Once there was a man who had two sons fully grown, and the younger asked for his inheritance to go off on his own. So the father divided his wealth and the younger son went away, while the older one was loyal to his father and knew that he would stay.
In a distant land, the younger squandered all of his part of the estate. He lived in a wild and unwise manner, and poverty became his fate. A famine occurred in that country, and he couldn’t get ahead; he was hired to take care of swine and longed to eat what they were fed.
At that time, he came to his senses and remembered his father’s care–even his father’s servants had always had meals that were generous fare. So he thought out what he would say about the restoration he desired. “I’m no longer worthy to be my father’s son–I’ll just ask to be one who’s hired.”
He then traveled back to his home, and the father saw him when still far away–then ran to embrace and kiss him, before even hearing what he had to say. The son repented of all he’d done, telling all that had been on his mind; and there he found compassion and a heart that was only kind.
The father called to his servants to clothe the young man with all of the best–the best robe, ring, and sandals—even with a banquet, he’d be blessed. A celebration was called for everyone, for this was a time to rejoice! But out in the fields, the older son stopped, having heard his father’s voice.
At the sound of the merriment, he inquired of the servants of what had just transpired. They told him that his brother was home, and that a celebration was what his father desired. He became angry then and wasn’t willing to even go inside, but his father came out to entreat him–he wanted him to be alongside.
The older son said, “…For so many years I’ve been serving you, and I’ve never neglected a command….” He complained that he felt what his brother deserved was his father’s reprimand. “My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours,” the father said. But they needed to rejoice for this son now lived. “This brother of yours was dead–
He was lost and has been found,” he said–much like a Shepherd rejoices to find…a lost sheep that had strayed far from the fold but had always remained on His mind.
P. A. Oltrogge
From Luke 15:11-32
“I am the good shepherd and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.” words of Jesus in John 10:14-15
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep,through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21
My Son watches over your life as the great Shepherd of the sheep. He is with you always, as He is with all of His lambs, even as they sleep.
Some men trust in military might, but I’m the One of whom to boast. I AM the God of the entire universe and am the LORD of hosts.
“I give my angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” “No plague shall come near your dwelling”–trust this throughout your days.
I hold all things together in your life by the Word of my great power. The name of the Lord is, to you, your strong and dependable tower.
Jesus’ blood cleanses of all sins, and there’s healing through His blood. That which seems to be failing, by My resurrection power, can bud.
God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–we are three yet one. “In God we Trust” are words to remember as the Christian race is run.
P. A. Oltrogge
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4
“…’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:5-7
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” Psalm 20:6-8
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11
“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2
“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 AMP
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
…and the third paragraph of the above poem references Psalm 91
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25
How can anyone make the decision not to pray unto the great “I AM,”
who wants to be their Good Shepherd and care for them as His lamb?
Jesus humbly came to earth, as told in the cherished Christmas story,
simply to share God’s love, leaving His home up in Glory.
He demonstrated unconditional love, serving those upon earth
and told all of us about our need to experience “the new birth.”
Likewise, we can be blessed…by serving as He leads,
knowing we have peace with God through Him–not by our own deeds.
For by grace we have been saved–His grace has been poured out.
Please don’t be deceived by demonic spirits who spread doubt.
The thief (who is the devil) comes only to kill, destroy, and steal…
Jesus came to die for our sins and, as Divine Physician, to heal.
I can’t imagine the void in a life of one who can’t seem to pray
to the Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, who had so much to say…
on the goodness of God and how, just like lambs, we can always depend–
upon the Good Shepherd’s love for us, from beginning of life to its end.
So don’t be caught without a prayer, one day, before the throne of God–
Put your faith in our Savior and Shepherd, who bears both staff and rod.
Jesus not only was God’s sacrificial Lamb but also trusted, as a lamb,
His Father in heaven, who, from a burning bush, had said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM.”
