Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk41/2021) – Matthew 10:24-39 (AMP)

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master.

25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the bond-servant like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (Satan), how much more [will they speak evil of] the members of his household.

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment].

27 What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people].

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two little sparrows sold for a copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

30 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge].

31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore, the one who confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven.

33 But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].

35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his [own] household [when one believes and another does not].

37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38 And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me.

39 Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].

Matthew 10:24-39 (AMP)

Thinking Out LOUD – No Hiding Place

I awoke early this morning and felt in a state of anxiety and fearful of the future. I have been feeling like that for the past few days and felt as though I need to shut myself off from the world. I’d had a few conversations by phone and welcomed them, but afterwards there was just a deafening silence. I wanted to lock myself away, turn off the phone, draw the blinds and stay there forever. Then I heard His voice: There is no hiding place. I knew of a Psalm where it is written, so I looked it up and found the below, which really spoke to my heart and spirit.

You are my hiding place; You, Lord, protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 32:7 (AMP)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.

Psalm 32:8 (AMP)

You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word

Psalm 119:114 (AMP)

Before looking these up I was thinking that I needed some mental time away, from this home, from life, from my headspace and even (YHWH forgive me) from Most High God, BUT HalleluYah He spoke to me and made me realise that there is no hiding place, He is protecting me; He is counselling me; He is surrounding me; and He is shielding me. There is no thing that surprises Him about me, because He knows it all. He has seen me at my best and also at my worst and yet; He still loves me and these promises are true. No matter when they were written they apply to me and they apply to you. He knows the outcome of all things passed and those of the future, so WE need to put OUR trust in Him. Never think you are alone. He. Is. Here. No matter what you are going through, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual; He is here, will always be and there is no place or situation that you cannot be found.

No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)

When scripture speaks of temptation (above) it may not necessarily only be something that is obvious but it can also be a feeling/thought that you can’t go on, that it’s not worth it or it can’t be done. By ‘it’ I mean, your walk and doing the right thing, what is expected or required, or even wanting to put the effort in. God is faithful to His Word. We need to fight the good fight, make it to the finish-line, knowing that we are not alone and Most High God is right there with us.

Remain uplifted my fellow-Ambassadors; continue to be present in mind and spirit and continue to be blessed x

Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk41/2021) – Matthew 10:1-15 (AMP)

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew (Levi) the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot);

4 Simon the Cananaean (Zealot), and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them: “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not go into a city of the Samaritans;

6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

9 Do not take gold, or silver, or [even] copper money in your money belt,

10 or a provision bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker deserves his support.

11 Whatever city or village you enter, ask who in it is worthy [who welcomes you and your message], and stay at his house until you leave [that city].

12 As you go into the house, give it your greeting [that is, ‘Peace be to this house’].

13 If [the family living in] the house is worthy [welcoming you and your message], give it your [blessing of] peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God]. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.

14 Whoever does not welcome you, nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust [of it] off your feet [in contempt, breaking all ties].

15 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger].

Matthew 10:1-15 (AMP)