power – James G. Owen, Author

Braving the Coming Global Storm—Hope into Victory

by James G. Owen

The disciples were sailing on a ship on the Galilean Sea. It was nighttime and very dark, and I can imagine only a candle lit for light inside the ship on a lower deck. The disciples were on the main deck when the storm began to rage. The ship was listing side to side and being tossed. The front of the ship going up high over the waves. The waves of the sea were very rough. The voyage was treacherous, and the disciples were afraid because they knew that some ships were not successful in making the journey across the sea. Before them, many men had died in similar storms. Peter is watching the storm on deck, and then he sees Jesus in the distance walking toward them on the water. He beckons Jesus to let him walk on the water, to come to him. In those days it was reported by sailors seeing a spirit walking on the water. They believed it was the spirits of the dead who had lost their lives of storms past. In the culture of their day the people thought the storm god Baal was angry and caused the sea to rage.

After hearing Peter’s call, Jesus tells Peter to step out of the ship and walk on the water. Peter obeys while keeping his eyes on Jesus while he walked on the water. As he looked downward at his feet he began to sink in the sea. He began to cry out for Jesus to save him. Jesus was there at the very moment Peter began to be taken down into the sea. Jesus reaches out his hand, Peter quickly grabbed his hand and was pulled upward to safety within the storm. As Jesus and Peter walked together on the water to board the ship, the wind ceased, and the sailors on board saw and believed what they had just witness and saying among themselves, Jesus who walked on the sea is the Son of God. Why? Because no man can walk on the sea without the help of God or being God.

All of us have storms that come into our lives. The storms are various throughout our lives, and these storms either causes us to mature, or they bring us down to destroy us. Many of the storms we encounter is our fault because of sin, lack of faith, or just a circumstance in life. But I am here to tell you after going through many trials and storms in my life there is hope. Where is the hope many may think? They have looked to and fro on this earth while not regarding God our creator. People have looked for peace, love, and hope in the ways of the world, but could not find it because they were looking in the wrong place, and their hearts were not on God. God is the place, the person in which we find hope and we can trust him to get us through. All we must do is obey his commandments and live in his covenant. He takes care of his children. We may go through storms, trials, and tribulation but he is always present. We reach out to him through prayer, fasting, and believing up on his word as we read the scriptures and believe.

The hope that we are looking for to give us peace within this world is a peace of mind knowing we have eternal life as we live our lives. This peace gives us strength to carry on. We receive this hope and peace in giving our lives to God by accepting his son Jesus. This is called salvation because we are redeemed by the blood of the lamb Jesus. When we believe upon Jesus, accept him as Savior, and are forgiven of our sins then we have been given the spiritual tools to victory. The tools given us we will need to learn to use. The tools begin with faith, even though a small measure is given to us at birth we must learn to exercise our faith to see and bring greater things in our lives. To trust and believe what our faith has spoken, and realizing it is the grace of God that has saved us. When the storms come, we should remember our faith and then become determined in our mindset to endure because as we endure, we are working towards an inheritance, a blessing, and a blessing even I cannot comprehend because it is so large and continuous. God loves us and wants us to be victorious! It is his children, those who know him and have given their hearts to him to serve him on earth. Through the salvation process is how we become to know God, and he to know us. Together we enter a relationship of friendship, intimacy, and finally marriage when he returns to receive his bride —the Church.

The spiritual way to victory here I will list to summarize, so that all can see in one place to receive it in our hearts and mind. They are faith, trust, grace, salvation, redemption, peace, hope, Jesus, endurance, and blessings. Jesus is always in the middle of the process. For it was through him we have been given the victory! Through him we have found liberty, peace, and hope to endure. The prize is eternal life.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “

Philippians 3:14

This process we have been given throughout scripture will get us through any storm, battle, trial, or tribulation. We Americans, and the world are in a global storm. It is a physical and spiritual storm, but the spiritual storm is the largest aspect. We must realize we are seeing evil like we have never experienced. I believe evil will increase as time and days go by until we see our blessed Savior returning in glory and majesty on the Last Day. The last day is spoken of by John in his gospel,

“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:40

As I conclude this group of scripture presents the truth and the hope to us all. It is only through Jesus that a hope is given that will bring us joy, peace, love, and understanding. Through him hope has become life.

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

John 7: 37-39

As of Acts 2 the Holy Ghost has been received and has continued until our present day. Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to strengthen us to serve, to empower us so that we can do the same ministry as he did while alive on earth. It is through his Spirit that the rivers of water flow when we receive the Holy Ghost at the time of salvation, and has we experience the living water flowing in our prayers and life. It is the witness of the Holy Spirit to others who see the hope and that God lives within because the Holy Spirit is our witness. Those of you who do not have Jesus in your life you can receive it today. Just reach out, pray, and ask him for forgiveness. This is how you receive hope. Those of you who know Jesus have hope knowing you have him in your life. Arise and live a holy and victorious life!

