Category: worship

Ask God: “No Response Is Not an Answer”

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“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3: 21-22, NASB).

About 1 hour and 50 minutes into the service, Rabbi Carlson says, “No response [from God] is not an answer.”  Then he quotes I John 3: 21-22 and lists 17 questions (see below) to ask God.  Every follower of Yeshua (Jesus’ Hebrew name) should consider these questions and listen for God’s answer.

1) God, in Yeshua’s name do You love me?

2) God, in Yeshua’s name are You happy with me?

3) God, in Yeshua’s name am I pleasing You?

4) God, in Yeshua’s name is there anything in me–any sin–that would hinder Your presence, Your will, Your power in my life?

5) God in Yeshua’s name are there any idols in my life?

6) God, in Yeshua’s name do I have sinful thoughts, hidden agendas, anger, hurt, or unforgiveness in my life?

7) God, in Yeshua’s name is there any spirit in me that is not of You?

8) God, in Yeshua’s name have I offended You?

9) God, in Yeshua’s name how can I serve You?

10) God, in Yeshua’s name what is on Your heart?

11) God, in Yeshua’s name how can I minister unto You?

12) God, in Yeshua’s name what do You want me to pray for?

13) God, in Yeshua’s name what are Your plans and purpose for my life?

14) God, in Yeshua’s name what can I do to have more of You in me?

15) God, in Yeshua’s name does my life reflect Your kingdom?

16) God, in Yeshua’s name have I offended or hurt anyone?

17) God, in Yeshua’s  name may I have more heavenly power to reveal Your power here on earth?

 

 

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Messianic Sabbath Service Prior to Resurrection Sunday

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I encourage believers to watch the above service before or after you read my “commentary” below.  The sermon begins about one hour and nine minutes into the broadcast.

THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

“‘These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them.  Passover is followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasts seven days.  Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.  On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.  But for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.  On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.  But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.  On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work'” (Leviticus 23: 4-9 NASB).

Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.  For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.  Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Corinthians 5: 7-8 NASB).

FIRSTFRUITS

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.  He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath'” (Leviticus 23: 10-11 NIV).

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (I Corinthians 15: 20-23 NIV).

FIRSTFRUITS (Resurrection Day), not EASTER

Firstfruits falls on the *Sunday after the weekly Sabbath during the week of Passover.  In addition, to the weekly Sabbath, two special sabbaths occur: one on the first and one on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  The late Zola Levitt explains this well in his article at http://www.levitt.com/essays/first-fruits.

Easter is often confused with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  How you ever wondered what egg-laying bunnies have to do with the Resurrection of our Lord?  Nothing.  But they have everything to do with Easter.  Easter is another name for Eostre, the goddess related to spring, according to the OXFORD ENCYCLOPEDIC ENGLISH DICTIONARY (Oxford University Press 1991, 1995, 1996).

For an extended explanation of Easter versus Resurrection Sunday and how the timing of each is calculated see my post “Easter, Eostre, Resurrection Sunday.”

*On the Biblical calendar, Sunday begins after sundown Saturday.  In the same way, the Biblical Sabbath begins Friday after sundown through Saturday at sundown.

 

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Psalm 138: Worship, Praise, Thanksgiving

I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands (KJV).

Several nights ago, I had a dream.  In the dream I needed four verses about seeking God to put on this blog.  In the same dream I saw the phrase “Psalm 138.”  So that’s why I selected verses about seeking God (five actually) for my last post and quoted Psalm 138 on this post.  Putting God first and giving Him praise and thanksgiving are essential for developing a relationship with Him.

Getting saved is just the beginning, not the end.  You must seek Him with all of your heart if you want to mature spiritually.  He wants all of you.  He wants all of me.  Allow Him to prune you.  Otherwise, you will not grow.

If we do not grow in our relationship with the Lord, we become stagnant.  We will attempt to serve God in the flesh rather than lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance.  I’m writing these words not only for the reader, but also for me.  We need to remember that Christ is the vine; we are the branches.  Without Him, we can do nothing.  (See John 15: 5.)

