Haggai 2:4-5

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

 Never shrink back in fear!

This is not the time to shrink back in fear even when it looks like things are becoming more and more difficult. Or when your enemies are surrounding you expecting your work to fail. Many people are facing tremendous situations of all sorts, but rest assured that God will not let you fail. He sees where you are and has already designed a plan to move you forward. The enemy’s plan is to hinder or stop the work of God in progress. He will do anything to frustrate and discourage you from moving on with the plan of God.

 It was important for the prophet Haggai to deliver the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to Joshua the High Priest and to the remnant of people returning after the exile. Some of the people knew about the former glory of the temple of God. Upon their return, they first re-established the religious observances of the nation as God had ordained. Then their next move was to rebuild the temple of the Lord and this was no easy job. Zerubbabel was stirred by the Spirit of the Lord to rebuild Solomon’s temple, this was an assignment that Zerubbabel decided to carry out regardless. It was difficult but he knew God told him to do it. You know, sometimes, God places things on your heart to do and in many cases it seems extremely difficult. How many times have we aborted the plan of God because it appears to be impossible or too difficult, so we shrink back in fear because we feel we cannot accomplish the task ahead? This is exactly the enemy’s plan. He will use fear to intimidate us. His plan to magnify the problem and diminish the solutions.

 Rely God’s history- He never fails

Whatever God did before, he can do it again and even greater. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says “What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Zerubbabel had history to rely on. There was a great testimony of a magnificent temple, Built by King Solomon. This amazing work was deemed glorious; it was a splendid temple established to house the Glory of God.

David told Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord (1Chronicles 28:20).” If David’s encouragement was so important to Solomon, how much more did Zerubbabel needed encouragement?  Zerubabbel knew that the same God who empowered Solomon to start and finish all the work of the temple, will also empower him to finish this great work. God who started the work in Zerubbabel was well able to complete it. God spoke through several prophets concerning the rebuilding of the temple, which would be undertaken by Zerubbabel and others, assuring him that the work he would now start, would be completed (Zech.4:9).

 We also have the word of God to totally trust and rely on. God’s track records follow his name throughout the Bible and in real life. Why not trust God to accomplish his word in your life today. The same God who began the work in you is also faithful to bring it to completion.

“BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM (Heb.10:38 NASB).”

Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!

Your mountain shall become a plain!

Zechariah 4:6-10 (KJV)
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

The prayer of Jabez – A call to bold prayers

Day 1 – Jabez’s attitude and disposition

 1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain,” And God granted his request.

What made Jabez different from you and me?

Jabez was a man with like passions and faced situations like any human would. As we consider who Jabez is, there is no mention of him anywhere else in the scriptures. However; as 1Chronicles 4 records the genealogy of Judah, the chapter was interrupted to mention some minute details about Jabez and his prayer. His mother named him Jabez meaning “sorrowful” because she bore him in pain. Although he was considered more honorable than his brothers, his name meant pain. His name was a constant reminder of sorrow and perhaps a reality of what was going on in his life. As we take a closer look at Jabez, we notice he would not allow his human limitations to control him and become his lot in life. If everything was working perfectly for Jabez, we would not have his prayer.  Jabez’s prayer was a short, but powerful prayer, filled with absolute confidence in God. Jabez knew that only God could change the meaning and course of his life forever.

Jabez displayed attitudes of boldness and resilience

His earnest prayer not only captured the heart of God, but continues to capture and intrigue millions of people around the world, for many generations. Jabez knew who to direct his prayer to, so he petitioned God, to bless him, enlarge his borders, keep his hand of protection, guidance, preservation, and deliverance on him and keep him from evil so I would not experience the pain. Jabez,  the man of sorrow and pain cried out to God to keep him from that sorrow. His prayer was not answered because he was more honorable than his brothers, it was answered because, he recognized where his help comes from and his boldness to request that help.

Would you dare to pray bold prayers like Jabez?

I believe that God wants us to take the limits off Him and pray bold prayers. Pray with God-confidence and pray knowing that God is faithful to honor his word. “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not (Jere. 33:3).” God has given us the release to call upon him and to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Adopt the attitude like Jabez, pray bold prayers and wholeheartedly trust God, who is well able to undertake anything you throw at him.

