The CupBearer & The Cups

 

The CupBearer is God. In His hands are two cups. One cup contains His wrath and one cup contains His blessing. Which cup do you want Him to pour out on you? 

THE CUP OF WRATH

    In the cup of wrath is the wine of God's fury (Revelation 14:10). As told against the nations in Jeremiah's time (Jeremiah 25:15-38), this cup is dreadful and has horrific consequences for those destined to drink it. 

    This cup is the sword of The Lord (Jeremiah 25:16); it brings destruction and madness to the people whom it touches. This sword is blood-bathed in heaven (Isaiah 34:5,6) and brings death with it. It is a devouring sword, this cup of wrath (Deuteronomy 32:42), on God's enemies. 

    Who will drink this cup? The wicked (Job 21:20; Psalm 75:8;) will drink of the cup of wrath. Babylon (Revelation 16:19) and all who participated in Babylon's wickedness (Revelation 18:3). Those who burn incense to idols (Jeremiah 44:8). They who are called by The LORD but refuse to answer Him (Isaiah 65:11,12).

    What is the awful wine they will drink? Destruction, sulfur, fire; drunkenness and vomiting; death. Yet it will taste sweet on the tongue (Psalm 75:8), for it is a fermented intoxicating beverage mixed with spices. But its result is far worse than a hangover and no bloody Mary or hair of the dog will take away the pain of having drunk from this cup. 

    Do you really want to be one of those people who will have to drink from that cup because you rejected The Word of God and refused to believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God? 

THE CUP OF BLESSING

    In the cup of blessing is Life Eternal. In 1 Corinthians 10:16 Paul tells us, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?". This is the cup from which we should want to drink. 

    In this cup is fellowship with Christ, a commitment to follow Him all the way (Matthew 26:26,27). Jesus has said that all who follow Him must take up their cross. (Don't worry about what your cross is: it will be revealed to you when you really need to know.) We will have many burdens to bear in this life, but we must lay them all down at the feet of Jesus, and let Him take care of them. Let us drink together  this cup of blessing and sacrificial love which The LORD God has prepared for them that love Him and obey His commandments, which are not burdensome (1 John 5:3,4). 

    The psalmist had a few words to speak regarding The LORD's cup. Psalm 16:5 "The LORD is My Chosen Portion and My Cup; You have made my lot secure." and again in 

Psalm 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." And here in 

Psalm 104:15 "Wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart." 

    Wine that makes the heart happy. Oil that causes our faces to shine. Bread which sustains us. The wine of God's love, His grace and lovingkindness expressed through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, is what makes the heart happy. 

    The wine is the sacrifice we make when we choose to leave everything we have loved and follow Jesus Christ wherever He leads us. It is bittersweet and costly. Yet it is a greater loss to not drink this wine. John wrote, "He must increase, but I must decrease." It's not about me and what I want: it's about Him and what God wants. 

    The anointing of His Holy Spirit shines the reflection of God's love from within the born again believer that the whole world cannot help but notice, there's something different about that person. And we know that the difference noted is the indwelling of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the power of The Holy Spirit. That's what you see when you see a real Christian. 

    Bread to sustain, strengthen, the heart. Not just any bread, but the Bread of Heaven, taken in daily when we read and study and pray over it, asking The Holy Spirit to apply it to our hearts and help us to live it the way God wants us to live it. 

    That's what's in the cup of blessing. I'm drinking from that cup. And I'm holding on to it with all my strength, no matter how much I struggle daily, because that's my blessing. And I'm not letting go. 

WHICH CUP WILL YOU CHOOSE?

    We can't drink from both cups, we have to choose one or the other. 

Paul writes in the letter to the church in Corinth:

    1 Corinthians 10:21 "You cannot drink of the cup of The Lord, and the cup of demons: you cannot be partakers of The Lord's table, and of the table of demons."

    And Joshua told the people they had to choose which god to serve and which God he chose to serve:

    Joshua told the people in his time (Joshua 24:15), "If it seems evil to you to serve The LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve The LORD." 

    Paul reminds the church in Corinth (and us) in his second letter to them that unequal partnerships will fail and cannot intermingle. Where light is darkness cannot remain. 

  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 reminds us to be equal partners in righteousness and communion. That we are the temple of God: He lives in us, walks in us: The LORD is our God and we are His people. 

