It's been awhile since I have read Zachariah...WOW! This symbolically rich, Old Testament book instills courage and direction. Even the name, "Zachariah" instills comfort by its meaning, "the Lord has remembered" (Introduction to Zachariah, Amplified Bible).
The Jews have returned to Jerusalem after their seventy year captivity in Babylon. The Lord is reminding the people, "Return to Me" and "I will return to you" (Zechariah 1:3, Amplified).
In Zechariah 2:4, the second angel declares that Jerusalem will be "without walls." But this is not a cause for concern, because the Lord promises that He "will be a wall of fire round about" (Zechariah 2:5).
Use your holy imagination...
There are so many people and livestock that a physical wall can't contain them. Without a wall for protection, I imagine that the Jews might be a little worried.
Would another enemy attack them and carry them off into captivity once again as the Babylonians had done?
The Lord ignites a fire wall around His people! His glory is shining directly from the middle of His people. I imagine His glory as the fuel for the fire wall. The people are protected, safe and secure. God has them, all around. They are living in the midst of Living Flames of Fire! The people respond with courage! Their souls immersed in Peace! They develop confidence in the Lord of Hosts...they have returned to Him, and He has returned to them! Cries of celebration replace the cries of captivity! Songs of joy sung; "He has come into our midst!" It is another day, a different season, a New Beginning!!! The Lord of Hosts assures them that any enemy who touches them is touching His eye! He will not stand for an enemy poking Him in His eye! He swings His hand and the former masters now become plunder for God's people. The enemy is defeated! No more, can he enslave. The people, they are free and their souls are stilled!!!
Zechariah 2:13
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Be still, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused and risen from His holy habitation.
I can feel Your Presence, Lord! You are reminding me that Your flaming wall of protection surrounds and Your glory shines from the midst of me. My flesh is still!!!
Thank You, thank You, thank You!!!
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Haggai: Called to Rebuild the Temple
The Enemy May Stall, But None Shall Stop the Prophetic Promises talks about the enemy's influence in stalling the progression of the temple building project. Eighteen years have passed have passed since the Cyrus gave approval to the temple project, but because they were delayed by the enemy, the people turned their attention to building their own homes. God's temple was in ruins, yet the people lived in "paneled houses."
Haggai 1:2-4
Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say, The time is not yet come that the Lord’s house should be rebuilt [although Cyrus had ordered it done eighteen years before].
3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?
Today, the "temple" God is calling us to rebuild is our own body, because as Christians "your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you."
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Amplified Bible (AMP)
18 Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,
20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
Father is calling us to rebuild who we are "inside." Haggai teaches us that "holiness is not infectious." In other words, we aren't holy just because we attend a church service or perform in a godly manner. We are holy, because Jesus has imparted His holiness in us when we accepted His gift of salvation. Yet, Haggai also teaches us the "unholiness is infectious." The way that we live matters to God, and it starts with who we are on the inside, the place where His Spirit lives.
Joyce Meyer's had it right when she said the reason we read the Bible is "so we don't live stupid." Friends, the Bible teaches us the way to build our personal, internal temple, and what's awesome is that Holy Spirit empowers us to do it! It is a never-ending building project. We are being remade each day as each day He pours out His mercy. We just need to be willing to turn our attention to the thing that really matters, building a house that is suitable for the King of Kings!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Ezra 4-6; Psalm 137: The Enemy May Stall, But None Shall Stop the Prophetic Promises
Josh: "But they need me here. If I don't help them...how will they... The shepherd, he's part of the prophecy."
Jesus: "Son! Have no fear. The prophesies will be fulfilled be it one way or another. One river is calm while the other is treacherous. In one boat, many will be saved. In the other, many will be lost."
Josh: "But maybe I, maybe I don't want the responsibility. I'm tired of fighting. It's never enough for the one that I save a hundred are...
Jesus: "It matter a great deal to that one person. It matters to Me."