Follow along as we continue to explore the prayer of Jabez and what it means to us.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

Let us therefore come boldly to the t of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

These are valuable materials that will inspire and empower your life to pray bold prayers.

Jesus our propitiation

Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins. He became sin for us, satisfying the wrath of God in our stead, and reconciling us to God, so we do not have to face the full punishment of sin. Jesus was not simply any sacrifice; He was the ultimate sacrifice, his death fully satisfied God’s requirements for justice and righteousness. All of man’s noble efforts and good works combined could not appease God’s holy wrath or reconcile man to God. Man is completely incapable of fulfilling God’s justice, except paying the penalty of eternal death for sin.

Propitiation is all about God himself performing the work of grace and not the efforts of man. God demonstrated his provision of the sacrifice in the Old Testament, when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son. Isaac looked up and saw the fire and the wood, but no lamb, when he asked his father, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham responded by saying, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Later in the scripture, we see a lamb was provided for the sacrifice. This act would become pivotal in the New Testament where God HIMSELF not only provided the sacrifice but became the sacrifice, the only propitiation for the sins of the world. According to Hebrews 2:17; “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” God’s righteous anger was appeased, when he poured out his wrath, anger and punishment meant for man upon Jesus.

Christ our- sin offering

Jesus became our sin offering. John 3:16 declares that, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” In the Old Testament sin was atoned for by different burnt offerings and sin offerings used in the Levitical sacrifices. The priests were to offer the same sacrifices over and over, but the blood of goats and calves could not obtain eternal redemption or propitiation for sin. While the blood of goats, bulls, and the ashes of heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean, made them clean, they were only outwardly clean (Heb. 9:13). However, the amazing thing about Christ is that he willingly offered himself unblemished to God and his blood not only cleanses us outwardly but purifies our consciences from dead works- condemnation and the guilt of sin (Heb. 9:14). For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

Therefore, no act of righteousness on man’s part could pardon for sin. Under the law we deserve death, and eternal damnation, but under the new covenant of Grace we receive pardon and abundant life, simply because, “He made HIM who knew no sin become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinth. 5:21). Man was deserving of punishment but God through Jesus Christ made a way.

The weight of the world was laid upon Jesus

The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa.53:6b). It was the Father’s will to put the weight of the world’s sin upon his son, so that the world through Jesus might be saved.

The beauty of God’s gift is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1John 4:10). With this, every human being has full access to God, man has the ability to come boldly to the throne of grace, lifting up holy hands in his name without doubt and without wrath. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Roms. 8:1). Our sins no longer condemns us, because they are washed away by the Blood of Jesus. David said as far as the East is from the West so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalms 103:12). Salvation is all about a loving savior, giving up his life, dying on the cross, rising victoriously and making a way for man to be saved from God’s wrath and be reconciled to God for eternity.

 Jesus’ sacrifice was made once for all

The writer of Hebrews clearly and brilliantly expressed God’s salvation plan for a dying and hopeless world. The act of propitiation was accomplished once for all times and for all humanity. Thus, there was no need for repeated endless sacrifices year after year that could not cleanse the human race once for all time. Rather, the sacrifices were an annual reminder of sins (Heb 10:1-3). Hebrews (10:4) states that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The blood of animals were inadequate to stand in place of human beings. The only justification for sin was a body prepared for sacrifice before the foundations of the world (Heb 10:5; Rev. 13:8). God’s propitiation plan was not put into effect, when man sinned, rather, it was completed from the foundations of the world. When God made man, he already put a plan in place to redeem and reconcile man back to himself.

The writer of Hebrews 10:7 says, “Here I am -it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, my God.” The Law required that sacrifice be made for sins over and over again, but when Jesus came, his obedient submission was to execute the Father’s will- becoming the propitiation once and for all time. “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time (Heb. 10:10).”

