Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! How Do “the Heavens Declare the Glory of God”? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / How Do “the Heavens Declare the Glory of God”? Share Tweet Save Pamela Palmer Sunday, May 24, 2020 Psalm 19 is one of my favorite Psalms to read, pray, and meditate on. It is full of striking truth and beautiful praises to the Lord. The words of this passage captivate and comfort its readers. The very first verse in Psalm 19 takes our attention. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). This verse is profound, indeed, but what exactly does it mean? King David wrote the powerful words found in this chapter; it contains words that cause our minds to wonder and our hearts to consider what we really come to know about God from this Psalm. When David wrote the beginning of this Psalm, I can imagine him looking around, admiring the grandiosity of nature – the clear blue sky, the array of colors, and the vast night sky filled with hundreds and hundreds of glistening stars. What David meant in this verse is that the creation of God, the beauty and awe of nature, shows us the work of God and the existence of God. Nature unashamedly proclaims that God is real and He is our Creator. Photo credit: Unsplash/Greg Rakozy What Is Happening in Psalm 19? The Psalm itself doesn’t give any particular reason as to why David wrote it. Though, we see three distinct sections emerge: God is revealed through creation (verses 1-6), the word and law of the Lord are good and perfect (verses 7-11), and the desire for a relationship with God (verses 12-14). In this prayer, David helps us see that God draws us closer to Him. We can experience God in His creation, we can gain a deeper understanding of God through His word and laws, and most inspiring is that we are able to have a personal connection with God based in love, forgiveness, and relationship. How Can the Heavens Declare the Glory of God? When we look at any piece of art, or read any great work, we catch glimpses of the artist or writer. If you have children, you may even be able to guess which one created which drawing. What we create is bound to represent pieces of who we are. The same can be understood about the natural world we live in; we catch glimpses of our Creator in what He has created. Since God is the Creator of all things—the sky, the seas, all creatures, human beings, and everything else—we know that every part of creation declares that God exists and when we look at everything and everyone around us, we know that all the vibrant life we see are indications of the Creator. Photo credit: Unsplash/Ray Hennessy What Does the Bible Say about Creation? All things were created by God “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:13). “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelations 4:11). God reveals Himself to humanity through creation “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:7-9). “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). All things were created through Jesus “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3). “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands” (Hebrews 1:10). God breathed life into humankind “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). All creation shows His majesty “Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it” (Jeremiah 5:22). “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me” (Jeremiah 27:5). “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great” (Psalm 104:24-25). “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). Photo credit: Unsplash/Yoel Kamara How Else Do We See God in Creation? The deeply rooted trees teach us that God is unmovable and cannot be shaken or overcome. The vast blue skies teach us that God is omnipresent; He is everywhere and always with us. The regions of outer space that we cannot even fathom teach us that God’s ways are not our ways, and that there are mysteries of the Lord we have yet to understand. The rising sun teaches us that God is one who forgives and gives plenty of second chances. The centuries of history and civilizations found preserved in the layers of the earth teach us that God is all-knowing and wise beyond comprehension. The strength of the mountains teach us that God is all powerful and He can withstand anything. The lushness of the forest teaches us that God is the source of all life and goodness. The array of colors we see in flowers teaches us that God is vibrant and the foundation of joy and hope. The winds teach us that God is quiet and gentle, yet also powerful and sovereign. The extremes of the dry desert and the cold tundra teach us that God understands the hardships and trials we face. The twinkling of the stars and the light of the moon teach us that God is with us in our darkest battles and hardest moments. The grandeur of the ocean teaches us that God is holy and unlike any other. The warmth of the sun teaches us that God is compassionate, merciful, and loves us deeply. Photo credit: Unsplash/Eberhard Grossgasteiger How Can We Declare the Glory of God? Just as the heavens created by God declare His glory, so do we, human beings created by God, declare His glory. God equips each of us with spiritual gifts, talents, and skills. Sometimes, we think our talents are small, but truly, discovering our gifts and using them are part of how we participate in declaring the glory of God. For some, dancing, singing, and worshipping are how they glorify the Lord. To others, it is using their athletic abilities to glorify God. Whatever we do, we do for the Lord. We