Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk43/2022) – Psalm 139:1-18

Your precious thoughts towards me outnumber the sand on the seashores

God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar.

3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and You are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], behold, O Lord, You know it all.

5 You have enclosed me behind and before, and [You have] placed Your hand upon me.

6 Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take hold of me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the night will be the only light around me,”

12 Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, but the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.

13 For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being formed in secret, and intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

Psalm 139:1-18 (AMP)

Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk43/2022) – Ephesians 3

Paul’s Stewardship

For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit;

3 and that by [divine] revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have already written in brief.

4 By referring to this, when you read it you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5 which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit;

6 [it is this:] that the Gentiles are now joint heirs [with the Jews] and members of the same body, and joint partakers [sharing] in the [same divine] promise in Christ Jesus through [their faith in] the good news [of salvation].

7 Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.

8 To me, [though I am] the very least of all the saints (God’s people), this grace [which is undeserved] was graciously given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible riches of Christ [that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand],

9 and to make plain [to everyone] the plan of the mystery [regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body] which [until now] was kept hidden through the ages in [the mind of] God who created all things.

10 So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].

13 So I ask you not to lose heart at my sufferings on your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.

14 For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ],

15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth [1]derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father].

16 May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality],

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love,

18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love];

19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,

21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:1-21 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:15 In Greek, the word for family is patria, which is derived from pater, the word for “father.” The concept of family originates with God.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – There Is Joy!

Have you not heard that the joy of the Lord is your strength!

Choosing joy builds courage, strength, and it brings breakthrough. My plan for you has always been that you would dwell in a place of unshakeable joy. Things will not always be easy and straightforward. Life will not always look and feel as you would have it look and feel, but the joy is found in knowing who I am. It is found in believing – deep within yourself – that I am faithful. Knowing that I can be trusted with your heart. Knowing that I will see you through the storms of life. Joy is found in knowing that with me, nothing is ever wasted.

When you partner with joy you release yourself from the shackles of this world.

Activation: Ask Holy Spirit to teach you what it looks like to partner with the joy of the Lord. As you reflect on what is revealed, ask God what brings him joy. After reflecting on these things ask for a fresh understanding of what it means to be strengthened by joy.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.

John 15:11 (TLV)

#lionbites

Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk43/2022) – Nehemiah 8:1-12

Ezra Reads the Law

Then all the people gathered together as one man at the open square in front of the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

3 Then he read from it, in front of the open square which was in front of the Water Gate, from [1]early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and [2]all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a [large] wooden platform which they had constructed for this purpose. And beside him [on the platform] stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.

5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; and they knelt down and worshiped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, explained the Law to the people, and the people remained in their places.

8 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and explaining it so that the people understood the reading.

“This Day Is Holy”

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.

10 Then Ezra said to them, “Go [your way], eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”

11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be worried.”

12 Then all the people went on their way to eat, to drink, to send portions [of food to others] and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been [3]communicated to them.

Nehemiah 8:1-12 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 8:3 Lit the light.
  2. Nehemiah 8:3 Lit in the ears of all the people.
  3. Nehemiah 8:12 Lit made known.

Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk43/2022) – Psalm 16

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David [probably intended to record memorable thoughts].

1 Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

3 As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, they are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows [pain and suffering] of those who have chosen another god will be multiplied [because of their idolatry]; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.

6 The [boundary] lines [of the land] have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my heart (mind) instructs me in the night.

8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; my body too will dwell [confidently] in safety,

10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:1-11 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 Meaning uncertain; perhaps a poem.

Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk43/2022) – John 15:1-11

Jesus Is The Vine – Followers Are Branches

1 “[1]I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He[repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].

4 Remain in Me, and I[will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.

5 [2]I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorified and honoured by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.

9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].

10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.

John 15:1-11 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. John 15:1 The seventh of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
  2. John 15:5 See note v 1.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Abandoned Surrender

When David danced before the Lord, he didn’t care that he was undignified. He was so overtaken by the power and glory of the presence of God that he danced and praised him with no constraints and no fear of what others thought of him. He was fully surrendered in his worship and praised in pure abandonment like a little child.

I hear the Spirit of the Lord say, as you surrender in full abandonment to me like a little child, you will receive more and more of my Glory and presence. You will experience new encounters of me and be transformed; all fear, especially the fear of man, will flee as My glory and presence inhabits the worship of my people.

Activation: Put on your favourite worship song and come to the Lord today in humility, with a child-like heart. Surrender your whole heart, body, and soul, allowing God to move through your heart and even physically as you express yourself fully. Allow Holy Spirit to show you how to be abandoned in worship with him, and be blessed in his glory.

Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might . . .

2 Samuel 6:14 (NIV)

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

#lionbites

Monday Morning Scripture (Wk43/2022) – Psalm 150

A Psalm of Praise

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty heavens.

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness.

3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.

4 Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.

5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; Praise Him with loud cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Psalm 150:1-6 (AMP)