Thursday Morning Scripture (Wk15/2022 – John 15:18-27

Disciples’ Relation to the World

18 “If the world hates you [and it does], know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you.

20 Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

21 But they will do all these [hurtful] things to you for My name’s sake [because you bear My name and are identified with Me], for they do not know the One who sent Me.

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 The one who hates Me also hates My Father.

24 If I had not done among them the works (attesting miracles) which no one else [ever] did, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now [the fact is that] they have both seen [these works] and have hated Me [and continue to hate Me] and My Father as well.

25 But [this is so] that the word which has been written in their Law would be fulfilled, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

26 “But when the [1]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me.

27 But you will testify also and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 15:18-27 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. John 15:26 Gr Paracletos, one called alongside to help.

Thursday Morning Scripture (Wk15/2022) – John 15:12-17

Disciples’ Relation to Each Other

12 “This is My commandment, that you [1]love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.

13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you.

15 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.

16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.

17 This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.

John 15:12-17 (AMP)

Thursday Morning Scripture (Wk15/2022) – 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 – The Power In The Name

My name is higher than all other names. My name is a name that causes the enemy to shake and tremble. It is a name that can heal the sick and raise the dead; in this name, you are saved, set free and delivered. You have known my name, used my name, and been aware of my name. At this time, however, I am calling you to draw close and know the possessor of the name. I am calling you into great intimacy with my Son, Jesus. To see Him in glory, to know his heart, emotions, and understand who He is in friendship, in relation, as well as in his power. Draw near to Him. Find Him and you will find that in the partnership of friendship you are able to do even more than you thought was possible.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15 (NIV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – History

I, the Lord, am worthy of all praise, glory, and adoration! Tell the generations about My greatness and acts of great power! Do not keep your stories and testimonies to yourself; they are meant to be shared and expounded upon! The name Yahweh is to be passed down through all generations, just as a tiered fountain pours water from one basin into the next. My story is woven throughout the tapestry of history, creating an extravagant love story that threads through the family trees of the world. It’s time to release what is burning deeply within your heart. Be strong and courageous to tell others about Me because there are many who are perishing who need to hear what you have to say. Do not be afraid to speak up with boldness, proclaiming the gospel message with demonstrations of love and power. Do not be muzzled again by fear but break free so you can proclaim who I am to the earth!

Activation: Repent for any partnership you’ve made with fear and silence. Renounce it and break it off of your life. Then ask the Lord to fill you back up with perfect love and boldness so you can start speaking up!

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:3-4 (NIV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Joy Is Your Strength

It’s OK to laugh! Amid very intense times on the earth, it’s important to remember that My joy is your strength! My laughter shifts atmospheres and releases victory into nations. The enemy would like to bring a cloak of heaviness over the world to shroud it in depression, deception, and darkness. But heavenly laughter will break the yoke of despair and replace it with holy garments of praise.
Begin to sing in the Spirit with songs of hope and deliverance, for My brilliant light will soon pierce the darkness and sweep away the mourning that has laid heavily upon My people.
Lift your hands high and dance with jubilant triumph! Praise Me during your struggles, and when the darkness seems tangible, raise your voice! For you will be strengthened and uplifted to a heavenly place where you will crush the enemy underfoot, going out in complete victory!

Activation: The Lord directs us to worship when we feel heavily burdened. It’s time to turn on the worship and get up and dance, sing, clap, laugh, and smile! Shift the atmosphere into a place of supernatural joy and strength!

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b (NLT

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

#lionbites

Monday Morning Scripture (Wk15/2022) – 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.

Lion bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Rest In My Presence

Take a moment to be still and rest in My presence. Breathe deeply and allow My peace to consume your heart. This is a whirlwind season where the enemy wants to shift your focus off what is important, attempting to distract you from reaching your goals. He will try to throw a million little things your way that will have you reaching, grabbing, and striving for some sense of order amidst the chaos. But if you will take the time to set aside the many interruptions of your day and sit in silence before Me, I will act as a shield to deflect the intense number of tasks coming your way. The enemy would like to pull you back into a hectic, stressful schedule like you had prior to Covid, but I am inviting you into the rhythms of My rest and grace. Step away from Chronos time (the world’s chronological order of time) into My Kairos moment (the right or opportune moment). In this place of stillness your soul will find rest, helping you walk in the proper timings of Heaven.

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

#lionbites