Five important things we need to know about “Jesus our propitiation”

1. Jesus was the ONLY propitiation for man:  committing a two part act- appeasing God’s wrath and reconciling man to God.
2. Jesus was the perfect and final sacrifice, satisfying all God’s holy requirements for sin, ONCE FOR ALL TIME (Heb. 10:10-12).
3. We are made Holy through Jesus’ sacrifice, washed in his blood. “Jesus’ sacrifice has made us perfect forever, those who are being made holy (Heb. 10:10, 14).”
4. It is not the Father’s desire to remember our sins any more. However, He desires to put his laws on human hearts and write them on our minds (Heb. 10:16)
5. We have full access and can boldly draw near to God in full assurance of faith (Heb. 10:19, 22)

Have you chosen Jesus Christ as your propitiation?

Receive by faith the greatest gift of all times- salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord. According to Hebrews (10:19) we now have confidence to enter the Most Holy place by the blood of Jesus… “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

Jesus the wonder of salvation

The wonder of salvation is that believers are saved from the wrath of God and receive the fullness of life and abundant living.

Christ our savior

Christ our redeemer

Christ our healer

Christ our perfect sacrifice.

Advancing the kingdom of God.

What are you meditating on?

Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).

What I discovered is that there are so many things to fill up your mind everyday, all day long without taking a rest. Your kids, spouse, expenses, daily home or work routine, your career or business, your church or spiritual activities and many more. You just pick one and you can be lost in thinking for a whole day. Our minds never stop thinking and pondering on things; how well did I perform, is my performance good enough, what will I tell this person, where will I find the help I need to accomplish my goals, how will I survive with insufficient resources to meet my budget, how will I ever make them last or do all I need to do and the long list continues. Our thinking grows so much, that it turns into worry and most times fear of the worse happening. What we do not realize is that we are meditating on the cares of life.

According to “thefreedictionary.com” meditate means to reflect on; contemplate on, to engage in devotional contemplation, especially prayer. To think or reflect, especially in a calm and deliberate manner. Anything that captures your thoughts and engages your thinking and focus for a while, becomes the THING you are meditating on. How many times have we allow situations to cloud our minds to the point where it affects our mood and behavior, so there is difficulty eating, sleeping, and in some cases keeping a calm mind.

Think about it, what would you rather meditate on?

If meditating on the cares of life brings worry, doubt and fear, how much more profitable, would it be to meditate on the scriptures. A deliberate mediation on God’s word is necessary if we are going to find the answer and success that we need. For most of our lives we worry about things that are out of our control, we focus our energy and attention on feeding our fears, while starving our faith. It almost seems natural to worry or mediate on the negative things, that may never happen, and even if it does God’s grace is well able to sustain us.

Meditation is not only confined to a place and deep thinking, but when our thinking is overpowered by a situation, that even, when we are distracted by something else our mind goes right back to thinking on that situation.

How to mediate on the word?

Whether we like it or not we will be mediating on something. Then why not think about what you are thinking of, what is occupying your mind’s space?
What if we begin to think about what we are actually thinking about daily. What fills our minds. “Metacognition” is simply defined as “thinking about thinking.” (Jennifer Livingston: 1997) Experts use Metacognitive activities to determine how students can be taught to better apply their cognitive resources through metacognitive control (Jennifer Livingston: 1997). The same for students of the word, much of the word of God will be remembered when we begin thinking on the word, finding scriptures that pertains to a particular situation and declare the word daily. Engaging in personal and group Bible Study activities goes a long way in putting the word in us. Making devotional time plays a necessary part in our every day lives with prayer and reading the word. Becoming a student of the word is the greatest thing we can do for ourselves as believers. The precedence we give to the word will determine whether it takes first place or takes no place at all.

Cow meditation

Cows are one the animals that have stomachs organized into sections, this takes care of their digestion issues. The cow chews its food to moisten it then, it passes down to the first section of its stomach, it is mixed with chemicals and softens, then the cow brings the food up in small balls and chews the cud. It’s yucky to bring food up again, but this is exactly how we should treat the word. After you take time to read and study the word, now spend the time praying and meditating on what it says. Spend your days feeding on what you have read and how it may apply to your situation, your spouse, children or even a co-worker. Take time to bring the word up in small amounts, and twirl it around in your mind, constantly.

