The Lord Shall renew their strength.
Isaiah 40:31 'Key Verse'
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Note: To wait on the Lord is to trust Him fully with our lives. It involves looking to Him as our source of help and grace in time of need. Those who wait upon the Lord are promised of three things: (1) the strength of God to revive them in the midst of exhaustion and weakness, of suffering and trial; (2) the ability to rise above their difficulties as an eagle that soars into the sky; and (3) the ability to run spiritually without tiring and to walk steadily forward without fainting at God's delays. God promises that if His people will patiently trust Him, he will provide whatever is needed to sustain (support) them constantly.
Dorothy: It would be good to read New Century Version from Isaiah 40:12-31 because Isaiah, the prophet gives a clear picture that God is Supreme. Even God challenged Israel if they can compare God to anyone and is anyone equal to Him? Look at the nature that He alone has created and that idols do not created anything at all.
I will start with Isaiah 40:28-31: "Surely you know. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever, who created all the world. He does not become tired or need to rest. No one can understand how great His wisdom is. v29 He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak. v30 Even children become tired and need to rest, and young people trip and fall. v.31 But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired."
How is the eagle "renewed" each year?
Each year the eagle replaces its feather over a period of several months. However, not like the other birds who becomes 'naked' after losing all their feathers. The naked birds cannot fly until they get their feathers grown back. But eagle is different. While the old feathers fall out or moult, the new feathers comes in at the same time. So the eagle is able to continue hunting for food throughout the entire renewal process. The eagle can still fly while the feathers are being replaced. The eagle has been known to live through to 100 years because of the renewal of the strength. This is why God compares us to eagle. We, like the eagle, need "new feathers" or "new strength" to become strong like an eagle. There is a favorite song that has been a blessing to many of us. May the Lord bless you.
Song: They That Wait Upon The Lord.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with the wings as an eagle;
they shall run and not be weary, they walk and not faint.
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait....
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Strength - 13
The Most Important Command –
“Love God with all your strength”.
Mark 12: 28-34 New Century Version
One of the teachers of the law came and heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees. Seeing that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, he asked Jesus, “Which of the commands is most important?” v29 Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. V30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ V31 The second command is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There are no commands more important than these.”
V32 The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said God is the only Lord and there is no other God beside Him. V33 One must love God with all his heart, all his mind and ALL HIS STRENGTH. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.” When Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely, Jesus said to him, “You are close to the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.
Deuteronomy 6:3-8 NCV: The Command to Love God
Listen, Israel, and carefully obey these laws. Then all will go well for you, and you will become a great nation in a fertile land, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. V4 Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. V5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. V6 Always remember these commands I give you today. V7 Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. V8 Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you and write them on your doors and gates.
Dorothy:
I encourage you to get to know Him, to cherish Him, get acquaintance with Him, and study His Word. It is through reading the New Century Version that I came to know Him more and more. It is the language that helped me to understand who God really is. Holy Spirit opens up the “Mystery of Christ” through the Scriptures. There are many crossed studies from the Old Testament and the New Testament together. Praise His name.
Song: The Deaf Shall Know....
The Deaf shall know Him to know is life--
The Deaf shall know the Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Deaf shall know the Life, the Truth, the Way.
The Deaf shall know that Jesus came to save.
The Deaf shall have His Spirit from above.
The Deaf shall know the fullness of His Love.
The Deaf shall 'hear' the Word of God in signs.
The Deaf shall say, that "Jesus now is mine."
[Heard this from Deaf Convention in 1970's and copy was given to me by Karen and Preston Lindsay][Writer of the song, unknown]
“Love God with all your strength”.
Mark 12: 28-34 New Century Version
One of the teachers of the law came and heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees. Seeing that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, he asked Jesus, “Which of the commands is most important?” v29 Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. V30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ V31 The second command is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There are no commands more important than these.”
V32 The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said God is the only Lord and there is no other God beside Him. V33 One must love God with all his heart, all his mind and ALL HIS STRENGTH. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.” When Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely, Jesus said to him, “You are close to the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.
Deuteronomy 6:3-8 NCV: The Command to Love God
Listen, Israel, and carefully obey these laws. Then all will go well for you, and you will become a great nation in a fertile land, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. V4 Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. V5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. V6 Always remember these commands I give you today. V7 Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. V8 Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you and write them on your doors and gates.