Josh: "Tell me, Lord. What do I do?" (Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider)
Ezra 4:21-24
Amplified Bible (AMP)
21Therefore give a decree to make these men stop, that this city not be rebuilt, until a command is given by me.
Jesus: "Son! Have no fear. The prophesies will be fulfilled be it one way or another. One river is calm while the other is treacherous. In one boat, many will be saved. In the other, many will be lost."
Josh: "But maybe I, maybe I don't want the responsibility. I'm tired of fighting. It's never enough for the one that I save a hundred are...
Jesus: "It matter a great deal to that one person. It matters to Me."
Josh: "Tell me, Lord. What do I do?" (Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider)
Ezra 4:21-24
Amplified Bible (AMP)
21Therefore give a decree to make these men stop, that this city not be rebuilt, until a command is given by me.
22 Be sure that you do this. Why should damage grow, to the hurt of the kings?
23 When the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and by force and power made them cease.
24 Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped. It stopped until the second year of Darius king of Persia.
The rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity was a prophetic promise, yet enemies were successful in stalling its construction.
Have you even wondered about the prophetic promises, which the enemy halted mid fulfillment?
Have you considered the prophetic promises yet to be fulfilled?
I certainly have.
While watching the fictional movie, Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider, a few days ago, I was encouraged by a dialogue between Josh and Jesus as referenced above. God WILL fulfill His promises. He WILL complete His plan, "One way or another." The pressure of personal responsibility to "fulfill" God's plan for Him, is off! Our heart only needs to say, "Tell me, Lord. What do I do?" He is pleased with the "one" we touch for Him. He is pleased when our heart desires to do right. He is pleased when we try, but He doesn't expect us to do what only He can do. He holds the world in His hands. He is the One who directs the times and the seasons. His Spirit draws a heart. We cannot do these things. We can only say, "Tell me, Lord. What do I do?"
Thank You, Lord, that Your burden is light. Tell us what to do in every minute of every day, Lord. In the great and awesome Name of Jesus, AMEN!!!
The rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity was a prophetic promise, yet enemies were successful in stalling its construction.
Have you even wondered about the prophetic promises, which the enemy halted mid fulfillment?
Have you considered the prophetic promises yet to be fulfilled?
I certainly have.
While watching the fictional movie, Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider, a few days ago, I was encouraged by a dialogue between Josh and Jesus as referenced above. God WILL fulfill His promises. He WILL complete His plan, "One way or another." The pressure of personal responsibility to "fulfill" God's plan for Him, is off! Our heart only needs to say, "Tell me, Lord. What do I do?" He is pleased with the "one" we touch for Him. He is pleased when our heart desires to do right. He is pleased when we try, but He doesn't expect us to do what only He can do. He holds the world in His hands. He is the One who directs the times and the seasons. His Spirit draws a heart. We cannot do these things. We can only say, "Tell me, Lord. What do I do?"
Thank You, Lord, that Your burden is light. Tell us what to do in every minute of every day, Lord. In the great and awesome Name of Jesus, AMEN!!!
Monday, March 2, 2015
The Call of My Beloved: Set Me Like a Seal Upon Your Heart
God can use anything, even a cute little Facebook quiz to stir my passion for Him. Earlier today after getting home from work, 1:53 am, I took the quiz, "Which Bible Passage Describes You?" My result Song of Solomon 8:6.
Song of Solomon 8:6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Set me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as hard and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead). Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame [the very flame of the Lord]!
All day, I have been meditating on this verse. I felt lead to study it's meaning...WOW!!!. During my study, I found this beautiful prophetic writing, which describes so accurately my heart for Jesus and His heart for me. It's lengthy, but well worth the read. He is a Passionate Bridegroom and I, His adoring Bride. You, also are called to be His Beloved Bride!
He is a Seal Upon My Heart; He is My Dwelling Place
Submitted by Tara Dulin on January 2, 2014 - 20:21
I can hear the sound of rushing water.