The word supports meditation

Psalms 1:2 – But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

1 Timothy 4:15 – Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Psalms 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalms 119:15 – I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Psalms 104:34 – My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Proverbs 4:20-21 – My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Psalms 119:97 – O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day.

Psalms 49:3 – My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.

what happens when our minds are bombarded with the negatives?

2 Corinth. 10:15  Paul says Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Cast down the negative imaginations and employ the power of positive thinking through the word of God. Give your mind something to think about, even when you have something to think about. Occupy your mind consciously.  I have heard the saying you cannot stop a bird from landing on your head but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair. You have the power and right to decide what thinking your mind engages.

MAKE THE WORD YOUR DAILY BREAD

I am determined to make this year a year when I send more time in the WORD and with God than with any other distractions.

What about you, would you commit to spending time in the WORD, feeding your faith and starving your doubts and unbelief? Great way to go!

Let’s take this journey of studying and declaring God’s WORD daily and consistently so we are changed and transformed to become all that God has predestined. The more we engage in studying the WORD and PRAYing, the more we will develop an intimate relationship with God. PRAYERS of faith flow from the word of God. When we pray his WORD, we pray his heart.

I heard someone said when you take time to put the word in your spirit, a time will come, when your spirit will put the word in your mouth. When we need the word the most, it will be right there, in our hearts and our mouths (Roms 10:8, Deut. 30:14).

Make the WORD your final authority.

Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!

God is fighting for you

How many of us know and believe that God is fighting for us? How many times have we stepped out feeling like we are alone in the battles that life brings our way? The great assurance the believers have is knowing that God is fighting for us, and he is on our side. I believe this year that God wants to reveal his supernatural power and show great favor to his people of covenant. He promises never to leave or forsake us and to be our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). When God is fighting there is no losing.

I was listening to a great song, “In Jesus’ Name” by a well-known artist Darlene Zschech, from her “Revealing Jesus Project”. This song is so profound in showing how Jesus has not only won the ultimately battle but he is present in the struggles that we face every day and his resurrection power is alive in us today, making us free and giving us the victory. These are few words of the song, “God is fighting for us, pushing back the darkness, lighting up the kingdom that cannot be shaken, in the name of Jesus enemy is defeated and we will shout it out.” Let God fight the battles and you enjoy the victory.

Isaiah 54:10 says ^“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Exodus 14:13-14

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:25
He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Exodus 15:3
The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.

Deuteronomy 1:30
The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes,

Deuteronomy 3:22
“Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”

Joshua 10:14
There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!

Joshua 23:3
You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you.

Regardless of what you see or what confronts you or what the facts reveal, you must believe and declare that God is fighting for me. I am not alone in my difficult season, moments, and times. My victory is already intact. Although you might feel like you are fighting the battles of your life know that Jesus is with you and he is fighting with you. When you give up the fight too quickly, you choose to forfeit your victory, but when you stay in the fight and let God fight the battle, you will see the victory.

Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!

God has crowned the YEAR with GOODNESS

Psalm 65:1-13

Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion;
And to You the vow shall be performed.
² O You who hear prayer,

Who is more deserving of praise flowing from his people, other than God almighty? His plans toward us are always good, his intentions are noble and everything he created is for man to enjoy.  So how fitting it is for us to awake daily with praise in our mouths and hearts filled with thanksgiving expressed to our wonderful God. No one knows what this year holds but let us start by determining to praise God for who he is. We have no idea of coming events or changing seasons, but what we are certain of is Jesus holds today and tomorrow. Friends may come and go but rest assured, that God is and will always be there in every waking moment, to guide you along the way. Know that everyday is a GIFT that you must never take for granted and cherish all God’s goodness, mercy  and his everlasting love that he showers on you daily.

To You all flesh will come.
³ Iniquities prevail against me;
As for our transgressions,
You will provide atonement for them.

What an amazing act of God’s grace, that David was able see it and and express it. God has prepared himself an atonement in his Son Jesus Christ. God’s redemptive plan did not quit when man messed up, it was already accomplished, and is still working today.