THE CUPBEARER & THE CUP

Behold The Lamb - Stuart Townend

My Portion - Isla Vista Worship

Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp

Drinking From My Saucer - Michael Combs

Fill My Cup, Lord - (Hymns of Faith)

Where You Go, I Go - Jesus Culture

Lay It All Down - Will Reagan, United Pursuit

Just As I Am - (Hymns of Faith)

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Surrender

 

    Isaiah 1:19

If you are Willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.

    Willing. Choosing to surrender my will, what I want, for God's will, what He wants. Considering all the components of obedience and disobedience, I choose to submit to His Ways, that His purpose might be fulfilled in me and through me. 

    A surrendered heart is a humbled heart. It is the art of self-discipline: forming new habits in Christ by faithfully applying The Word of God to my life. God writes His Word on my heart. The Holy Spirit applies The Word to my life. This Word is Christ, Life Immeasurable and Eternal. 

    It takes willingness to serve in God's kingdom. If a person is not willing to set aside their agenda, then that person is not ready to serve God. Sometimes it's a struggle to get there, but the more we submit to God's Authority, the less struggle there is and the more satisfaction there is. 

    We need to be willing AND obedient. It doesn't do us any good if we are willing to serve God, but remain in a disobedient lifestyle. It is impossible to please God if we insist on living in sin. A sin-filled lifestyle is in direct conflict with a holiness lifestyle. Sin must be repented of, confessed to God and turned away from in this life, before a person can be of any use in God's kingdom. 

    Are you ready to be willing and obedient? God knows your heart and what you are thinking. We need to become "less" as we develop a holy lifestyle and Jesus needs to become "more" (John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.").

CALLED TO SURRENDER

I Surrender - Hillsong

Oceans - Hillsong United

The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe

Spirit Lead Me - Michael Ketterer

Where You Go, I Go - Jesus Culture

The Call To Come Up & The Call To Come Out - David Wilkerson (short sermon)

A Crucified Life - - Recognizes The Voice of The Trinity

 

    Isaiah 48:16

Come near unto Me, hear this! I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now The Lord GOD, and His Spirit, have sent Me.

 Genesis 1:1-2 God, The Beginning, The Spirit

 Matthew 3:16-17 Jesus, Spirit of God, heavenly Father

Matthew 28:19 The Father, The Son, The Holy Ghost

2 Corinthians 13:14 (grace) of The Lord Jesus Christ, (love) of God, (fellowship) of The Holy Spirit

1 Peter 1:2 (foreknowledge of) God The Father, (sanctification of) The Spirit, (blood of) Jesus Christ

    Did you know the word "trinity" is not actually a word in the Bible? The Doctrine of The Trinity comes from the fact the Godhead is three persons in one. Colossians 2:9 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Godhead means Triune Deity. Triune is three persons in one. Proof is not necessary to believe this; faith is necessary. 

    Faith hears The Word and believes it. Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

    John Bunyan on The Trinity:

The doctrine of the Trinity! you may ask me what that is? I answer, it is that doctrine that showeth us the love of God the Father in giving his Son, the love of God the Son in giving himself, and the love of the Lord the Spirit in his work of regenerating us, that we may be made able to lay hold of the love of the Father by his Son, and so enjoy eternal life by grace.

The Father's grace saveth no man without the grace of the Son, neither do the Father and the Son save any without the grace of the Spirit; for as the Father loves, the Son must die, and the Spirit must sanctify, or no soul must be saved.

Hear The Word of The Lord. Hear The Voice of The Father. Hear The Spirit Calling. 

FATHER SON SPIRIT 

Praise The Father, Praise The Son - Chris Tomlin

Creed - Third Day, Brandon Heath

Father, Son, Spirit - Jason Upton

Abba - John Mark Pantana

This I Believe - Hillsong Worship

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Calls of God

     

Isaiah 34:1

Come near, O nations, to listen; pay attention, O peoples. Let the earth hear, and all that fills it, the world and all that springs forth from it.

    Being Born Again means answering the calls of God on your life. The first call is to draw near, or come close to, God. Remember back in Genesis when Adam walked with God? He had to be near Him to do so. God would call and Adam would answer. At least, Adam answered until that time he sinned against God by disobeying His command, His Word. 

    And now, through Adam and Eve's disobedience, we were all inherently sinful by nature. We needed a Savior, Someone who could redeem us from sin back into God's grace. So God sent Spirit-filled leaders to His people to lead them back to Him. 

    He sent Noah, who preached for 120 years until the rains and the floods came. But the people wouldn't listen. So only Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives were saved. Everyone else died.

