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Bending with Delight
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I’d bend over backwards for them”?
Did you know the Hebrew word for “delight” means “to bend”? For instance…
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 ESV)
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23 ESV)
To delight oneself in the Lord means to not just merely be happy and giddy about God, but to bend over backwards to please him if necessary.
And God says he’ll bend over backwards to help us in our time of need. He’s our support and rescuer. He “bends” for us.
“They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:18-19 ESV)
I’m so glad I don’t need to get bent out of shape, regardless of what may come my way. The Lord is my delight, and I am his.
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Pray For The Nation’s Rulers
In my last couple of posts I mentioned those who were “Drunk with Power”. The posts are, I believe, prophetic words of warning to this nation and those in charge.
I also mentioned our need to pray. This post is the “how to”, even when we don’t want to.
Yes, there’s something you and I can do, MUST DO, for our nation to have even a prayer of surviving the coming shaking.
It’s also something every person in every nation should do for their country.
Pray for their leaders.
“But what should we pray?”, you may ask.
In God’s word there are plenty of scriptures pertaining to leaders; kings, etc. God inspired people to write these particular words down so we could know his plans and purposes for governments and their leaders.
God tells us to be subject to governing authorities, and to pray for the leaders so they will be subject to their higher authority, i.e. God.
Please read the following scriptures…
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:1-7 ESV)Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” (1 Peter 2:13-18 ESV)
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV)
The following verses are from the Psalms and Proverbs. They speak of kings and rulers, and their relationship to God and their people. Using the scriptures, I will highlight some points to use in praying for our leaders.
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”“I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:1-12 ESV)
Pray – for the united council between kings and rulers. That their council will be united with God and his kingdom plans. If not, for their council to be confused and aborted, and in the end, defeated.
Pray – for the rulers to hunger for righteousness and godliness. That they would desire to see their land blessed by the presence of God.
Pray – that the leaders will approve of God’s description of right and wrong.
Pray – leaders will support what and who God supports; which includes Israel.
“Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.” (Psalm 102:15 ESV)
“All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” (Psalm 138:4-6 ESV)
Pray – for the fear of God to prevail over the nations, and the nations leaders.
Pray – that each government will be established in humility and brokenness before God.
“Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 149:5-9 ESV)
Pray – for kings and rulers who are ruling in an ungodly manner, that their actions will be bound and rendered ineffective. For them to either repent or be removed. For it is God who places them into positions of power, or removes them.
“By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.” (Proverbs 8:15-16 ESV)
Pray – that they be filled with God’s wisdom, God’s insight and revelation. For them to rule righteously.
“Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.” (Proverbs 14:33-35 ESV)
Pray – for rulers to call right – right, and wrong – wrong.
“It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.” (Proverbs 16:12-15 ESV)
Pray – that the fear of the Lord will be the force which drives the terror of the king.
“The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.” (Proverbs 20:2 ESV)
“A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.” (Proverbs 20:8 ESV)
“Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.” (Proverbs 20:28 ESV)Pray – for the office, the throne, of the king or president, to be preserved with steadfast love and faithfulness.
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1 ESV)“He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.” (Proverbs 22:11 ESV)
Pray – that leaders throughout the nations will live purity of heart. For them to recognize people with pure hearts, and that they would promote those people to positions of authority and influence.
“My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both.” (Proverbs 24:21-22 ESV)
Pray – that the heart of the king and the heart of God beat as one.
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.” (Proverbs 25:2-5 ESV)
Pray – for each leader to greatly desire truth. That they would search for truth, and surround themselves with people so like minded.
“By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.” (Proverbs 29:4 ESV)
“If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.” (Proverbs 29:14 ESV)
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.” (Proverbs 31:4-5 ESV)
Pray – that kings, rulers, and presidents will not be drunk with power, or anything that causes them to fail in judging and governing according to God’s precepts and statutes.
What you and I accomplish through faith and prayer can only be measured by the one who calls and empowers us to pray. As we speak God’s word over our leaders, the Holy Spirit energizes our prayers and enables us to believe for the exceedingly, abundant answers only he is capable of.
Let’s believe God together.
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Drunk with Power (part two)
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, was drunk with power, and full of his own importance. But something happened to him when God gave him a message.
“Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lamp-stand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.” (Daniel 5:5-8 ESV)
His color changed, his thoughts alarmed him, he couldn’t control his arms or legs; in short, he was a mess. And though he didn’t know what the message was, it affected him like nothing else ever had.
He was probably close to wetting himself; he was so shaken.
Up to then, he had always been in control. Calm, cool, collected. Never a worry, never a concern. And if he was ever in a bind, there was always someone who could either take the blame or pay the piper for him. After all, he was the king. He was in charge. He could decree anything he wanted and it would be established.
He had the pen and the phone.
