Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: 37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’(Jeremiah 32:36-41)
These three days, I've been attending the Eastern Gate Prayer Convocation in Singapore, led by Tom Hess from the Jerusalem House of Prayer. It has been an incredible time of hearing what God has been doing in the nations, and praying for the nations. There are more salvations now than in any other time in history, in nations like Israel and the Middle East, and of course Asia! God is moving in a powerful way!
Today, as we prayed for Israel, and a sister read the passage from Jeremiah 32, these words jumped out at me.
God says, "Assuredly, I will plant them in this land, with all my heart and with all my soul." (Jeremiah 32:41)
When I heard those words, I thought to myself, "God said THAT?!"
God is a God who hates lukewarmness. He wants us, His children, to have undivided hearts. To be a people passionate for Him and His kingdom's cause. The first and greatest commandment, He tells us, is that we should love Him with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind. (Matt 22)
But until today, I didn't know there was a verse in the Bible which describes the reverse - namely, what will God do with all His heart and all His soul?
Amazingly, to me, it is to plant His chosen people (the Israelites), back in their OWN land.
This prophecy was fulfilled in 1948. We are witnesses to this. Today, the enemies of Israel continue to want to force them out of this land, even threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth.
As believers, we need to stand with Israel, and to pray against this, and the carving up of the land that God has promised them, and planted them back in.
This hit home today, in a very strong way. Because giving Israel back their land is what God wants to do with ALL HIS HEART AND ALL HIS SOUL. The only verse which describes God in this fashion. Awesome!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Holy Spirit - Confirming Signs (AW Tozer)
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs - Mark 16:20
Such words as these in the second chapter of Hebrews stand as a rebuke to the unbelieving Christians of our day: "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will."
A cold Church is forced to 'interpret' such language. She cannot enter it, so she explains it away. Not a little juggling is required, and not a few statements for which there is not scriptural authority, but anything will do to save face and justify our half-dead condition. Such defensive exegesis is but a refuge for unbelieving orthodoxy, a hiding place for a Church too weak to stand.
No one with a knowledge of the facts can deny the need for supernatural aid in the work of world evangelization. We are so hopelessly outclassed by the world's superior strength that for us it means either God's help or sure defeat. The Christian who goes out without faith in "wonders" will return without fruit. No one dare be so rash as to seek to do impossible things unless he has first been empowered by the God of the impossible. "The power of God was there" is our guarantee to victory.
"May the power of the Lord be with me in my ministry today, so that I might not be 'outclassed by the world's superior strength'. Amen."
Such words as these in the second chapter of Hebrews stand as a rebuke to the unbelieving Christians of our day: "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will."
A cold Church is forced to 'interpret' such language. She cannot enter it, so she explains it away. Not a little juggling is required, and not a few statements for which there is not scriptural authority, but anything will do to save face and justify our half-dead condition. Such defensive exegesis is but a refuge for unbelieving orthodoxy, a hiding place for a Church too weak to stand.
No one with a knowledge of the facts can deny the need for supernatural aid in the work of world evangelization. We are so hopelessly outclassed by the world's superior strength that for us it means either God's help or sure defeat. The Christian who goes out without faith in "wonders" will return without fruit. No one dare be so rash as to seek to do impossible things unless he has first been empowered by the God of the impossible. "The power of God was there" is our guarantee to victory.
"May the power of the Lord be with me in my ministry today, so that I might not be 'outclassed by the world's superior strength'. Amen."
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Delay is not denial
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (Luke 1:12-15)
I read this passage from Luke 1 last night, and was struck by the angel Gabriel's words to Zechariah - "Your prayer has been heard."
God's gift of a baby boy to Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth in their old age was in answer to their prayer. As John Wesley says, "God does nothing except in answer to prayer."
But what I've been pondering is how long ago Zechariah had prayed that prayer. Somehow, it seems he prayed that in times past. He probably prayed real earnestly. He might have persevered for years. But I think he eventually stopped, because he thought God had said no.
Of course I can't be sure he stopped praying. But the circumstantial evidence seems to suggest so, because when the angel announced this good news - that "Your prayer has been heard", Zechariah didn't really have the faith to believe this could be true anymore. He asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
I think Zechariah probably stopped praying because he thought God had said no to him. But what he thought was God's denial was actually just a delay. Perhaps even a long delay.
What he didn't know was that God always meant to answer his prayer. But God had to wait until it was time for Jesus to come, because He wanted to bless Zechariah with a son whose calling was to be the forerunner of Christ.
It reminded me of this beautiful poem I had read before ... that Delay is not necessarily Denial.
God always hears and answers prayer,
Though long may be the trial.
Let patience bloom while God prepares;
Delay is not denial.
When God would glorify His Name,
And make His blessing great;
The one whose heart God's will doth frame
Must sometimes pray and wait.
But come, the answer surely must,
For God has never lied.
And faith, which looks at God in trust,
God never has denied.
So when the weeks turn months, then years,
And doubt feign would defile,
Beseech the more and that with tears;
Delay is not denial.
I read this passage from Luke 1 last night, and was struck by the angel Gabriel's words to Zechariah - "Your prayer has been heard."
God's gift of a baby boy to Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth in their old age was in answer to their prayer. As John Wesley says, "God does nothing except in answer to prayer."
But what I've been pondering is how long ago Zechariah had prayed that prayer. Somehow, it seems he prayed that in times past. He probably prayed real earnestly. He might have persevered for years. But I think he eventually stopped, because he thought God had said no.
Of course I can't be sure he stopped praying. But the circumstantial evidence seems to suggest so, because when the angel announced this good news - that "Your prayer has been heard", Zechariah didn't really have the faith to believe this could be true anymore. He asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
I think Zechariah probably stopped praying because he thought God had said no to him. But what he thought was God's denial was actually just a delay. Perhaps even a long delay.
What he didn't know was that God always meant to answer his prayer. But God had to wait until it was time for Jesus to come, because He wanted to bless Zechariah with a son whose calling was to be the forerunner of Christ.
It reminded me of this beautiful poem I had read before ... that Delay is not necessarily Denial.
God always hears and answers prayer,
Though long may be the trial.
Let patience bloom while God prepares;
Delay is not denial.
When God would glorify His Name,
And make His blessing great;
The one whose heart God's will doth frame
Must sometimes pray and wait.
But come, the answer surely must,
For God has never lied.
And faith, which looks at God in trust,
God never has denied.
So when the weeks turn months, then years,
And doubt feign would defile,
Beseech the more and that with tears;
Delay is not denial.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Hosanna - by Hillsongs
Sang Hosanna by Hillsongs at Cornerstone today ... the lyrics in the Bridge really struck me. I think these words are so good, they can be a prayer!
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to Eternity
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to Eternity
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