Julie Vivienne podcast

Snuggle, Don’t Struggle

Snuggle Don't Struggle Matthew 23:37 and
Luke 13:34
It is familiar sight to see a mother bird protect her young chicks under her wings.
The LORD Jesus uses this familiar sight as a picture of GOD's sheltering love for His own. This metaphor of sheltering under GOD's wings of protection was used many times in the Old Testament.
The Spirit of GOD Himself is likened to a bird in that He hovered, or brooded over the face of the deep in Genesis 1:2
See also Deuteronomy 32:10
Isaiah 31:5
Psalm 63:7, 61:4, 57:1, 17:8, 36:7 and 91:1-4.
The Hebrew text of verse 4 says
"He shall cover thee with His evrah (pinion, flight feathers), and under His kenafayim (wings) shalt thou find defense;"
In the Book of Ruth, when Boaz leaned of Ruth's love and loyalty in joining herself
to Naomi and the Jewish people he said in
Ruth 2:12" The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD , the GOD of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
In the verses we read in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34, we hear the longing of GOD's heart to be gracious and merciful.
A lady once said "In times of trial, don't struggle but snuggle into the Heart of GOD" - like the baby chicks.
Snuggle don't struggle.
Nestle don't wrestle.
If we abide, dwell, set up residence in the secret place of The LORD, we find Him to be our Refuge and our Deliverer from the ensnarement of the Devil.
Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the seter Elyon (covering, hiding place of the Most High) shall abide under the tzel Shaddai (shadow of the Almighty)
Selah
Shalom shalom

Trust His Touch

Trust His Touch
1 Samuel 10:26
"valiant men whose hearts GOD had touched"
We recognise the language of touch- hostile or friendly or caring. Touch is a form of communication.
We say to one another "Keep in touch" in other words stay in communication with me. In the Covid "Plandemic" , touch was highlighted in its importance to us as human beings when normal human contact was forbidden. We were de humanized. In a meeting just after the lifting of the hideous lock down, someone touched me and I instantly burst into tears to my great surprise! I then realised just how much, as a human being created by GOD that touch was important to me and just how much the lack of human contact and keeping distance from one another had affected me. Thanks be to GOD for the power of the unified prayer of His people that the wicked plan of Satan was stopped at that time.
The touch of GOD reaches into the heart, the spirit, the inner most being of the person.
The Hebrew word for "touch" in 1 Samuel 10:26 is "nagar" which means to touch both in the physical and metaphorical sense. It is also associated with the transfer of power. Eg the woman with the issue of blood touched The LORD 's garment in faith and power went out from Him. See Luke 8:43-48 Many were thronging The LORD Jesus and touching Him, but He recognised the touch of faith because power went out from Him in response. See Luke 8:46
The touch of love and care touches not only the physical body but the heart of a person. The touch of GOD in our hearts is an awesome thing because we are touched in our inner man, the spirit man.
We have been seen,
We have been known,
We have been pierced by The Touch of GOD, Whose touch is penetrative, to the inner man.
When our hearts are touched by Him, we do not remain the same as we were. There has been a connection of communication between that person's spirit and their Creator.
It is not that they have been merely swayed by an outward influence because the touch of GOD awakens in us the longing for that touch to be constant because we fall in love with Him. To live without His touch is something that is unbearable. The touch of GOD communities the reality of Who He is. It is not an intellectual relationship but a deep and intimate knowledge of Him. This is our Father's desire for every one of His children.
See Romans 5:8, 8:37-39,Song of Solomon 7:10, John 14:18, Psalm 26:3 and 36:5, Jeremiah 23:23,Revelation 3:20,
When we are born again His Spirit comes to indwell us. Spirit to spirit we are joined together.
See 1 Corinthians 6:17 and verse 19
We can have fellowship and fellowship with Him 24 7 on the inside of us. See 2 Corinthians 13:14
There is no situation upon this earth that our Great High Priest The LORD Jesus cannot understand
See Hebrews 4:15" For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
There is a beautiful true story of a blind lady trying to board a bus. She was unfamiliar with the steps up on to the bus. The bus driver tried to help her but she resisted his help,being fearful of an unfamiliar environment and not recognising his touch. Suddenly her husband came alongside. She recognised his presence and his touch and fell into his arms and wrapped her arms around himin absolute trust as he carried her on to the bus.
This is a beautiful picture of the touch of GOD. We can trust Him and fall into His Everlasting Arms ( Deuteronomy 33:27) and allow Him to carry us.
Shalom shalom