I look. I see a waterfall. It is vast and powerful. I look up. It is enormous. I look for the waterfall’s origin, but I can only see the rushing waterfall, and big, perfect, fluffy white clouds encircling the top of it.
I hear My Savior’s voice behind me. He is the Lover of my soul. He says: “This is My provision for you. This is My Spirit, My life that I have poured out for you. All you have need of, is found in Me, My presence, My life, My love for you. I love you with an everlasting love. My love is unmoving, unchanging, unshakeable. The lies that have been spoken over you are just that, lies from the father of lies, designed to steal, kill and destroy. Those lies are not from Me. They are NOT Truth. Fix your eyes on Me. Tune to the flow of My Holy Spirit. Rest in My embrace. Allow Me to minister My truth, My life and My love to you.”
I sense Him. He is behind me. He is near. I feel Him embrace me. I lean into His embrace. I rest in His embrace.
“Forgive me, Lord, for not coming to You first. Forgive me for not being perfect. Forgive me for letting others down. Forgive me for letting You down. Forgive me for listening to the lies and allowing the lies to overtake me for a time.”
“I am always here. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Never for a moment were you not forgiven. You did not let Me down. Apart from Me, there is pain, suffering and death. I am always here. I am unmovable, unshakeable Truth. Lies cannot take hold of you unless you focus on them. What you look to grows. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and My truth. Allow Me and My truth to wash over you. Allow My word, My power and My presence to wash over you and cleanse you.”
He takes my hand. Together, we step onto the massive pool that is before the waterfall. We walk on the water together. I feel the cool water lapping at my feet and ankles, but I feel a solid surface under my feet. I am safe. I feel the warmth of Jesus’ hand in mine. I look at Him, He is smiling at me. The warmth and love in His eyes is overwhelming. He is leading me to the waterfall. I enjoy walking with Him. With every step we take together, I feel stronger. With every step we take, I feel lighter. Walking with Him is rejuvenating. His hand is strong in mine. The warmth of His hand spreads from my hand, up my arm, into my heart. My left hand, my left arm and my heart are warm. The warmth intensifies. I feel the surge of His power and His love hit my heart. He is ministering to my heart. Being with Him, walking with Him, my hand in His, changes me.
“I have overcome sin and death. In My presence, sin and death must flee.”
I look at my Jesus’ left hand. It is glowing. It is a red-yellowish color, as if it is on fire. My left hand and left arm are the same color as His hand. I look at my heart, it is also glowing. His presence is radiating up my arm, into my heart, out of my chest.
He speaks: “Set Me as a seal upon your heart.”
I respond: “Yes, Lord. I set you as a seal upon my heart.”
My heart feels as if it is on fire.
I look to Him. He is watching me, smiling. We stop walking. We are standing before the waterfall. I feel the mist of it on my face and arms. I feel the force of it in my heart and chest. The waterfall is so strong and powerful, I know the force of it will crush me, but I am not afraid. I am safe in His presence. My heart is still warm. I feel the warmth increase, yet again.
Jesus steps in front of me. He stands between me and the waterfall. I look into His eyes. I see nothing but compassion and love. His face is gentle and kind. He loves me. He loves me as I am.
I have looked into eyes filled with anger, pain, fear, and malice. There is a knowing in my spirit that what I saw in those eyes and the lies that followed were intended to harm me. The subsequent depression and thoughts of death did not originate in Jesus.
My Lord speaks: “Will you trust Me? Will you allow Me to wash over you? Will you allow Me to cleanse your body, mind, spirit and soul of those lies?”
“Yes, Lord. I trust You. My life is in your hands. I surrender all to You. Again. I know You are the Way, the Truth, the Life.”
I continue to look into His eyes. The love and kindness I find there continues to minister to me. I weep. He opens His arms wide, and He embraces me. I melt into His embrace. He pulls me into Him.
