Category Archives: Turn to God’s Word

A Hindrance To Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #332

24 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Renewing or Reviewing, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Revive us O God!, Speaking The Truth In Love, Tuned In, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer

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A Hindrance To Revival???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #332

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;

that glory may dwell in our land.”  Psalm 85:6-9

I have prayed a long time to see a true revival in the midst of God’s people.  A heart stirring, conviction producing, altar-praying, tearful repentance of God’s own; the kind of revivals I saw and experienced as a child and a young adult.  Oh, dear Father—please revive us again!  But then I ask myself, am I being a hindrance to revival? Is my heart willing to hear that voice of conviction from the Holy Spirit; am I willing to turn from my pet sins, my selfish longings and desires, my misuse of God’s gifts?  May we simply lay ourselves before The Lord God Almighty, and our precious Lord and Savior Jesus, and yield to the work of His Spirit within me and you who belong to Him.

It’s so easy to be distracted, and I am chief of the distracted sometimes; yet I long to be all that God wants me to be; to be humble, obedient and willing to go or stay—to go forward or to wait on The Lord!  Let’s consider some truth from scripture that we might ponder, consider and willingly look into that mirror of the soul—God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.  It’s so much easier to flip on the TV, scroll through hours of social media dribble, or watch every sport known to man!  What is your go to escape?  Are we trying to escape form our King?  Or have we just become so accustomed to going our own way, and being more influenced by the world than our Lord?  Oh, Jesus, revive my soul!  May we return to the time when the church led your people instead of the popular call from the world?  Have we allowed our heart to become divided?  Heal my heart oh Lord.  Help me to stop living a life of “long-division” and start living in submission to you, my Lord—adding and multiplying grace and obedience.

“But king Solomon loved many strange women, …

…2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel,

 Ye shall not go in to them,

neither shall they come in unto you:

for surely they will turn away your heart

after their gods:

Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses,

and three hundred concubines:

and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old,

that his wives turned away his heart

after other gods:

and his heart was not perfect

with the LORD his God, …

…6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD,

and went not fully after the LORD,

as did David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh,

the abomination of Moab,

…and for Molech,

the abomination of the children of Ammon.

 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives,

which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon,

because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel,

which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him

concerning this thing,

that he should not go after other gods:

but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.”   1 Kings 11:1-10

Solomon let his heart be compromised (divided)—this wise man—this man to whom God appeared and gave him an amazing gift of greatness; but he was drawn away from his God by worldly compromise!  What are we allowing to draw our heart away from God?  It’s usually the most innocent-seeming things that Satan will use to draw us away; sometimes the busy-ness of doing churchy things gets in the way of obeying our Lord.  Sometimes He leads us aside, when we want to be in the limelight?  Sometimes He calls on us to be quiet, when we want to speak.  Sometimes He calls us to leave our comfort-zone to go to and do the uncomfortable.  Sometimes He convicts us to give up things that we have allowed to become “foreign wives” to us—have I allowed worldly pleasures to come between me and my LORD?  Have we allowed something—anything—to divide our heart like Solomon’s?  Is Jesus on the throne of our heart or something—anything—else?

What comes out of my mouth?  What goes into my eyes?  My ears?  What do I allow that I once wouldn’t?  I’m not going to post a list—ask God and He will reveal truth, if/when we are willing to receive it.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

James got pretty blunt in his letter to believers who were living a life of division.  May we heed his word today—for it’s God’s Word to us as well.

“Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

 that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

 ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:

 let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:3-10

May we learn to practice humility before God, holiness by God’s grace, His Word and being devoted to our King, hungering for God’s friendship not the world’s?  I pray that we will be the conduit for true revival not the hindrance.  Let’s keep our hearts pure before God, no matter what others may think or do.

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye, being evil, speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man out of the evil treasure

 bringeth forth evil things.”  Matthew 12:34-35

May our hearts be right before our God!  He knows, no matter what others may think; and we can only fake it for so long, the truth will come out!  Oh, Lord please open our eyes and convict our hearts to truly “Draw nigh to God” that He “will draw nigh to you.”  Please revive us again, oh Lord?

Amen and Amen!!!

Joy Of The Lord??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #318

27 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Jesus-Wonderful Counselor, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy of The Lord!, Joy To The World?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Victorious Living, Victory IN Jesus!, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!, What's coming out of your heart., What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, Where your treasure is--Your heart is!, Who's in your heart?, Whole Earth Is Filled with HIS Glory, Whose Side Are You On?, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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Joy Of The Lord???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #318

“And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha,

and Ezra the priest the scribe,

and the Levites that taught the people,

said unto all the people,

This day is holy unto the LORD your God;

mourn not, nor weep.

For all the people wept,

when they heard the words of the law

10 Then he said unto them,

Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying,

Hold your peace,

for the day is holy;

neither be ye grieved.”  Nehemiah 8:9-11

While many of us are familiar with part of this passage, “the joy of the LORD is your strength”, the context is often overlooked, and that is what I want to share briefly with you this morning.

