Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of host, the Lord of Powers (1 Samuel 1:3)

Today we meet Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts: Mightiest warrior and all powerful King. He is first introduced as the Lord of host in 1 Samuel 1:3. “This man (Elkanah) went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh…”

Elkanah’s wife desperately wanted a baby and prayed to the Lord of host, Jehovah-Sabaoth. He hears her and gives her a boy child, Samuel who becomes a major Hebrew prophet and priest.

Jehovah - Sabaoth is used as God’s name over 285 times., and is the most frequently used in Jeremiah and Isaiah, but we can see His hand through out the Old Testament as He delivers His people from their enemies.

He is the Almighty God over the "armies" or " angelic hosts.” 

Jesus said He could have called ten thousand angels to rescue Him.  

In Revelation 5:11 John says, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,”

Perhaps the most often told story in Old Testament scriptures giving God the name of Jehovah-Saboath is in 1 Samuel 17:45 when David, a young shepherd boy, confronts Goliath with, “…You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of  Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Elohim (creator) of the army of Israel, whom you have insulted.”

David knew he was in covenant with Jehovah-Saboath. He knew His God by name. (Psalm 91)

In Daniel 3:28 we see where Jehovah-Sabaoth sent an angelic messenger to deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from the fiery furnace.

To me the most interesting scripture  regarding the heavenly host is found in Luke 2:13-14 at the birth of Jesus. “Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” God sent His angelic warriors to protect the birth of His Son.

The Lord of Hosts is the King of all heaven and earth. (Psalm 24:9-10; Psalm 84:3; Isaiah 6:5). He is all powerful and has at His command myriads of warrior-angels. 

What are your problems today? Give them to Jehovah-Sabaoth. He can handle them. He is all powerful and has all power at His disposal.

As we come to the communion table today celebrate, and honor the name of God as Jehovah-Sabaoth who has delivered us from evil through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It is on the cross Jesus defeated the enemy of our God, and the enemy of our soul. 

Instead of praying “deliver us from evil” we can now declare we have been delivered from the evil one by Jehovah-Sabaoth through Jesus the Christ. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Adoni, Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9)

Little Talks with Jesus: Adoni, Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9): The title “Lord”, can mean sir, master, owner, or even refer to an idol. However; in the New Testament it is used in place of Yahweh or J...

Little Talks with Jesus: Adoni, Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9)

Little Talks with Jesus: Adoni, Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9): The title “Lord”, can mean sir, master, owner, or even refer to an idol. However; in the New Testament it is used in place of Yahweh or J...

Adoni, Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9)

The title “Lord”, can mean sir, master, owner, or even refer to an idol. However; in the New Testament it is used in place of Yahweh or Jehovah, the divine name for God.

Jesus Christ is referred to as Lord in many New Testament references, becoming the consistent New Testament truth that Jesus is Yahweh or Jehovah.

Being Lord means having supremacy and all authority.

When the Apostles quoted Old Testament passages about the LORD (Jehovah), they believed these passages spoke of Jesus as Messiah, and continually gave Jesus titles used for Jehovah God. 

So when using these names of God for Jesus they were revealing how God took on a human body and became Emmanuel-God with us, to live on earth for the soul purpose of redeeming mankind.

The Apostle John says it best: "the Word was God.... the Word became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:1, 14).

Many of us have received Jesus as Savior, but I am just learning to give Him Lordship over my life. 

He even tells us in Matthew 7:21 that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 7:23 He says, “I never knew you. Depart from Me.” 

He knows us when we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and become our Savior and Lord. Romans 10:9 (AMP) puts it this way, “…if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,” He will know you.

When I say "Jesus is Lord" I am declaring Him as my master and the owner of my life because I gave my life to Him.  He is the One I desire to obey and I relinquish His power over me. This becomes my life’s worship.

In John 14:15 Jesus says that, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Doing His will is making Him Lord of our lives. His will for us is to love God with all of our heart and love our neighbors as Jesus loves us. This includes forgiveness for everything, large or small.

When I have trouble forgiving, I ask the Lord to forgive through me because, as Jesus said on the cross, “they know not what they do.” All of Jesus’ commands are for our benefit. They set us free from oppression, condemnation and from the sins of others. (see John 20:23)

As "Master" I relinquish to Him the power of life and death over me.  Everything in existence exists because Jesus is Lord over all of creation. He is the word that spoke everything into existence, and this includes you and me. (Acts 17:28) “For in Him we live and move, and have our being.”

The idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords connotes there is no higher power or authority. His reign over all things is absolute. God raised Him from the dead and placed Him over all things, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come, and He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:21–23).

To make Jesus Lord of my life is true worship. I return to Him the dominion over my life that He gave me at creation. Like Thomas I can finally acknowledged Jesus as, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)

We Celebrate communion today as we allow Jesus to become Lord of every area of our life. We release everything to Him; finances, family, business, church, health, everything, and allow Him to do with us as He pleases. Each day we ask what He would have us do that will honor Him as our Lord. Then, we can rest in total assurance of His plans for us because He only has good things prepared for us as His children. (see Proverbs 3:5) He loves us as His own because we are His. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: El Shaddai the Sovereign God of blessing (Genesis ...

Little Talks with Jesus: El Shaddai the Sovereign God of blessing (Genesis ...: Through out the Bible the title of El Shaddai is used in the context of the Sovereign God of covenant blessing. We are first intro...

El Shaddai the Sovereign God of blessing (Genesis 17: 1-5, 49:25)

Through out the Bible the title of El Shaddai is used in the context of the Sovereign God of covenant blessing.

We are first introduced to El Shaddai in Genesis 17:1-5 when God reveals Himself to Abram (later named Abraham) to continue in obedience as He confirms His covenant with him of multiplication for his descendants.
In verse 5 God says, “…because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you extremely fruitful.”

In Genesis 49:25 Jacob reiterates the promise of blessings of the breast and womb when he states, “…because the Sovereign God, will bless you with blessings from the sky above, blessings from the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.”

One meaning of El Shaddai is “God of the Holy Mountain.” Psalm 132:13 says that He rules from Zion (the Holy Mountain), It is His throne.

Another translation of El Shaddai is the All Sufficient One. He does not need us, He chooses us. But we desperately need Him.

Until Moses, God's people only knew Him as  El Shaddai. So when the Bible speaks of the God of your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it is speaking of God as El Shaddai where God gives blessings and promises and then manifests those promises. His promises are yea and amen. Notice; these blessings had to “Come to Pass”. They were not instant. With Abraham it took 25 years for Isaac to be born.

Jacob had to work for Rachel fourteen years, help his sheep to multiply and birth spotted, healthy sheep before leaving Laban and being reconciled to Esau. But God (El Shaddai) made it happen.

Isaac planted a field in a time of famine and reaped one hundred fold, because of the blessing of El Shaddai.

It is to El Shaddai that when Abraham believed, it was counted unto him as righteousness. God considers righteousness as believing God and hallowing His names..

So how do we hallow His name?

To hallow His name, we must make it holy or set apart to be exalted, lifted up as worthy of our absolute devotion. When we hallow His name we are regarding His name with complete devotion, love, adoration and of the utmost importance. In our minds and hearts we give Him the greatest place of significance in both our hearts and minds. We must never take His name lightly, but speak His name with joy, honor, reverence and gladness.

We honor the name of God with our lips, our conversation and as we minister mercy and compassion. We guard our hearts because out of the heart the mouth speaks. We honor the name of God with our actions, our hands, our eyes, and in our relationships-in every aspect of our life. We were created to reflect and reveal God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Each time we speak one of the names of God, think about that name and the power, characteristic and attributes of that name. He is telling us Who He really is.

In Psalm 91:1-2, we place ourselves in the secret place of El Shaddai (Mighty God) and proclaim Him as "my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust". Then, when we are in trouble (Psalm 91:14-15) we call on His name and know He hears us, and will delivers us from whatever trouble we find ourselves. In doing this He shows us His salvation (Yeshua, Hebrew for Jesus)

Today we celebrate God our heavenly Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, the Sovereign God of blessing and rejoice that we have been chosen by Him to be His child through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. 

Take some time today to acknowledge some of His many blessings and then thank Him for them as you take communion. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: God is Love (1 John 4:8)

Little Talks with Jesus: God is Love (1 John 4:8): Pretzel thins and the heart of God   1 Corinthians 11:24   has always bothers me because I could not get a true picture of its meanin...

God is Love (1 John 4:8)

Pretzel thins and the heart of God 

1 Corinthians 11:24 has always bothers me because I could not get a true picture of its meaning. "Jesus said, 'Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.'”

