“Top of the morning” to you, on this St. Patrick’s Day! May all of God’s wonderful blessings graciously come your way.
It’s said that St. Patrick used the shamrock, which has leaves of three, as an illustration to the Irish people of God’s holy Trinity.
Just as a shamrock is composed of three separate leaves, yet is one– the almighty God of the Bible is the Father, Holy Spirit, and the Son.
Shamrocks have been associated with “luck,” but God’s promises are sure. While shamrocks cannot last, God’s loving kindness will forever endure.
Today is a day when many will turn to thoughts of the Emerald Isle; but may we daily be sure to turn our thoughts to the Lord for a while.
And on a day when some may be thinking of “wearing the green,” may the people of God reflect His joy, which is the best thing to be seen.
P. A. Oltrogge
“…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7 KJV
Of the Word, Jesus, it’s written: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 KJV
Mark 12:28-30; John 14:6; John 14:9; 1 John 1:1-4; John 1:1-5
Please, dear friend, be rich towards God, thinking not only of your own pursuits; But think about turning your heart to Christ and others, putting down good spiritual roots. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his own soul? Helping others spiritually and in tangible ways is God’s plan, in which we’re all to have a role.
Have you spoken to Jesus in a personal way today, or do you just run out to meet the day? A relationship with Him makes a difference for the better–it’s wise to take time to pray. One day Jesus will be coming back in glory and will repay His saints for selfless deeds. Not only for that reason, but for the joy that’s returned, ask Him to show you another’s needs.
God’s not against your having enjoyment of certain things… But doesn’t want you to miss the fulfillment which living for Him brings.
P. A. Oltrogge
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.” Matthew 16:25-27
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared? So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21
“Knowing What Belongs to Us” by Kenneth E. Hagin is a booklet which shares the benefits we have, in turn, as believers…available at http://www.rhema.org under “Bookstore” and emphasizes Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Reprinted with permission given from Zola Levitt Ministries….
The following is an essay on the most asked question that comes to Zola Levitt Ministries during the season of Lent/Easter, when you may ask it yourself.
Friday to Sunday?
QUESTION: If the Lord was crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday, how could that encompass three days and three nights?
ANSWER: The Gospel accounts indicate that the Lord was crucified on Friday at 9:00 a.m. and taken off the cross at 3:00 p.m. His body was prepared for burial and interred at sundown the same day, which was the beginning of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The Lord then arose on Sunday morning after sunup.
According to the modern way of counting, this spans barely two days. Yet that time period seems to disagree with Jesus’ earlier prediction:
“For as Jonas (Jonah) was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40
The prophecy can be understood when we examine the Jewish way of counting days and nights. We must recall that the Jewish day always starts at sunset, so that Friday really begins on Thursday evening (a fact that is reflected in the language of Genesis–“the evening and the morning” are the first day). The second day, then, begins at sundown on Friday and continues through the daytime on Saturday. Finally, Sunday begins at sundown on Saturday and stretches through Saturday night and the daylight hours of Sunday, making the third day. Since the Jews counted any portion of daylight as a full day, then Friday morning through Sunday morning would have been seen as three complete days and nights.
People have sometimes struggled to move Passover (the “Last Supper”) back one day in order to get three days and three nights the way we would count them in the Western world, but that would be inaccurate. Even in the Western world we begin each day on the night before at midnight, so the concept is not strange to us. Supporting this understanding of the Lord’s crucifixion on a Friday (against those who claim that it happened on a different day) is the centuries-long history of Christians celebrating Good Friday, not “Good Thursday” or “Good Wednesday.” This evidence indicates that we can trust the accuracy of the Bible’s account, and also confirms that knowing the Jewish roots of Christianity can open a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
Do the Gospels Disagree on When Jesus Died?
QUESTION: Did Jesus celebrate the Passover and die on Passover day, or did He celebrate and die on the day before? Matthew, Mark, and Luke say He died on Passover day, but John seems to claim that He celebrated and died the day before the Passover. Why the difference?
ANSWER: The difference between John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) regarding the Passover and death of Jesus is attributable to the fact that two systems were used at that time for reckoning Passover day. The Judeans used a method of reckoning different from the Galileans (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The Galileans and Pharisees measured days from sunrise to sunrise, whereas the Judeans and Sadducees used the sunset-to-sunset reckoning in John’s Gospel.