I am me. He is Him. But we are One. I feel Him embrace every cell of my being. I feel Him hugging me. But it is a deeper embrace than I have known in the natural sense. I close my eyes and settle into His embrace. I feel Him embracing my heart. I feel Him embracing my mind. I feel Him embracing every part of me. I am me, yet I am hidden in Him. I do not understand it. I just receive it. I receive Him and all He has for me. I receive His embrace fully into my body, mind, spirit and soul. I feel His warmth and His presence settle into me as I settle into Him. I open my eyes. I see the form of His body around me. He is translucent, and I can see out of Him. We are standing in the waterfall. I did not know we had stepped into it. He protected me from the force of the downpour that would have killed me. Yet, I can still feel the rush of His power minister to me from the outside-in. He is the rushing water. He is the Living water. I lift up my arms. His arms lift up with mine. Our left arms are still glowing as if they are on fire. I open my mouth. His mouth opens with mine. I drink deeply. I drink deeply of the cool water that He drinks first. As I drink, I feel His power minister to me from the inside-out. His truth is changing me. I am being washed by His word, the Truth. It is changing my heart. His Truth is ministering to my heart. His truth is ministering to my mind. I stand in His presence, wrapped up in His love, inside the waterfall that is His overwhelming power, and I am made new.
I hear my own thoughts: “Thank you, Lord. Thank you for doing all this for me.”
He responds to my heart. It is but a whisper: “My beloved, I gave everything I have and everything I am for you. You are My heart’s desire. This is Our secret place. Dwell with Me. Stay with Me. In this place, you are strengthened. In this place, you are covered, surrounded and protected by My abounding grace. In My presence, you are safe. You cannot be harmed. This is your reality. I am your reality. Stay with Me. Stay in My embrace, and dwell with Me.”
With much love...His Beautiful Grace
Song of Solomon 8:6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Set me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as hard and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead). Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame [the very flame of the Lord]!
All day, I have been meditating on this verse. I felt lead to study it's meaning...WOW!!!. During my study, I found this beautiful prophetic writing, which describes so accurately my heart for Jesus and His heart for me. It's lengthy, but well worth the read. He is a Passionate Bridegroom and I, His adoring Bride. You, also are called to be His Beloved Bride!
He is a Seal Upon My Heart; He is My Dwelling Place
Submitted by Tara Dulin on January 2, 2014 - 20:21
I can hear the sound of rushing water.
I look. I see a waterfall. It is vast and powerful. I look up. It is enormous. I look for the waterfall’s origin, but I can only see the rushing waterfall, and big, perfect, fluffy white clouds encircling the top of it.
I hear My Savior’s voice behind me. He is the Lover of my soul. He says: “This is My provision for you. This is My Spirit, My life that I have poured out for you. All you have need of, is found in Me, My presence, My life, My love for you. I love you with an everlasting love. My love is unmoving, unchanging, unshakeable. The lies that have been spoken over you are just that, lies from the father of lies, designed to steal, kill and destroy. Those lies are not from Me. They are NOT Truth. Fix your eyes on Me. Tune to the flow of My Holy Spirit. Rest in My embrace. Allow Me to minister My truth, My life and My love to you.”
I sense Him. He is behind me. He is near. I feel Him embrace me. I lean into His embrace. I rest in His embrace.
“Forgive me, Lord, for not coming to You first. Forgive me for not being perfect. Forgive me for letting others down. Forgive me for letting You down. Forgive me for listening to the lies and allowing the lies to overtake me for a time.”
“I am always here. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Never for a moment were you not forgiven. You did not let Me down. Apart from Me, there is pain, suffering and death. I am always here. I am unmovable, unshakeable Truth. Lies cannot take hold of you unless you focus on them. What you look to grows. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and My truth. Allow Me and My truth to wash over you. Allow My word, My power and My presence to wash over you and cleanse you.”
