Who Encourages The Encouragers?

 

1 Samuel 30:6

 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David encouraged himself in The LORD his God. 

    When everyone is against you, even the people you have surrounded yourself with, there is no better place to receive encouragement than from The Lord your God.

     Things go wrong and sometimes people need someone to blame, to hold accountable. These are the times we need to seek God's face and His presence. We run to The Father and He wraps His wings of mercy around us, sheltering us from the storms of criticisms, vitriolic language and persecutions. 

    At times, it may feel as if we have fallen into some deep pit, and we cry out to God; whereupon He reaches down and picks us up, holding us in His hands; holding us upright and strengthening us with Himself and His Word and His Spirit. Many are the days when a body feels as if it has fallen into a never ending abyss; God reaches way, way down and lays hold of us, cradling us in the palm of His hand. There is nowhere we go that God cannot reach us, when we cry out to Him. 

    Crying out to God is necessary to activate God's hand and Word in our lives and our hearts. Salvation is made in us when we believe and confess (out loud) that Jesus Christ is Lord. We must open up our hearts and speak aloud The Word of God to God in our hearing, where possible. I am aware that some folks cannot speak, or speak well, nor can some hear with their ears. But we can read The Word and The Holy Spirit will apply it to our open, listening hearts. 

    What is another way we encourage ourselves in our Lord? Prayer. Prayer with our God is the most vital form of communication we have. He is, after all, our heavenly Father and desires to hear from His children daily. He wants to meet our needs and grant us the desires of our hearts. He longs to spend quality, family time with us. We need to embrace Him and all that He has for us, is for us. 

    We encourage ourselves in The Lord, when we sing songs that glorify God; songs that lift up His Name; hymns and psalms that speak Scripture into us when we sing or read them. Music is vital to me. Ever since I got baptized in The Spirit during a revival, I cannot help but sing: even in my frail, sometimes failing voice, I will sing as long as I have breath to sing. 

    We encourage ourselves in The Lord when we encourage each other in The Lord. In 1 Samuel 23:16, Jonathan came to David and encouraged him in God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul encourages the church in Thessalonica, writing that they are to encourage each other and build each other up, edifying one another in The Lord. 

    To be encouraged in The Lord is to be strengthened and made firm/steadfast in The Lord. It is to hear The Word via The Spirit and set our faces like stone, immovable in our faith, unwavering in our belief. We will be called haters, stubborn, intolerable. And we will be hated. We will be, and currently around the world some of us are, beaten, tortured, jailed, killed. Our children may be taken from us or they may turn us in to the authorities. Families are divided and sometimes one's own family will do the killing. This Christian life is a tough life, but so worth the journey. 

Psalm 18:2

The LORD is My Rock, My Fortress, and My Deliverer. My God is My Rock, in Whom I take Refuge, My Shield, and The Horn of My Salvation, My Stronghold. 

Jude 1:20, 21

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in The Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

The Lord Looks On The Heart

 

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

Psalm 139:23,24

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 119:80

Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed.

    The heart of mankind is naturally deceitful, even deceiving itself. For the eyes look upon what a person wants, desires even, and sets in motion the steps required to attain the thing that is sought after; at times without even thinking of the consequences. 

    But the heart that has given itself to God has won the struggle for survival: it has chosen eternal life and everything else that God has promised to His faithful followers. However the opposite is also true: those whose hearts are against God and God's Word have opted for eternal death and every curse God has promised to the wicked heart. 

    A heart that is focused on self-serving desires instead of God-serving desires will not be able to obtain that which is needed most to survive: God-given forgiveness for sins. The self sees only the immediate and demands immediate gratification. But the person who has surrendered their will to God's will has chosen the better way: the way to Grace, Mercy, Peace, Hope, Sustainability. 

    A heart that beats for Jesus collaborates with its Savior. He is, after all, working all things together for my good. All things: the good that happens in life, the tragic that happens in life, the awful that happens in life = God uses all these to make me a better person with a strong testimony that I might be a faithful witness and lift JESUS up for all the world to see. 

