Malachi 3:3 "He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away. He will purify the Levites (and me too) refining them like gold or silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD."
(foot note in New Living) In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with fire until it melts. The impurities separate from it and rise to the surface. They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal. Without this heating and melting there could be no purifying. As the impurities are skimmed off the top the reflections of the worker appears in the clear, pure surface. As we are purified by God, His reflection in our life will become more and more clear to those around us.
Alkali was also used as a strong soap to whiten cloth. This, too, is a symbol of the purifying process.
Father, I am so grateful that You are the One who purifies me and judges the results. You are the only one who could judge fairly and accurately. My desire is to endure the process willingly and with dignity. Turn the heat high so all the dross and impurities may float up and be cast out forever. Wash me clean by the strong powerful cleansing of Christ's blood. May You see Your reflection in my life and may others also recognize You in me.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A Quickening spirit
October 31, 2004
I Cor. 15:45 - "Thus it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a Quickening Spirit (life-giving Spirit restoring the dead to life."
Genesis 2:7 says after You formed Adam from the dust of the ground, he was lifeless until You breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life. Then man became a living being. At this point man was an eternal being, BUT when he sinned, he had to die for his sin. "But God" (again, I love that phrase)...But God, in Your mercy knew in advance this would happen. You had a plan all along.
Jesus, Your Son would become a man, live a sinless life, and become the perfect sacrifice to pay not only for Adam's since, but for everyone of us through eternity. When we believe Jesus is Your Son, accept his payment for our sin and repent, then You breath that Quickening Spirit into us. Your Holy Spirit in me will never leave. He is my physical and spiritual life, my energy in every way. He is the air I breathe, the food that sustains me. Life-giving and life-restoring and most important, life-keeping!
Lord, I praise You for the presence of your Quickening Spirit that abides in me. May I never quench or stifle Him. Enable me to hear His voice and to obey in every way. May I always allow His power to work on me, in me, and through me. Praise to your Quickening Spirit!
I Cor. 15:45 - "Thus it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a Quickening Spirit (life-giving Spirit restoring the dead to life."
Genesis 2:7 says after You formed Adam from the dust of the ground, he was lifeless until You breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life. Then man became a living being. At this point man was an eternal being, BUT when he sinned, he had to die for his sin. "But God" (again, I love that phrase)...But God, in Your mercy knew in advance this would happen. You had a plan all along.
Jesus, Your Son would become a man, live a sinless life, and become the perfect sacrifice to pay not only for Adam's since, but for everyone of us through eternity. When we believe Jesus is Your Son, accept his payment for our sin and repent, then You breath that Quickening Spirit into us. Your Holy Spirit in me will never leave. He is my physical and spiritual life, my energy in every way. He is the air I breathe, the food that sustains me. Life-giving and life-restoring and most important, life-keeping!
Lord, I praise You for the presence of your Quickening Spirit that abides in me. May I never quench or stifle Him. Enable me to hear His voice and to obey in every way. May I always allow His power to work on me, in me, and through me. Praise to your Quickening Spirit!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A Great Light
Isaiah 9:2 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; Those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined."
Isaiah 42:6 "I, the Lord, have called You (the Messiah) for a righteous purpose and in righteousness. I will take You by the hand and will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people (Israel) for a light to the nations (Gentiles."
"The Light of the World is Jesus"
We all walk in darkness, in the persistant shadow of death, eternal death, until Your Light, Jesus sihines upon us. I praise You Lord, and I am ever so grateful that the Light of Jesus' love, forgiveness, and eternal life, is not exclusively for Your people, the Jews.
You sent Your Light into the dark world for a righteous purpose, to give Christ's righteousness to us, even through we are so unworthy.
When we believe and accept His gift of redemption and forgiveness, His Light shines on us and in us. And You expect that we allow it to sihne through us so others who are still in darkeness can be born into the light, and walk in the Light.
Chris Rice song "Untitled Hymn"
Isaiah 42:6 "I, the Lord, have called You (the Messiah) for a righteous purpose and in righteousness. I will take You by the hand and will keep You; I will give You for a covenant to the people (Israel) for a light to the nations (Gentiles."
"The Light of the World is Jesus"
We all walk in darkness, in the persistant shadow of death, eternal death, until Your Light, Jesus sihines upon us. I praise You Lord, and I am ever so grateful that the Light of Jesus' love, forgiveness, and eternal life, is not exclusively for Your people, the Jews.