He is using a love language because He is love.

I had not been thinking about this part of communion while eating soup with  pretzel thins when I noticed the pretzels were in the shape of a heart and many of them were broken.

The scripture, “this is My body broken for you” came to mind. Suddenly I realized Jesus’ broken body was the heart of God toward us when Adam (mankind) committed high treason in the Garden of Eden. God saw all the terror, torment, the Holocaust, sex trafficking, ISIS cutting off believer’s heads, the Sudanese Christians being killed, raped and destroyed, abuse and all the horrible things we’ve done to one another because of Adam’s fall. This broke His heart.

When God announced, “This is My beloved Son” He was saying, “This is My heart for you, slain or broken before the world began. I love you, and all I have created, so much that I want you to see my broken heart. See how much I love you!”

Now, as we look at the cross, we can see the ultimate picture of love.

The Bible says that Jesus was anointed to heal the broken hearted. Because He became the broken heart of God, He is now positioned to heal our hearts. He’s suffered it all as He took our sins on His own body.

Jesus made the statement, “This is the covenant in My blood.” He was telling us that He poured out His life’s blood so that we can have His kind of life. In the Greek this word is Zoe.

In Leviticus 17:11 we see that Jesus’ blood is His life. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement (brings us back into a perfect relationship with our God), by reason of the life [which it represents].

(John 3:16) Jesus is telling us that God gave His broken heart, Jesus to die on the cross, so that whoever will believe on Him will not perish (die an eternal death) but will have everlasting life (Zoe).

As I take Communion today I am overwhelmed by the eternal love of my God as He presents His broken heart as Jesus on the cross.

Receive His life’s blood today in exchange for your old, sick, broken and emotionally depleted life, so that you may live the eternal life God has planned for you. He is only a prayer away.

Blessings on your day! Amen

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Jehovah-Rhoi, the Lord is my Shepherd, Psalm 23

Little Talks with Jesus: Jehovah-Rhoi, the Lord is my Shepherd, Psalm 23: Today we meet Jehovah-Rhoi, the Lord who is my Shepherd. I spent the morning looking up Hebrew meanings of many of the words in Psa...

Jehovah-Rhoi, the Lord is my Shepherd, Psalm 23

Today we meet Jehovah-Rhoi, the Lord who is my Shepherd.

I spent the morning looking up Hebrew meanings of many of the words in Psalm 23. It always amazes me as I look up the deeper meanings of  the scriptures. 

As I allow Jesus to become my Shepherd I will discover 11 wonderful benefits:

     1. I will not be in lack, in bereavement, fail, or be made a second class citizen. I will not decrease. My God is the God of multiplication and increase.

2. I will live in a place of lush surroundings.

3. I will stay in a place of peace of mind, will and emotions.

4. My soul will prosper (3 John 2). He heals my soul wounds. I can breathe easy again.

5. Paths of righteousness are directions in which I will obtain prosperity in an equitable manner. (Proverbs 13:11)

6. Shadow of death is when I come upon near death, or death and destruction brought on by the evil one – sorrows, troubles, distress or anything the evil one causes to come against me, (John 10:10) I will not be afraid. I am kept in perfect peace. The Lord protects me with His mighty weapons.

7. Because the Lord is fighting for me, I know the enemy is defeated at the cross. No fear!

8. Since I can breathe easily again I can rest in His safety and security.

9. He has prepared the Table of His Presence – Holy Communion for me. I eat of His peace and security, not running or hiding in fear. I am in Covenant with my Shepherd. He cares about me and is protecting me from the evil one. (See the Lord’s Prayer)

10. “He anoints my head with oil" is His promise to remove the ashes from the dead or lifeless things in my life. He then makes me fruitful again.

11. I am now overflowing with His goodness, ease, favor, bounty and kindness which are continually in my new life as part of His family.

In Andrew Murray’s book “The Power of the Blood of Jesus” he says, “Faith in the blood manifests in his heart the same wonder-working power that is exercised in heaven. Through faith in the blood he becomes a partaker of all the blessings which the blood has obtained for him from God.”

Our  reconciliation to God includes forgiveness of our sins and healing for our bodies as well as healing for our emotions. (3 John 2)

Today I ate of the body of my Good Shepherd, and I drank of His blood as the absolute payment that brings me into reconciliation with my heavenly Father for the full forgiveness of my sins that restores me into full fellowship with my God.