Notes:

All scripture used is taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

God Exists—We See the Evidence of His Existence

by James G. Owen

God exists. The debate still rages on, and even in my younger days the debate was present. People presenting the same questions and answers, saying the evidence they resented were facts. Some even leaned to science to answer their questions, but science only disproved their theory of God’s nonexistence.

One of the questions is, does God really exist? The evidence that God exists is all around us. Look up into the skies and see the clouds, the sun, and in the night, the stars, and with the help of a telescope we can see planets from a far, galaxies, and stars being formed and more. In space, we see that creation is continual because we can see millions of miles into space and watch the creation of a star, planet, and monitor black holes. With a microscope we can see things we cannot see with our naked eye, but we can see into the smallest with an electron microscope, and with phase microscopes we can see life from bacteria, protozoans, shelled amoebas, diatoms, blue-green algae, the snail, and the Nautilus shell and so much more. We know God exists in the photosynthetic process of the exchange of light to create food for the plants, and the exchange of the cycle of oxygen to carbon dioxide, and the burning of carbon dioxide to oxygen. All life needs light! All life needs water! Life and water are symbolic of God’s Spirit! In Romans, Paul tells us we can see the largest of the creation, yet the smallest. It takes an intelligence to place creation into being and making of man because we are intricate and complicated, while harmony and order is set into creation. We see mathematical constants in creation, frequencies of different kinds, and the mathematical equation is used in different parts of creation we can see. The mathematical constant is the Fibonacci constant. We see it formed when a carpenter uses a plane to shave a wooden piece down to size. It comes from the plane as a spiral of thin wood. We see the spiral in hurricanes, dust devils, and even in the composition of art. We see it plainly in all types of creation. God shows his power and glory of order in his creation. The order within creation makes things cohesive and one.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Romans 1:20

Even after explaining God exists by seeing him in creation there are people who still will not believe. People who do not believe in God’s existence is not only denying his existence, but his power, and resist the existence of the supernatural, yet they will believe in angels and other supernatural beings. He clearly shows us his glory and power through his creation, and in his word. All we need to do is read the story of the exodus, and the ministry of Jesus and of Paul. Others deny the existence of God by claiming his word, the bible, is not inspired but written by man. Yes, he used men to write the bible, but his word is inspired because the men who inscribed the books, some of them were hundreds, if not thousands of years apart, yet all of God’s word meshes with other works. His word is historical, scientific, and is of wisdom and an excellent counsel to give strength and peace to man’s heart.

Another reason why some people do not believe in God is because of the behavior and actions of Christian people. Whether one realizes it or not, all of us are being watched by others. They watch our behavior to see if we are different than them. They compare us with others while looking at their lives. There are many reasons I suppose that people watch others. Some watch to confront us about our morality and values, while some are looking for a better life. So, people if you claim to be a Christian, then you should walk the walk, and talk the talk because you will be influencing others to eventually come to Jesus, or not. If you live for Jesus as his disciple, then let your light shine to them, and live righteously and holy. In this manner the unbeliever will see God in you, and know there is hope, and there is something better than what they are experiencing. Our lives in holiness are a witness unto those and the witness proves to them that God exists. God exists in your testimony of how he brought you out of sin, and delivered you from things like addiction, alcohol, and drugs.

The Christian behavior is a counter to the Devi’s behavior. The behavior, morals and value system are based on scripture in the Mosaic law, and in the behavior of Jesus. God’s morals and values give life to the soul and freedom, while the Devil’s behavioral system is of sin and death. His system is three-fold, that is to steal, kill, and destroy. Why would anyone want to live in that behavioral system since it brings physical and spiritual death? Yes, God exists and even the demon’s tremble.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

James 2: 19

People say they do not believe in God because they do not believe in religion. They believe in man, his intelligence, and abilities. Their belief system includes philosophy, the sciences, and even fables. Some are connected to Christian churches, and I am glad they are, yet they deny the existence of God. Speaking about science, it does reveal good and usual things which turn into technology, medicine, and forms of travel, but science also denies God’s existence. All are the workings of man, so the unbeliever in God does participate in a religion, and that religion is humanism.

