the living. David lived this, as he wrote psalm after psalm, meditating and rehearsing what God had done again and again in his life.
In the book of Revelation, it says that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony--not loving our lives unto death. Your testimony is valuable, not just the testimony of your conversion--but your testimony everyday of God's presence, and goodness in your life. Complaints and focusing on our problems and trials is like the offerings of the wicked--their is no glory, no life, in them. But God works all things for our good and for His Glory. Though we don't understand his workings, the trials and sufferings--His goodness prevails, our inheritance is in Him and He will give us His Wisdom and Grace. Hallelujah!
Copyright © 2007 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.
Improper Application of Statistics in "The Lost Tomb of Jesus"
Many have questions about the promotion of the new movie. Many of those viewing this know that the Bible is our source of Truth, which would place this movie, as well as the DiVinci Code in the realm of 'misleading fiction'. The following is the published statement by an expert.
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The Improper Application of Statistics in "The Lost Tomb of Jesus"
By Stephen Pfann
"Is not this the carpenter's (Luke: Joseph's) son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph (Mark: Joses) and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?" (Matt. 13:55-56a)
"The filmmakers asked Andrey Feuerverger, professor of statistics and mathematics at the University of Toronto, to study the likelihood of the cluster of resonant names found in the Talpiot tomb being merely coincidental. He concluded, according to the Discovery Channel, that 'the odds are at least 600 to 1 in favor of the Talpiot Tomb being the Jesus Family Tomb. In other words, the conclusion works 599 times out of 600.'" Jerusalem Post, Feb 27, 2007
The starting point for the supposed scientific investigation of a tomb in Jerusalem's East Talpiot neighborhood is an amazing claim that statistically, the viewer must accept the fact that the tomb is certainly (600 to 1 probability) the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth and his family. This statement is based upon a number of fallacies and a general misuse of statistics.
1) What database serves as the basis for establishing the probability of this claim? There are no surviving genealogies or records of family names in Judea and Galilee to make any statement concerning the comparative frequency of various personal names in families there. Only Jesus' genealogy appears to have survived, as presented in the Gospels (see Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-34, together with the list of his brothers cited above). For Prof. Feuerverger to make any statement concerning the actual identification of the family is pure speculation, since there are no other complete family lists available for comparison, and is very inappropriate within the rubrics of his discipline
What can a statistician justifiably say? Perhaps only that it would take another 600 tombs of similar size, form and contents to arrive at one with ossuaries bearing the identical names and numbers of this one. Even for this, there are a number of hurdles to cross:
2) The records of who and how many individuals were actually buried in any given family tomb in 1st century Judea and Galilee cannot be ascertained solely on the basis of examining the extant names on the surviving ossuaries in the tomb. This is due to the following circumstances:
a) Most tombs have already been visited and looted in antiquity or in recent times, leaving the record of their original contents incomplete.
b) Not all ossuaries are saved during the excavations so as to be stored and registered. Oftentimes, only ossuaries with inscriptions, decorations or both are kept.
c) According to L. Y. Rahmani, A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries, of 917 ossuaries in the collections of the State of Israel, only 231 (25.2%) are inscribed with names. The East Talpiot tomb is unusual in that 6 of its 9 registered ossuaries (66%) were actually inscribed with names. If all tombs contained similar percentages of inscribed bone boxes, then a comparative census between various tombs would be sensible and possible. However this is certainly far from being the case.
d) Those ossuaries which bear names have often contained the remains of more than one individual. The names of these individuals will never be known. (For example, the Caiaphas' ossuary contained the remains of several individuals, including one middle aged man.)
Thus, the most one can hope to do in establishing a working database upon which to base a statistical probability, is to make a general overall survey and census of inscribed ossuaries. This is a useful enterprise when utilizing the entire corpus of ossuaries to determine the proportions of names and the ethnic character of the general population. Remarkably, only 72 different Jewish names are represented among the 286 personal names found on the 231 inscribed ossuaries (bearing in mind that some ossuaries contain two or three names in the formula "x son of y")! These 72 personal names include their shortened forms and their Greek or Latin equivalents. What is the implication of this for establishing a statistical probability of occurrence?
Compared with the large pool of individual personal names in use today in North America and Europe, a very small pool of personal names was normally used when naming a child in first century Judea and Galilee. Again, remarkably, a mere 16 of the 72 personal names account for 75% of the inscribed names (214 in all). The frequency list of personal names on inscribed ossuaries is as follows:
Salome (Shalom, Shlomzion) 26
Simon (Shim'on) 26
Mary (Miriam, Maria) 20
Joseph 19
Judas (Yehudah) 18
Lazarus (El'azar, Eli'ezer) 16
Joezer (Yeho'azar) 13
John (Yehonan) 12
Martha 11
Jesus (Yeshua') 10
Saul 10
Ananias (Hananiah) 10
Matthew (Mattitiyahu, Mattai) 8
Jonathan (Yehonatan) 6
Jacob/James (Ya'aqov) 5
Ezekias (Hezekiah) 4
Total names 4x or more 214
Other less common names:
3x: 'Amah, Hanan, Shalum, Shappira
2x: 'Azaviah, 'Ahai, Haniah, Hanin/Hanun, Yatira, 'Ezra, Qariah, Shamai, Seth
All of the names that are ascribed in the Gospels to Jesus of Nazareth's father (Joseph), mother (Mary) and brothers (Jacob/"James", Joseph/Josehs, Simon, and Judas) are found in the list of the 16 sixteen most commonly inscribed names. In fact, four of these names, Simon, Mary, Joseph and Judas are among the top five in the frequency list of names (109 of 286 names: 38% of the entire list of names).
Concerning the East Talpiot tomb, only one name among those of Jesus' brothers Joseph/Joseh, can identified on the inscribed ossuaries. All of the other siblings' names, including "James"/Jacob, are curiously lacking. Even the name Joseh is not inscribed as a "son of Joseph" or any other, that is to say, where one would expect "Joseh son of Joseph" in a purported Jesus' family tomb, one does not find it.
The names Mary* (2x), Joseph/Joseh (2x), Judas and even Jesus, found in the Talpiot tomb should well be expected there (or in almost any other tomb in the area, for that matter). These are simply the most common names of the day. The only difference is that the Talpiot tomb has so many names preserved among its ossuaries! If other tombs contained so many inscribed ossuaries, the name census in most other tombs would be very much the same. This being the case, there very well could be numerous tombs which could have claim to the title "a Jesus' family tomb." However in all cases, as in this, there would be no compelling reason to connect them with Jesus of Nazareth!
*The naming of Mary Magdalene as "Mariamne" (or "little Mary", a diminutive) in a fourth century Gospel of Philip should be considered irrelevant to the discussion, being three centuries too late for consideration.
L. Y. Rahmani, A Catalogue of Jewish Ossuaries, Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (Jerusalem: 1994)
Copyright 2007. Stephen Pfann, University of the Holy Land. All rights reserved. (May be freely quoted if properly credited.)
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