Job 29:19-20 NASB
My root is spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branch.
My glory is ever new with me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.
Job 29:19-20 NLT
For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew. New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.
Here we have a description of one who is unique among men. Not only does he experience the renewals of strength and energy as the result of natural sleep, but also the impartation of the supernatural. So mightily did God rest upon Job that his spirit was constantly fresh and his energies continued unabated in the host of battle. Our spiritual battle is real, and we too must have more than natural energy and strength. We must be "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
Life on Wings
http://ern-baxter.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html
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The Dew of Heaven
Spurgeon
http://www.bibleteacher.org/spchk_9.htm
Deuteronomy 33:28
So Israel dwells in security, the fountain of Jacob secluded, in a land of grain and new wine; His heavens also drop down dew..
What the dew in the East is to the world of nature, that is the influence of the Spirit in the realm of grace. How greatly do I need it! Without the Spirit of God I am a dry and withered thing. I droop, I fade, I die. How sweetly does this dew refresh me! When once favored with it I feel happy, lively, vigorous, elevated. I want nothing more. The Holy Spirit brings me life and all that life requires. All else without the dew of the Spirit is less than nothing to me: I hear, I read, I pray, I sing, I go to the table of Communion, and I find no blessing there until the Holy Ghost visits me. But when He bedews me, every means of grace is sweet and profitable.
What a promise is this for me! "His heavens shall drop down dew." I shall be visited with grace. I shall not be left to my natural drought, or to the world's burning heat, or to the sirocco of satanic temptation. Oh, that l may at this very hour feel the gentle, silent, saturating dew of the LORD! Why should I not! He who has made me to live as the grass lives in the meadow will treat me as He treats the grass; He will refresh me from above. Grass cannot call for dew as I do. Surely, the LORD who visits the unpraying plant will answer to His pleading child.
***
Genesis 27:28
Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of corn and new wine;
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
Therefore He waits on high to have mercy (compassion) on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice (judgement);
Blessed are all those who wait for Him in faith.
| Habakkuk 2:3-4 For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. See, he is puffed up (proud); his desires are not upright -- he will faint from exhaustion; But the righteous will live by their faith. |
Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Jesus, the pierced One, the firstborn Son
Pierced for our transgressions,
... He was crushed for our iniquities;
... the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
... and by His wounds we are healed. --Isa 53:5
His head and brow were pierced with a crown of thorns --Mt 27:29
His hands and feet pierced with nails --Ps 22:16
His heart pierced with this cry:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning? --Ps 2:1
His side pierced with a spear, bringing a sudden flow
A cleansing flow of blood and water. --Jn 19:34
Without the shed blood of the Lamb
... there is no forgiveness of sins. -- Heb 9:22
The Father sends the Spirit so that each will look upon the Son
Jesus, the pierced One
Every eye will see Him
Every heart will mourn --Rev 1:7
Mourn as one mourns for an only child
The King's sword pierces even the purest of souls {Mary} --Lk 2:28-35
True repentance comes when eyes look on the pierced One and mourn
Mourn, grieving bitterly for their sin.
Pierced by the sword
Washed in the water of His word --Eph 5:26
Cleansed by His blood, the blood of the Lamb
Christ, our Passover Lamb --1 Cor 5:7
Cleansed to serve the living God! --Heb 9:14
Revelation 1:7
Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
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Rev 19:6, 11, 15-16
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of
rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,
whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes
war.
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down
the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the
winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on
his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
The glory and the sword
The King's sword pierces even the purest of souls {Mary} --Lk 2:28-35
The sword, the word of God judges, reveals and divides --Heb 4:12-13
Hearts embracing Christ and His word revealed
Hearts secretly corrupt also revealed
... to the one an aroma of death,
... to another an aroma of life. --2 Cor 2:16
The glory and the sword point the way
| Oh LORD, purify our hearts, ... make our hearts clean ... by the washing with water thru the word --Eph 5:26 ... that we may be found on the right side of the sword. |
Jesus is the Rock!
He's also the Light of the word!
A beacon of truth showing the WAY.
Psalm 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be
shaken.
Consider the Manger{OH}
Luke 2:12
This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Consider this sign
a humble
simple sign
a sign to deny self ...
Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done. --Lk 22:42
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. --Lk 9:23
Luke 2:28-35
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
A sign that will be spoken against
A Rock of offense --1 Pe 2:6-8
A sword to pierce your soul
Even the 'purest' of souls will be pierced {Mary}
Pierced by the sword revealing thoughts and attitudes of the heart
Hearts embracing Christ and His word revealed
Hearts secretly corrupt also revealed
... to the one an aroma of death, to another an aroma of life. --2 Cor 2:16
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Have you allowed the sword to pierce your heart?
Have you allowed your heart to be cleansed by the washing with water through the word --Eph 5:26?
Let the sign of the child lead.
Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
A little child will lead
The child that is weaned, no longer drinks milk
Mature in the word and the use of the sword. --Heb 5:11-14
For Jesus did not come to bring peace, but a sword. --Mt 10:34
1 Peter 2:6-8
Behold I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone
to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe ...
"A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"
For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word,
And to this doom they were also appointed.
Matthew 18:3-4
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
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Psalm 118:18-23
The LORD has chastened me severely,
... but he has not given me over to death.
Open for me the gates of righteousness;
... I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD
... through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
... you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected
... has become the capstone;
the LORD has done this,
... and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The capstone
... to some the key to open the gates of righteousness
... to others the stumbling block and rock of offense --1 Pe 2:6-8
Turn in repentance and obedience to the LORD
See the open door
Enter in
Love much!
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father
will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved
much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.
Want to love more? Love much???
We need to check our hearts -
Which person are we more like in the below passage?
How are we receiving/ seeking Jesus?
Like Simon, are we entertaining Jesus - maybe for status - maybe out of
curiosity -- or that Jesus might display His power, a sign & wonder in our
presence?
Or like the woman who falls at Jesus's feet in worship and receives Him as
savior?
Luke 7:44-50
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this
woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my
feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has
not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has
poured perfume on my feet.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved
much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even
forgives sins?"
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Galatians 1:6-10
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you
in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel -- not that there
is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to
pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven,
should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you,
let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone
is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him
be accursed. Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I
trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a
servant of Christ.
It's surprising how quickly some turn and accept a different gospel.
There is only one gospel, one Lord.
Whose favor is being saught? Men's or God's?
Colossians 2:18-21
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-
abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he
has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast
to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held
together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from
God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the
world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to
decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"
Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and All your soul
Follow Jesus Christ alone
Fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments
Listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him
Alone! --Deut 13:1-4
Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one
hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
***
Matthew 24:23-28
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There
he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear
and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that
were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.
"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as
apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an
angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as
servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Quote:
| ... the "different gospel" in the churches of Galatia was not a religion from a foreign land. It was a close counterfeit to the real thing. The people in verse Gal 1:7 who were perverting the gospel were professing Christians. They probably belonged to the church in Jerusalem and knew its leaders (Gal 2:12). This "different gospel" was not on the order of Buddhism or Hinduism or Islam. It was an in-house distortion. It was promoted by men who called themselves Christian "brothers" (Gal 2:4). |
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Are you in the middle of a storm today?
Does the earth seem to be quaking?
Are the waves crashing or the mountains crumbling into the midst of the sea? --Ps 46:2-3
FEAR NOT for
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. --Ps 46:1
He never changes and
He will never forsake or leave you alone
Look for Him in the storm
Seek the One who can calm any storm
The One who speaks 'Peace! Be Still' --Mk 4:39
Seek the Son who does not change
Who provides a firm place to stand, the Rock --Ps 40:2
His light shines thru any storm.
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill, to the place where You dwell. --Ps 43:3
His light leads to the Rock in the eye of the storm
A place of calm,
A place of peace,
A place of quietness and rest
A place of trust --Isa 30:15
The Rock that is higher than I. --Ps 61:2
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! --Ps 46:10
For I AM the LORD,
I do not change
I do not go back on my promises!
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged!
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O Lord God! Thou hast not left us at any time. We have had dark nights, but the star of love has shone forth amid the blackness; we have had our cloudy days, but our sun has never set until we have had glimpses of sunlight from heaven; we have gone through many trials, but never to our detriment, always to our advantage; and the conclusion from our past experience - at least, I can speak of my own positively - is, that he who hath been with us in six troubles, will not forsake us in the seventh. He hath said, "I will never, never leave thee, and will never, never, never forsake thee." Do not think I repeat these "nevers" too often; I repeat the text just as I find it in the Greek. What we have known of our faithful God, goes to show that he will keep us to the end, and even to the last he will be our helper.
From a sermon entitled "The Danger Of Doubting" by Spurgeon
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