P. A. Oltrogge
During His ministry, Jesus spoke of the “I AM”…John 8:58 and that He and the Father are one…John 17:11 and “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11 NKJV
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 KJV
“And God said unto Moses, ‘I AM THAT I AM,’ and He said, ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.’” Exodus 3:14 KJV
“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58 NKJV
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Psalm 90:2 KJV
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it,but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (From John 3:1-21) NASB
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
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The following is yesterday’s message by Dutch Sheets at Give Him 15 and is stated to be shared with family and friends:
I have always loved Psalm 27. The Holy Spirit, through David, shows us how to navigate between intense spiritual warfare and uninterrupted intimacy with the Lord. David declares his faith in God, speaking of the source of this faith as his intimacy with Him, yet follows this with acknowledging the real-life challenges of believing when the circumstances shout otherwise. Then, He crowns this great psalm by declaring a great promise.
David’s Decree
This was a very challenging time in David’s life–he was being pursued by King Saul and his army–but he didn’t open this psalm by complaining to God about how big his problems were. Nor did he lead with his feelings, as impactful as they were. He led with a declaration of faith. Verse 1 says: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
This was more than the religiosity some believers fall into when trying to maintain a “good confession,” nor was it mere wishful thinking. David knew the significance of stating what he believed in his heart. By doing so, he was allowing God’s words to define his reality rather than the adversity he was facing. David was personalizing God’s promises, declaring who God was to HIM. Notice his language: “my” light, “my” salvation, the strength of “my” life. David was laying claim to the covenantal protection promised him by Almighty God.
When David declared that the Lord was his light, he was stating that not only would God lead him, but He would also expose the enemy’s hidden traps. When he declared the Lord as his stronghold, he was announcing that those attacking him would not be able to break through and overcome the Lord’s defenses. We should do the same, declaring our faith in God’s protection over our lives, health, homes, family, businesses, and yes, our nation.
In verses 2 and 3, David got pretty graphic and spoke of evildoers advancing to “eat up my flesh” – describing an enemy intending total annihilation. He looked at Saul’s army encamped against him, yet his response is one of strong faith: “In this I will be confident.”
Where did this audacious faith come from? It came from an understanding of covenant with God, and an unshakable confidence in His faithfulness.
The Intimacy Factor
Right after describing this intense opposition, David recorded a verse that seems completely out of place:
“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (verse 4).
Naturally speaking, if a person is under siege, he or she should be watching his enemy vigilantly. If a nation is under siege, the leader should be in the war room looking at maps, conferring with military advisers, etc. But David’s strategy was different. He went into the Lord’s presence. He traded the war room for the tent of meeting, the holy of holies! This wasn’t a retreat into denial; it was an anchoring of himself to the reality that his help came from God. This was strategic!
The Hebrew word “dwell” in this verse is significant; yashab implies permanent residency, living in God’s presence.(1) When we do so, our minds become insulated from the panic our problems can bring. There in the secret place, David said he could “behold” God. When we behold Him, the enemy loses his ability to intimidate us. Giants look like grasshoppers up against the majesty of God.
And notice the word “inquire.” David went there, not just to behold the Lord, but to inquire of Him. The temple was a place of divine counsel. David went into the presence of God to receive wisdom and revelation–the heavenly blueprint for battle, the intelligence report, the exact battle plan needed to defeat the adversary. Seeking intimacy with God is not running from spiritual warfare; intimacy is essential during our warfare.
In verse 5, David reveals that not only would he find guidance in the Lord’s presence, but protection: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”
In ancient culture, if a leader or king welcomed you into his tent or dwelling, you were protected by the strength of his military power. An enemy couldn’t touch you without first going through the king. By dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, David was in a place of protection and strength.
The Good Fight of Faith
In verses 7, 9, 12, and 13, the tone of the psalm shifted once again. Holy Spirit motivated David to share with us not just his faith-filled decrees but also the emotional struggle he was facing.
Some commentators believe this represented a breakdown in David’s faith. I completely disagree. This pictured the reality of the fight of faith. This is what it looks like to share our frustration and feelings with the Lord, while also standing firm in faith. When doing so, David affirmed his connection with the Lord: “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’” (verse 8).
David wrapped up this great psalm by once again referencing the tension every believer faces: the time between the promise and its fulfillment. In verse 13, he stated: “I would have fainted (lost heart), unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
David was stretched, but maintained a stubborn, unyielding faith that God was going to give him the breakthrough…here…now…not just in heaven one day.
Then David issued a final command to himself and to all of us: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Many misunderstand this word “wait.” In our language, waiting means sitting around doing nothing. But the Hebrew word here is qavah. It is a word meaning to braid, to bind together by twisting.(2) It is used to braid hair or make a rope from multiple threads of cord.