I pray you find Jehovah-Rhoi, the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd today. 

Blessings on your day!.

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Deuteronomy 28:13 “I will make you the head and no...

Little Talks with Jesus: Deuteronomy 28:13 “I will make you the head and no...: “The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you li...

Deuteronomy 28:13 “I will make you the head and not the tail…”

“The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments (instructions) of the Lord your God, which I am commanding (giving) you today, to observe them carefully.”

Our instructions and provisions are given to us daily. This is our daily bread.

Early this morning I had a vision. There were many of us children and Jesus was in the middle of us. He was choosing children for His team.

Jesus looked at me and said, “I choose you.”

This thrilled me because I seemed to be the first one chosen to be on His team. He wanted me!

As a non-athletic child I was always the last to be chosen to play on the leader’s team, and then it was because I was the only one left and they had to choose me.

Being chosen last planted a curse-seed in my mind of not being wanted, not being good enough until this morning when I saw Jesus choosing me. I was His first choice, not even His second. Oh the joy I felt!

In God’s Kingdom there are no second-class citizens. Each of us is His first choice, not His second and certainly not His last. 

Since Jesus has become my Savior, I now say I am, “the head and not the tail; and I am above only, and I will not be beneath.”

This is made possible because Jesus has chosen me and I have chosen Him.

Jesus came to heal the broken-hearted. Every piece of my heart is precious to Him. Every piece of your heart is precious to Him.

Today I partake of communion with great joy that He has chosen me.

In John 14:6 Jesus answered [Thomas], “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus  has chosen you. Will you choose Him?

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Jehovah-Tsidkenu, I AM the One who makes you holy,...

Little Talks with Jesus: Jehovah-Tsidkenu, I AM the One who makes you holy,...: The word “Holy” used in Exodus 31:13, & Leviticus 20:8 also means sanctifies, separates and approved. Sanctification is what God ...

Jehovah-Tsidkenu, I AM the One who makes you holy, Exodus 31:13, & Leviticus 20:8

The word “Holy” used in Exodus 31:13, & Leviticus 20:8 also means sanctifies, separates and approved.

Sanctification is what God did when He approved of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

We can see this position more clearly by looking at the Passover meal.

At the beginning of this meal the father, as substitute for the High Priest, inspects the preparations for the celebration. When he approves of the finished work, the father drinks the first of four cups signifying his approval and the celebration begins. This sanctifies the table, or makes it holy to the Lord.

Also, this cup of sanctification is drunk by the father when a prospective bride-groom asks for the father’s daughter in marriage and the father accepts the bride-price.

God approved the finished work of Christ on the cross and sanctified us and our communion table for Himself by His blood. Our heavenly Father accepted the bride-price Jesus paid for us, His chosen bride.

When we partake of this table we are agreeing that we accept Christ as our eternal Bride-groom, and we too are sanctified unto the Lord.

In our sanctification, we are separated from the secular world for the work of the Lord. We have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, our eternal bride-groom.

Once we have been sanctified by God, we must make the choice to consecrate ourselves to Him.

This becomes our Holy vows to Christ as we accept His marriage proposal.

From this point on, in ancient Jewish tradition, the betrothed bride covered her head when she went into the market place. Every man would know that she was no longer available.

As we consecrate ourselves to Christ we are no longer available to play the harlot for another, the devil. From this point forward we are marked with the blood of Jesus.

Dear Lord, my righteousness, I accept the offer of Your holiness through the finished work of Christ on the cross.

According to 2 Peter 3:14, I will, with the indwelling of Your Spirit, allow myself to be led by You, cleansed of all unrighteousness so that I will be found spotless, blameless and at peace with You.

Today I eat of the righteousness of Christ and I receive Your righteousness as my own.

I drink of the covenant in Your blood, as it seals the Covenant and sanctifies me for Your high calling. 

Now I choose consecrate myself to Your high calling. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Jehovah-Shalom, Judges 6:24

Today we will meet Jehovah-Shalom, usually translated as God, our peace. He is much more. He is everything we need or ever will need.