You sent Your Light into the dark world for a righteous purpose, to give Christ's righteousness to us, even through we are so unworthy.
When we believe and accept His gift of redemption and forgiveness, His Light shines on us and in us. And You expect that we allow it to sihne through us so others who are still in darkeness can be born into the light, and walk in the Light.
Chris Rice song "Untitled Hymn"
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our Righteousness
Jeremiah 23:6 - ...This is His name by which he shall b called - The Lord our Righteousness.
There is a hope for those who have given up hope. It is a name of life fore those who can see only death. What an exchange! My sin, past, present, and future - for His marvelous, incalculable righteousness and purity.
Lord, at Calvary's cross you became sin on my behalf that I might become righteous in God's eyes. Your purity and righteousness became mine. No longer does Our Father see my sin, my filthy rags, my utter unworthiness.
He sees me clothed in Your pure white robe of righteousness. My sin is gone, forever. My debt has been cleared.
Jesus Christ has redeemed me, but not with silver or gold or anything perishable. BUT, with the precious blood as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless. The blood of Christ the Son of God himself, was shed for me.
I am so aware of my unrighteousness. but I know now that is not who I am any longer. The day I confessed my sin, acknowledged Your payment for my sin, accepted the free gift of redemption, I became righteous in Your eyes.
This is a debt I can never pay. Thank you. keep me humble and yet aware that I am now not only righteous, but You are making me holy, for your purposes.
Praise Jehovah Tsidkenu, My Righteousness. Hallelujah! Amen.
There is a hope for those who have given up hope. It is a name of life fore those who can see only death. What an exchange! My sin, past, present, and future - for His marvelous, incalculable righteousness and purity.
Lord, at Calvary's cross you became sin on my behalf that I might become righteous in God's eyes. Your purity and righteousness became mine. No longer does Our Father see my sin, my filthy rags, my utter unworthiness.
He sees me clothed in Your pure white robe of righteousness. My sin is gone, forever. My debt has been cleared.
Jesus Christ has redeemed me, but not with silver or gold or anything perishable. BUT, with the precious blood as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless. The blood of Christ the Son of God himself, was shed for me.
I am so aware of my unrighteousness. but I know now that is not who I am any longer. The day I confessed my sin, acknowledged Your payment for my sin, accepted the free gift of redemption, I became righteous in Your eyes.
This is a debt I can never pay. Thank you. keep me humble and yet aware that I am now not only righteous, but You are making me holy, for your purposes.
Praise Jehovah Tsidkenu, My Righteousness. Hallelujah! Amen.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is There
Ezekiel 48:35 "The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be 'The Lord is There." Shammah means "there."
Hebrews 13:5c (amplified)
"He (God) Himself has said I will not in any way fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will NOT, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake, nor let you down." "Relax my hold on you, assuredly not!" Josh 1:5
The more we open our hearts and lives to study, learn, and apply Your Word to our hearts, Your Holy Spirit assures us that You are There!
"I will be with you, Jean. I will not fail you. Do you now know that you are the tenple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? II Cor 6:16
The nearness of God is my good. I have made the LORD my God my refuge.
He, Jesus, was here on earth in body among His people and they did not see and believe. He was here. he is here now as the Holy Spirit. And He will come again as King of Kings to rule over teh nations of this world.
Lord teach me to live in the expectancy of Your Son from heaven, whom You raised from the dead - Jesus - who delivers us from the wrath to come.
I desire to be where You are; to be aware of Your indwelling presence. Praise Jehovah Shammah. God is here!
Hebrews 13:5c (amplified)
"He (God) Himself has said I will not in any way fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will NOT, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake, nor let you down." "Relax my hold on you, assuredly not!" Josh 1:5
The more we open our hearts and lives to study, learn, and apply Your Word to our hearts, Your Holy Spirit assures us that You are There!
"I will be with you, Jean. I will not fail you. Do you now know that you are the tenple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? II Cor 6:16
The nearness of God is my good. I have made the LORD my God my refuge.
He, Jesus, was here on earth in body among His people and they did not see and believe. He was here. he is here now as the Holy Spirit. And He will come again as King of Kings to rule over teh nations of this world.
Lord teach me to live in the expectancy of Your Son from heaven, whom You raised from the dead - Jesus - who delivers us from the wrath to come.
I desire to be where You are; to be aware of Your indwelling presence. Praise Jehovah Shammah. God is here!
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