Settled And Safe In The Saviour- Biblical Rest

The Believer's Rest
Matthew 11:28-30
What exactly is Biblical rest? It is a rest beyond the physical rest required by our bodies and minds.
In this fallen world there is no rest because there is no rest outside of GOD Himself.
Isaiah 48:22 and 57:20 declare that there is no rest/peace for the wicked.
"Wicked" refers to those who live their lives without covenant relationship with The LORD GOD.
Isaiah 57:20-21describes this lack of peace like the tossing of the ocean. Throughout Scripture, the ocean /sea is a representation of chaos, sin and death. That is why in the New Heavens and Earth there will be no ocean/sea. See Revelation 21:1
Let's look at the lyrics from a song called "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage The Elephant :"Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay
I got mouths to feed
There ain't nothing in this world for free
I know I can't slow down
I can't hold back
Though you know
I wish I could
Oh, no there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good"
There is truth in this except that the condition of having no rest does not end in physical death because when a person "closes their eyes" in physical death, they are immediately eternally open in the place of eternal torment, without rest from it, in Hell. In fact the Bible is primarily referring to this eternal state of anguish when it declares "There is no rest for the wicked". At the Fall of Adam ( Genesis 3) man lost the peace and harmony in The Abiding Presence of GOD. Adam was from that moment in direct conflict with the earth and always toiling to survive and live.
See Genesis 3:17-19
So what exactly is Biblical rest?
There are 2 Hebrew words for "rest" used in Genesis chapter 2. In Genesis 2:3 God rested from His work of creation. The Hebrew word for "rest" here is "shabbat" meaning to "stop". GOD stopped His work of Creation.
The second Hebrew word for "rest" is in Genesis 2:15 and is the the Hebrew word "nuakh" meaning to "abide/rest in, to dwell, to settle." Most English translations say GOD "put/ placed" Adam in Eden. But
GOD didn't just "put" Adam in Eden as a physical location. The Hebrew text says God "rested"- "nuakh". He settled Adam in Eden. When you want to settle baby or small child, you gently settle them in your arms and carefully place them in their cot or bed. You don't just put them there, it is a caring tender act. GOD settled, rested His beloved Adam in Eden which He had meticulously prepared for him.
Selah
Even in physical rest millions of people have sleep problems or nightmares when they sleep. To quieten the inner anguish of the soul people turn to alcohol, drugs etc etc
People are tormented in their spirit through guilt, regrets, unforgiveness, trauma, etc
Apart from being in relationship with The LORD there is no place of quiet escape.
But the reality and eternal truth is that there is no rest outside of The Presence and Being of GOD Himself.
Adam in Eden. The Lord Jesus invtes us to come to Him and receive the rest of GOD, to know His salvation and abiding Presence. See again Matthew 11:28-30. We learn from Him in that whilst His life on earth was very full, it was never striving or stressful because He took time not only to physically rest but He arose early to be alone with The Father.
In our pilgrimage upon this earth we dwell in space and time and we need both space and time to rest physically and mentally. St. Augustine's famous quote is: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you" (or "our hearts are restless until they rest in you"). Found in his Confessions, Book 1 Chapter 1, this quote reflects the idea that humans possess an inherent, divine restlessness, a yearning for God that can only be truly satisfied by finding rest in Him.
There is no rest for those outside of a relationship with The LORD either upon the earth or in Hell. No matter how well they may rest their bodies, their soul is in the perpetual chaos and turmoil of this world, like the ever shifting oceans. These restless ocean tides are in direct contrast to the "waters of resting " - Hebrew "mei menuchot" of Psalm 23:2
Biblical rest is an invitation from GOD Himself to abide in His Presence, for all eternity, starting now. We "shabbat", rest from our labours in order to "nuakh" in Abba Father's everlasting arms of Comfort and Grace,in His Word and in His Presence.
We become places where His Presence dwells even though our lives are busy,because we are rested/ settled in Him. Although we may be multi tasking in our various roles, like the resting baby, settled in Daddy's arms, we are at peace and at rest. We are not tossed by the chaotic waves of the world system. We are settled in The Everlasting Arms of Mercy and Redeeming Grace.
See Exodus 33:14 The rest here is again the Hebrew word "nuakh " found only in The Presence of GOD Himself.
See Psalm 91:1 which describes the place of eternal protection and place of eternal abode when we choose to remain, to dwell and abide in Him. The act of "abiding" in the shadow /shelter of El Elyon, The Most High, is the ultimate expression of "nuakh" because like a tiny child we are "tucked in" from every side, into El Elyon, The Most High GOD Himself.
Selah
Shalom shalom

