Seek His Presence

 

1 CHRONICLES 16:11

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence]. (Amplified Bible).

Psalm 105:4

Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Isaiah 63:1

A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. 

    God's people are always hungering for more of God. To see His face and His glory is the hope of every saint. When we seek God's kingdom, as He tells us to do (Matthew 6:33), we are seeking an audience with our King, a one-on-one moment, where we not only see Him clearly, but also hear Him quite plainly.

    To seek God's Kingdom is to believe that His plan of salvation through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son JESUS CHRIST on the cross, and then to have Him go through hell via death and the grave in order to conquer them once and for all, is to seek a personal intimate relationship with JESUS CHRIST. It is the most important love relationship a person will ever encounter. 

HEBREWS 6:11

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. 

    It takes wisdom to seek this CHRIST of whom so many have a limited knowledge, or even awareness of. It takes an inner determination to dig into The Word of God and find JESUS. All we have to do is ask. God reveals Himself and opens up our understanding of His Word, when we are earnestly seeking to know Him.

Matthew 7:7, 8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened unto you.

For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.

    God wants us to know Him better. God wants us to live with Him forever. But unless we believe that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD and repent of our wicked ways; turn from participating in the sins we once took delight in, and begin to focus our lives and hearts on what pleases God, we will never gain the eternal presence of God.

    When we die, not everyone goes to heaven. And the saints of God who do die before Christ's return, do not become angels. That is angel worship. Who we are inside these bodies will go with us into death. The body will perish, but the soul is eternal. If that soul is saved, it will live forever with God. If that soul is not saved, it will die forever in hell and the lake of fire afterwards. 

    Seek God. Seek Him now. Now is all we ever have to seek God. Let us read His Word and go to Him in prayer. Together.

SEEK FIRST - Jason Upton

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

 

Romans 7:25

2 Corinthians 9:15

Romans 6:17

1 Corinthians 15:57

Ezra 3:11

Revelation 4:9

Revelation 7:12

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Colossians 4:2,3

Psalm 139:14

Psalm 57:9

Psalm 108:3

Psalm 145:10

1 Chronicles 16:8

1 Chronicles 16:34

Psalm 105:1

Psalm 107:1

Psalm 118:1

Psalm 136

Psalm 100:4

These are the verses I came up with to fill my board. What verses have you found in addition to these?

GIVE THANKS

A Crucified Life - - Is Enriched For Purpose

 

2 Corinthians 9:11

You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4148

Enriched: cause to abound in

From the Greek word 'ploutizó' (pronounced ploo-tid'-zo): to bring fullness, make abundant.

    Used three times in the New Testament. In addition to today's verse: 1 Corinthians 1:5 and 2 Corinthians 6:10.

    1 Chronicles 29:12-14

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank You, our God, and praise Your glorious Name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us!

    James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

    What is the purpose of God giving His people increase? (To Praise Him & Thank Him. (2) That we might give our increase back to Him through our giving to advance His kingdom. We are the conduit through which the Power of God (His Holy Spirit) flows, dispensing and dispersing His gifts where He so chooses. 

    1 Corinthians 12 describes the spiritual gifts which we receive as the body of Christ. Verse 4: many gifts, one Spirit. Verse 5: different administrations, same Lord. Verse 6: diverse operations, same God. 

    1 Corinthians 12:7

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the  profit of all." 

    Manifestation simply means 'disclosure', a revealing of; bringing into the light (illuminating). In other words, making clearly known. It is not a shimmering, vague spirit, but The Holy Spirit Who makes known the gifts God has given His people. 

    Gifts which advance God's kingdom. These gifts are the tools and weapons whereby we are able to spread and share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. God loves us and wants nothing but the best for us. This best includes His Son, His Spirit and His enriching power which is given us in the gifts He gives us.

    Whatever gifts God gives His people we are meant to share with all of His people in the way in which the Spirit leads us to share said gifts. We are to be good stewards of the blessings we receive. We learn this lesson in the Parable of Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). And again, in The Sheep and The Goats (Matthew 25:31-46 [the least of these]).   

    We need to take responsibility for our gifts and how we use them. It is not for our personal gain that God gives us good gifts and perfect gifts: it is for our spiritual gain. Are we using that which God has given us for His glory and honor? Are we a people after God's own heart? 

ENRICHED FOR PURPOSE

Who Are We - Mercy Me

Spirit of God - Canyon Hills Worship

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets

To Live Is Christ - Sidewalk Prophets

Torches - Forerunner Music/Lauren Alexandria

Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective

By Our Love - For King & Country

Storm All Around You - Forerunner Music/Jon Thurlow, Mike Bickle, Todd White

    

Thanks Be To God -- Tell of All His Wonders

 

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks to the LORD: call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3034

Thanks: to throw, to cast;   

In this verse, the word thanks is rendered from the Hebrew word 'yadah', which is pronounced yaw-daw' and means to confess, to glorify, to give praise while throwing one's hands or arms up. 

