JERUSALEM AND GOD

“God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn" (Psalm 46:5 NKJV).

Although primarily speaking about the City of Jerusalem, this verse can be applied to the people of God wherever they are. The verse speaks about the presence of God, the permanence from God, and the protection from God.

Presence of God – “God is in the midst of her.” All the blessings that came to Jerusalem is directly related to the fact of God’s presence. We need the presence of God to have the blessings of God. Not only did Jerusalem need the Divine presence for blessings, but every believer, and every nation needs God’s presence. The key to any nation’s success and strength is the presence of God. If we do not want God with us, He will grant us our desire and the consequences of losing God’s presence will be disastrous.

Permanence from God – “She shall not be moved.” The stability of Jerusalem was in the fact of the presence of God. This is also true of individuals. There are situations that which we have faced or will face that will literally shake up our lives. Yet, when God is in the midst of our life, we shall not be moved. We shall not be shaken and “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). Our faith will stand strong, and we shall not be moved. However, when we leave God out of your life, we are heading for shipwreck. Stability comes from God being in our midst.

Protection from God – “God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” God was Jerusalem’s protection; He would help her against the enemy. Further, His help will be at the right time because God is never late. He may not run on our schedule, and we may become impatient. But God always deliver in time. We need to reciprocate that action of God by responding to His commands without delay. Note the phrase “just at the break of dawn,” well if you have had a night of troubles, God will meet you in the morning. Do not give up; the darkest hour is often right before dawn.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Trusting God’s providence means we stop trifling with His plans!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Possessed

In Acts 7:45 we read, “Which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David” (NKJV).

Possessed is the is the Greek word kataschesis (κατάσχεσις = kat-as'-khes-is). It means to take hold of, take possession. In Classical Greek kataschesis primarily denotes something which is held, a holding. In actual practice, the basic definition is holding back, restraining. In the Septuagint (LXX) the primary meaning of kataschesis is a possession, a holding fast. In the New Testament, kataschesis appears only twice: Acts 7:5, 45. In Acts 7: 5 Stephen recounts how God promised to give the land to Abraham and to his descendants “for a possession.” Then in Acts 7:45 Stephen told how the Israelites brought the tabernacle with them “into the possession” or “in taking possession” of the nations in Canaan.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would ascended to right hand of God (Psalm 68:18)

New Testament Fulfillment – Luke 24:51

Bible Facts About Jesus

Jesus was not a vegan

In the Old Testament, God the Father set up a system of animal sacrifice as a key part of worship. Contrary to the rules of modern vegans who do not eat meat on moral grounds, God placed no such restrictions on his followers. He did, however, give a list of unclean foods that were to be avoided, such as pork, rabbit, water creatures without fins or scales, and certain lizards and insects. As an obedient Jew, the Lord Jesus would have eaten the Passover lamb. The gospels also tell of Jesus eating fish.

Bible Quiz

According to the apostle Paul, what can separate us from the love of God?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What kind of leaves did Adam and Eve use in an attempt to cover their nakedness? Fig leaves (Gen. 3:7)

That’s in the Bible

"Valley of the shadow of death”

"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” (Prov. 18:10 NKJV).

“Valley of the shadow of death” - The expression “valley of the shadow death” represent any difficult experience of life that makes us afraid, including death. As followers the Lord Jesus, we may at times find ourselves in life threatening situations (valley of the shadow of death). Yet we can take comfort in the fact that our Shepherd will be by our side through every hazard. Although defenseless in ourselves, we are not alone in the peril. We can be fearless in the valley because our Shepherd will protect us from all deadly threats, including his own waywardness.

Did You Know – Christian History

Walter Grand Taylor was born October 19, 1864 in Pittsburg, PA. As a lad Taylor sold papers and grew up with one of the toughest boys’ gangs in the city. He even broke into freight cars, stole from wagons and fruit stands. He was never suspected of such misdemeanors because he did so well in school.

Interested chiefly in money and success, Taylor rose from job to job, steadily improving his financial standing. He became co-owner of a pharmaceutical concern. Taylor had little use for religion and had his heart set on making a fortune. However, the sudden death of Taylor’s young wife brought deep sorrow into his life.

He had complained when his Christian wife wanted to hold prayer meetings in their home. Now he was holding a one-man prayer-meeting of his own. Taylor rose from his knees determined to serve the Christ who had met his soul’s need in answer to prayer.

He sold his share in the business, attended Moody Bible Institute, volunteered at the Pacific Garden Mission, married his second wife, Ethelwyn, and became a missionary to railroad men and miners in Colorado.

Yet, Taylor felt God was calling him to work among city derelicts. He shuddered at the thought. He still remembered being infected by lice years earlier when he put his arm around a drunk. However, God was not to be thwarted. Taylor was asked to take over the Old Brewery Mission in Montreal. He went, and for sixteen years, he and Ethelwyn saw success in the previously unresponsive area.

Twenty years after his conversion, Walter and Ethelwyn became leaders of the Pacific Garden Mission. There Ethelwyn wrote the hymn “Calvary Covers it All,” while Walter, as director, expanded the mission’s work.

A Little Humor

A woman went into a small town post office and asked for five dollars’ worth of stamps. “What denomination?” asked the clerk. “Well,” came the angry reply, “I didn’t know it would come to this, but if you must know, I’m a Methodist!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“He who has slight thoughts of sin never had great thoughts of God!”