Dorothy:
I encourage you to get to know Him, to cherish Him, get acquaintance with Him, and study His Word. It is through reading the New Century Version that I came to know Him more and more. It is the language that helped me to understand who God really is. Holy Spirit opens up the “Mystery of Christ” through the Scriptures. There are many crossed studies from the Old Testament and the New Testament together. Praise His name.
Song: The Deaf Shall Know....
The Deaf shall know Him to know is life--
The Deaf shall know the Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Deaf shall know the Life, the Truth, the Way.
The Deaf shall know that Jesus came to save.
The Deaf shall have His Spirit from above.
The Deaf shall know the fullness of His Love.
The Deaf shall 'hear' the Word of God in signs.
The Deaf shall say, that "Jesus now is mine."
[Heard this from Deaf Convention in 1970's and copy was given to me by Karen and Preston Lindsay][Writer of the song, unknown]
Strength - 12
The New Jerusalem
Dorothy:
I want to share more about the importance of “The Jerusalem”. It was in Jerusalem that Jesus told Peter, “…upon this Rock, I will build My church.” At Jerusalem in the Upper room, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon 120 disciples and made noise and thousands of people heard it. It was in Jerusalem that Peter preached to 3,000 people who accepted Christ as their Savior. Jerusalem was the birthplace of the beginning of the “Good News”, God’s promised of Salvation through His Son, Jesus. Since 2,000 years many Gentiles of different nations have come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
So what is God doing now?
God is busy preparing the New Jerusalem, which will some day come “down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2 NCV: ‘I saw the holy city, the NEW JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God. It was prepared like a bride dressed for her husband.’
On that great day, God’s covenant promises will be fully realized: ‘I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now God’s presence is with people, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God.” [Rev. 21:3 NCV]. God and the Lamb will reign for ever and ever on their throne in this holy city.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone. The One who was sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted”’ [Rev.21:4-5 NCV].
Then one of the seven angels said, “Come with me, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And the angel carried me away by the Spirit to a very large and high mountain. He showed me the HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God [Revelation 21:9-10 NCV].
Suggest reading Revelation 21:11 through 22. It describes New Jerusalem’s adorning and the sizes of it. One thing impressed me. ‘There was no temple in the city because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the city’s temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God is its light, and the Lamb is the city’s lamp.’
Hallelujah! This is our hope for the future, our new home in the New Jerusalem and I hope you have come to enjoy the Holy Spirit’s revelation to us. May God bless you!
Dorothy:
I want to share more about the importance of “The Jerusalem”. It was in Jerusalem that Jesus told Peter, “…upon this Rock, I will build My church.” At Jerusalem in the Upper room, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon 120 disciples and made noise and thousands of people heard it. It was in Jerusalem that Peter preached to 3,000 people who accepted Christ as their Savior. Jerusalem was the birthplace of the beginning of the “Good News”, God’s promised of Salvation through His Son, Jesus. Since 2,000 years many Gentiles of different nations have come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
So what is God doing now?
God is busy preparing the New Jerusalem, which will some day come “down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2 NCV: ‘I saw the holy city, the NEW JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God. It was prepared like a bride dressed for her husband.’
On that great day, God’s covenant promises will be fully realized: ‘I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now God’s presence is with people, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God.” [Rev. 21:3 NCV]. God and the Lamb will reign for ever and ever on their throne in this holy city.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone. The One who was sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted”’ [Rev.21:4-5 NCV].
Then one of the seven angels said, “Come with me, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And the angel carried me away by the Spirit to a very large and high mountain. He showed me the HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God [Revelation 21:9-10 NCV].
Suggest reading Revelation 21:11 through 22. It describes New Jerusalem’s adorning and the sizes of it. One thing impressed me. ‘There was no temple in the city because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the city’s temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God is its light, and the Lamb is the city’s lamp.’
Hallelujah! This is our hope for the future, our new home in the New Jerusalem and I hope you have come to enjoy the Holy Spirit’s revelation to us. May God bless you!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Strength - 11
Dorothy: Good morning! Let’s talk about “THE JERUSALEM”.