Being Eternal Fruit Bearers .mp3

Being Eternal Fruit Bearers
Psalm 1:1-3
See Psalms 1:3: AMPC
3" And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]."
Water in the Middle East was and is not that plentiful. Many trees attempt to grow but if not planted by rivers of water it will wilt and die. But if planted by rivers of waters it will flourish and grow and bring forth fruit in its seasons.
NB "in its seasons." The word in Hebrew for "seasons" is "biyito" (pronounced bee toh) from the root word "byth" which simply means an appointed time, a designated time.
Have you ever felt pressure to constantly produce results—like you need to be bearing a harvest of fruit every single season?
Psalm 1:3 gives us a powerful reminder: God designed us to yield our fruit in our season. We don’t have to produce everything all the time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
3 "To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:"
Let’s unpack what that means for our spiritual growth and why recognizing our God-given design is key to living with purpose, productivity and peace.
We must prioritize time in prayer and fellowship with The, LORD.
Our spiritual root system determines the quality of our fruit.
Colossians 2:7 AMPC7 "
Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving."
Whatever the season, water it with thanksgiving from the heart.
On the pilgrimage road, stay in lane,don't try to jump into someone else's lane. Trust GOD's Timing
Psalm 1:3 is a reminder that we are not responsible for bearing huge harvests of fruit all the time.
Our responsibilities are to:
Stay connected to The LORD in fellowship and to
maintain the responsibilities we have for the season of life we are in
Eg parenting, employment, various church roles, caring for someone etc
NB Isaiah 40:11 "He gently leads those that are with young"
We should develop the gifts He has given us but
Trust His timing for our fruitfulness.... the pilgrim's road is rarely without seeming diversions.
Sometimes we may feel we have been felled down to the ground.
Job 14:7-9 says,
“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant."
God can and does bring forth fruit from hard, seemingly barren places. If you ever feel like your fruit has shriveled up and you’re not producing much good, take heart.
We all at times may feel like a cut down tree, just a stump of the person we would like to be, or we may feel like a shrivelled up prune, spiritually dehydrated...
Even at the scent of water however , a cut down tree can bud again, and as we root ourselves into GOD ’s Word and rest in His Presence, He will bring forth fruit in its season.
In Scripture, we see that there are different qualities of fruit. We can see this in John chapter 15. So first, let’s look at John 15:5.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart
bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
The word
"abide" means to remain wait, and dwell. As we root into Christ Himself , as we remain in Him, we can produce good healthy fruit.
John 15:1-17 is a fascinating passage when it comes to fruit, and I encourage you go read the entire passage. But for now, what I want to highlight is this:
In the first 15 verses of John 15:1-15, we see this word "abide", in Greek "meno", multiple times. Now each time it is referencing either to us abiding in Christ, or Christ Himself or His Word abiding in us. But, verse 16 is different. There’s one more mention of this word "abide" , but it’s not referring to us or Christ. It is referring to our fruit.
John 15:16,
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide/remain "
I find it so interesting that this final instance of abiding is all about our fruit. It is still the Greek word, "meno" , meaning to remain. Now when we think about fruit, we don’t often think about it remaining. It becomes ripe and ready to harvest and eat but will quickly become rotten. But The LORD Jesus says that our fruit should remain. It should have a lasting effect. It should have longevity. The fruit of our lives should alter eternity, and this is only possible as we abide in Christ.
NB John 15:1 - 2 Any part of our lives that doesn't bear fruit GOD cuts off and that which does produce fruit is pruned.
Pruning is not a haphazard process. Specific, sometimes deep cuts are made to encourage new growth.
Whatever season we are in upon our earthly pilgrimage , we must align ourselves with GOD's eternal purpose of our being fruit bearers for eternity.
Selah
Shalom shalom