In the story of Gideon, in Judges 6:24, God  introduces us to His name, Jehovah-Shalom. Gideon is being sent out by God to rescue His people who are being destroyed by the enemies. (See John 10:10)

After tearing down the idols of his family and his people he builds an alter to God from the wood of these idols. God accepts this offering by consuming it with fire.

Then Gideon asks God for a sign to confirm that he has found favor and that God will give him the victory. Gideon then throws out a woolen fleece, twice where God causes the dew to fall only where Gideon requests. This is where we get the saying “throwing out a fleece.”

Look at this offering. It is a burnt-offering which God accepts by consuming it with fire.

As we come before God in the name of Jesus, we offer the blood sacrifice of Jesus that God has accepted as our redemption.  We recognize He has become our sacrifice because He took our sins and burned them in Hell.

The Bible says in Hebrews 9:7 (AMP) we can not come to God without the blood. “But into the second [inner tabernacle, the Holy of Holies], only the high priest enters [and then only] once a year, and never without [bringing a sacrifice of] blood, which he offers [as a substitutionary atonement] for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.”

Remember, Jesus said on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Jesus' sacrifice was given for our committing sins out of ignorance.

Jesus is our burnt-offering, our sign of Salvation, accepted by God having been consumed with fire.

In verses 23-24 the Lord said to Gideon, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

The word Shalom, as defined by the Old Testament Lexicon (# 7965) means health, security, tranquility, welfare, good condition, success, comfort, peace, salvation, whole, safe, happy, soundness and more. This is our God, Jehovah-Shalom.

The New Testament word for peace means the same, except it adds, “To set at one again.” 

Through the blood of Jesus we have been "set at one again" with Jehovah-Shalom. The meaning of atonement is; to be at one again.

Jehovah-Shalom is our salvation: Jesus in flesh and word.

As you partake of communion today, praise God for being Jehovah-Shalom, our salvation provided to us through the body and blood of Jesus. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Jehovah-Jireh, the Almighty God who is my provider...

Little Talks with Jesus: Jehovah-Jireh, the Almighty God who is my provider...: As you prepare for Holy Communion today mediate on Jehovah-Jireh, your provider. Read Genesis 22:8-14. Notice, provision does not alw...

Jehovah-Rophe: “I AM the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26

Today God introduces Himself as the Great Physician in Exodus 15:26

As you read this study remember the words of  Malachi 3:6, “For I AM the Lord, I change not…” He is still our healer today.

This is a controversial topic, so I am presenting you with scriptural evidence not ideology. Each of us must make the choice as to whether or not we will believe the Word of God.

We will begin by looking at several scriptures where God reiterates that He is our healer.

He said, “If you will listen carefully to Yahweh (Jehovah) your Elohim (Creator) and do what He considers right, if you pay attention to His commands and obey all His laws (instructions), I will never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I AM Yahweh-Rophe. ” (Jehovah-Rophe means the Almighty God, our Physician)

Proverbs 4:20-22, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to My words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

Psalm 103:2-3, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”

Psalm 107:20 “He sent His word (His Salvation) and healed them, and rescued them from their destruction.”

John 1:1-14 shows us that Jesus is the Word of God that became flesh and dwelt among us.

1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins (the commands we could not keep) in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you have been healed.”

Matthew 15:30, “Great crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at His feet; and He healed them.”

Matthew 4:23, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people."

Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Jesus still heals.

Acts 10:38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him."

God does not put sickness on us. He desires to set us free. Sickness is not caused by God but by Satan. In Luke 13:16. Jesus said, "Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free"

Satan is the thief that comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10), but Jesus, the Word of God, came that we may have abundant life. Being sick is not living the abundant life.

Matthew 9:28-29 "...the blind men came to Jesus and asked Him to heal them."

Jesus asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

"Yes, Lord," they replied.”

Then He touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you...'"

Many times when Jesus healed He said, “Be it according to your faith.”

It is important to remember that the economy of heaven works by faith, not by our needs, begging or our tears from our circumstances. Faith is having complete confidence that God’s word is absolutely true, reliable and is still in force today.

If you are sick, I would like to suggest that you gather healing scriptures. Each morning during your prayer time read and meditate on these scriptures. Be like Dr. Pepper. Take your medicine at 10:00, 2:00 and 4:00 or morning and evening just like you would take a Dr.’s prescription.