Studying the Fresh Manna for few days about “The Jerusalem” may have been difficult to understand the purpose of it. I want to focus on Psalm 84:5&7 again. God spoke to Moses about the place and God would choose a place in which ‘to put His name’. During 40 years of wandering, the Tabernacle with the Ark of God was waiting for that place in which God had chosen The Promise Land for Israel to live in. Jerusalem was to be the worship center of His future Temple built by King Solomon. God became famous and His name went into the whole world from Israel. Many people traveled many miles to come to “Zion” to see the beautiful Temple built. They wanted God to bless them and they felt God’s strength went into their bodies. They were happy and full of joy. There were “festival” times that God had chosen three times a year for people to come to Jerusalem to celebrate. It was an important time to “worship” God and many nations would come to “meet Him” at Jerusalem.
The title of ‘Mount Zion’ was the first to use before Jerusalem. Mount Zion was one of the hills which Jerusalem was built; later it became another name for the whole city, Jerusalem; it is also a name for HEAVEN. It is found in Revelation 14:1 “…there before me was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.” There is an old song called, ‘We’re Marching to Zion”. It is a victorious song.
Psalm 84:5&7 “Mount Zion” and “The Jerusalem”.
NCV: Happy are those whose strength comes from you [God], who want to travel to Jerusalem. v7 The people get stronger as they go and every one meets with God in Jerusalem. AMP: Blessed—happy, fortunate [to be envied]—is the man who strength is in You; in whose heart are the highways to Zion. v7 They go from strength to strength—increasing in victorious power; each of them appears before God in Zion.
Dorothy: I shared this with a friend about “The Jerusalem”. To my surprise, this friend told a story of the trip to Israel with a deaf group and the pastor in 1970. The pastor told the group to read the book of John to have better understanding about “The Jerusalem” and different towns. A friend said, “I didn’t understand at first, but later seeing the place of Calvary where Jesus walked and He took the cross; seeing the empty tomb; God touched my heart and I wept so many hours until I got saved. I understand what “The Jerusalem” was about. It is a meeting place to get to know God. I came home to U.S.A. a different person. My life was changed.”
Many people of the world have traveled by plane, by boats, other transportation just to visit Israel and visit the places where Jesus had been. God said, “I will have a name to put upon” and that is Jerusalem. Jerusalem became the center of the whole world. Many who traveled to Israel will receive special strength from God and they are happy.
Prayer: Dear Lord, open our hearts to understand YOU. Open our vision about "The Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem, our future home. Some day, Jerusalem will come down on new earth and You, God will finally be with us on the new earth. We look forward to this in Jesus' name. Amen!
Studying the Fresh Manna for few days about “The Jerusalem” may have been difficult to understand the purpose of it. I want to focus on Psalm 84:5&7 again. God spoke to Moses about the place and God would choose a place in which ‘to put His name’. During 40 years of wandering, the Tabernacle with the Ark of God was waiting for that place in which God had chosen The Promise Land for Israel to live in. Jerusalem was to be the worship center of His future Temple built by King Solomon. God became famous and His name went into the whole world from Israel. Many people traveled many miles to come to “Zion” to see the beautiful Temple built. They wanted God to bless them and they felt God’s strength went into their bodies. They were happy and full of joy. There were “festival” times that God had chosen three times a year for people to come to Jerusalem to celebrate. It was an important time to “worship” God and many nations would come to “meet Him” at Jerusalem.
The title of ‘Mount Zion’ was the first to use before Jerusalem. Mount Zion was one of the hills which Jerusalem was built; later it became another name for the whole city, Jerusalem; it is also a name for HEAVEN. It is found in Revelation 14:1 “…there before me was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.” There is an old song called, ‘We’re Marching to Zion”. It is a victorious song.
Psalm 84:5&7 “Mount Zion” and “The Jerusalem”.
NCV: Happy are those whose strength comes from you [God], who want to travel to Jerusalem. v7 The people get stronger as they go and every one meets with God in Jerusalem. AMP: Blessed—happy, fortunate [to be envied]—is the man who strength is in You; in whose heart are the highways to Zion. v7 They go from strength to strength—increasing in victorious power; each of them appears before God in Zion.