Creation is real, the earth is hung on nothing, nothing but gases, and the planets and moons are in perfect orbit. Even the atoms of life are mini universes. You see, there is a God who creates order by repetition, and within creation are laws and science have proven these laws through mathematics, physics, thermodynamics, logic, biogenesis, and chemistry. Creation is about uniformity, and balance. Creation is governed by the law of God. For creation to be within its uniformity and harmony, then man should believe in God’s son Jesus to restore the harmony within their life. Sin has caused an imbalance of nature, and sin entered creation by the disobedience of man. So, for creation to return to its original state then God had to send his son Jesus to be the sacrifice for man to have a new inheritance (Ephesians 1), a harmonious creation in which to live and continue the relationship between God and man as intended.

For our existence, we must acknowledge there is a God because of the evidence around us, and the evidence we find deep in biology, space, and other sciences. Our proof of the existence of God is also our spiritual relationship with him because he speaks to his creation and placed within our hearts an innate sense there is a power greater than anything we experience, and he has written his laws upon our hearts, our mind that holds our conscience. God exists.

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Jeremiah 31:33

Notes:

All scripture used is taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

Website: answersingenesis.org, “God and Natural Law”.

Website: pewresearch.org, Facttank, 10 Facts about Atheists.

Website: thoughtcatalog, 12 Atheists Explain Why They Don’t Believe in God. Lorenzo Jensen III.

God’s Gift—Grace, Our Inheritance, and Redemption in Ephesians

By James G. Owen

Grace, a subject St. Paul talked about a great deal. Grace defined is unmerited favor, but could be love expressed by our Creator, and loved us so much that he created a plan of salvation before everything in creation was created—before the world began. God being the Father called us to be his children, and because of sin we were separated and that kept us from knowing him spiritually, a breach in our relationship between God and us. So, God in his wisdom extended grace to mankind before the world existed. Grace was part of his plan.

His plan of salvation expanded into atonement, a sacrifice, and redemption. The atonement was that a price had to be made, and a perfect man who was fathered by God to be the sacrifice, and to make sure the price was paid in full then the son of God would give his life on the Cross. This caused sin to be defeated, and death would be defeated by his resurrection. His plan of salvation also ushered in the last covenant, the new covenant of Jeremiah 33, called the better covenant. This covenant annulled the old covenant, and it was to give all of us life, both Jew and Gentile. The old covenant could not save people from sin because the blood spilt was from the blood of bulls and other animals, but the blood of Jesus the perfect man who lived a blameless life, his blood could save all of mankind. His plan God created wanted us to be blameless, to be free from sin.

In Ephesians 1, God predestined us to adoption, to make all of mankind his children. Predestination means he predetermined his plan, and what he wanted his creation to be and how to interact in creation and in man’s relationship to God. He wanted to invest himself into his creation, to be available should his creation need him, and it proves man would need him forever. He adopted us, he chose us to be in a relationship to him, just like an earthly father and mother would adopt an orphaned child so that the child would have a life, freedom, and to take care of the orphan’s needs. The orphan would grow in maturity and fulfill the purpose and destiny injected to him at conception.

What did God predetermine his creation, man, to be like? He wanted us to be like him, to conform to the image of Jesus, and we see what Jesus was like by reading the gospels about his character and spirituality. God wanted man to act with righteous morals, to be obedient, pure, having wisdom, and come to the knowledge of him, Jesus, and of course his Holy Spirit.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Romans 8: 29-30

How would I explain predestination further to make sure it is understood? Well, consider God the Father as an artist. The artist will have a format in which the person will follow. Not every artist will create the same, but I see God creating much the same as I would create. My process would be to conceive of an idea, plan his creation by sketching, taking note of the color palette, and whatever means he needs to execute his creation. God, as an artist I see would have much the same process but would decide what his creation will be and the extent of his creation, and foreordain the creation to possess order, beauty, and in his plan, he conceives of a rescue. That rescue was salvation. His creation would be perfect. Man’s creation would be imperfect. God’s creation would make a choice and fall into sin and would only have one way to salvation. Man’s creation may take several attempts, but is not guaranteed success, but the Father’s creation will have success as man stays within the boundaries of his grace, that he purges himself daily. God knew his creation would fail and that is the reason for salvation.

The Father calls man to salvation by the convicting of man’s heart by his Holy Spirit. Conviction by the Holy Spirit is the movement of the Spirit to cause the man to realize he had sinned through his conscience, and the thoughts of his sin will come to remembrance. The conviction will tell us we know we are not pure, and the Spirit is beckoning us to come to a decision for forgiveness. When a person decides to repent, to receive forgiveness justification will be enacted meaning he is pardoned of his sin, no longer held guilty.