Praise God for His healing word, Jesus, who took our sicknesses and diseases; then rejoice because, “A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

We partake of communion today proclaiming Jesus as our healer, the Word that God sent to heal us and is now available to us because of the finished work on the cross. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

What is in a name? Ephesians 1:21

Before we continue with the names of God, we need to grow in our understanding of a Biblical perspective of The Name.

In Ephesians 1:21, everything in all of creation, including the demonic powers, are under subjection to the Name of Jesus.God has bestowed great power in believers using the name of Jesus.

According to the Greek Lexicon #3688, the word for name represents the character, fame, reputation, authority, and dignity of that name. It is used as the substitute and representation of a person, or for the person, himself. It gives importance to the confession of the name for the sake of the person being confessed.

For instance: to be baptized onto someone’s name means to be baptized into the faith and confession of that person. Then, the one baptized will be identified with the character and purpose of the person named. 

The Bible talks about being baptized into John’s baptism of repentance. There is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues, and the Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

When we are baptized in the name of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we are given the names of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We are now identified with Him and His character.

This name also refers to delegated power and authority.  

 Jesus instructs us, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8) We see this again in Mark 16:17-18.

Because of John 14:13, we can believe God will do, not simply what we ask, but He will do what is conformable to His character and His purpose.

As we learn the names of our God, we are learning to identify with Him and then can stand, believing He will do as He says He will do in His word, because we know it is conformable to His purpose. It is His will. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Yahweh, the Great I AM, Genesis 2:7-8

Little Talks with Jesus: Yahweh, the Great I AM, Genesis 2:7-8: Today we are studying the second name by which God reveals Himself, Yahweh (YHWH).  The English translation is Jehovah, found in Gene...

Yahweh, the Great I AM, Genesis 2:7-8

Today we are studying the second name by which God reveals Himself, Yahweh (YHWH). 

The English translation is Jehovah, found in Genesis 2:7-8 where we learn that God is our caring, intimate creator, Yahweh Elohim. In the King James Version this is translated as Lord God.

Jews revere this name to such extent you will never hear one speak it whether he is orthodox or not. This is the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses. It is translated as "I Am that I Am."

In Judaism, the High Priest was allowed to speak this name only once a year inside the Holy of Holy's on the Day of Atonement. I remember reading where this name sounds like our breath. So the first and last sound we make on this earth is Yahweh, the name of our Creator God..

In Genesis 2 we see where our all powerful and caring God, who created the heavens and earth, kneels down and forms man with His hands from the dust of the earth, and breathes into him spirit-life. 

Man is the only creature God created with His loving hands. We are uniquely hand-made in His image and likeness to reflect and reveal Him. God breathed His life into man (your and me) and man (we) became a spirit-man (spiritual sons and daughters of the living God). We carry His very breath inside us and breath His name at every breath we take.

However; before we were made, God made Eden. Hebrew for Eden, (Heden) means a place of voluptuous living. God did not make man to live in poverty, create a religion or to be religious people. He made man for fellowship and to show us His blessings and goodness. 

For every need we face there is a name by which God reveals Himself as the answer. Today we meet Yahweh: I AM that I AM.  NOT: I was or Who I will be. (Hebrews 13:8) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Then in Malachi 3:6 God says, “I the Lord change not…”

So as we approach Communion today, let us meditate on our intimate, caring redeemer. 

Jesus, through the cross, restored us back into the intimate spiritual relationship for which we were created, but lost through Adam's sin. 

What are your needs, your daily bread, for this day? Bring your needs to Yahweh. "Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

  

In the beginning, Elohim (Genesis 1:1)

We have learned that we are in covenant with our God through the finished work of the cross. We have been restored into a relationship with our heavenly Father.  

Now, it is time to get to know Him. He introduces Himself and His character through His names.

The first name God reveals to us is Elohim (L-O-Heem) in Genesis 1:1. He is the God of creation, greatness, power and glory.

 “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.”

He is the judge of all creation. We see in Genesis after each day of creation He looked at His work and judged it as “good.”

After creating man, God judged His work as “very good.”

Then in Romans 14:10 Paul tells us, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…^”

Prior to God’s (Elohim) creating the heavens and earth, time as we know it did not exist. Time is determined by the orbits of the sun, moon and earth. Everything else of God is outside of time. It only began here when God declared morning and evening as the first day.