Dorothy: I shared this with a friend about “The Jerusalem”. To my surprise, this friend told a story of the trip to Israel with a deaf group and the pastor in 1970. The pastor told the group to read the book of John to have better understanding about “The Jerusalem” and different towns. A friend said, “I didn’t understand at first, but later seeing the place of Calvary where Jesus walked and He took the cross; seeing the empty tomb; God touched my heart and I wept so many hours until I got saved. I understand what “The Jerusalem” was about. It is a meeting place to get to know God. I came home to U.S.A. a different person. My life was changed.”
Many people of the world have traveled by plane, by boats, other transportation just to visit Israel and visit the places where Jesus had been. God said, “I will have a name to put upon” and that is Jerusalem. Jerusalem became the center of the whole world. Many who traveled to Israel will receive special strength from God and they are happy.
Prayer: Dear Lord, open our hearts to understand YOU. Open our vision about "The Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem, our future home. Some day, Jerusalem will come down on new earth and You, God will finally be with us on the new earth. We look forward to this in Jesus' name. Amen!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Strength - 10
Blessed Is The Man Whose Strength Is In God!
Psalm 84:5,7.
KJV: Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in whose heart are the ways of them. v7 They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
NCV: Happy are those whose strength comes from you, who want to travel to Jerusalem. v7 The people get stronger as they go and every one meets with God in Jerusalem.
AMP: Blessed—happy, fortunate [to be envied]—is the man who strength is in You; in whose heart are the highways to Zion. v7 They go from strength to strength—increasing in victorious power; each of them appears before God in Zion.
When David made Jerusalem his capital city, it began taking on various other names in keeping with its character—names such as: “Zion” (2Sam.5:7), “the city of David” (1Ki. 2:10), “the holy city” (Neb.11:1), “the city of God” (Ps.46:4), “the city of the great King” (Ps.48:2), “the city of righteousness, the faithful city” (Is.1:26), “the city of the Lord” (Is.60:14), “The Lord is there” (Ezek.48:35), and a “city of truth” (Zec.8:3). Some of these names are prophetic names for the future city of Jerusalem.
Brief History of how the city became Jerusalem.
When the Israelites were ready to cross over the Jordan to enter the Promised Land, the city then was called “the Jebusite city” (Jo.15:8) or “Jebus” (1Chr.11:4). It was never captured during Joshua’s conquest of the land of Canaan, and remained in the hands of the Canaanites until David became king. Why was it difficult for Joshua to conquer “Jebus”? There were high mountains that surrounded “the Jebusite city” and they have walls that prevent anyone to conquer. David and his armies had found the secret passageway from underground to capture the city of "Jebus". David changed "Jebus" to Jerusalem and Jerusalem became the capital city. David’s son, Solomon built the Temple to the Lord God in Jerusalem and the city, Jerusalem also became the religious center for the worship of the covenant Lord.
The city of Jerusalem had special meaning for God’s people in the Old Testament. It was a place where Moses prophesied that God would choose a place in which “to put his name” (Deut.12:5,11,21; 14:23-24; 1Ki.8:29). The mountains that surrounded Jerusalem symbolized the Lord surrounding His people in His eternal steadfastness [Ps.125:1-2]. Jerusalem was a symbol of all that God wanted for His people. Whenever God’s people were in Jerusalem, they were to remember the ruling power of God, His holiness, His faithfulness to His people, and His eternal commitment to be their God. Jerusalem was the city where God revealed His word to His people.
Dorothy:
In order to appreciate Psalm 84:5 and 7 talked about “Zion,” we need to understand why David said, “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house” [v4]. Those who go to the house of the Lord seeking His presence will receive His blessing. This blessing includes the nearness of God and a renewed spiritual strength. I pray that we have better understanding about “The Jerusalem” and there are yet more to come.
Psalm 84:5,7.
KJV: Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in whose heart are the ways of them. v7 They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
NCV: Happy are those whose strength comes from you, who want to travel to Jerusalem. v7 The people get stronger as they go and every one meets with God in Jerusalem.
AMP: Blessed—happy, fortunate [to be envied]—is the man who strength is in You; in whose heart are the highways to Zion. v7 They go from strength to strength—increasing in victorious power; each of them appears before God in Zion.