When we qavah on the Lord, we are braiding ourselves to Him. His strength becomes ours. We are infusing His infinite power into our finite strength, enabling us to make an expectant, aggressive stance. We can stand our ground, refusing to waver, holding fast to our faith until the promise manifests.
In summary, Psalm 27 encourages us to declare our faith, enter the secret place of God’s presence, receive His strategy, be strengthened with His power, and then stand our ground with tenacity until we see His goodness manifest.
Pray with me:
Father, it is impossible to live life without experiencing great challenges. Help us, by the power of Your Spirit to maintain the right perspective. Help us to keep our faith anchored in You and Your promises, even in dark times. And remind us that a strong heart connection with You is the key to overcoming.
We pray for those struggling, whether it be over personal issues or struggling to believe for Your turnaround in our nation. Give them strength to believe that they will see Your goodness in their lives and in our nation.
And we pray for our governmental leaders, as You commanded us. Give them strength when they face adversity. Remind them that victory is guaranteed in Your presence. Give us leaders like David who seek Your face and trust in You. Teach them Your ways, and how to hear Your voice. Keep them from deception and from harm. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our decree:
We decree that the Lord is our light and salvation; we will not fear!
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20 KJV
from Genesis 37:
An inspiring account in the Bible is of the life of Joseph of old; which is a story that turned out well, though his brothers gave him up to be sold.
Jacob, his father, had great love for him, and Joseph’s mother was dear to Jacob’s heart. Through others, he had had sons, too, but he’d really loved Rachel from the start.
To this son of his later years, he provided a colorful, distinctive coat–which gave his favoritism away. Due to seeing this, Joseph’s older brothers hated him; and then his dreams caused an even greater fray.
Joseph told them of those dreams. In one, they were binding sheaves in a field. Then, his sheaf stood up straight–while theirs gathered round in a circle and bowed down to his, as if prophetic of something at a future date.
Another dream that he shared, including his father on the telling, was of seeing the sun, moon, and eleven stars. These, too, were all bowing down to him, Joseph said. So Jacob pondered this, but told him it was going too far.
One day, Jacob sent Joseph out to meet his brothers, who were in Shechem, watching over the flock. He looked for them there but was told they’d gone to Dothan. They saw him coming and began to mock.
“Here comes this dreamer!” Then they planned to kill him, until Reuben put a stop to their schemes. He told them to leave Joseph in a wilderness pit, intending to rescue him from their anger over his dreams.
But when Reuben was away, they came up with a new plot–to sell Joseph to some traders in a passing caravan. The Ishmaelites purchased Joseph from his own brothers then, putting twenty shekels of silver into their hands.
Jacob’s sons took Joseph’s tunic and stained it with blood from a goat they’d killed–then brought the coat back home. There, they asked their father, Jacob, if it was Joseph’s coat and allowed him to think a wild animal had been responsible alone.
This was a crushing moment in the life of Jacob–he refused to be comforted in his mourning for this favorite lad. Meanwhile, Joseph was sold in Egypt to an officer of Pharaoh’s; but God had a plan amidst something so bad.
P. A. Oltrogge
If interested to read the entire (poetic) story of Joseph, it can be found in the archives…
I’m so glad God’s given us His Holy Word, though many seek its exclusion. Is it any wonder, then, when we hear their views, which have obvious confusion?
They see evil as good and wrong as right, rejecting the Bible as their guide. They need to recognize Jesus as Lord and turn from the one who has lied.
Then there are those who do revere God, but who haven’t yet found the way…the truth, and the life, revealed through Christ–for them, we also pray.
It’s evident that there are just two kingdoms–one of darkness and one of Light. It truly is the time of decision–men must choose to be on the side that’s right.
So, we pray for their awakening by God’s Spirit and for the restoration…of common sense, love for and obedience to God, in this and every nation.
God’s Word proclaims that, in the last days, He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. With that promise of His grace, we persevere–with faith renewed and hope afresh.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:16-18
“…’Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
And in John 8:42-47, Jesus speaks of the devil as being “a liar and the father of it.”