    A heart that beats for Jesus beats in unison. For Christ is in me and I am in Him. He is mine and I am His. When The Father says, "Go", we go. When The Father says, "Stop", we stop. When The Father speaks, we hear His voice, listen to His words and obey His instructions. As you know, "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by The Word of God" [Romans 10:17]. 

    A heart that is broken for God is mended by God in God's time according to God's Ways. This heart is surrendered to God and longs to be near to Him. So close that His breath is in my ear and His Spirit is visible and His Son is by my side. Oh, how the believer's heart yearns to be in God's eternal presence! 

    Come and go with me. Walk with me as I walk with Jesus. Let us walk in God's Word together. The journey is nearly over, the race is nearly finished. Soon, the faithful servants shall hear their Father say to them, "Well done, My good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of The Lord." [Matthew 25:21]. 

    We can't see inside each other's hearts. But God knows who are His and who are not. However, we can see each other's actions. If you say you are a Christian, then you should be Christ-like. That's what being Christian means: the believer lives in Christ. He is our Promised Land, our everything good that comes for God residence. When the term 'Christian' was first used, it was an epithet, an insult. But it was received as an acknowledgement of the change which Christ had wrought in the hearts of those who believe Him and received Him. Being called Christian was a reason to rejoice then and now. 

    I am a Christian. I live in Christ. And He lives in me. Can you see the changes God has wrought in me? 

    MAGNIFY - We Are Messengers

YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS - Jesus Culture 

MY PORTION - Isla Vista Worship 

MY SOUL LONGS FOR YOU - Jesus Culture

The Lord's Voice Is Powerful

 

Psalm 29:4

The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

Psalm 68:33

To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice. 

    The Voice of God is as a sound of thunder to those who cannot hear Him clearly:

1 Samuel 7:10

As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day The LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

Exodus 20:18,19

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

    The Voice of The Lord can be soft, too, and still be powerful. It is heard with the spirit of the one who hears Him speak. God spoke the world and everything in it, on it, under it, over it and around it into existence. That's a powerful Voice.

    God's Voice is the Voice of Wisdom in The Book of Proverbs. It is the sound of the wind rushing into the upper room, the sound of confusion to His enemies, the sound of comfort to the grieving and mournful. The Voice of The Lord still speaks.

    He speaks in our hearts if we are willing to open up our hearts and listen to His Voice. He is speaking even now. Are you going to open up your hearts and let Him in so He can speak as Friend to friend?? Or are you going to shut the door of your hearts and not let Him in? Your choice. Choose wisely. For the days are short and getting shorter. 

    Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

INDIE FOLK WORSHIP 2

The Lord Is ---May 2023

 

YHVH NISSI

(pronounced  yeh-ho-vaw'  nis-see')

THE LORD MY BANNER 

Exodus 17:15

And Moses built an altar and named it, “The LORD Is My Banner.”

    Moses declares not only Who is his Ruler, but Who he chooses to be ruled by. This, too, is my declaration: The Lord Is MY Banner.

    The Lord is my Standard. Not only do I set my sights on Him and follow His lead, but He is my Way of Life: my Standard of living. His banner over me is Love, the divine love of God goes before me, is raised above me; fills me with courage to persevere and accomplish His purposes in me, through me. 

     Psalm 60:4

You have raised a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee the bow. Selah

    Psalm 20:5

May we shout for joy at your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your petitions.

    Song of Solomon 2:4

He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.

IESOUS ARCHEGOS TELEIOTES PISTIS

(pronounced ee-ay-sooce' ar-khay-gos' tel-i-o-tace' pis'-tis))

JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of Our Faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

        Psalm 110:1

The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."