When David made Jerusalem his capital city, it began taking on various other names in keeping with its character—names such as: “Zion” (2Sam.5:7), “the city of David” (1Ki. 2:10), “the holy city” (Neb.11:1), “the city of God” (Ps.46:4), “the city of the great King” (Ps.48:2), “the city of righteousness, the faithful city” (Is.1:26), “the city of the Lord” (Is.60:14), “The Lord is there” (Ezek.48:35), and a “city of truth” (Zec.8:3). Some of these names are prophetic names for the future city of Jerusalem.
Brief History of how the city became Jerusalem.
When the Israelites were ready to cross over the Jordan to enter the Promised Land, the city then was called “the Jebusite city” (Jo.15:8) or “Jebus” (1Chr.11:4). It was never captured during Joshua’s conquest of the land of Canaan, and remained in the hands of the Canaanites until David became king. Why was it difficult for Joshua to conquer “Jebus”? There were high mountains that surrounded “the Jebusite city” and they have walls that prevent anyone to conquer. David and his armies had found the secret passageway from underground to capture the city of "Jebus". David changed "Jebus" to Jerusalem and Jerusalem became the capital city. David’s son, Solomon built the Temple to the Lord God in Jerusalem and the city, Jerusalem also became the religious center for the worship of the covenant Lord.
The city of Jerusalem had special meaning for God’s people in the Old Testament. It was a place where Moses prophesied that God would choose a place in which “to put his name” (Deut.12:5,11,21; 14:23-24; 1Ki.8:29). The mountains that surrounded Jerusalem symbolized the Lord surrounding His people in His eternal steadfastness [Ps.125:1-2]. Jerusalem was a symbol of all that God wanted for His people. Whenever God’s people were in Jerusalem, they were to remember the ruling power of God, His holiness, His faithfulness to His people, and His eternal commitment to be their God. Jerusalem was the city where God revealed His word to His people.
Dorothy:
In order to appreciate Psalm 84:5 and 7 talked about “Zion,” we need to understand why David said, “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house” [v4]. Those who go to the house of the Lord seeking His presence will receive His blessing. This blessing includes the nearness of God and a renewed spiritual strength. I pray that we have better understanding about “The Jerusalem” and there are yet more to come.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Strength - 9
As My Strength Was Then So Is My Strenth Now.
Joshua 14:11 [Caleb said to Joshua]
“…I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”
Psalm 29:11 NCV: The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Did you know how old Caleb was when he quoted this line? Let’s began with a story of how he came to say this. Caleb and Joshua were two of the 12 spies that went in to investigate the land of Canaan and to find out the strength of the cities before they began to make plans for the war. When they returned 12 spies gave report to Moses. Ten spies gave negative report while Joshua and Caleb gave positive report believing that God will help conquer the land for them. Caleb was only 40 years old that time. Because of 10 bad reports had influenced the Israelites into disbelief and faithless generation that God became angry and declared that all who were 20 years old and up will die. The young generation of 20 years and below would enter the land of promise. So the wilderness wanderings lasted 40 years. Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land to wage war against cities for few years.
Joshua 14:10-13 NVC: Caleb said: "Now then, the Lord has kept his promise. He has kept me alive for forty-five years from the time he said this to Moses during the time we all wandered in the desert. Now here I am, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the Lord promised me that day long ago. Back then you heard that the Anakite people lived there and the cities were large and well protected. But now with the Lord helping me, I will force them out, just as the Lord said.”
Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneth and gave him [Caleb] the city of Hebron as his own. Hebron still belongs to the family of Caleb, son of Jephunneth the Kenizzite because he had faith and obeyed the Lord, the God of Israel.
Dorothy:
Now you know that Caleb was 85 years old when God gave him the same strength as he was when he was 40 years old. Caleb put word: God kept me alive for 45 years and now I am 85 years and still going strong. And he was ready to fight to capture Hebron. There were mountains surrounded the Hebron. It was actually a very high place to climb up to. But Caleb and his men went up and captured the city and it became theirs.
What does that applies to us?
We could learn something about Caleb and the way he thinks and how he talks. Do we think and talk the same way as Caleb? Can we quote “God gave me the same strength as I was 40 years old and now I am 60 or 70 or 80 years old?”