He takes my hand. Together, we step onto the massive pool that is before the waterfall. We walk on the water together. I feel the cool water lapping at my feet and ankles, but I feel a solid surface under my feet. I am safe. I feel the warmth of Jesus’ hand in mine. I look at Him, He is smiling at me. The warmth and love in His eyes is overwhelming. He is leading me to the waterfall. I enjoy walking with Him. With every step we take together, I feel stronger. With every step we take, I feel lighter. Walking with Him is rejuvenating. His hand is strong in mine. The warmth of His hand spreads from my hand, up my arm, into my heart. My left hand, my left arm and my heart are warm. The warmth intensifies. I feel the surge of His power and His love hit my heart. He is ministering to my heart. Being with Him, walking with Him, my hand in His, changes me.
“I have overcome sin and death. In My presence, sin and death must flee.”
I look at my Jesus’ left hand. It is glowing. It is a red-yellowish color, as if it is on fire. My left hand and left arm are the same color as His hand. I look at my heart, it is also glowing. His presence is radiating up my arm, into my heart, out of my chest.
He speaks: “Set Me as a seal upon your heart.”
I respond: “Yes, Lord. I set you as a seal upon my heart.”
My heart feels as if it is on fire.
I look to Him. He is watching me, smiling. We stop walking. We are standing before the waterfall. I feel the mist of it on my face and arms. I feel the force of it in my heart and chest. The waterfall is so strong and powerful, I know the force of it will crush me, but I am not afraid. I am safe in His presence. My heart is still warm. I feel the warmth increase, yet again.
Jesus steps in front of me. He stands between me and the waterfall. I look into His eyes. I see nothing but compassion and love. His face is gentle and kind. He loves me. He loves me as I am.
I have looked into eyes filled with anger, pain, fear, and malice. There is a knowing in my spirit that what I saw in those eyes and the lies that followed were intended to harm me. The subsequent depression and thoughts of death did not originate in Jesus.
My Lord speaks: “Will you trust Me? Will you allow Me to wash over you? Will you allow Me to cleanse your body, mind, spirit and soul of those lies?”
“Yes, Lord. I trust You. My life is in your hands. I surrender all to You. Again. I know You are the Way, the Truth, the Life.”
I continue to look into His eyes. The love and kindness I find there continues to minister to me. I weep. He opens His arms wide, and He embraces me. I melt into His embrace. He pulls me into Him.
I am me. He is Him. But we are One. I feel Him embrace every cell of my being. I feel Him hugging me. But it is a deeper embrace than I have known in the natural sense. I close my eyes and settle into His embrace. I feel Him embracing my heart. I feel Him embracing my mind. I feel Him embracing every part of me. I am me, yet I am hidden in Him. I do not understand it. I just receive it. I receive Him and all He has for me. I receive His embrace fully into my body, mind, spirit and soul. I feel His warmth and His presence settle into me as I settle into Him. I open my eyes. I see the form of His body around me. He is translucent, and I can see out of Him. We are standing in the waterfall. I did not know we had stepped into it. He protected me from the force of the downpour that would have killed me. Yet, I can still feel the rush of His power minister to me from the outside-in. He is the rushing water. He is the Living water. I lift up my arms. His arms lift up with mine. Our left arms are still glowing as if they are on fire. I open my mouth. His mouth opens with mine. I drink deeply. I drink deeply of the cool water that He drinks first. As I drink, I feel His power minister to me from the inside-out. His truth is changing me. I am being washed by His word, the Truth. It is changing my heart. His Truth is ministering to my heart. His truth is ministering to my mind. I stand in His presence, wrapped up in His love, inside the waterfall that is His overwhelming power, and I am made new.
I hear my own thoughts: “Thank you, Lord. Thank you for doing all this for me.”
He responds to my heart. It is but a whisper: “My beloved, I gave everything I have and everything I am for you. You are My heart’s desire. This is Our secret place. Dwell with Me. Stay with Me. In this place, you are strengthened. In this place, you are covered, surrounded and protected by My abounding grace. In My presence, you are safe. You cannot be harmed. This is your reality. I am your reality. Stay with Me. Stay in My embrace, and dwell with Me.”
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