This word yadah is used 114 times in the Old Testament. 

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart by Don Moen

Psalm 105:1

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Psalm 136:1

O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.

Gratitude by Brandon Lake 

CALL UPON HIS NAME

I Speak Jesus by Charity Gayle

Call Upon His Name by Darlene Zschech

Joel 2:32

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Acts 2:21

'And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

He Is by Eric Ludy

MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLE 

Isaiah 12:4

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.

Psalm 89:1

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 96:3

Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.

Mark 16:15

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

Romans 10:15

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Psalm 145

I will exalt You, my God and King;

I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You,

and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation will commend Your works to the next,

and will proclaim Your mighty acts—

the glorious splendor of Your majesty.

And I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds,

and I will declare Your greatness.

They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness

and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

The LORD is good to all;

His compassion rests on all He has made.

All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD,

and Your saints will bless You.

They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom

and speak of Your might,

to make known to men Your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is faithful in all His words

and kind in all His actions.

The LORD upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You,

and You give them their food in season.

You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

and kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call out to Him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD preserves all who love Him,

but all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD;

let every creature bless His holy name

forever and ever.

ETERNITY IS FOREVER REGARDLESS OF DESTINATION

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

John 3:18

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Revelation 20:11-15

(11) Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

(12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.

(13) The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.

(14) Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

(15) And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

To preach the gospel is to preach the whole gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Not just the good stuff, but the consequences of not receiving and believing the good stuff. 

Intelligent Worship -- Know God -- Part 3

 Our first reference for knowing God comes from King David who is giving his son Solomon wise advice.

1 Chronicles 28:9

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."

The first sage piece of advice the incumbent king gives to the incoming king is to Know God. It is not enough to know God Is, we must also seek Who He Is and Know how God wants to be known. 

The second reference is in Psalms and could very well have been written by David, as well. The author lies in obscurity as not all psalms are written by David. But the wisdom proffered remains just as true today as it did thousands of years ago.

Psalm 100:3

Know you that the LORD He is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

As the LORD God told Moses when He first called him into service, His name Is IAMTHATIAM. God created all people everywhere for Himself. Unfortunately not all people everywhere choose God as their God. God creates because He loves, especially people. We don't create ourselves: all life comes from God. Whether we have been created in the womb or the lab. 

We are His sheep and He Is Our Shepherd. David penned in Psalm 23:1 "The LORD Is My Shepherd." And Jesus stated in John 10:11 "“I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." 

Our last reference is in John 17:3, Jesus says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent."

While many people, even Biblical scholars, consider Matthew 6:9-13 to be The Lord's Prayer, this passage is an example of how to pray that Jesus gave to His disciples and other followers during His sermon on the mount. However, the prayer Jesus Himself prays in the presence of His disciples just before He is arrested is what I consider to be the Lord's prayer, for He prayed for a people not yet born whom God would give Him and that would become born again through the ministry of His disciples. He prayed for me. And He prayed for you.  

Do you know the only True God? Have you believed yet that there is only One True God and that He loves you? These questions can only be answered by your heart. 

Today's WORD -- Thankfulness

Colossians 3:16

Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

THANKFULNESS (Strong's): grace, gratitude; 'that which affords joy, delight'

To have a THANKFUL heart is to have a heart filled with gratitude towards God, from Whom all Blessings flow. 

Psalm 56:10 "In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word."

Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Ephesians 5:20-21 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Psalm 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips."

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

It is impossible to have a Gratitude Attitude towards God if we do not have a personal relationship with His only begotten Son Jesus Christ living in our hearts, Whose Holy Spirit leads us through God's written Word that we might become the people He has called us to be.

Do we have THANKFUL hearts? We must respond to this question. Where there is no thankfulness, no gratitude, no praise to God, there is no blessing of any kind. No peace, no hope, no grace, no mercy. 

Psalm 136 describes perfectly why we should have thankfulness in our hearts. 

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

His loving devotion endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.

His loving devotion endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.

His loving devotion endures forever.

4 He alone does great wonders.

His loving devotion endures forever.

5 By His insight He made the heavens.

His loving devotion endures forever.

6 He spread out the earth upon the waters.

His loving devotion endures forever.

7 He made the great lights—

His loving devotion endures forever.

8 the sun to rule the day,

His loving devotion endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night.

His loving devotion endures forever.

10 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His loving devotion endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them

His loving devotion endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

His loving devotion endures forever.