“And the evening and the morning were the first day.”–Genesis 1:5
Thus, Jews from Galilee celebrated their Passover on Thursday evening, with Passover day starting at sunrise Friday morning. Jews in Judea and Jerusalem, however, celebrated Passover on Friday evening at sundown. Consequently, according to John and the Jews in Judea, Jesus’ celebration on Thursday and death on Friday before sunset occurred on erev Pesach (the eve of Passover), because Passover started for them at Friday’s sunset.
The Galilean method used by Jesus and His disciples would have the Passover Lamb slain and Last Supper on Thursday, 14 Nissan. The Judean method used by John would have the Passover Lamb slain on 15 Nissan.
Most scholars agree that because of the two different methods of timekeeping, there were two days for the slaying of the lambs, which makes sense given the number of lambs being slaughtered. That task couldn’t be done in a single day.
There is no contradiction; the Gospels reflect the two different chronological systems for determining the Passover.
The capital of the Assyrian Empire was Nineveh, and the Assyrians showed no mercy to those they overtook in any conquest.
God told His prophet, Jonah, that he should go to them, telling them to repent for their sins and idolatry, at the Lord’s request.
Jonah didn’t want to do this. They were Israel’s enemies; and, in his own way of thinking, they deserved to be punished without being warned.
So he set off for the seaport of Joppa and boarded a ship due to sail to distant Tarshish–the mission for God being thereby scorned.
Jonah went below and soon fell fast asleep, while the crew, above on deck, began to grapple with a storm that had begun to grow.
They tried very hard to keep things on course, but eventually decided the way to survive was that much of the cargo they’d have to forgo.
They perceived that such a fierce storm had something to do with God and began to pray to “gods” which they’d known by hearsay.
That didn’t prove to help and they thought of the passenger who’d come aboard, all the while they were dealing with wind, waves, and spray.
The captain went below and found, despite the storm, the new passenger asleep; and he woke him to pray to his “god,” or they’d all be lost.
A decision was made to cast lots to see who was to blame for the trouble, and they came up with Jonah as the cause of their being storm-tossed.
Jonah admitted to being a Hebrew from Israel–one who worshiped the true God who’d made heaven and earth, but whom he’d disobeyed.
He said he’d run away from a God-ordained task. The storm was surely because of that–and, therefore, a decision had to be made.
The only way to stop the storm’s fury, he said, was to throw him overboard; but the sailors ignored that, not wanting to do such a cruel act.
They tried taking to the oars, which ultimately didn’t work; so they finally took Jonah at his word, so their ship could remain intact.
They prayed that Jonah’s God wouldn’t harm them for taking the measure, but went ahead and tossed him over the threatened boat’s side.
Then the winds began to die and the waves to calm…. They gave thanks and honored his God on the deck in awe, that the storm did, in fact, subside.
As Jonah began to tumble down into the depths of the water, he knew he needed to call on God to rescue him from the harrowing situation.
So God appointed a great fish, of His design, to come and scoop him up in its mouth, providing an unusual underwater way station.
“I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. I cried for help…from the depth of Sheol, Thou didst hear my voice,” Jonah said.
“Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me.” But his salvation was from the Lord, whom he thanked for life instead.
After three days and nights, God commanded the fish to release Jonah out onto the dry land; and he heard the Lord say that Nineveh was still on His mind.
The message to repent before forty days’ time or God would punish them and their city was to be presented to all. This time Jonah went, but never whined.
Well, the people’s hearts were receptive to the message that Jonah brought; and from the King down to the least, they fasted from water and bread.
They were repentant and called on God that He might relent and not harm them after all–and God, in His mercy, didn’t do what Jonah had relayed that He had said.
This displeased Jonah, who hadn’t had a heart for the people from the beginning of the assignment. He told God that He was too gracious as far as he could tell–
“a compassionate God, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.” (It was Jonah’s anger that began to swell.)
The Lord asked Jonah if he had good reason to be angry; but Jonah simply exited the city to watch if their repentance would last, or if God might yet send destruction.
