Thursday Morning Scripture – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Christian Conduct

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction,

13 and [we ask that you appreciate them and] hold them in the highest esteem in love because of their work [on your behalf]. Live in peace with one another.

14 We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].

15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people.

16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith;

17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer;

18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.

20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning].

21 But test [1]all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.

22 Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own].

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26 Greet all the believers with a holy [2]kiss [as brothers and sisters in God’s family].

27 I solemnly charge you by the Lord to have this letter read before all the [3]congregation.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Or everyone, that is, anyone claiming to be a prophet.
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greeting other believers with a kiss on the cheek would be the equivalent of today’s handshake, pat on the back, or casual hug.
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:27 Lit brethren.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Clear Paths

This is a year where My people will learn to hear My voice more clearly. I will guide them with the tools of a good shepherd, leading them along clear paths, and gently winding rivers. I will teach them many prudent life lessons which will prepare and establish them for the years to come. They will learn intimately what My voice sounds like; the tone, the feel, even the direction from where I am speaking will become familiar to them as they walk with Me.

I desire to be closer to My flock, pulling them into a deeper level of relationship and bread breaking. This is a time to go deep into the richness of My love and mercy. I am coming to comfort My people and heal them of their infirmities. Coming into closer fellowship and communion with Me will establish a greater understanding of My character and My will. I am sending an invitation to come closer into My heart!

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 (ESV)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23:1-2 (ESV)

#lionbites

Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk7/2022) – Matthew 13:10-17

An Explanation (of the Parable of the Sower)

10 Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?”

11 Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the [1]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

12 For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s word], to him more will be given, and he will be richly and abundantly supplied; but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables: because while [having the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things].

14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘You will hear and keep on hearing, but never understand; and you will look and keep on looking, but never comprehend;

15 For this nation’s heart has grown hard, and with their ears they hardly hear, and they have [tightly] closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn [to Me] and I would heal them [spiritually].

16 But blessed [spiritually aware, and favored by God] are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

17 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, many prophets and righteous men [who were honorable and in right standing with God] longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:10-17 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:11 Things which humans cannot know or discover on their own unless God reveals it to them.

Wednesday Morning Scripture – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

The Day of The Lord

1 Now as to the [1]times and dates, [2]brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night.

3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord].

4 But you, [3]believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;

5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness.

6 So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.

8 But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation.

9 For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life].

11 Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 The Greek word here for times refers to the length of time (indicating how long one must wait for something), while the word for datesrefers to the particular time that a significant event will happen.
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Lit brethren.
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 Lit brethren.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Come Dine With Me

Let Him fill your cup and the table before you…

I have set before you a banquet of goodness to feast upon. As you sit with me, focus on my goodness towards you. Deliberately choose to think about my love for you, my favour resting upon you, and my care and protection of you. Posture your heart in thankfulness. In doing so, know that you are diminishing the enemy’s hold over you.
When you choose to prioritise time in my presence – lingering at the table of bounty with me – it diminishes the magnitude of your enemies in relation to me. The enemy of your soul would like to make himself big in your eyes. He would like to draw your gaze away from me and make himself the centre of your attention. Know that where you choose to let your mind dwell will fill your thoughts, affect your emotions, and occupy space in your life.

Come dine with me and allow your gaze to rest on me as my eyes hold yours. I am always waiting for you. I am always ready to sit with you. I am always available. I am never late. I am never a disappointment. Let me fill your mind, emotions, and heart with my goodness and love.

Activation: Allow Holy Spirit to show you where you have allowed the enemy, your problems, or circumstances to eclipse the majesty, might, and glory of God. Allow him to put things into a godly order by refocusing your gaze on him. Spend time meditating on the characteristics of God that he brings to mind.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Psalm 23:5 (NLT)

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Song of Solomon 2:4 (ESV)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 (NIVUK)

#lionbites

Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk7/2022) – Matthew 13:1-9/18-23

Jesus Teaches in Parables

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting beside the sea [of Galilee].

2 But such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat there [positioning Himself as a teacher], while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

3 He told them many things in [1]parables, saying, “Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field];

4 and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.

6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out.

8 Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.

9 He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.”

Matthew 13:1-9 (AMP)

THEN

The Sower Explained

18 “Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower:

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

20 The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy;

21 yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation].

22 And the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit.

23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.”

Matthew 13:18-23 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:3 A short story that illustrates a moral or religious principle.