    He sent Moses, who led God's people out of slavery in Egypt nearly into the Promised land. But the stubborn, set in their ways older generations wouldn't listen. And Moses disobeyed God. So, neither Moses nor the elders of Israel entered the land which God had chosen for them. Moses, however, got to at least see it, though from a distance. Only the young generation believed God and even then, only some of them followed God faithfully. 

    He called Joshua to overthrow the giant people living in the Promised land. God called him to be strong and courageous, to overcome his doubts and his fears by being obedient to God's Word. To strengthen himself daily by meditating on God's Word. God reminded Joshua that his prosperity depended on His obedience. 

    God sent judges to deliver and lead His people between the time of Joshua's death and the beginning of the kings who would rule His people.  As usual, some were corrupt and some did well. But they could not atone for the sins of God's people.

    He sent Gideon (during the time of the judges), "you mighty man of valor", the youngest in his clan, which was the weakest tribe of Israel. He called Gideon to be obedient and do all that The Lord commanded him to do. And he did. He tore down idols and idolatrous altars. Gideon had an army of nearly 12,000 men following him into battle but God decreed there were too many. Through testing, God whittled Gideon's army down to 300. These men overthrew Israel's enemies. Little is much when God is in it. 

    God sent priests (ex. Eli, Samuel) and kings (ex. Saul, David) to direct and lead His people. Some priests and kings were disobedient and sinned against God. Then God called prophets to warn the God's people of the dangers of disobedience to God's Word. But God's prophets were ignored and killed. 

    Then God sent His Son, His only begotten Son. God filled His Son with Himself, His Word became flesh (mortal) and lived among God's people. His Authority was recognized upon His baptism when the Spirit of God settled on Him like a dove and God's voice spoke from the heavens, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." 

    But God's Son was not received either. Even at birth He was hated and people sought to kill Him. The devil tried to trick Him out of His birthright.. Jesus began to teach repentance and faithfulness to God: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." and "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." The time came soon that God's Son would be killed. It would be Satan's undoing. 

    God sent His Son, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world, that sinners like me would receive God's grace when I believed such an outlandish story; when I believed such a wondrous gift!. 

    We are all sinners. There are two types of sinners. There are the sinners who are saved by grace and there are the sinners who have refused to be saved by grace. What do I mean when I say, "I am saved by grace."?

    When I say, "I am saved by grace", I am saying that I believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son. I am saying that I believe He took my punishment and bore my shame on the cross. I am saying I believe He did that for me, that I might be brought near to God through His sacrifice. 

    It is as if I had done the worst crimes, was ready to be executed for my wrongdoings and then, behold! my brother steps up and says, "I'll take her place. Beat me. Torture me. Kill me. But leave her alone." That's love. That's what Jesus did for me. I am a sinner. But I am a sinner saved by grace. 

    And when I die, this sinner saved by grace, will enter the kingdom of heaven. While many will go with me and untold numbers await my arrival on the shores of the crystal sea, too many more will go to hell. Hell is the destination of the sinner who refused the gift of God's grace. It is neither lovely nor does it smell good. The unrepentant sinner has chosen to make hell his or her destination. 

    While God's heaven is eternal, the hell God created for Satan and his angels is not. Even hell will have an end and it will be worse than hell. If you are one of these sinners, we who have answered God's call to come near to Him beg you with open arms and tear-stained prayers to "Repent, and follow Christ." before it's too late. 

    Now is your day of salvation. Now is your opportunity to choose to be a sinner saved by grace and not a sinner unsaved by grace. Hear Jesus knocking at the door of your heart? Just say Yes to Jesus, Yes to Grace, Yes, Lord, yes To Your Will (repent and believe) and to Your Way (follow and obey). 

Called To Come Near  

Speak, O Lord - Keith & Kristyn Getty

Word of God Speak - MercyMe

Ancient Words - Michael W. Smith

God Has Spoken By His Prophets 

Love Is Kind - John Lucas

Song of Solomon - Martin Smith 

Sinner Saved By Grace - Gaither Vocal Band

 

The Lord Is -- April 2023

 

ATARAH TSBLY

(pronounced at-aw-raw' tseb-ee')

CROWN OF GLORY

Isaiah 28:5-6

On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a Crown of Glory, a Diadem of Splendor to the remnant of His people, a Spirit of Justice to Him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

Psalm 3:3

But You, O LORD, are a Shield around me, my Glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Isaiah 60:1

Arise, shine, for your Light has come, and the Glory of the LORD rises upon you.