Elohim is the One for Whom nothing is impossible. He created this vast universe by speaking the heavens and earth into existence with no problems, no smog, no sickness, no illnesses and no sin.

He is all knowing. No problem, not even yours, is too difficult for Him to solve.

He is still the same today. As Elohim, He still works creative miracles. It takes Elohim, our creator, to work a creative miracle on our behalf.

As Elohim, God created us in His likeness and His image. We are to reflect and reveal Him to the world.

He gave man dominion over the earth. Dominion is a kingdom word. It is the King’s domain. He gave us His domain over the earth and the power through the name of Jesus to rule and reign in His place under His Lordship.

In Proverbs 18:21 God gives us the instructions on how to reign. It is the same way He created and reigns; with the spoken word.

We are to imitate God. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

Remember, Jesus said that He only did what He saw the Father do and He only said what He heard the Father say. (John 12:49) These are our instructions as well.We must line up our words with our heavenly Father's words in order to come into agreement with Him.

Deuteronomy 30:19 confirms this truth. “This day I (God) call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now, choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

This is a promise of God. However; we must act on it in faith. Speak His words over family members, situations, and ourselves in order that we and our children may have life. (James 2:26) "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Since God’s words are powerful, and we are made in His image and likeness, so are ours.

Psalm 8:4-5 (AMP) is another verse that has often been mistranslated. Read it in the amplified version. “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earth-born] man that You care for him? Yet, You have made him a little lower than God (Elohim), And You have crowned him with glory and honor.”

Through Jesus Christ, we are enthroned with Jesus in the heavenly's. We just need to learn how to take our place of authority in His name on earth and reflect and reveal our heavenly Father.

This is made possible through the finished work of Christ on the cross. 

Let’s celebrate our kingdom position with Christ through communion today.

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: John 10:27 “The sheep that are My own hear and are...

Little Talks with Jesus: John 10:27 “The sheep that are My own hear and are...: Have you ever noticed a new born baby in a room with other people? All of them can be cooing, gooing, and gagaing over the baby. Howeve...

John 10:27 “The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice...”

Have you ever noticed a new born baby in a room with other people? All of them can be cooing, gooing, and gagaing over the baby. However; when the mother comes and picks up the child, that child immediately knows its mother’s touch and voice.

We know we can recognize the voice of Jesus because His word tells us we can. So the first thing we need is to believe we can hear Him.

Just as a baby learns to recognize its mother’s voice among the other voices, we must also learn to recognize the voice of Jesus among the many voices. This is discerning the voice of God.

If a voice causes fear, doubt, unbelief, condemnation, anger, or any other negative emotion, it is not the voice or our Savior. Kick it out. Ask for discernment.

Listen for the tone of the voice. Jesus’ voice causes no fear or condemnation. His voice is a voice of love, comfort, encouragement, hope, joy, peace and often direction.

There can also be a word of conviction for a sin that leads to repentance. We want to repent because, like King David, we realize that our sin is a sin against God alone. (Psalm 51:4)

The Bible tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession gets us back into a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Then God gets rid of the sin. (Psalm 103:12)  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Many times Jesus speaks to me through scripture. It can be a revelation on His word such as realizing that I am no longer a non-covenant person (sinner), but a beloved child of God, restored to full fellowship through Christ. This gives us “…the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will (which is His Word), He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15) Our prayers become a conversation with Jesus.

Just remember, the devil knows scripture better that you do. Always check out what you hear with the Word. Jesus will never tell you anything that is contrary to His word. He may give you a better understanding of it that may be different from what you have been taught. Be opened to learn of Him. Your spirit will perceive the truth in this revelation. Ask God to confirm it with another scripture.

As we grow in hearing the voice of Jesus it will probably be sporadic. Rejoice! “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin...” (Zechariah 4:10 a)

We need to meditate on what Jesus tells us. Write it down.  Mull it over. It will not be a word of prophecy, at least not yet. Allowing the Holy Spirit to grow and expound our understanding of that word will grow us in our hearing and understanding of the gift of discernment.

Some words take a long time to understand. I received one word that grew over three years before I understood it. It began with one single word. Then the Lord began to build on that word. When I tried to share this word too early people just thought I was “off my rocker.” 

However; once the greater revelation of the word came, it not only gave me a deeper understanding, it became a revelation for others. 

Sometimes a word is for you to pray for someone else without them even knowing it. 