We do have an assured “joy of the LORD” and what Nehemiah, Ezra and the other leaders of Israel/Judah who had returned to Jerusalem after the 70-years in Babylon, wanted to remind the people of was that their toil in rebuilding was to be a holy encouragement to them!  They were weeping and experiencing great grief over the loss of Solomon’s temple because of their sin.  And while we can go back and read Ezra and Nehemiah in their totality and see that the people still had issues with sin,  their leaders were calling them in this passage to rejoice in The Lord and what He has done for them in this return!

Many of us have suffered through the rubble of life and there are times that the grief is overwhelming when we see the results and consequences of our sinful, selfish, fleshly choices!  But when we have repented of our sin and failure before our God, we can get up and press on in this “joy of the LORD” which truly “is your strength”!  God has made it clear in His Word that when we repent—He will forgive.  John makes this clear in his first letter.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.

2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you,

that ye sin not.

And if any man sin,

we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:

and not for ours only,

but also for the sins

of the whole world.”  1 John 1:6-2:2

In closing I just want to encourage you and myself to remember that God says what He means, and He means what He says; and when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin, we can be born again to new life in Jesus, and forgiveness of our sins.  But what so many of us forget, is that we are continuing to walk in a sinful world, and it does rub off on us—yet we have

“an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:

and not for ours only,

but also for the sins

of the whole world”!

So, the question is one we all have to answer; have I been born again and received Jesus’ payment of my sin debt.  I’ll leave you with a couple of passages that make it simple and true.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

I pray that you will find and grow in Jesus’ knowing that “the joy of the LORD is your strength”!

Amen and Amen!!!

What IF? A Good Question??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #266

29 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Humility, If not now? When?, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Repentance, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Revive us O God!, Salvation, Seek ye first The Kingdom of God, Turn to God's Word, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!

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What IF?  A Good Question???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #266

I am among those who are earnestly praying for revival, and I know only God can send it.  Yet God set out some parameters for restoration, forgiveness and healing.  And I’d like to share a few brief thoughts on this very thing from a verse that many know, and hopefully I can shed some light on it that we may consider the truth of where we really are and what we need to do!

IF: a supposition; uncertain possibility… a condition, requirement, or stipulation…

Keep this in mind as we consider God’s promise to Solomon.

“Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD,

and the king’s house:

and all that came into Solomon’s heart

to make in the house of the LORD,

and in his own house,

he prosperously effected.

12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

14 If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:11-14

I want to simply make a few comments on things that we so often miss in this passage, and may we draw near to God, willing to do the things that will lead us to real revival from God.

First and foremost is that great big “if”!  This is a term of condition—God is saying that there are some things that are expected from “my people”, those who are “called by my name”!  God isn’t talking to the world, but to those who claim His name and are truly His children.  As I so often remind us, Jesus told us in Matthew 7 that in the day of judgment there will be those who “say Lord, Lord”, yet He will tell them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  So, it seems to me that God is talking about those who have truly been born again, by responding to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—your sin and mine!

God goes on to tell us what it is that His people need to do.

Humble themselves—

to bow before God to ask Him as thePsalmist prayed, “search me O God…know my heart…. try me…see if there be any wicked way in me…lead me..”  Recognize that God is right, and I need to adjust to His way, not the other way around.

       Pray—

to truly pursue intimate, concerted, conversation with God.  Not just a check-off list, but truly an earnest and open communion with God The Father, and Jesus The Son, seeking His will for me, my family, and the culture in which I live.

       Seek MY Face—

to keep our eyes on Jesus, and desire toknow Him better through His Word—the love letter that God has written that we might be “approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth…”!  The Word of God is to be our daily bread, that as Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:12

As we take these things into our heart and mind, may we will be able, ready and willing to complete this quartet from God’s Word.

Turn from their wicked ways—

even we who are God’s Own, often fail and fall for the lies of the devil.  We live in a culture that not only fails to keep God’s commands and His Word, but is blatantly guilty of doing as Isaiah said,

“Woe unto them that call evil

good,

and good

evil;

that put darkness

for light,

 and light

for darkness;

that put bitter

for sweet,

and sweet

for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

Only when we understand and are willing to hear God’s truth and yield to His demands, will we have any hope of seeing revival.  May we truly humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our own sin!  Oh, Father, hear our prayer and bring us to repentance that we might see you revive and heal our land.

Amen and Amen!!!

Mindset Matters??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #261

18 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by in Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Dare To Be Different!, Mindset on Jesus!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth is True, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word

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Mindset Matters???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #261

“But Daniel

purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

 nor with the wine which he drank:

therefore he requested

of the prince of the eunuchs

that he might not defile himself.”  Daniel 1:8

Our mindset matters, because as a quote from Mahatma Ghandi (among others who made similar statements, he seems to have been one of the first) says:

“Watch your thoughts,

they become words;

watch your words,

they become actions;

watch your actions,

they become habits;

watch your habits,

they become character;

watch your character,

for it becomes your destiny.”