13 He divided the Red Seaa in two

His loving devotion endures forever.

14 and led Israel through the midst,

His loving devotion endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.

His loving devotion endures forever.

16 He led His people through the wilderness.

His loving devotion endures forever.

17 He struck down great kings

His loving devotion endures forever.

18 and slaughtered mighty kings—

His loving devotion endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites

His loving devotion endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—

His loving devotion endures forever.

21 and He gave their land as an inheritance,

His loving devotion endures forever.

22 a heritage to His servant Israel.

His loving devotion endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate

His loving devotion endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies.

His loving devotion endures forever.

25 He gives food to every creature.

His loving devotion endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven!

His loving devotion endures forever.

And above all this: JESUS DIED FOR US. For this alone, if for no other reason, THIS is why we should have THANKFULNESS in our hearts! 

1 Chronicles 16:34 "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 100:5 "

For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations."

Psalm 105:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations."

Psalm 106:47 "Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise."

Psalm 118:25 "O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!"

See that? Prosperity is not in finances. Prosperity is salvation from God. Prosperity is knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We must be saved on an individual basis: each of us must fall on our knees before God in this life we have been given and acknowledge that He is God and there is no other. We must repent of our wicked ways (disobedience to God's Word) and seek His forgiveness. We must ask Christ into our hearts, to come and live there permanently; to change us from the inside out and wash away the sins from our hearts, making us clean and whole. 

What He did in the books of the New Testament He is still doing today! That's something to be thankful for! He still saves! He still heals! He still pours out His Holy Spirit on those who seek to walk in the power of God and speak boldly the Truth of the Word of God. 

The words "thank, thanked, thankful, thankfulness, thanking, thanksgiving, thanksgivings" when referring to thanking God are mentioned  129 times. This gives me the understanding that thanking God for everything is very important. But a thankful heart requires a thankful attitude. The Bible calls it being a 'cheerful giver', though this verse in 2 Corinthians 9:7 refers to the offerings, or donations, we give above and beyond the tithe we are required to give. Cheerfully, and with joy at being able to give at all. 

However, if we are not thanking God with a cheerful heart, then our thanks is not sincere and it won't be received. When the life we live in Christ and He lives in us is sincere and true, we can't help but be joyful in the thanks we render to God for every blessing He has given us. 

Let's be thankful people of God and nourish a Gratitude Attitude with the love of God through Jesus Christ that any and all who are around us can't help but notice there's something different in us. Let's be salt and light in a flavorless dark world. 

The LORD Is.....Month of August

 

ELYONE

MOST HIGH

Lamentations 3:38

Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?

Job 2:10

"You speak as a foolish woman speaks," he told her. "Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

The LORD GOD MOST HIGH Is Supreme. He is above all, over all and His throne is so far from us as to be beyond our sight. The LORD GOD MOST HIGH Is Omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), Omniscient (knows all, sees all) and Omnipotent (all powerful).

The Omnipresent God:

Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The Omniscient God:

1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

The Omnipotent God:

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Psalm 93:2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.

JEHOVAH CHECED

The LORD Is My Steadfast Love

Psalm 144:2

He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Steadfast Love: goodness of God, lovingkindness

Micah 7:18-19

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in Loving Devotion?

He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.

This is my God. The God Who forgives sins and forgets sins. 

Isaiah 43:25

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Hebrews 8:12

For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.

The LORD Is My Steadfast Love.

 JEHOVAH GAAL

The LORD Redeemer

Isaiah 48:17

Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go."

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.

Psalm 73:2

You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

ELOHIM MACHSEH OZE

God Is Our Refuge & Strength

Psalm 46:1

For the choirmaster. 

Of the sons of Korah. 

According to Alamoth. 

A song. 

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Deuteronomy 4:7

For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

Psalm 32:6

Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.

EL YAAQOB

THE GOD OF JACOB

Psalm 146:5-6

Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.

Psalm 71:5

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

JEHOVAH-NISSI

Names of Christ Series

While Moses acknowledged that God is over all, he is not the only one in the Old Testament to realize this.
1 Chronicles 29:10-13

 {10} Then David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly and said: “May You be blessed, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. (11) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. (12) Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all. (13) Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks, and we praise Your glorious name."

Do we always acknowledge this? No, to our shame we do not. We need to get back to the altar, repent of our sin against God for not acknowledging that He is God over all, first and foremost in our lives. 

Dear Heavenly Father, 

I know now that You are indeed Lord of All creation, Lord of heaven and earth, Lord of all kingdoms and ruler-ships. Forgive me of this my sin against You. Lead me in Your ways, according to Your will and purpose for my life. Continue to teach me Your Word, planting it deep within my heart, and sanctify me with Your Holy Spirit. 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.