Further into Ephesians 1 we see Paul writing about redemption. Redemption comes to us by his saving grace. We are saved by God’s grace, that he loved us so much he would provide a way out of sin so that we would not be condemned to eternal death by choosing his Son Jesus. Why did he give us grace? Because of our innocence and not having knowledge of what sin would cause, and never having the experience of evil. Redemption gave us access to God through faith. When he made man, he planted a grain of faith within his being, and we have been taught to enact that faith, meaning believing whatever we conceive will be done as long it is within, he will of God and his word.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Ephesians 2:8

What else would redemption bring to man? The redemption of man would be his inheritance. The inheritance would be eternal life, and to live in the New Earth that God would create for his children. This inheritance is guaranteed if we live in obedience, growing in wisdom, knowledge, and trusting in God. As we spend time with God you learn more about him, his personality, and his ways. Spending time reading the bible, in prayer, and the interaction of the Holy Ghost within us is how we learn to know and learn of him. As we get to know God, we will see his glory more as time goes by, and we understand the inheritance he has chosen for us. Those who have accepted Jesus are his chosen ones. As we interact with God in prayer, and the reading of his word he constantly reveals himself and his works. He shows us his full power in his works of the Holy Spirit through us and from us ministering to others.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1: 13-14

The inheritance is given to us as soon as we give our life to Jesus, and this inheritance was also assured by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and by the fulfilling of the new covenant. The cross gave us the victory over death, and through Jesus resurrection he ascended to heaven to sit on David’s throne and to administer the kingdom to bring things to an end. He is there sitting by the right hand of God reigning until his return to earth.

We see in Ephesians 1 that God has set Jesus above all creation giving him all authority as the head of the Church and the kingdom, and that God is Israel (God prevails). His Church is his body, his temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. In administering his covenants God has brought all the major covenants to fulfillment. His Church is prevailing in the last covenant sharing the gospel to the world so that all men will have the chance to salvation that was predestined before the beginning of creation. Grace, faith, salvation, and redemption were in place waiting for the time to come to being to bring men out of sin and to bring in the New Earth, which is Eden and the inheritance.

God deals with man through his covenants written in his word, and dispensation (administration) to cause man to stewardship (relationship) with him giving him deliverance and restoration. Can you see the love of God in all his actions? Why would God go to such lengths if he did not love us? The fact is his action is the ultimate love anyone would express. Wouldn’t a parent on earth not do the same? Your hope that Paul writes about in his letter is within God’s grace, and your hope is the resurrection that conquers death for eternity. Let me ask you this. Are you willing to change to live a righteous life to achieve eternal life? To assure your place in a beautiful, perfect place for eternity? To live and not die. Are you willing to place all things on the altar so you can break from the bondage of sin and your habits? Are you tired of sin? Tired of uncertainty? If so, make your decision so that you will assure your place in God’s record of life.

Notes:

From the website messie2vie.fr Strong’s Hebrew 3478, Yisrael.

All scripture given is taken from the King James Version, Pubic Domain, BibleGateway.

The Resurrection of Jesus: Is the Resurrection Real, or is it a Fable?

What does the word resurrection mean? It is the raising of the man, woman, or child from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is a person in the in the godhead (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) of the Father. God is a trichotomous God, yet he is One.

Is the resurrection real? In 1 Kings 17:17-24, I am reminded as I write this article of Elijah and the widow’s son. The widow’s son fell ill and died. The lady complained to Elijah saying she had to pay for her sin by her son’s death. I can imagine that Elijah was grieved by the complaint and learning of the boy’s death. He took the widow’s son to the bedroom and laid him there, and for three times he petitioned God the Father to raise up the boy. After the third time God permitted him to come to life, and the boy did live. Imagine the look on Elijah’s and the widow’s face. With Elijah it must have been the look of determination and of faith. With faith we can move mountains and in enacting our faith we have authority. Elijah’s authority at this time was with the Father, even though God’s Spirit raised the boy from the dead. Also, seeing is believing and the widow believed by sight, and by the word of God that came from Elijah which was truth.

“And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

1 Kings 17:24

In Ezekiel, we can read about the story of the dry bones coming together as an army to fight for the Lord. Many think this is a story of the Holocaust, and it could be, but as I have been thinking on my writings this week it could be the raising of an army to go forth to bring the gospel to every man on earth by those who believe in Jesus, the Church.

Also, the basis in the New Testament that the resurrection is not a fable, but truth lies in Jesus raising the body of Lazarus who was dead for four days. It is at this point in the degradation of the human body that it begins to have a stench. Jesus waited until this forth day to prove that the man was dead, I believe, for the people to believe. Jesus by the word of his mouth, just as in Elijah’s case, commanded Lazarus to come forth. Looking upon the sepulcher where Lazarus was laid the people watched as Lazarus came forth clothed in his grave clothes. Here, we see the Old Testament giving its account and the New Testament giving witness of the other.