ANI QADOSH

(pronounced an-nee' kaw-doshe')

I AM HOLY

Leviticus 11:44

 For I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I Am Holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Psalm 99:9

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is Holy.

Revelation 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

ANI YHVH QADOSH

(pronounced an-ee' yeh-ho-vaw kaw-doshe')

I THE LORD AM HOLY

Leviticus 20:26

And you shall be holy unto Me: for I The LORD Am Holy, and have severed you from other people, that you should be Mine.

Severed means "divided, seperated, made a distinction between". 

Deuteronomy 14:2 

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

For God has not called us to impurity, but into holiness.

Isaiah 35:8

And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it--only those who walk in the Way--and fools will not stray onto it.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

YHVH QADASH QADOSH

(pronounced yeh-ho-vaw kaw-dash' kaw-doshe')

THE LORD MY SANCTIFIER IS HOLY

Leviticus 21:8

You shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy unto you: for I The LORD, which Sanctify you, Am Holy.

Leviticus 20:8

And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Ezekiel 36:23

I will show how holy My great Name is—the Name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal My holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign LORD, then the nations will know that I am the LORD.

THEOS KRITES PAS

(pronounced theh'-os kree-tace' pas)

GOD JUDGE OF ALL

Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

    Psalm 50:6

And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah

    Psalm 94:2

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

    Revelation 20:11-15

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. 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. 

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

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

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

The Lord Is - - February 2023

 

ADONAI SAMAK NEPHESH

(pronounced ad-o-noy' saw-mak' neh'-fesh)

THE LORD IS SUSTAINER OF MY SOUL

Psalm 54:4

Surely God is My Helper; The Lord is The Sustainer of My Soul. 

The LORD is My Shepherd - Psalm 23

The LORD is My Provider - Genesis 22:14

The LORD upholds the righteous - Psalm 37:17

The LORD holds our hand - Psalm 37:24

The LORD helps, delivers, rescues and saves we who take refuge in Him - Psalm 37:40

The LORD is on the side of the righteous - Psalm 118:7

The LORD strengthens us - Isaiah 41:10

This verse is a declarative statement, a fact being made known: THE LORD IS THE SUSTAINER. It is of a personal nature, regarding what belongs to me: MY SOUL. He feeds me, He leads me; He wounds me, He heals me. He gives me freedom, He holds me close. 

    I can lean on Him, on His Word. He is the Everlasting God, who strengthens me with His right arm and raises me up to be with Him. He will never let me fall for He holds my hand in His. Though I stumble, I will not fall. In His embrace I am secure.

AD AB

(pronounced ad awb)

EVERLASTING FATHER

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Everlasting: perpetuity

Father: title of respect and honor due the head of the household/family/clan. 

God gives us fathers here on earth to raise us up in God's Word that we may be nurtured in spiritual milk, meat and bread, honey and water. But ultimately our God is Father over all, for He provides for His people, as a shepherd provides for His sheep. God is our Source, our Sustainer, our Provider, our Shepherd, and our Heavenly Father; therefore only God can meet our every need. For in Him we have all; through Him, we are able to share with all. That's a good, good Father. He meets the need before the need arises because He knows what we need even before we ask for it. 

YHVH CHAQAQ

(pronounced yeh-ho-vaw' khaw-kak')

Isaiah 33:22

For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.

James 4:12

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Deuteronomy 33:22

And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints: from His right hand went a fiery law for them.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2710

Lawgiver: to cut in, inscribe, decree

Hebrews 8:10

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

YHVH MELEK

(pronounced yeh-ho-vaw' meh'-lek)

THE LORD IS OUR KING

Isaiah 33:22

For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us. 

Psalm 74:12

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Psalm 24:7, 8

Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter! Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

John 19:19, 20

Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

Revelation 19:16

And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 

Heart & Soul - - Glad Heart/Heavy Heart

 

Isaiah 65:14

My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart and wail with a broken spirit.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2898 & 3511

Glad: joyful, gladness 

From the Hebrew word 'tub' (pronounced toob)

Heavy: pain, suffering (physical/mental), grief, sorrow

From the Hebrew word 'keeb' (pronounced keh-abe')  

By now we know that the Glad Heart is the heart that belongs to Jesus, the heart that lives inside the heart of God.