have all come across works of art, drawings, paintings, or performances that are grander than we could have imagined. They draw us to the Lord knowing that He inspired it all. Some people have been given what seems like infinite amounts of compassion, kindness, and understanding. Imagine when we worship together, when we fellowship with one another, when we hold each other up in times of troubles, our beings are declaring the glory of God. Our goodness points to His existence. What beautiful ways to declare the glory of God to others; whether using the hands or the heart, we can glorify the Lord boldly in what we do as stewards of our gifts, talents and skills, the words we say, and how we live our lives. The Magnificence of His Creation Psalm 19 is an amazing passage that teaches us much about who God is and how His creation declares His glory. The Bible portrays a consistent message that God created all things and when we take a look around us, we see God’s design in creation. We bear His image as human beings created by Him and into whom He breathed life. God does not hide Himself nor make it difficult to be known. Rather His existence is known through the magnificence of His creation and in the Gospel message of our resurrected King, Jesus Christ. Photo credit: Unsplash/Eddy Klaus Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com and you can follow her at upheldlife.com, or on Facebook.com/upheldlife. Around The Web Ads by Revcontent Drink This Before Bed, Watch Your Body Fat Melt Like Crazy Healthier Living Club 12x More Efficient Than Solar Panels? New Invention Takes Country by Storm! 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What Does James 3:14
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What Does First Chronicles 16:31
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What Does Job 4:6
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Th0ught
Living Light Daily Devotional Thoughtfulness By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt “Let us go out early to the vineyards and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and beside our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.” Song of Solomon 7:12-13 I wish King Solomon and his wife could lead a marriage retreat for every married couple in the world, because they leave no stone unturned. When it comes to communication, they’ve got it down. In Song of Solomon 7:12-13 Solomon’s wife expresses that she wants to go out and gather some fruit and flowers, bring them back, and create a beautiful atmosphere for them to spend time together. How thoughtful! One of the things I have learned about marriage is how important the little things are. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to be romantic. You don’t have to do a lot of big things to show your spouse that you love them. It is amazing how little things can be like throwing a bucket of kerosene on a match. A love note left on the bed, a text sent saying, “I love you,” a card given for no reason, or flowers sent for no special occasion. Ronald Reagan mastered this aspect of romance unbelievably with Nancy. On Thanksgiving Day, he wrote this note and put it on her breakfast tray at the White House: “You are the whipped cream on the pumpkin pie of life! And boy am I a dessert man!” If you want to improve your marriage, ask your spouse what one thing you could do for them that would communicate and demonstrate your love for them. Then do it. Nothing is dynamic unless it is specific and nothing is tried until it is applied. So I am going to ask you to do something. If you are married and truly want the kind of marriage that is God’s will, commit to doing these four things for the next week: Talk to each other uninterrupted for an agreed-upon amount of time Do some type of activity together Show each other some type of physical affection at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and at least one time in between Do one thoughtful thing for the other that is totally unexpected There is a magic wand that can be waved over your marriage. It is called the love of Jesus. Dear Lord, thank you for my spouse and for the marriage you have gifted me with. I ask that you would help me this week to show love in thoughtful, meaningful ways to my spouse. Give me the opportunity to love them selflessly like you have loved me, and remind them of how much I love and appreciate them. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Four Answers Nowhere to Hide Praying God’s Will The Foundation of Marriage Wholehearted Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA
What Does Psalm 18:²
Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day Psalm 18:2 ◄ What Does Psalm 18:2 Mean? ► The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2(NASB) Verse Thoughts From the time he was a young shepherd boy, David loved the Lord with his whole heart and was able to proclaim that the Lord was his strong Protector and faithful Deliverer. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,” he wrote, “My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. My shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold.” Were this the only verse describing God’s dependable and faithful character, it would provide us with a great wealth of evidence. David penned this song of deliverance to the Lord on the day He rescued His servant, from the hand of all his enemies, and in particular, from the hand of King Saul. It was a psalm that expressed David’s deep love for God, for he confessed. “I love You, Lord. You are my strength.” David was a man after God’s own heart who not only made this claim because of his head knowledge, but due to an inner experience of the heart. No doubt David found shelter from the blistering sun in the shadow of a rock, and he would have found protection in its crack and crevasses on cold winter nights. He would also have found the rock to be a firm place on which to stand firm in the midst of a battle and he no doubt would have recalled the Rock in the wilderness from which poured forth streams of living water for his forefathers. And as the Rock on which we stand, He is the firm foundation upon which our faith is built and the top-most cornerstone that completes all that we are in Christ. As the Rock of our salvation, He is the One that has been raised up, far above all others. From Him flow fresh rivers of living water, with which to satisfy the hungry soul and refresh the weary sojourner. And along with David, we can all rejoice that, “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock – making my footsteps firm”. Just as a rock provides shelter from the storm; a firm foothold and immovable anchor, so too, David discovered the Lord to be his sturdy fortress – a safe place of secure shelter and a sure protection. And David was able to call Him ‘my Deliverer’, for the Lord is the source of our strength and well-spring of our stability. The Lord is a Refuge from the storms of life and a Defence from the enemy that prowls around, as a roaring lion, seeking to sift the lone pilgrim as wheat, and to fling him into the miry depths of deep despair. And so… as the Rock on which we stand and the Fortress in which we shelter, the Lord becomes our Deliverer from our enemies, and our Strength in times of trouble. He is my Shield from principalities and powers in heavenly places. He is my Protection from those that seek to do me harm – my Provider in times of need and my Joy in times of sadness. David was never removed from the difficulties and danger of life, but he proved that God was the one that kept him safe in the storm and protected him from the attacks of the enemy. Yes, the Lord delivered him from arrows that fly by day and the perils that stalked in the night. In the opening verses of David’s great song of deliverance we can all recognise many wonderful characteristics of our God, which never change… for The LORD is my rock and my fortress. He is my deliverer. The Lord is my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation. The Lord is my stronghold. The Lord empowers and protects each one of His children. He defends and delivers, and He is our place of shelter and our seat of safety. David proved that the Lord our God is a faithful God, who will not let us be tried beyond our ability to endure, but will also provide the way of escape, that we may be able to endure life’s problems and pain – and we have been given that same wonderful promise. But the Lord is also the object of David’s love and adoration, for He is the One Who anoints me with the oil of gladness, and He is none other than my GOD – my Father, my Lord, my Saviour, my Friend, my King and my ALL in ALL. May we also proclaim, “the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.” And were this the only verse in scripture describing God and displaying His dependable and faithful character, what an amazing array of evidence we would have of His dependability and great goodness. Let us praise His holy name. My Prayer Thank You, Father, that in Christ You are all that I need in every area of my life. May I apply this truth more and more, for You are my faithful, and dependable God – my heavenly Father, in Whom I place my trust. Use me I pray as a witness of Your dependable faithfulness in my life today, and I ask that You open the eyes of those that have been blinded to the glorious truth of Your saving grace, from the tactics of the enemy – this I ask in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. ◄ Previous: Psalm 17:15 Next: Psalm 18:46 ► Choose a Verse from Psalm 18 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950 Galatians 1:17 Revelation 3:15 Jeremiah 30:7 Malachi 3:3 Follow us Psalm 18:2 Further Study Psalm 18:2 in the Parallel Bible Psalm 18:2 in the Thematic Bible Psalm 18:2 Cross References Psalm 18:2 Treasury of Scripture Knowing Psalm 18:2 Prayers Psalm 18:2 Images Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals The Centrality of Christ John 14:27 Romans 8:26 From Milk To Meat Now This Explains It The Spirit’s Work – Man’s Nature and Destiny (14) Harmonious Duet of Kindness and Goodness Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us Copyright Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved ×
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Articles, Topics, Tools, Resources CartLogin/Register Start Shopping RESOURCES ARTICLES ABOUT CONTACT May 19, 2020 Developing Spiritual Strength that Lasts By Rick Warren If you’ve ever watched a marathon, you know there’s a big crowd of runners at the starting line. As you get toward the finish line, it thins out. Ministry is like a marathon. Many people start out great but don’t make it to the finish line. I want you to make it to the finish line. What are the keys to ministry that help people thrive over a lifetime? The life of Samson shows us a negative example of what not to do. He had everything going for him—a great start, abilities, good looks, and strength. But one day, he lost it all. His strength had left him, and he ended up a broken man. Here are lessons from Samson’s life that can help you maintain spiritual strength throughout your ministry. Discipline your desires. When we begin to make decisions based on pleasure rather than principle and live out of convenience rather than out of conviction, we risk losing our spiritual strength. Even good things—like food, money, sex, and sleep—can zap our spiritual strength if taken to the extreme. God says, “Don’t be misled; remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it; a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death” (Galatians 6:7-8 TLB). Samson lived to please his own desires. In three different chapters, he had relationships with three different women. Judges 14 tells the story of his desire for a young Philistine woman. Even his parents warned against the relationship, but Samson wouldn’t listen. Samson would fit right in with our culture today, which often encourages self-indulgence. First Peter 4:1-2 says, “Strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking that [Jesus] had . . . Live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God’s will and not by human desires” (GNT). Just because we want something doesn’t mean we should have it. Self-indulgence will sap the strength out of our lives. Restrain your reactions. People will hurt you in ministry. It’s easy to get resentful. People will let you down and disappoint you. They will break promises. Samson lived in a constant state of anger that stemmed from resentment. He reacted violently to everything. His primary motivation in life was to get even. One time, he killed 30 men just to get even on a bet. The Bible says, “Samson said to them, ‘This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines. I will really harm them’ . . . Samson said to them, ‘Since you’ve acted like this, I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you’ . . . ‘I merely did to them what they did to me’” (Judges 15:3, 7, 11 NIV). Three times in just that one chapter he talks about getting even. Resentment is self-defeating. It will poison your ministry if you let it. You can’t simultaneously hold on to grudges and follow the will of God—no matter what people do. I have seen godly people in ministry who were hurt by a situation and who allowed that hurt to fester until they lost all their effectiveness. Leaders are easy targets. Whoever calls the shots takes the shots. It’s part of being a leader. Get used to it, and learn how to deal with it in a sweet spirit. Keep your commitments. Carelessness, whether it’s in your time, money, or relationships, will eventually sink your ministry. Samson’s strength was a gift from God. It came from a Nazarite commitment he’d made that involved three parts: no alcohol, a special diet, and never cutting his hair. God wanted Nazarites (and he wants us) to be different. Samson continually compromised his commitments to God. He toyed with temptation as he tried to get as close as possible to the fire without getting burned. But eventually, he did get burned. We see this in his relationship with Delilah in Judges 16. She was hired to test his strength. Three times she tried to find the secret of his strength. Finally, he told her his secret—and it ended up destroying him. Samson’s inability to keep his commitments to God produced devastating consequences for him. Your spiritual life is only as strong as your weakest spiritual commitment. What happened to Samson? You know the end of the story. He lost his power, his potential, and his freedom. He lost it all! Fortunately, in prison he repented and recommitted his life. God gave him a second chance. Aren’t you glad we serve the God of second chances? God is not through with you. Your best days could be the rest of your days. If you’ve fallen in one of these three areas, it’s never too late to ask God for a second chance. 62 SHARES 5040143Share RELATED ARTICLES Three Steps for Diagnosing Spiritual HealthJune 13, 2012 Gratitude: The Sustaining Power of RecoveryNovember 20, 2019 5 Tools for Developing Spiritually Mature DisciplesJuly 4, 2016 RICK WARREN Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, one of America’s largest and most influential churches. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick started The PEACE Plan to show the local church how God works through ordinary people to address the five global giants of spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. You can listen to Daily Hope, Pastor Rick’s daily 25-minute audio teaching, or sign up for his free daily devotionals at PastorRick.com. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global online community created to encourage pastors. Posts Website Twitter Facebook LEAVE A COMMENT Rob Davis May 20, 2020 at 7:34 am I enjoy reading your messages from the Bible. Loading… REPLY 8 Characteristics of Leaders… Sign up for Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox Weekly articles, tips, and encouragement E-mail SUBMIT RESOURCES Sermons Celebrate Recovery Campaigns Small Group Studies Resource Categories What’s NewSermonsCampaignsBooks & MusicSmall Group StudiesCelebrate RecoveryChurch HealthChildren & YouthEspanolClearance Resources Articles About/Contact Campaign Central FAQs Privacy and Refund Policy Shipping Policy Return Policy AA Disclaimer Need Help Call us: 1-800-723-3532 Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox Weekly Email for Pastors and Church Leaders All leaders are learners. As soon as you stop learning, you stop leading. The Ministry Toolbox is designed to help you learn from Rick’s 40+ years in ministry. It’s a weekly shot in the arm of wisdom that will help you develop and deepen your passion for ministry and ability to serve others. E-mail Submit © Pastors.com 2020
What Does Numbers 32:23 Mean?
Living Light Daily Devotional Nowhere to Hide By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt “…Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 We all at some time in our lives choose to enter the dark side of sin. Just be warned that when you do, it will become known. You can voluntarily enter the dark side, but you cannot hide from the consequences. Veteran gamblers have an old saying, “There is no such thing as a sure thing,” but the Bible says otherwise. According to Numbers 32:23, there is one thing that is so sure, you can literally bet your life on it…your sin will find you out. No one has ever gotten away with sin and no one ever will. The Bible doesn’t say, “Be sure that others will find out about your sin.” Maybe other people will never find out. It simply says, “Your sin will find you out.” Why was this statement made to begin with? Originally, it was a warning to the Israeelites; and it is still one for us today. Israel was at the threshold of entering the Promised Land, and two of the twelve tribes that made up this Nation wanted to stop short of crossing over the Jordan River into the Land. They liked the land east of the Jordan and were comfortable staying there. But God had commanded the entire Nation to enter the Promised Land together to fight whatever battles were needed to possess it. Moses told these two tribes they had to go and fight. They agreed to fulfill their commitment to the Lord and to the Nation. As a warning Moses said, “See to it that you do, but if you don’t, be sure your sin will find you out.” In that statement we learn some things about the dark side that ought to give us caution before we ever decide to enter it. First, the dark side of sin will control you. We have a choice to enter or not enter the darkness of sin. But once we do, sin becomes our master. Second, the dark side of sin will corrupt you. It is impossible to sin and not be corrupted by it. Lastly, the dark side of sin will condemn you. It is impossible to get away with sin. Somehow, some way, it will find you out…either in this life, or the one to come. Dear Lord, I don’t want to hide my sin and stay in the darkness anymore. Please forgive me for any sins I’ve been trying to hide. Give me the strength I need to repent and help me to resist any further temptation I may face down the road. Thank you for the conviction and the guidance of your Holy Spirit in my life. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Praying God’s Will The Foundation of Marriage Wholehearted Very Good First Love Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA
What Does Matthew 17:11 Mean?
Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day Matthew 17:11 ◄ What Does Matthew 17:11 Mean? ► And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; Matthew 17:11(NASB) Picture courtesy of Good News Productions Int. Verse Thoughts For 400 years God’s voice had been silent, until John the Baptist declared, “repent, for the kingdom of God is coming”. Jesus came to present Himself to Israel as their promised Messiah-King, from the line of David – the Prophet like unto Moses – the Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He came to fulfil His ministry of reconciliation and to offer His life, as the ransom price for sin. He came to fulfil the righteous requirement of the Law and to reconcile man to God through the sacrifice of Himself. He came as the Light of the world and Lamb of God. He came as your Saviour and mine. The day came when Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, and Jesus told them of His imminent death and warned of the high cost of discipleship. He informed them of His second advent when the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His holy angels, to judge the world in righteousness. He explained that some, standing amongst them, would not taste death until they saw the Son of Man coming in His glory. And then, six days later, it happened!! Peter, James, and John saw the Son of Man transfigured before their eyes. They saw Him talk with Moses and Elijah. They saw His face shining like the sun. They saw the brightness of His robes, which shone as white as light. These three men witnessed “the Son of Man coming in His kingdom,” and heard the voice of God saying, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” It was as they came down from their amazing experience that they asked why the scribes taught that Elijah must come first – before the Messiah. They had forgotten that 400 years before the Word became flesh and dwelt among them, that Malachi prophesied, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord”. He explained that “Elijah would come to restore all things.” Elijah’s mission was to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”. But then Jesus said a most astonishing thing regarding those who would believe in Him – but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognise him…” Then the disciples understood that Jesus spoke to them about John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah. However, the disciples were still confused, for they realised that Jesus had come before Elijah! He has been born 33 years earlier. Jesus began His ministry three years before this appearance of Elijah on the holy mountain. However, they soon understood that figuratively, Elijah came in the person and ministry of John the Baptist, but few recognised the significance of his mission. Elijah came both figuratively and literally 2000 years ago, but he was not accepted by the majority in the person of John, whose ministry was cut short. Jesus knew that He would be rejected and the kingdom, promised to Israel, would