But all of a sudden, with the mysterious handwriting on the wall, he was completely undone. He didn’t understand its meaning, so he called his cabinet, advisors, press secretary, and even Psychic Suzy and her troop of troublesome tarot translators to reveal the coded message.
But God’s message can never be understood by using simply the brightest and the best, or by the consensus of a majority.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)
So, finally, the king had to ask God’s man.
This scenario is coming to this nation; the United States of America. As I mentioned in a previous post, “Drunk with Power”, the handwriting is coming to America’s walls. A message that will shake the strongest of men. A word that cannot be understood by the king’s men and women.
The president will have to ask for help. The politicians will have to seek help from a group they’ve tried so hard to ignore, and have loved to demean.
Not the wimpy, weak-kneed church they’ve come to know and love, but the radical, God loving, Bible believing, faithful followers of the one known as Jesus.
And those who have spent time praying for the king and for all who occupy places of authority, will have a word in season; a right now message for the nation’s leaders.
It’s on its way. A message written on America’s walls. A message unlike any other, interpreted by people who’s beliefs are completely opposite of America’s leaders.
The people who pray for their leaders will hear the interpretation, and have access to the leaders ears.
They will pray over the message, over the leaders, over the nation.
And the ultimate fate of America will be in the hands of its leaders. America will either yield to the prophets of God, or become filled with rage and punish the messengers of God’s holy revelation.
Saints of God, pray for our “king” (president) and everyone else in authority…
Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, Independents; whatever. Every one of them need support through prayer.
Prepare your hearts. Let the love of God fill you. Set your mind on things above.
A shaking is coming to this land. With that, a message to be seen on America’s walls.
Be ready in season and out, for life turns very quickly. What you’ve prayed, prepare to preach. What you’ve preached, prepare to stand on it.
The “king” will someday summons God’s prophets into his throne room. He’ll seek to find the believers, not the doubters and naysayers; for he will recognize, supernaturally, that the word of God brings light, and gives understanding to the simple.
“The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.” (Psalm 119:130 NLT)
A lot of changes are on the way…
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A Short Word
My most recent post, “Drunk with Power”, is something I’ve been thinking about for a week. I believe the Lord gave me the word for this particular time.
America is a great land, but not an eternal land. I do not want it to be destroyed; not now, or ever. But eventually every nation will bow before the Lord Jesus and acknowledge his rightful position as Lord of all.
But maybe there’s time to see this nation turn back to God. I hope so.
I pray so.
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Drunk with Power
A long time ago there was a king. A king who was drunk with power.
But one night he had a strange visitation from God.
It changed everything.
“Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lamp-stand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.” (Daniel 5:5 ESV)
Opposite the lamp-stand.
The lamp-stand is the source of light for the room. It also can represent the source of revelation, or knowledge of the Holy One, for a group of people or society as a whole.
In the Book of Revelation, the Church is the lamp-stand.
I find this passage very intriguing. I believe it speaks prophetically to our day and age; to the nation we all know as the United States of America. At the very least, it should speak to our nation’s leaders – political, civic, and spiritual.
King Belshazzar was so full of himself he couldn’t see anything or anyone else. In his eyes he was all knowing and all powerful. One night he “made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
“Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.” (Daniel 5:1-4 ESV)
I’m not going to try and get you to believe King Belshazzar was responsible for all of Babylon’s wickedness. It simply isn’t so. However, as the ruler of the Babylonian Empire, Belshazzar was the one God would hold accountable.
That’s how it is with leaders.
That’s how it is with President Obama. But more about him later.
Belshazzar was drunk. Drunk with power and with the fruit of the vine. In front of his thousand lords he began to mock the God of Jerusalem; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As he led his sycophants in praise to the gods of the land, the God of Abraham sent him a message.
In fact, it would be the king’s last.
Notice where the message was written. On the wall, opposite the lamp-stand.
I remind you of the lamp-stand’s purpose.
Throughout the centuries, God has had various “lamp-stands” through which he would speak.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:1-3 ESV)
Jesus, a Lamp-stand to reveal the will and nature of the Father. The Church, the Body of Christ, is also referred to as “the light of the world”.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)
As the hand suddenly appeared before Belshazzar, the particular wall on which the message was written had great significance.
The wall opposite the light.
Belshazzar stood for everything that opposed the one true God. He was the leader of a kingdom that had openly opposed Israel, and the God of Israel. Yes, God had used Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar’s grandfather, to bring correction to His people. But Belshazzar went beyond the intent of the Lord, and helped lead his nation in ways completely contrary to the revealed will of God.
And the writing appeared, with its meaning interpreted by the prophet Daniel.
“Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.””(Daniel 5:17-23 ESV)
The king’s opposition to light, God’s revelation about Himself AND about mankind, ultimately judged the king and brought down his kingdom.
That night.
In this great nation called the United States of America, there are a lot of men and women who openly and vehemently oppose God’s light. It’s not a new thing; no, not at all.