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for showing me how Caleb received his strength from You. Help me to believe that You would give me the same strength as You have given to Caleb. Renew my faith in You through this story of Caleb. I rejoiced in new truth in Jesus’ name, amen.
Joshua 14:11 [Caleb said to Joshua]
“…I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”
Psalm 29:11 NCV: The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Did you know how old Caleb was when he quoted this line? Let’s began with a story of how he came to say this. Caleb and Joshua were two of the 12 spies that went in to investigate the land of Canaan and to find out the strength of the cities before they began to make plans for the war. When they returned 12 spies gave report to Moses. Ten spies gave negative report while Joshua and Caleb gave positive report believing that God will help conquer the land for them. Caleb was only 40 years old that time. Because of 10 bad reports had influenced the Israelites into disbelief and faithless generation that God became angry and declared that all who were 20 years old and up will die. The young generation of 20 years and below would enter the land of promise. So the wilderness wanderings lasted 40 years. Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land to wage war against cities for few years.
Joshua 14:10-13 NVC: Caleb said: "Now then, the Lord has kept his promise. He has kept me alive for forty-five years from the time he said this to Moses during the time we all wandered in the desert. Now here I am, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the Lord promised me that day long ago. Back then you heard that the Anakite people lived there and the cities were large and well protected. But now with the Lord helping me, I will force them out, just as the Lord said.”
Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneth and gave him [Caleb] the city of Hebron as his own. Hebron still belongs to the family of Caleb, son of Jephunneth the Kenizzite because he had faith and obeyed the Lord, the God of Israel.
Dorothy:
Now you know that Caleb was 85 years old when God gave him the same strength as he was when he was 40 years old. Caleb put word: God kept me alive for 45 years and now I am 85 years and still going strong. And he was ready to fight to capture Hebron. There were mountains surrounded the Hebron. It was actually a very high place to climb up to. But Caleb and his men went up and captured the city and it became theirs.
What does that applies to us?
We could learn something about Caleb and the way he thinks and how he talks. Do we think and talk the same way as Caleb? Can we quote “God gave me the same strength as I was 40 years old and now I am 60 or 70 or 80 years old?”
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for showing me how Caleb received his strength from You. Help me to believe that You would give me the same strength as You have given to Caleb. Renew my faith in You through this story of Caleb. I rejoiced in new truth in Jesus’ name, amen.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Strength – 8
Psalm 18:1-3
I WILL LOVE YOU, MY LORD, MY STRENGTH.
I will love you, Lord. You are my strength. V2 The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to Him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender. V3 I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved from my enemies.
Psalm 59:17
God, my strength, I will sing praises to you. God, my defender, you are the God who loves me.
Psalm 77:14
You are the God who does miracles; you have shown people your power [strength].
Psalm 81:1
Sing for joy to God, our strength; shout out loud to the God of Jacob.
[All verses are New Century Version]
Song of worship: In the Quiet of the Morning
In the quiet of the morning…
I will worship Your name…
I will lift my voice [sign] with signing…
to praise you again…
For it fills my heart with glad..ness…
that remains [stays] through the day…
In the quiet of the morning …,
I will worship Your name…
Note: I WILL LOVE THEE, O LORD.
This psalm also occurs in 2 Samuel 22 with a few changes. It was probably written early in David’s reign. The psalm also prophesies a time when, through the Messiah, all nations will praise the name of God. Romans 15:9 “…those who are not Jews could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures: “So I will praise you among the non-Jewish people. I will sing praises to your name.” Psalm 18:49 “I will praise you, Lord, among the nations. I will sing praises to your name.”
Dorothy:
When I sing the song, ‘In the Quiet of the Morning,’ I noticed one line says, I will worship Your name. This touches my heart and I was not aware that it was in the Scripture until this morning when I typed the note. I may have seen it but this morning it was more impressive for me. It led me to pray right now.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, wash us with the Blood of Jesus so all of our sins are forgiven through Calvary. We bow down before You. We love and adore You. We worship Your name. The Scripture tells us more and more about You. Father, our flesh is weak and You are our Strength. You made us stronger when we worship Your name. In Your presence, there is joy. Thank you for hearing our prayers in Jesus’ name, amen.
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