And the heavy heart is the heart that refuses to believe in, and does not belong to, Jesus. 

GLAD HEART

    Isaiah 51:11

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

    Psalm 40:16

May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, "The LORD be magnified!"

    Revelation 22:3

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.

HEAVY HEART

    Isaiah 13:6

Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

    Revelation 1:7

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

    Psalm 112:10

The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.

    Revelation 20:12, 15

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.

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

    Lord, may our hearts be turned to You. Lead us in Your Word, guide us with Your Holy Spirit. Bring us into Your kingdom, even as we pray for the repentance of they who have not yet done so. May we flourish in Your fields, doing the works which You have prepared for us to do.

    Let us linger in Your presence, giving our worship to You, gaining strength from You, that we may pursue the lost souls and reach them for You. Be glorified, Lord, in our praise and worship. 

    We the glad of heart rejoice in Your Name and seek Your face. As we humble ourselves and submit to Your will, have Your way in us. Do with us as You choose. We are Your willing vessels, surrendered hearts. 

    Though You call all people everywhere to repentance, we know, Lord, that too many will not choose You, but help us to reach as many as we can. Save our families, our friends, the strangers/foreigners among us and our enemies. 

    Fill each of us with Your Holy Spirit that we might walk this born again life with Your power. Draw us close to You that we might hear Your voice more clearly. 

    We rejoice in Your beauty, Your glory, Your presence, O Lord. For You are our Crown, our Savior, our King. Come, Lord Jesus, and fill this place even  now. 

    In Jesus' Name,

    Amen.

GLAD HEART/HEAVY HEART

At Your Feet

O Come To The Altar

Dead Man

Ocean Floor

Jesus Got Ahold Of My Life

Where We Belong 

The Last Song

The Lord Is - - January 2023

 

CHANNUN YHVH TSADDIQ

(pronounced khan-noon' yeh-ho-vaw' tsad-deek')

GRACIOUS IS THE LORD AND RIGHTEOUS

Psalm 116:5

The LORD is Gracious and Righteous; our God is full of compassion.

Exodus 34:6

Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,"

Romans 2:4

Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?

THURA

(pronounced thoo'-rah)

THE DOOR

John 10:9

I am The Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and come out, and find pasture. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2374

Door: opportunity, gate, entryway

'The name of Him who brings Salvation to those who follow His guidance.' 

John 14:5-7

5. “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 

6. Jesus answered, “I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

7. "If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

BASILEUS ISRAEL

(pronounced bas-il-yooce' is-rah-ale')

THE KING OF ISRAEL

John 12:13

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Psalm 118:26

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

John 1:49

"Rabbi," Nathanael answered, "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

Revelation 7:9, 10

9. After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

10. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

MELEK YAAQOB

(pronounced meh'-lek yah-ak-obe')

King of Jacob

Isaiah 41:21

“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.

Argue your case before Me. Tell Me why you are right. Strong words from the LORD. Who would want to argue with God? Yet, many do. I have questioned Him, but questions are not arguments. "Bring forth your strong reasons". 

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool."

Isaiah 41:1

“Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment."

Isaiah 42:26

"Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated."

    So you think your ways are better than My ways,  says the Lord. Show Me, prove yourself before Me. The power of God is greater than the power of any other god. No idol, nor idolater can stand before Him and claim it any other way. 

    When we come into the presence of The Lord God, we are suddenly aware that we are less and He is great, that we are unworthy and He is gracious. We begin to state our reasons for why our sin is right and He reminds us that His grace is greater, that He is Savior and it is He Who washes away all unrighteousness: when we draw near and obey His Word. 

    When the judgement of God falls on the sin, it also falls on the unforgiven sinner. Though the sinner has testified on their own behalf why their sins are justifiable, truly they have not a leg to stand on. Their disobedience testifies against them to God. 

    When the righteous who have been forgiven come before God, Christ testifies on their behalf, for all God's people everywhere (throughout time and across land and sea) are hid in Christ. Our sins have been forgiven: we have trusted in the power of God and lived a righteous holy life before Him in Christ.

    Before He was Israel's King, He was Jacob's King. Jacob, the usurper, who had a heart for God and who was loved by God. A man who was subject to his own desires, who ruled with his head (headstrong). Before he wrestled with God. 