On the third day after Jesus was crucified, he arose just like he told the disciples. On that same morning there is another account in the New Testament, and that is the saints in the graves of Jerusalem were resurrected and walked the streets. Imagine the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Father. In the Father there is all power and can do the impossible. Surely there were people who did not believe that Jesus was resurrected, but there were many who did because of his actions in his ministry prior to his death. Jesus, arose, folded the grave clothes as he came out of the grave with the gravestone having been rolled away by two angels. Was the sepulcher guarded? Yes, by Roman guards, but they fell asleep, being put to sleep by the angels.

“And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”

Luke 24: 2-6

Imagine the scene as Mary Magdalene and others came to the grave and saw his grave empty and wondering who took him. They didn’t believe at this time, but there were two men at Jesus’s grave site and reminded those present of Jesus’s words. Even telling the apostles they did not believe but came to believe after being reminded, and in the days forward of Jesus coming to him before his ascension. He was seen by many over the land of Palestine before the feast of Pentecost. It was important for Jesus to die for us, and to be resurrected. It is by his death and resurrection that Satan was defeated, and those who choose life through Jesus, death can no longer sting or take hold.

Resurrection is real. Jesus’s resurrection is real and not a fable. Even today, we see a form of resurrection in the hospitals where people are given a shock to get their hearts beating and through resuscitation. Being Pentecostal, I have heard many stories of people being resurrected by the Holy Spirit in church services. We have been given the power through the Holy Spirit given to us, and the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’s death. Remember, Jesus said he would be with us always, and he is through the Holy Spirit.

Note: All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

God’s Glory in Light

We all have seen light in different forms. As we look into the sunlight, we know its bright and our blinded eyes will feel the effect, yet that light can be filtered to soft light and by its angle in the early morning as it rises upon the horizon. God’s light I imagine is bright, so bright that man would not be able to stand in his presence because of our corruptibility, but one day we will see Jesus, and our spirits will be fixed so that we can see God in his fullness. In this devotional I have given different ways of God’s glory in Light. Read on and enjoy.

First, God’s glory and the description of his glory is vast and deep. In 1 John 1:5, we read this about God’s glory.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

There is no darkness in him because darkness in death. In his light there is light, hope, strength, love, confidence, mercy, grace, and faith. All of these are given to man if we are in communion with the Father.

God’s glory came to three of the disciples, James, Peter, and John, who were with Jesus upon the Mount of Configuration when Jesus was being strengthened before his death on the Cross. God came to them in a bright cloud and a voice came from the cloud. In Matthew 17:5 we read this from scripture.

“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

God’s glory came to the shepherds and encapsulated them. His glory was all around them, and they were able to see and sense his glory, the reason they were afraid. His glory came in the form of an angel. Sitting here in my chair I am thinking God’s glory was working through the angel in order to be seen. I am thinking of Moses who could not see God’s face and live in the moment, and this is the reason for my thought. In Luke 2:9 tells this:

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.”

God’s glory was seen upon Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb, and people could hear the voice of God. They looked up and could see his fire. Deuteronomy 5;24 gives evidence of this scene.

^“And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.”

Lastly for this devotional, God’s glory is seen through his Son Jesus. Jesus is the light sent to this earth to redeem man, and to provide salvation for man’s soul. Also, Jesus is the image of God. Some of the attributes of God seen in Jesus that I will give here to furtherance his image of God are light, holiness, anointing, and perfection. In 2 Corinthians 4:4

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Jesus, the light of the world came to us, spent time with man, and he shared his word with his disciples so that his ministry and gospel would go on so that all men may hear, many to be drawn to his presence and experience his glory. Jesus was God coming to man giving hope to all that were downtrodden. When you think of God’s glory you will be thinking of Jesus.

Notes:

All scripture used is from the King James Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway

The Glory Shield

In the year 2019 in about the early Fall I believe, my pastor prophesied over me that God wanted me to write a book on the Glory of God. Soon after this prophesy, I began the study on the glory of God. My studies went into the hundreds of scriptures seems like and I sat and listened to God’s voice. I have several pages in my diary type notebook on this subject. Since I have done the study, I have not started on a book but began on other studies. As we are currently in a pandemic, I thought I would begin to share my thoughts, what I believe God has laid on my heart. I will do my best to relate to you these thoughts and lay out my heart to you. Now more than ever this study is needed to impart to the people. As devotionals go, they are small chunks of study in scripture. Small chunks that we can chew on during the day as we work, stay at home doing chores, or whatever we want to fill our days. I will give two chunks to think on and I do suggest and invite you to investigate the scripture I will give, and to think for yourself. To think as we read scripture is vital and then stopping to meditate and reflect on what we read because during this time God may lay something on your heart that is pertinent to your personal life.