Are you ready to move up to the next level?  If you are comfortable in your relationship with the God of the universe, you are missing out. God wants to move us out of our comfort zones.

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Seek God

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29: 13 KJV).

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you (James 4: 8a KJV)

Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him.  And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you (2 Chronicles 15: 1-2 NASB).

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 4: 29 KJV).

Seek the LORD whiSeekle He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55: 6 NASB).

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Praise and Worship: It’s All About God, Not Us

Much has been made over how to worship God, sparking controversy even about which instruments should be allowed in a service. Some churches try to make everyone happy by having two services, a contemporary one and a traditional one.  I’m not sure that this is a good idea.  Wouldn’t it be better to combine the best of both?  The Bible seems to suggest so.

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp (Psalm 92: 1-3 NIV).

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.   Praise the LORD (Psalm 150: 3-6 NIV).

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.  (Ephesians 5: 19 NIV).

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I AM 365 Names of God CD

I AM 365 Names of God CD.

If I could own but one CD, it would be this one: “I AM 365 Names of God,” with John Paul Jackson reciting the names of God as Graham Ord’s musical score plays in the background. I bought one CD to keep and one to share with others.

Anyone who is depressed, ill, or needs a spiritual jump start, will benefit from this CD.  It takes you from the mundane to the heavenly realm of Almighty God, who is all powerful.  His names and attributes remind us that He is all we need.

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Psalm 42: 1-2

“As the deerThe Lord's Prayer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?” (NIV)

Spending time with God is essential to spiritual growth and maturity.  When you love someone, you desire to be with him or her.  Spending time alone with God should be our first priority.  Reading the Bible, fasting, and prayer are obvious ways to spend time with God.  The most difficult part for me has been learning to listen to God during times of prayer and praise.  I tend to yak too much when I pray and don’t wait for God to respond.  But I’m learning.  I have never heard His audible voice, but He speaks to my spirit when I shut up and listen.

Foto de una carretera en la cual se destacan a...
Foto de una carretera en la cual se destacan anuncios de los restaurantes de comida rápida KFC, Wendy’s y Taco Bell entre otros. Picture of a highway in which fast food ads are featured:KFC, Wendy’s and Taco Bell among others. Taken in Bowling Green, KY. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Listening to God is an art.  Yes, He always speaks to us through His Word (and He will never contradict His Word), but He also speaks to us when we pray and worship Him–if we allow Him to get a word in edgewise.  The problem is that modern man is accustomed to fast food (a.k.a. “fast food mentality”).  We must learn to “wait upon the LORD.”

I have much to say about prayer in general, based on The Lord’s Prayer.  But I’ll save that for another time.  God is waiting for me, and I don’t want to disappoint Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HEAVEN AWAITS THE BRIDE: A Book Review

I read the Kindle version of  HEAVEN AWAITS THE BRIDE while my husband was driving us to Moravian Falls, NC, and back. I had read about  the book on a Moravian Falls Website, which posted Sid Roth’s (“It’s Supernatural“) interview with Anna Rountree.  I figured that the book would put me in the mood for visiting Moravian Falls, an area dedicated to God by the Moravians, a Protestant denomination. It did.

Often I start a book and don’t finish it, but this book was an exception.  I couldn’t put it down.  The book made me examine my own walk with the Lord.  Do I “love God with all [my] heart and with all [my] soul and with all [my] might?”  (Deuteronomy 6: 5, Luke 10: 27).

Despite the elaborate descriptions of Jesus, the heavenly hosts, and the throne of God, Rountree’s statement about loving the Lord above all else moved me the most.  In fact, I would say that the theme of the book boils down to Deuteronomy 6:5.

What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might?  I’m not sure but I’m determined to find out.  This life-changing book is revolutioning my relationship with God through His Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).  The book is “deep” and reads like an allegory; but make no mistake.  Anna Rountree makes it clear that everything she wrote actually happened, and I believe her. Also, she backs up her portrayal of heaven with scripture after scripture.

Before you read HEAVEN AWAITS THE BRIDE, it’s helpful to have at least a basic knowledge and understanding of the Bible.  Thank you, Ms. Rountree for sharing your story.

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