    But now, after He wrestled with the angel of God, he asks for a blessing. His blessing is his new name: Israel, because he 'struggled with God'. ((Genesis 32:22-36))

    Not only is The Lord God Jacob's King, but now we who have been washed in His Son's blood, can call Him our King as well. Hallelujah! To God be the glory, great things He has done! We call Him King. He calls us friends. And He has new names for us, as well (Revelation 2:17).

MAQOR CHAY MAYIM
(pronounced maw-kore' khah'-ee mah'-yim)

FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER

Jeremiah 2:13

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of Living Water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

    God is not speaking to the general populace here, but to His own people. His own people have deserted Him, their source of life and chosen to create their own wellsprings. What is He saying? 

They have turned their backs on God, Who is the source of all life, both here and now and eternally. 

    They have chosen to set up their own systems of living, broken cisterns, which cannot contain life; broken doctrines which cannot save themselves nor their communities, for there is no Living Water in them, only dust. And God's people cannot live on dust.

    Though our planet is 90% water, much of that is unpotable and it's getting worse, not better. When there is much rain, there is immense flooding. And the flood waters are more than just overflow of dams and levees: the sewers flood, water mains break, garbage is swept up into the floods. In other words, it's filthy, it's unpotable; not able to sustain life. Just like the hearts of God's people who had turned away from Him.

    We cannot as God's people live like that. We need clean, pure Water to drink for ourselves and share with others. We need Jesus Christ living in us, the Holy Spirit of God filling us, pouring out of us into our hearts and lives (our wells) and overflowing into other people's hearts  and lives (their wells). 

    God's people are being reprimanded by God for forsaking Him, for turning from Him to other gods. Their cisterns are broken. Be warned now: God is The Fountain of Living Water and there is none other which can sustain God's people. We give all the glory to God for being our Lifesource! 

    John 4:1-26 tells us the historical account of Jesus and His encounter with a Samaritan woman who had come to the well to draw water, only to find Jesus who gave her Living Water. Hallelujah! 

    Come to the well and meet Jesus. 

    

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - The Servant King

 

Isaiah 52:13

Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5650

Servant: slave, servant

From the Hebrew word 'ebed' (pronounced eh'-bed). 

While this word has many  usages, in this particular verse it is referring the Messiah as martyr. 

THE MARTYRED SERVANT

Isaiah 52:14, 15

14. Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

15. so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard. 

Psalm 22; Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:2-5; Matthew 27:26-43; John 19:1-3, 16-24. 

Mark 15:32

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

THE CHOSEN SERVANT

Isaiah 42:1

"Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations."

Matthew 12:17

"Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations."

THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANT

Isaiah 53:11

"After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My Righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities."

Matthew 20:28

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

THE SUBMISSIVE SERVANT

Luke 22:42

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

John 5:30

"I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me."

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross

THE WISE SERVANT

Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

John 1:32

Then John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him."

THE SERVANT'S SERVANT

Matthew 20:28

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:13-15

13. "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.

14. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

15. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

THE EXALTED SERVANT

Philippians 2:9

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names.

Isaiah 53:12; Daniel 7:14; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:33.

THE EXTOLLED SERVANT

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 7623

Extol: to praise highly, to lift up, to elevate, to magnify

It is the Hebrew word 'shabach' (pronounced shaw-bakh').

Psalm 145:1

A Praise of David. I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Isaiah 6:1

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

Romans 15:11

And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.”

Have you met The Servant King?  The Servant King came to serve God in the way in which God chose Him to serve. Jesus humbled Himself to serve God with honor and integrity, in love. Are we following the example He has set before us to do the same, to live our lives in the same way? Humbled, surrendered, submitted to the will of God? 

Have we chosen to set aside what we want and how we want it done in order that God may be glorified in our submission and surrender? For my part I can truthfully say, "No." However, having repented of yesterday's transgressions, I can move on and submit and surrender another day to God, hoping for a better turnout than the last. It is all I can do: greet God when I awaken, spend time with Him during the day, speak with Him in the night and/or wee hours of the morning. 

The psalmist wrote, "Early will I seek You" (Psalm 63:1). Which could mean early in my day, early in my life, early in my pursuit of following after God in all my ways. And, again, in all our ways we are to acknowledge Him; and He will lead us (Proverbs 3:6; 16:3). But only if we are willing to follow. So, come let us adore Him, let us serve Him.

THE SERVANT KING by Graham Kendrick

HIGH AND EXALTED by Bob Fitts

HE LIVES Divine Hymns

BEHOLD by Phil Wickham

ADORATION by Newsboys