Daniel had made up his mind because his heart was purposed on God’s Word and His ways!  Yet, Daniel and his friends were never arrogant or demanding, they had respect and worked through the powers that were over them.  And they could do that because ultimately their confidence was in their God—chapter three confirms this as Daniel’s three friends face the fiery furnace.  For you see, they had made their mind up long before this incident—in verse 8 of chapter 1!

“Now 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?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered

and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If 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.

18 But 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.

19 Then 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.” Daniel 3:15-19

The result of their faithful commitment to their God was not only miraculous but gave glory to their God!  Yet the glory only came when they were willing to trust their God to bring them through the fire, or out of it on the other side!  What are you trusting God with?  Or are you trying to do everything yourself?  Even this furious king saw what their God could do, when they were delivered “in the fire”!

“Then 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.” Daniel 3:28

What are you worshipping?  Where are your time, energies and devotion going?  What does your speech and actions reveal about you and your “god”?

Paul had some very wise counsel for us, and I find it worthy of continual consideration.  May it speak to us today and may each of us draw nearer to our God rather than this world.  May we consider the things that Paul reminds us of and choose wisely in our daily walk.  May we be found to be devoted to the God we claim to love and serve?

“Wherefore putting away lying,

speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not:

let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands the thing which is good,

that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

 but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all

bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:” Ephesians 4:25-31

Oh, that our speech and behavior would reflect the power of God that saves and keeps us!  This flesh is a constant pull against the things of God, we must be like Daniel and make up our mind and our heart to “not defile” ourselves!  Others may throw mud, but we must remain faithful to our God who is ever working to make us into the “image of His Son”!  (See Romans 8:28-29)

May we be faithful testaments of the transforming grace and salvation that Jesus bought with His own blood!  That we would spread holiness, joy and peace not corruption!

“Be not deceived:

evil communications

corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness,

and sin not;” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34a

Let’s follow Daniel’s and his friend’s example and keep a holy mindset rather than a worldly one!  It shows!  It matters!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Know Him-Love HIM-Do You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #232

26 Wednesday Jun 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Broad road or the Straight Gate?, Building up or Tearing down?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Confidence, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Forgiveness, He was born to die for our sin, He's Alive, Hearing God, Heaven or Hell?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Word, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Turn to God's Word

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Know Him-Love HIM-Do You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #232

We talked last time about being still and knowing that God IS God, and in this crazy, troubled, uncertain world it’s often hard to be still; yet we need to remember our childhood lesson to “stop, look, and listen”, stop running from God and turn around running to Him, looking up to seek His grace, mercy and wisdom, and listening to His direction for our lives…oh, what a difference we would see and know!  Take some time today to stop for a few, look up to Jesus, and listen for His voice; He is ever ready to meet you where you are—and He already knows where you are and what you really need!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will

come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Jesus calls us to Himself!  Have you heard the voice of Jesus calling you?  Are you already His, but you’re confused, tired, frustrated—let go and listen to your shepherd—Jesus!!!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Jesus is Lord—He is my shepherd—He IS God—and He IS coming back soon!  Are you ready!  Live today with Him, for Him and by His power, grace and truth (dig into His Word!!!)!  Who do you belong to?  Jesus?  The world?  Your fleshly desires and lusts?  Your greed?  Your goals?

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have the light of life.”  John 8:12 

Get out of that dark cellar and look to the “light of the world” and follow Him. Again remember that childhood song we all sang about letting our “little light shine” and the refrain that taught us to not “let Satan blow it out”!  The enemy is ever after us, but we have victory in Jesus when we but stop, look and listen!  (that might make a great song…)!  And if you don’t know Jesus, don’t miss His voice calling you—the wrong way will always look appealing, but it leads the wrong way and only brings destruction and death.  Let’s examine Jesus’ call to all!  A call to His own to shine as a reflection of the true light of the world; if you don’t know Him, He calls you to choose the straight/narrow way and walk with Him.  The journey isn’t easy, but He is ever faithful to walk with us!

“Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus’ great warning of the difference between the two roads; the two choice that we each face; it’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test (and a consequence—you are free to choose but the choice carries its own consequence.)!  Jesus knows your heart!  As my mother used to say, “You can fool all of the people some of the time; you can fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool God!” Remember, the majority isn’t always right!  Will you be part of the “few” or the “many”?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23

God is ever faithful to care for His own.  Jesus has never failed me, and HE won’t fail you either.  Jesus knows His own and He always cares—delivering right on time; and His Word is the standard not the opinions of the world—regardless of how popular they seem to be!  Trust Him today if you haven’t!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

 but all things are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:12-16

May the grace and love of Jesus overflow your soul today!

Amen and Amen!!!