After all, he felt the Ninevites didn’t deserve any mercy since they’d not shown any themselves. He kept fuming since he’d followed God’s every instruction.
While he was outside the city waiting to see if God would send, at least, some punishment to it, God provided a plant there to shade him from the sun.
This pleased Jonah very much. But God had a lesson in mind and sent a worm to destroy the plant the next morning, and its leaves withered to none.
Again, Jonah became upset and complained that his life wasn’t even worth living. Then, the Lord said that if he was sad about a mere plant’s death,
which he hadn’t even created, wasn’t He, as the Lord of creation, justified in caring about 120,000 persons to whom He’d given breath?
So we see that God uses messengers to cause men to repent and turn away from wrong–that there loom consequences to ignoring the true God and His ways.
But He does this out of the love He has for those whom He’s designed and created, simply wanting them to come under His kindness and blessing all of their days.
Thank God, there are many “Jonahs” today, sharing the message that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. More eager to do so than Jonah, they hope to reflect…
the love and mercy of the Lord themselves–and that God’s words through the Bible reveal that Jesus Christ is faithful, and so worthy of every person’s respect.
P. A. Oltrogge
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, Jesus said that would be the “sign” to “this generation.” He said this, knowing and meaning He would be put to death on a cross for the sins of mankind and would be in the grave for three days and three nights, but would be resurrected then, with the accomplished, triumphant message that salvation is of Him, Jesus Christ. He told the crowds, “Something greater than Jonah is here!” And so, He is here today. May this present generation fully embrace the message of His life, death, and resurrection and offer of forgiveness and abundant life now and for eternity.
“And as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, ‘This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South shall rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment, and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.’” (words of Jesus, from Luke 11:29-32 and Matthew 12:38-41)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“He isn’t really being slow about His promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But He is waiting, for the good reason that He is not willing that any should perish, and He is giving more time for sinners to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 The Living Bible
“He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it; He is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love.” Psalm 103:8 The Living Bible
“For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:32-33
I once saw a film clip about a shepherd of today. It showed an imposter calling for the sheep to come his way.
But the sheep went on grazing, just as if they couldn’t hear. Then their true shepherd called. His voice, to them, was clear.
It was amazing to watch them immediately flock to his side. Likewise, we flock to our true Shepherd, protector, and guide.
At times, a voice that is dangerous will come to us in disguise. But the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus, and His truths make us wise.
P. A. Oltrogge
“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5
“I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and I am known by my own.” John 10:14
“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5
“The wise in heart will receive commands….” Proverbs 10:8
“The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14
“But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” from one of the parables in Matthew 25 (verse 4)
Scriptures NKJV
Refer to: www.sidroth.org for an interview with Tracy Eckert on hearing Jesus, our Good Shepherd’s, voice and other insights. Other excellent interviews are also featured.
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 NASB
Like a tree firmly planted by streams of water–
that’s what each of us will become, as God’s son or daughter,
when we meditate, continually, in God’s written Word.
Our growth in Christ will increase–it can’t be deterred.
Jesus reminded us that man doesn’t live by bread alone–
It’s by regular feeding on God’s Word that we will have grown
to be strong trees in a mighty “forest,” the planting of the Lord–
rooted in God, our mighty fortress, our faith having soared.
P. A. Oltrogge
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2 KJV
“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for thy name’s sake, lead me, and guide me.” Psalm 31:3 KJV
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.’” Psalm 91:2 NKJV
You may enjoy visiting Covenant Family Church, http://www.covenantfamily.cc for “church” via conference call on Sundays at 10:50 a.m., (Eastern Standard Time). There’s no need to announce yourself; just make the call and enjoy the “live” message. The telephone number is (609) 663-1557.
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24
…written by Kenneth Copeland
Believing. That’s the key to everything in the kingdom of God. It’s the way we tap into the very power of Almighty God. Most of us know that. But do we know how to put it into action?
Actually it’s so simple, it’s startling. It’s as simple as saying, “I believe I receive.”
Something happens in your spirit when you say those words. I don’t understand how, but it does. I don’t understand how my digestive system knows what to do when I swallow something, but it does. All I have to do is take a bite of food and it goes to work. I don’t have to make it happen. It just happens. That’s the way the body is made.