First, let’s investigate Psalm 104:1-3.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

His glory is described in these three verses as honor, majesty, and light. To expound on these three aspects of his glory would be to define them. Honor is seen has having a good name. God in his attribute’s integrity is what comes to mind, and purity. His manner and ways show perfection as well. In majesty he is sovereign, supreme, and has dominion over everything. His sovereignty is stated in his name, and that name is I AM. The I AM is described many times in the book of John and is his son Jesus. There is no other God. He is all there is, and he was at the beginning and will be at the end. He is everlasting. He is light, and this is the way glory has been taught from the pulpits. His light radiates and permeates everything, and he is everywhere at the same time. Our God is awesome and a big God. He controls everything and his glory is seen everywhere we look on earth. In this scripture his light reflects from the surface of the water. Even his light was seen through his son Jesus. His glory is everywhere!

Secondly, his glory is a shield. In Psalm 84:11 this is what he says to all men.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

In his shield of glory is light. He imparts his light through his grace, in unmerited favor to us, and he provided salvation to us through a man that was promised to us as a messiah in Genesis 3:15. This salvation came to us as a messiah for all mankind to believe upon him that he is able to forgive sin, and to conquer death. Death being the result of sin. He gave us grace and salvation because of his love for us.

He is a shield for those who know him, who know his son Jesus. A protector in time of trouble just as Psalm 3:3 says,

“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Through his wisdom, and glory he imparts to us knowledge of a shield of faith. It is in Ephesians 6 that we come to the knowledge of the shield of faith and the armor that we must put on everyday to fight life’s spiritual battles. During my study I looked at the Greek word for faith. Pistis which is found in Strong’s Greek lexicon as SG 4102 defining it as persuasion, to come to trust, having confidence, a guarantee, a revelation, and a reflection of the redeemed. What do you think when you read this definition? God tells us to enact our faith and that through his son Jesus’s name that we defeat the plans of Satan because we believe and have the confidence that what we spoke will come to pass. It is a demonstration that we have placed our trust in God. Sometimes when we enact our faith we will prophesy, give exhortations to encourage others, and having faith shows that we are his children.

As I studied on this last year, this is the thought that came to me on a Sunday morning. That thought is that his shield that we pick up is part of his glory. I saw this shield as a diamond shape with four points. At the top was his name, that is Jesus. To the right was power, to the bottom of the diamond I saw His light which incurs life, knowledge, wisdom, and these four aspects gave us the courage and strength to stand, to endure, knowing that the battles we face the victory has been assured because of our trust and faith in him. On the left part of the diamond I saw authority, and in my notes, I have 2 Corinthians 1:24, which is:

“Not for that we have dominion over your faith but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”

It is by our faith we find the courage, strength, and trust to endure anything that we will face now in the times we are living and in the future.

In conclusion, I have given you a lot to think on. Sit and read. Pray and let all this sink in and let God speak to your heart. Tell him what you need. Tell him your heart. Ask him to give you everything you need to pick up the shield of faith and glory. Ask him to protect you and walk with you. He will go before you.

Notes:

All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway.

Strong’s Lexicon of Hebrew and Greek.

Listen Closely To What You Hear

In this world we are living in we must listen closely. We hear many things during the day by listening to people while at work or school, or we may be listening to TV show for news or an opinion. Truth may be spoken, or untruth. Whatever we hear we must think and begin to discern what is right or wrong. We must ask the question, what I heard is it true? Or is it wrong? We might say to ourselves that doesn’t sound right, or it makes me feel funny. My gut is telling me to go do some research and read up on the subject. We may find that we will have to read past history to understand an issue that we heard people talk about. We must be on our game.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
²And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Mark 4:21-24 KJV

We must show integrity when we talk to people because they may be activating the principles in the above paragraph. As Christians we must test the spirit to see if it is true, and to go to scripture to rightly divide. We must be alert because of the things we hear in this world is untrue. As a conversation is started we must tell the truth and project it. We must let our light shine while showing love and kindness to the world. We may encounter a sour spirit, or be contested when we speak the truths of God, but we must also be aware that the tests that come is telling us we are imparting truth, and these spirits do not like it. When people talk take note of their countenance. Through the eyes and the facial expressions will give you clues to whether what you are hearing is true, and whether or not they are of God’s kingdom. Make sure your countenance and your moods reflect the love of God as well, and that the word you have for that day for certain people is well received.