But the blatant defiance and utter disregard toward anything remotely “Christian” is no longer tolerable by God. It has far surpassed the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah. How can I say that, since I didn’t live back then?
Mankind is judged by what they do with the revelation they have. Sodom and Gomorrah had some revelation, enough to bring God’s judgment.
But America, that “city on a hill” (as described by Puritan John Winthrop in 1630) has done everything within its power to snuff out the light of God.
And no other nation, ever, has had so much “revelation”, so much light. Churches on every corner, books and bibles available to anyone and everyone. Leaders are sworn in to office with the Word of God.
It appears the leadership of this once great land is drunk with power. They have called for the treasures of the Christian Church to be paraded in front of all while they mock and demean the ones they oppose.
President Barack Obama, and his administration of thousands, will soon see the handwriting on the wall. Their opposition to the lamp-stand has been noted by God. They are responsible; they will be held accountable.
As prayer can avert judgment, it is not an automatic fix. Daniel was a praying man in the Babylonian kingdom. But Daniel could not change the heart of the leaders.
The arrogance of the nation’s leaders has called for judgment. The public mockery of all things holy has demanded judgment.
God will remember mercy in judgment; but mercy will not alleviate true justice.
As the hand wrote those infamous words on the wall opposing the light, so shall the Lord reveal His final message to America’s leaders.
May America have time to hear and repent.
Belshazzar didn’t.
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True Freedom Is Found In Christ
Just because you don’t have to worry about an enemy, doesn’t mean you’re free.
And although you have certain rights and privileges others in the world don’t have, it isn’t necessarily a sign of freedom.
You can have all the comforts of home, make a million bucks a day, come and go as you please…
And still be a slave to sin and the devil.
Only Jesus can give you true freedom. Freedom now, and freedom for all eternity.
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (and free).
Romans 10:13Let this be YOUR Independence Day.
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How Good Are Your Roots?
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A Question For God?
There’s no one on earth who knows everything. Not you, me, or anyone.
Because of that, we need to find people who know more than we do about a particular subject, and ask them questions.
Of course, you may be a person others use as a resource. You may find yourself answering more questions than you ask. That’s alright; answer away.
However, everyone has limits…so don’t feel bad if you get stumped.
There’s only one person who knows everything about everything; and that’s God.
So if you could ask God Almighty one question, and you knew he would answer you immediately in a way you could understand, what would you ask him?
Don’t be shy.
What question would you like to ask God?
He just might answer, and in a surprising way.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” (Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV)
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3 ESV)
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Support Your Local Shepherd
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Naked
Naked.
That’s what you and I are without the Glory of God.
The Glory of God with which Adam and Eve were once adorned.
Have you ever wondered what Adam and Eve looked like?
Mankind has been worried about their self image for a long time; I’d guess for around 6,000 years. They weren’t created to be self absorbed or self conscious, but things happen.
At one time, while they still had access to their Garden, all Adam and Eve could see was the beauty of God’s handiwork. Besides the trees, flowers, birds and animals, they saw the glory of God emanating from one another.
Adam had freedom to walk with God, and to understand what God showed him. I believe Adam steadily increased in wisdom and glory, from one degree to another. With unveiled face, beholding the glory of God not only as he looked at God, but when he gazed upon his wife’s beauty.
It’s the glory of God shining through someone’s life that makes them beautiful. Without it, all there is to see is flesh, hair, and paint.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 ESV)
There was a light that shone out of them; the brilliance of God pouring out of their inner most being. Out of their heart flowed the forces of life (Proverbs 4:23). Their heart, or spirit, was the candle of the Lord. In His light, they saw light.
Picture Adam and Eve, created in the image and exact likeness of God, with rays shooting from their fingertips.
“God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.” (Habakkuk 3:3-4 ESV)
No wonder they never realized they were naked; because, in all actuality, they weren’t. They were endued, clothed, with power from on high!
The Glory of God!
In the Garden, Adam and Eve, clothed in glory, allowed their light to be snuffed out through disobedience. Now they could see what skin looked like without glory. They experienced the truth of God’s word when He told them, “don’t eat, lest you die.” They couldn’t explain it, but they knew things weren’t the same.
Naked people cannot know spiritual things.
Their covering of Glory was replaced with a loincloth of shame. Boldness and confidence in their God was trampled by the force of doubt and fear. Their life of “Shalom” turned into chaos, jealousy, rebellion, and murder.
And man began to be absorbed with his own self importance. As “Self” was lifted up to new heights, the worship of man and the religion of humanism was born.
But if any person be in Christ, they become a new creation; old things pass away (2 Corinthians 5:17). The power of God begins recreating and restoring His Glory within the life of the believer.
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:27-29 NKJV)
The life truly submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will display the Glory of God.
And nakedness will once again be covered.
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