In much the same way, when you feed on God’s precious promises and “swallow” them into your spirit by saying, “I believe I receive,” faith is released. You don’t have to make it happen. You don’t have to feel it happen. It just happens. The reborn spirit is made that way.
When you constantly say with your mouth, “I believe I receive my healing” or “I believe I receive my financial needs met,” and then quote the scriptures that back those things, faith is released to bring power to bear on those needs.
As Dr. Kenneth Hagin said, you need to “keep the switch of faith turned on.” And Gloria and I have discovered that speaking out that phrase, “I believe I receive,” is one way to do it. We say it when we pray. We say it when we praise God. We say it when we read the Word.
We especially say it in the face of darkness when it looks like we’re not receiving. When everything looks the worst, we say it the loudest. I believe I receive!
Do you want to activate your faith today? Then make these four key words the most important words in your vocabulary. Use them every day. You’ll soon discover, just as we did…they work!
Scripture reading: Mark 11:12-24
Reprinted with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Love, with no definite expression of outward action or word, isn’t love at all–since, by our hearts, nothing is “heard.” Kind words, loving service, time spent together, a gift, or a tender touch– without these things tangible, we can’t really feel love much.
Just like most plants need regular sunshine and water, we need regular caring expression from friend, spouse, son, or daughter. Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters can affirm and encourage– we all can, for this world holds much that can discourage.
Friends and family are meant to uplift us and be a fortress in life; and when loving gestures abound, there will be little, if any, strife. When love is firmly founded thereby, we’ll be ready to reach out to those needing love from us whom we may meet on a daily route.
Jesus also said that we should love those who don’t love us back; sometimes, such love can move relationships onto the right track. At times, we must look past the things in some that seem odd– we may need to pray for the grace of the unconditional love of God.
For that love has been found to lead others to tangibly feel the love of the heavenly Father in a way that is real.
P. A. Oltrogge
“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5
“These things I command you, that you love one another.” John 15:17
“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:9-11
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful just as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:31-36
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11
Over the years, life brings to us many goodbyes, which is why it’s so important that we become wise, gaining life and death perspectives, as seen through Jesus’ eyes. He’s Savior, Lord, and King–and He never lies.
He wants us to understand before our lives are done, that there’s a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. He said heaven could be ours–that it’s a beautiful place–reserved for those who trust in Him and is offered by God’s grace.
“Absent from the body…present with the Lord” is the promise and future that we can look toward, for when the time comes for us to leave the earth. This is for anyone who has received Him through “the new birth.”
Life in this world is certainly a temporary thing; but, thank God, through Christ’s redemptive work, death has lost its sting. Seeing Jesus face to face and reunions with loved ones gone…will, one day, follow our own “goodbyes,” a glorious new dawn!
P. A. Oltrogge
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)
“…in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His Word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” Titus 1:2-3 (NASB)
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 (NKJV)
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:43 (NKJV)
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” Matthew 7:13 (NLT)
See the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16.
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3 (NASB)
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 (NASB)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)
“We are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NASB)
It’s been three years since he went to his home in heaven on February 21, 2018. I’m taking a moment to think of him and his life once again…
I remember attending Billy Graham crusades when I was very young and anticipating hearing Billy after George Beverly Shea had sung.
Cliff Barrows led the assembled choir in an always joyful way, giving mighty praise to God before someone on stage would pray.
Then Billy would come forward; and with his powerful voice, he’d say we needed to make a decision—God was giving us a choice.
He always pointed to the cross and what Jesus had achieved— redemption through His shed blood on Calvary for anyone who believed.
He said we should repent of our sins and give our hearts to Christ— that His was the only sacrifice which God says has sufficed.
He emphasized that “God loves you” and wants to be your friend, counselor, and advocate—from beginning of life to its end.
He said this earth was not his home—that he was just passing through— and that a home in heaven awaits every believer in Jesus Christ, too.
After many Biblical references, Billy would give an invitation. Then, an amazing number in the place would come forward to his station.
As they came forward, a familiar song helped set so many hearts free— “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me.”
Today, Billy Graham is honored for faithful service to God during his life span. May we continue to share the Gospel of Christ—God’s gracious redemptive plan.
P. A. Oltrogge
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
The Porch of the Lord 