Those of us who are faithful and are walking in the righteousness of God must tune our spiritual ears, our spirits to hear God’s voice as he speaks to our minds—our souls. As God speaks he will give you sound bites, a measure of a word to give to people that speaks for them at a specific time.

We are to be careful of what we listen to because within a news story, a conversation, or just a sentence may vex, or upset your spirit, and you may lock down on that message and continue to play that over and over because it may offend you, or your heart is studying for the reason it was told to you. It may come to you in a manner that is unintended of offense, or deliberately. So listen closely to what you hear and receive. Truth can be spoken boldly, but propaganda can also be spoken boldly to gain entrance into your heart.

Those who are discerning will know the truth, because truth will bring joy. When people give of their hearts a good word, or of counsel then a blessing will come to them by the way of God, or by those whom they have helped. This is because they were careful to listen to the voice of God. How do I know if I am hearing the voice of God? Those of us who are followers and have God’s spirit within us will know because the Holy Spirit will bear witness with the other. Scripture tells us that we who are God’s children will know his voice.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:27 KJV

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38 KJV

So, be careful to what you are listening to on TV, in a movie theater, or in a conversation. What we hear does affect us and our spiritual lives, which affects our personal lives as well. Remember, if you question what you hear research it, read God’s Word, and most of all pray about it and ask God for guidance.

Notes: All scripture given is taken from the King James Version Public Domain, Biblegateway.

No Other God

At the beginning of the universe and earth there was no other gods. Pagan worship had not began, nor had sin entered into the world at this juncture because man and woman had not been created. There was not a temptation by Satan yet, though he had already fallen. But at the point of man and woman in the Garden of Eden, Satan came and deceived the woman Eve. Here, Satan told Adam and Eve they could become like gods if they would partake of the Tree of Good and Evil, which they did, and sin came into the world immediately and all creation of the earth was defiled.

Even, at this time there was only One God, but as man lived and multiplied on the earth they began to listen to the lies of Satan and his fallen angels. It soon occurred that men would worship these fallen angels and give homage to them. Still there was only One God, and he was known to men like Enoch and Noah who preached to them of God the Almighty. At this time in history it is not written in scripture that God made himself known by name to man, but as we read scripture in Genesis 1:1 he makes himself known to those who read the Torah that he is Elohim—the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Elohim is plural, and that is the reason for me explaining him as the Trinity and that we are made in his image; body, soul, and spirit.

As time progressed the generations of Adam became iniquitous and soon it was found that Noah and his family of 7 were the only ones who had pure DNA. So, the world was destroyed by water because of man’s iniquities and failure to listen to Enoch and Noah of the goodness and the salvation of God.

Later, God presents himself to Abraham as the Almighty God, shadday, or as we have accustomed ourselves in later times as El Shaddai. Then to Moses, he presents himself as Yahweh, the I AM, that I AM. Yes, the God of Israel, the only true God is almighty. He is the creator and can do anything. He creates life, and that is something Satan and his fallen angels, the pagan gods, cannot do because they are created beings by the same God that created man. Even Solomon proclaimed God in this manner:

And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
1 Kings 8:23 KJV

He is mighty, loving, pure, and is all knowing, and the God that can be anywhere, anytime, and know every bit of our hearts and thoughts simultaneously. That’s power! How can I further describe the God I serve, whose son is Jesus, and has sent his Holy Ghost to earth after Jesus ascension so that we can have salvation, deliverance, and healing? I describe him with this verse:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
²Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

God is powerful and he is the only one that we should worship because he is the only God who can deliver and bring salvation and life. Any other god that is worshiped by man is God’s enemy. Man for centuries have followed pagan gods of many names, and some of those same gods are worshiped in what we know as the New Age movement. The pagan gods no matter what name they go by in any region of the world, their influence will only bring man to his eternal death and should not be followed.

There is only one way, and that is the road to God through Jesus the Messiah because there is no other God.

Notes: All scriptures used is taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.

The Power in a Name

Names have meaning. Oftentimes I have wondered if the meaning of our names impact our lives. I do know a name that has impacted every life who have received the name, and brought it into the hearts and minds. I have seen the fruits of this name in the works of salvation, redemption, deliverance and healing’s. With this name, it has impacted my life greatly by the aforementioned fruits. The name that has so much power, actually all power, is from the word in Hebrew yesha. The meaning of this name is in salvation, redemption, deliverance, and healing. The name I speak of is the name of Yeshua, and in the English is Jesus.

