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Pastor’s Blog 12.12.18

For several weeks now I have been thinking about the discovery of the meaning of the word “Understand” from the ancient Hebrew word picture. It means to see the name – and is the same word translated: hear, understand, and obey. The Lord wanted the children of Israel to understand Him, so He revealed himself with a series of names in the Old Covenant. Here are the most noteworthy:

Jehovah – Tsidkenu – Jehovah is my righteousness

Jehovah – Shalom – Jehovah is peace

Jehovah – Shammah – Jehovah is there

Jehovah – M’ Kaddesh – Jehovah who sanctifies

Jehovah – Jireh – God’s provision shall be seen

Jehovah – Rohi – Jehovah is my Shepherd

Jehovah – Rophe – Jehovah is my healer

Jehovah Nissi – Jehovah is my banner

Each of these revelations made God a “personal God” to Israel. Jesus truly is all theses to us and more!

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor , Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. NKJV

Many people today want the Government to take care of them. Look around, our world governments are falling every year. I am glad I have found a Kingdom that is not of this world for sure. If this world was all there is, I would be very miserable indeed. Man’s greatest scholars cannot produce a textbook that can last four years without having to be re-written, but the Word of God is eternal! Last year, I threw away tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of college textbooks from my daughters’ years in college. What a shame. Man doesn’t really understand truth so they keep changing it every year.

However, God never changes!

When I pray, I like to meditate on the names that the Lord has given Himself. I want to see the name so I can hear, understand and obey. So the ancient language teaches us to really hear, gives us the means to see, and to understand and obey. That is a far cry from the way many people are seeing Christianity being represented today. Many believe in Jesus, as does the devil, but they don’t see, understand and obey the truth.

John 18:37-38

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth ?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them,”I find no fault in Him at all. NKJV

John 17:16-17

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth . NKJV

I pray that Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus and Who He really is to us in a more tangible way in the coming days and that we would comprehend, we would SEE, HEAR, UNDERSTAND and OBEY His truth!

Til next week!

Pastor Dave

Pastor’s Blog 12.5.18

Well, today, Kyong and I celebrate our 38th anniversary! It is hard to believe how quickly time has come and gone. I remember as a young believer 35 years ago reading Psalms 128:

128:1 Blessings of Those Who Fear the LORD A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.

5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life.

6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! NKJV

Well, now I am the other side of “believing and receiving” and I join the witnesses who have made the hard choices in life and stayed the course of enduring relationships and I say with a thankful heart: “God’s word is true and His promises are sure.” We have weathered some storms that I wondered at the time what the outcome would be – and we came out victorious! Over and over for the last 36 years my Pastor has told me, “Don’t Quit.” That is easier said than done!

“Don’t quit on your first day, don’t quit on your worst day.”

Over and over, day after day, we have to choose to do it God’s way. That’s not always convenient or the easiest way but is the way that has the sure outcome. When we do what the word of God says consistently, we can expect the outcome that the Lord has promised.

Romans 2:5-11

5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath,

9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

11 For there is no partiality with God. NKJV

There are few shortcuts in life that do not involve penalties. Just as the Patriarchs of old set the examples of a lifetime of standing and believing God’s promises and receiving in the end, so we must follow their example.

Eccl 7:8

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. NKJV

Until next week!

Pastor’s Blog 11.28.18

 

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary . His understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary , And the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary , They shall walk and not faint. NKJV

 

This past Sunday morning, as I was sharing about waiting on the Lord, I know the Holy Spirit was revealing this truth in a powerful way.  I could sense the anointing very strong while I was speaking and sharing on this.   It does seem we spend so much of our time serving the Lord, just waiting on Him doesn’t it? I know sometimes, I have a tendency to “help God along” as we say. This week, someone mentioned to me  something that goes along with this, and that is “ministering to the Lord” while we wait….. great idea!

 

Luke 10:38-42

38 Mary and Martha Worship and Serve Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha  welcomed Him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

40 But Martha  was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha , Martha , you are worried and troubled about many things. 

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  NKJV

 

It seems we as humans, have a tendency toward getting too far one way or the other in life. I know believers that can spend their lives with Jesus and never serve a person, and others who can serve people constantly and not minister to the Lord. Like everything else we do, we need to walk in the balance of service to the Lord and service to people. The monks who became hermit cave dwellers did little to “preach the Gospel to every creature”, and the folks who run around the world to feed the poor, but barely speak the name of Jesus, are missing it too.

 

We really need to measure our lives against the pattern of God’s Son, and remember Jesus spent His time with the Father and the people He was called to lead. The truths of 1 Corinthians 13 could also be applied here.

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  NKJV

 

Many times spiritual burnout occurs when we spend too much time ministering to people and not enough time with the Lord.  Time with the Lord is how we get filled back up. He is the source of our strength. We have to make the call in our lives as to when to say no to serving people and yes to more time with God, and vice versa. The longer I live the more I appreciate the word “balance”. To be successful in our walk, it truly takes both!

Until next week!

Pastor Dave