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” …said by Jesus in John 10:10
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Claim the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus that was shed. When we enforce His victory over the devil, we’ll find that the devil has fled. Use the Word, “NO weapon formed against me shall prosper (or succeed).” “Jesus, the Son, has made me free; and I am free indeed!”
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, Proverbs has stated. That, and our God-given authority have largely been underrated. More widely now these things are taught, with an emphasis on praise. Trust God’s goodness and mercy to follow you, throughout all of your days.
P. A. Oltrogge
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18
“NO weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’? Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’” John 8:31-36
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and overallthepoweroftheenemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19
Excerpt from Acts: “Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, and faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.’” Acts 3:11-16
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” Philippians 2:8-10
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6.
“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
“If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NLT
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,” from Psalm 103:1-5
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
“Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.” Psalm 113:1-4
“The Name of Jesus” (book) by Kenneth E. Hagin is available at: www.rhema.org
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NASB
At God’s appointed time, I’ll be saying goodbye. That time is getting close, and I’ve tried to explain why. I love you so much–please come along; Don’t neglect Jesus for that would be wrong. He’s preparing a party, and it will be grand. Please don’t miss out because you don’t understand. He’s made it so plain in the true Gospel story– He, the Christ, is our way to Glory. One thing’s for sure–all lives draw to a close, so it’s best to put faith in the One who arose. But we could see Jesus more quickly than we think for the Bible speaks prophetically of what’s on the brink. “In the twinkling of an eye…we shall be changed.” Take Jesus and your place in Glory that He has arranged.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and the mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” words of Jesus in John 14:2-3 NKJV
Jesus had been back to Capernaum for some days, and the news of this became known. Many people gathered at the house to hear Him speak, and the crowd had really grown. In fact, there were so many who wanted to come inside that you couldn’t get near the door. But there was a paralytic, with four friends who had a goal–to hear Jesus say, “Restore!”
So fervent were they in their earnest goal, that though it didn’t seem possible to get through, they weren’t downcast, but instead looked up–gaining entrance through the roof was what they’d do. Their faith in the Lord, their tenacity to attain, moved them to hoist their friend and his pallet up. They made a rooftop hole and let him down to the Lord–it didn’t matter to them to interrupt.
Jesus, seeing their faith, immediately was moved. “Son, your sins are forgiven,” He then said. This prompted thoughts in some scribes who were there, that He was blasphemous and clearly misled. Jesus knew in His spirit the things they were reasoning and confronted them before they could talk. He asked which was easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk.”
But so that they would know He really did have this authority, He further went on to say–that the man who’d been paralyzed should get up and take his pallet and be free to go on his way. Immediately, the man arose and picked up his pallet and walked out in the sight of all who were there. The people were amazed and glorified God, saying they’d never seen anything like this anywhere.
After that, Jesus went out to the shore of the sea, which can bring to mind the “waves” of God’s grace. The people followed Jesus to the shore, as well, and He continued to teach them at that place. A fitting scene it was to conclude this narrative, for God’s grace does come in wave upon wave. If a problem seems insurmountable, look up, not down–He’ll help you, just be bold and be brave.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.” Matthew 4:23 NLT
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 43:5
“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33
…a version of the hymn, Rock of Ages:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath (salvation) and make me pure (whole).
…a double cure–forgiveness and healing–from a double curse–sin and sickness. In the communion service, the cup (Jesus’ blood) has covered the forgiveness of sins. The wafer/bread (Jesus’ body was broken for you) by whose stripes, we were/are healed.
“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” Psalm 103:3 NLT
Scriptures NKJV or as noted From the Biblical account in Mark 2:1-13
On the ocean, full of shining light, changing the colors of waves– Oh light, where did you come from and where will you go? From the hands of God into the deep of human souls.
In a grassland, full of dancing light, which heightens the colors of flowers– Oh light, where did you come from and where will you go? From the hands of God into the height of human souls.
M. Kimura
This inspirational poetry came from friends in Japan, one of whom was visiting her uncle who lived by the sea. There on the beach, she noticed beams of light over the ocean, which reminded her of the creation account in the Bible. The other friend shared the poetry with me in the form of a written song and that is how this post came about. P. A. Oltrogge
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light!’; and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3
“And God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:10 (account of creation, Genesis 1 and 2).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5 NKJV
“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.’” John 8:12