Remember, Mary often "pondered these things in her heart." She meditated on them before her understanding was complete.

Caution: Careful with whom you share these words. The devil likes to miss use your words and he will if you allow it.

The same base word for communion is the same from which we get the word communication. So today I celebrate communion, my ability to hear the voice of Jesus, and communicate with him because of the work of restoration He finished on the Cross. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Taking communion unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:26-3...

Little Talks with Jesus: Taking communion unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:26-3...: In 1 Corinthians 11:26-30, Paul talks about taking communion "unworthily" and "not discerning the Lord's body."  ...

Taking communion unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:26-30)

In 1 Corinthians 11:26-30, Paul talks about taking communion "unworthily" and "not discerning the Lord's body."  He was admonishing the church in Corinth because they were coming together without having a reverence for communion or respect for one another.  

They were getting drunk, fighting among themselves, and eating all the food before others arrived. This led to sickness and early death.

Taking communion "unworthily" does not mean that you are a worthless person. It means you are partaking of it in a casual, flippant, selfish manner instead of seeking the true meaning of Jesus' sacrifice.

When Paul says, "examine yourselves", he was not saying examine yourselves to see if you have sin. We have all sinned.(Romans 3:23) If sin would keep us from coming to Jesus to receive the covenant meal (His body and His blood), everyone would be disqualified!

Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, God sees us spotless through the blood of Christ. Jesus qualified us.

So as we take communion, let’s take a moment to understand, deep within our being, the whole of Salvation: Eternal life, deliverance, victory, welfare, health, prosperity, delivered from distress, our present help in times of trouble, kept safe from our enemies, and catastrophes, kept from plagues, famine or sickness. (#3444 in the Hebrew Lexicon) We can see this in Psalm 91 where God is showing us His Salvation, and again in 3 John 2.

It means that Jehovah is the God of our Salvation and Satan is defeated in our lives through Jesus' work on the cross. 

This is how we "discern the Lord's body", and take communion "worthily.” It is all about Jesus and all He accomplished for each of us on the cross.

As we eat and drink of communion today, let us rejoice in all of Salvation that has been accomplished for us on the cross.

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Dwelling in the Love of Christ (John 15:9)

Little Talks with Jesus: Dwelling in the Love of Christ (John 15:9): In John 15:9 Jesus directs us to a new level of love, His level, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My lo...

Dwelling in the Love of Christ (John 15:9)

In John 15:9 Jesus directs us to a new level of love, His level, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.”

Dwelling or living in the love of Christ is not automatic and usually not easy. 

In John 15:10-11 Jesus said, “If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Jesus continues in verse 12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

The Greek word used here for love is Agape. It means to give someone what they need, not necessarily what they want. It is the God kind of love. 

The Jews wanted another King David type of savior to free them from the oppressive Roman rule. God sent Jesus, His Son to save us all for eternity.

How did Jesus show His love? He offers us forgiveness without condemnation. He healed all that came to Him, calmed the storm, fed the hungry, raised the dead, had compassion, loved the unlovable, gave His life for us, carried our sins into Hell, and stands ready to enter our lives at anytime we choose to open the door and invite Him in. However; we have to do the inviting.

Some of this I know I can do. I may not accomplish for others all of the ways Jesus chose to love me, but I can do something whether it is taking food to the homeless shelter or to a shut-in, show love to someone that is acting unloving, forgive everyone of everything- large or small, and ask Jesus into my heart each day. Sharing His love must become a conscious part of our everyday life.

I find asking for and receiving a daily infilling of His love is vital before I am capable of showing His love to anyone else. Without coming to Him first I am trying to accomplish sharing His love on my terms which leads to sharing from a deficit and it runs out quickly. I’ve tried this many times and always fail, then I wonder what went wrong.

Jesus has asked us to partner with Him to accomplish His will on earth just as it is in heaven. He is the head and we are His body. The body does not function without the head. 

At best we are like a chicken that has just had its head cut off. It is a crazy sight to see. I watched my daddy do this one time when I was a child. I thought the chicken was looking for it's head. It ran all over the chicken yard. 

I can do nothing without Christ's love infilling me. Today was one of those days I needed to soak in His love. So as I ate and drank of the matchless love He offers me,  I savored my time in His presence. There is always more than enough and it will never end. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen