Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk36/2022) – Isaiah 48:12-22

End of Captivity

12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called; I am He, I am the First, I am the Last.

13 “My hand founded and established the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together [in obedience to carry out My decrees].

14 “Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them [the idols and Chaldean astrologers] has declared these things? The Lord loves him (Cyrus of Persia); he will do His pleasure and purpose against Babylon, and his arm will be against the Chaldeans [who reign in Babylon].

15 “I, even I, have spoken; indeed, I have called Cyrus; I have brought him, and will make his way successful.

16 “Come near to Me, listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time that it happened, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His [Holy] Spirit.”

17 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit (benefit),
Who leads you in the way that you should go.

18 “Oh, that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a [flowing] river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

19 “Your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants [in number] like the grains of sand; Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”

20 Get out of Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans [who reign there]!
Declare with a voice of jubilation, proclaim this, send it out to the end of the earth; Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.”

21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. He made the waters flow out of the rock for them; He split the rock and the waters flowed.

22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 48:12-22 (AMP)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – The God Who Knows How

Yesterday, I talked about how well I know you and that I am committed to finishing the good work I started in you, because my plans for you are good.

Today, I am wanting to reassure you that because I know you so well I also know how to teach you. I understand you; I know you have different ways of learning.

Sometimes I will use memorable events and circumstances to act as a catalyst to move you into a new direction or give you a fresh revelation.

I know how to teach and lead you. There will be times when you need a change of direction because you need a change of diet; a fresh revelation and a renewed mind for the new season. That will be when I may be using the prodding to help you find my merciful course correction. Some of you need refreshing and rest and it’s time to go somewhere new in the spirit with me. A new experience can be my provision to help you learn another aspect of me.

Activation: Ask the Lord to give you revelation about your circumstances. Is there a symbolic parallel that He is using to emphasise something? Is the ‘prodding’ of the circumstances a way to help you see that a change of direction is needed? If you sense that is what is happening to you, then remember the merciful nature of the Good Shepherd who is wanting to teach you to profit and lead you in the way you should go and ask Him for His merciful course correction.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 (NRSV)

Footnote

(In Isaiah the root of the word ‘teaches’ is actually similar to the goading or prodding of cattle. A good farmer will teach the cattle where to go for food and safety. He knows how to cause the cattle to learn. A good shepherd will also find ways to lead his flock)

#lionbites

You Are Transformed By The Power of Christ | A Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [a]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

Galatians 5;24 (AMP)

22 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’

23 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly[disregarding My commands].’

Matthew 7:22-23 (AMP)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it.

14 But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 (AMP)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

John 16:33 (AMP)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – The God Who Knows You

I have searched you and I know you.

I know the plans I have for you; my plans are going to give you a future and a hope. I know your sitting down and your rising up. I understand your thoughts and there is not even a word on your tongue that I don’t know.

So, my beautiful bride, because I know you, be assured as you continue in me that I will most certainly fulfil my purpose in you. I will perfect that which concerns you. Again, I say do not doubt because I know you and I also know how to work with you. I know how to finish the good work I started.

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.

Psalm 138:8 (NKJV)

…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)

#lionbites

Monday Morning Scripture (Wk36/2022) – 2 Peter 1:1-15

Growth in Spiritual Virtue

[1]Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, to those who have [2]received and possess [by God’s will] a precious faith of the [3]same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through [4]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.

5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, [5]develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].

8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by [6]doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin];

11 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.

12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth which is [7]held firmly in your grasp.

13 I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you,

14 knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that even after my departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.

2 Peter 1:1-15 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 Two early manuscripts read Simeon, the direct transliteration of the Hebrew. The only other place this spelling appears in the NT is in Acts 15:14.
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 From a Greek word meaning to obtain by lot, emphasizing the fact that salvation is not something gained because of personal effort, but is received as an undeserved gift because of God’s grace.
  3. 2 Peter 1:1 I.e. equal in rank, honor and privilege.
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 There is no “secret knowledge” or “better way” or alternative belief system which God has revealed to some unique group or teacher. The truth is available to everyone.
  5. 2 Peter 1:5 Lit supply.
  6. 2 Peter 1:10 I.e. developing the moral virtues outlined in vv 5-7.
  7. 2 Peter 1:12 Lit present with you.

Friday Morning Scripture (Wk35/2022) – Esther 4:1-14

Esther Learns of Haman’s Plot

1 Now when Mordecai learned of everything that had been done, he tore his clothes [in mourning], and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the center of the city and cried out loudly and bitterly.

2 He went [only] as far as the king’s gate, because no one was to enter the king’s gate dressed in sackcloth.

3 In each and every province that the decree and law of the king reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her [what had happened], the queen was seized by great fear. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he would remove his sackcloth, but he did not accept them.

5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to find out what this issue was and why it had come about.

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the [open] square of the city, which was in front of the king’s gate.

7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, and the exact [1]amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the text of the decree which had been issued in Susa for the Jews destruction, so that he might show Esther and explain it to her, and order her to go in to the king to seek his favor and plead with him for [the lives of] her people.

9 Hathach came back and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai, saying:

11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court without being summoned, he has but one law, that he is to be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And as for me, I have not been summoned to come to the king for these [last] thirty days.”

12 So they told Mordecai what Esther had said.

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.

14 For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”

Esther 4:1-14 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Esther 4:7 This money may have been what was expected to be received from the plunder of the Jews’ property.