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
2 Samuel 22:3 KJV

Believe on his name. In the scriptures it tells us if we receive his name, namely believe upon Jesus, then he will give power to those who receive his name. How do we receive power by his name? It is through the act of repentance asking Jesus to forgive us of all our sins. When we pray for forgiveness then the power to use his name will come upon and within us. What are we to do after we are forgiven of our sins. We have been given the power to go into all the world and preach the gospel, to work miracles, and pray for people to be healed. All of this is done in the name of Jesus.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:12 KJV

Declare his name. His name is to be declared upon and throughout all the earth. Everyone will know his name, and hopefully everyone that will shall come to repentance and not only know his name, but know the Son of God Jesus. There is a prophecy in a prayer that Hannah prayed in 1 Samuel 2 where she is praying for thanksgiving of a male child and declares that every person, nation, and generation will declare that God is the only One that is God, that he is all power, and has the power over life and death.

By our ministry to minister Jesus to the world we will be declaring his name in the teaching of his ministry, miracles, and healing’s to the people who don’t know him and that are in bondage to the devil in the many diverse types of sins.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Romans 9:17 KJV

The Power in the name. Those of us who have been forgiven has been given the authority to use the name of Jesus from him to minister to the needs of the people. With his name we are give the power to bind and loose. We can bind evil spirits and evil deeds, and we can loose positive things throughout the earth. If one would read the first three gospels we see Jesus going about Galilee healing the sick, lame, blind, raising the dead, and setting the captives free through deliverance. He is no longer here on earth, but we who believe upon him have the authority in his name to perform the same good works. These works are helped to come to fruition by the Holy Ghost who came as a Comforter when Jesus ascended to the Father in Heaven.

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Acts 9:14 KJV

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
John 2:23 KJV

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14 KJV

When we ask in the name of Jesus for needs he will answer because we have simply asked. If you have a need ask Jesus and the need will be met.

This name of Jesus is above every name. For no name has such authority. This name is the name of God. It’s root is in the Hebrew word yah which means I AM, and God says he is the I AM, that I AM in the Old Testament. This name is great and declares that Jesus is the Resurrection and the life, the bread of life, the truth and the life. What other name would have such power? I cannot think of any other name.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phillipians 2:9

The power in the name is Jesus. He is God, the Creator.

Notes: All Scripture given is taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.

The Power of Light

God is light. He is powerful and mighty. He creates light, but he is the ultimate source for light and enlightenment. There is no other god before Him, for he is One, and the Master of all.

In creation, he created a light to be in the sky of earth and all the planets. This light was to mark the length of the day, seasons, and the year in order to keep time. God did not need the light to shine on the earth, but in his plan he wanted us to know the dimension of time and space of light versus darkness. The natural ability of the two gives us a 3D effect in our natural world, so this is the reason for the God of Israel to give the command, “Let there be light. We also know that the light he created gives photosynthetic food to the plants on earth, and for energy to be stored for mankind to use. This is one of the powers of light.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 KJV

Since God is the light that illuminates everything, he is a light for protection. When the Israelites were making their trek out of Egypt he had a pillar by day and night around the Israelites. There was a light, an angel in the rear to keep God’s children from being attacked from the rear before crossing over the Red Sea, and there was a light at night so that the people would feel safe while in the wilderness. God walks before us, and also behind us to protect us from harm. All those who know him will be protected in this manner. He actually protects us 360 degrees. Scripture tells us he is one step ahead of us.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exodus 13:21 KJV

We are to make sure that the light in the tabernacle does not go out, meaning in a spiritual sense that we should enact in prayer daily being prayerful in spirit all day, but stopping along the day to pray at least three times. We are to keep ourselves in his word which stirs the heart and helps build a fire within us, teaching us and blessing us with spiritual provision to keep the tabernacle, our souls from thirst. We are responsible for the tabernacle, our bodies both externally and internally, meaning we are not to do anything that will defile our physical bodies with sin. For example, the committing of a sin that will bring disease like sexually transmitted diseases. We are responsible for the upkeep of our tabernacle internally as well, meaning listening to the Holy Spirit for direction, for words of knowledge or prophesies. To listen for God’s counsel when we are to meet certain people in our time during the day. We are to be instant in season so that we are able to give light to others, who may not know where to find the light. We are to be the light to the world that is searching and needing light and truth.

Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
Leviticus 24:2 KJV

And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
Numbers 4:16 KJV

The truth is there is no light other than the God of Israel. He is a triune God. His embodiment is in the form of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. So, if you are needing light to feed your hungry soul look at the four powers of light I have given you. There is no other god that can give light and truth that will give you love, real love, and hope. There is no other god that will protect you, or give you provision. God and his son Jesus is about life, and there is light in life which empowers our lives to give light to others. This is the power of light.

Notes: All scripture given is taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.