    Mark 16:19

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

    1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

RHIZA IESSAI

(pronounced hrid'-zah es-es-sah'-ee)

ROOT OF JESSE

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4491

Root: descendant, progeny, source

From the Greek word 'rhiza): that which like a root springs from a root.

Romans 15:12

And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

Isaiah 11:10

On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

MASHIACH

(pronounced maw-shee'-akh)

MY ANOINTED ONE

1 Samuel 2:35

Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My Anointed One for all time.

John 1:41

He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ). 

Both the Greek word "Christ" and the Hebrew word "Messiah" translate as Anointed One. 

Activation of Faith

 

Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God through the power of God. Anyone can read a Bible but not everyone can understand it, nor can they obtain the knowledge within its pages. We must first believe that God Is God and that He is Absolute Truth. This takes faith and this faith activates our hearts to seek the Truth of His Word. 

We who once lived in darkness have been called out of the darkness of sin and wickedness into the light and love of God's grace. God called us with His love, His Word, His Son Jesus Christ. We are children of faith. 

As the Word says even now, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Faith in God comes to all who believe in the Word of God, in Jesus Christ as Lord. Romans 10:8-11

8. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart." That is, the word of faith which we preach,

9. that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

11. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be  ashamed." 

That's the Word of Faith. That's my Jesus in action. 

The difference between faith and unbelief? Eighteen inches. In our bodies the heart is eighteen inches from the mouth. Two imperatives for the activation of faith are given here. 

1. We MUST believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is God's gift of righteousness to us.

2. We MUST confess, speak out loud, that which we believe in our hearts: that God raised Jesus from the dead. 

If even one part of this is missing, then our faith has not been activated. It is not enough to just say the words, though that may fool many who hear the words of faith spoken by false prophets and false teachers; the heart must believe the truth of God's Word, as well. 

For we know that God looks on the heart and recognizes lip service when He hears it. How do we know God sees the motives of our hearts and knows the thoughts of our mind? His Word tells us so. In the Old Testament in 1 Samuel 16:1-13 God sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse's house to anoint one of his sons to be the next king.  But after approaching each one who was brought before him, God rejected all of them because He knew their hearts (v. 7). 

Job, Isaiah and Ezekiel all tell us God knows our hearts. Therefore how can we ever expect to get away with anything? Foolishness. 

In the New Testament in Acts 15:8 and Romans 8:27 we see that God searches our hearts and knowing our hearts He gives us good gifts, especially the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who leads us and guides through God's Word as we study it, that we might be approved by God. 

In Matthew 12:25 we learn that Jesus knows our thoughts and what we are thinking. Before we even ask, He knows what we are going to ask. But He delights to hear us ask. God likes to talk with us. He enjoys our company, the company of walking and talking with the believer(s). 

Our hearts must be right with God; we MUST believe with our hearts that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. That He died on the cross, rose from the dead and walked out of the grave. We MUST believe with our hearts and CONFESS with our mouths that which we believe in our hearts that our faith might be activated so that it will grow. 

Today is your day of salvation if you have not believed already. How do I know this? God tells me in His Word that this is so. 2 Corinthians 6:2 "For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!"

NE-TSACH YIS-RA-EL

 NE-TSACH YIS-RA-EL

THE GLORY OF ISRAEL

1 Samuel 15:29

In a statement Samuel made to King Saul after the king had disobeyed God's command regarding the enemy against whom he had fought: 

"...Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.” (Berean Study Bible).

Some versions render this word to be Strength of Israel, Eternal One, Hope of Israel, Pre-Eminence; some versions leave out His Name altogether. For the most part, though, these variations are from the same root-word in the Bible: Netsach which means:

• eminence
• enduring
• everlastingness
• perpetuity

and Natsach which means:

• pre-eminent
• enduring

 From Strong's:

 always, constantly, end, nevermore, perpetual, strength, victory

Or netsach {nay'-tsakh}; from natsach; properly, a goal, i.e. The bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. To the most distant point of view); --alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more), perpetual, strength, victory.