be put on hold, because the nation refused to recognise John as Elijah and Jesus as their Messiah-King. But for those who DID receive Him, Elijah had already come. Had Israel accepted Christ at His first coming, the world would have been ready for His kingdom – then and there. But Jesus came to His own people and they rejected Him, and the kingdom of heaven had to be postponed until the time that God has appointed – BUT as many as received Him were given the power to become sons of God, citizens of the Kingdom and to THEM Elijah has already come. Elijah has already come to those who believe, for we are not appointed to the wrath in the Great Tribulation. For those of us who believe on the Son of Man, Elijah has already come – both figuratively and literally. But for those who do not believe in Jesus, this prophecy of Malachi has yet to be fulfilled. It may be fulfilled figuratively; it may be fulfilled literally and it may be both figuratively and literally. Jesus told us that “Elijah is coming and will restore all things”. He will come at a time when the love of many is cold. He will come in the end-times… when prophecy dictates that ungodly children will rebel against their fathers and estranged father will be cold towards their sons. Like John the Baptist, he will prepare the hearts of Jewish people to call on their Messiah – Jesus Christ the righteous, Who Himself will restore the kingdom of God that was lost in Eden to that old serpent, which is the devil – and Satan. Israel rejected Jesus and had the kingdom put on hold … but Christ will restore the kingdom and reconcile man to God. However, figuratively, literally or both, Elijah will come, like a voice, crying in the wilderness – repent of your sin and turn back to the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – and choose life rather than death. Elijah will probably come as one of the witnesses in Revelation. He will testify of His meeting with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. He will restore Israel’s hope in God’s promises and reignite faith in their Messiah. Elijah will come to testify to the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of JESUS for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. My Prayer Heavenly Father, I stand in awe of Your amazing plan of redemption. Thank You that I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, and like Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John… on the Mount of Transfiguration, I have been granted a peep into the coming kingdom of Christ. Thank You that You loved me so much that You sent Jesus, to be my Saviour and that through Him all the families of the earth are blessed. Thank You that in Christ I have already been granted a place in Your kingdom and I pray that the hearts of many of Your people will be turned back to faith in God and hope in Jesus, their Messiah-King – in Whose name I pray, AMEN. 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Is it true that God is a Good of Detail?
Is it true that God is a God of Detail? This is a question that need to be answered by everyone. This is because God will tell you to do something one time. He will not ask you again. You must believe that God wants to speak to me. This means that if a person is having a great communication with God each and every single day, He will hear you. God will reveal everything to you at all times. In my case, I have never heard God’s voice in my entire life. God is communicating with me through other people. God also communicates with us even while we are sleeping. For example, in the Book of Job 33:14-17 it says God communicates with you in one way or another, but man does not perceive it. Man will have to go into a deep sleep and God will put His instructions inside of our ears and seal it. We must learn how to be led by God’s Spirit. We need to have a genuine relationship with God. God’s Will is pleasing and perfect. Yes, God is a God of detail. What are we doing to become whole in our spirit? This is another good question. The answer is through prayer and meditation with Him. We have to rely on God in every aspect of our lives. There are times that we ignore God. We have a tendency to rely on God in a state of emergency. Therefore, we are forced to depend on God because He is the answer to our prayers as well as our personal life. God is not selfish. My presence with men is only for a very short time. Do not reject what he has already blessed you. The Holy Ghost is our guide. I want to be led by the Spirit. I cannot follow a culture that is doing wrong. This is why we need to know God. God will not argue with us. He will tell you something and he will mean it. God speaks audibly with men; you must prepare to meet God daily. You cannot let culture and friends get you off track with God. You have to be tender without surrender. Jesus is the peace offering and compensation for all sin. I cannot let friends who are not led by God to dictate you. God will take you through the process of getting you to know Him and recognize that He is real. The devil do not want you to get blessed anyway. Romans 12:2 says do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God’s Will is always perfect for us. Our peers and friends cannot take us to heaven. We have to earn our way to heaven. May the Lord God bless all of you richly? Thank You for reading my blog. My name is Anthony Hopkins and I am from Dayton, Ohio. I am a Blogger. I have been blogging from all sorts of topics. I love people and animals. I have been blogging for a total of 8 years now. I graduated from the University of Toledo with my Associates and a Bachelor’s Degrees respectively.