The LORD Jesus The Fulfilment Of Our Waiting Part 2.mp3

The LORD Jesus The Fulfillment Of Our Waiting Part 2
Luke 2:36-38
Luke tells us some significant facts about Anna. She is among only a handful of women in the Bible bearing the title “prophetess.” The others are Miriam, the sister of Moses (Exodus 15:20); Deborah, the judge (Judges 4:4); Huldah, the wife of Shallum (2 Chronicles 34:22); Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3); and Philip’s four unmarried daughters (Acts 21:9).
She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher.
The Hebrew name "Phanuel" ( or Peniel) means "Face Of GOD" It is a significant name in the Scriptures. It is linked to Jacob's encounter with GOD at Peniel ( Face of GOD) in Genesis 33:20
It is also the name of an archangel of repentance in the Book of Enoch.
The name "Anna" comes from "Hannah", which in Hebrew means "grace" and "favour". Anna therefore shares her name with Hannah the mother of the prophet Samuel, also a woman of much prayer and devotion to The LORD.
See 1 Samuel chapter 1
Hannah 's inability to have a child in a culture where it was stigmatised caused her deep personal suffering and pain. There is a connection here between Hannah and Anna that is deeper than them sharing the same name: being stigmatised.
Anna had been married only seven years when she became a widow, and she remained a widow for the rest of her life.
In the culture of her time she was left in abject poverty since women at that time were financially dependent on husbands, fathers or sons. Anna had likely outlived her father and no children are mentioned. She would it seemes have had no male relative to provide for her. She would have relied on the charity of others and the religious community to survive.
Despite this probable poverty, Luke shows us that Anna was a woman of immense spiritual abundance, spending her time in worship, fasting and prayer. Luke also tells us that she is descended from the tribe of Asher. See Deuteronomy 33:24 "May he bathe his feet in oil"
The Hebrew text says may he "tovel" his foot = to immerse his foot in "shemen") =the rich, fat, anointing olive oil used as the holy anointing oil used for consecrating kings and priests and holy objects in The Temple worship.
Like Simeon, Anna clearly had a relationship with The LORD. She loved Him with her entire life. Like Simeon she came to The Temple at the exact time that Mary and Joseph brought the baby LORD Jesus to The Temple in Jerusalem. Like Simeon, Anna also immediately recognised Who this baby was: The Promised One, The Messiah. She spoke about Him to all she knew who also were waiting and watching for His coming. In essence, Anna the prophetess, exemplifies how a life lived before The Face of GOD in worship and prayer, is empowered by a relationship with The Holy Spirit and leads to profound spiritual awareness, prophetic insight and timely proclamation of the redemptive work of GOD.
Both Simeon and Anna were waiters on The LORD and watchers in the Spirit in prayer. They were longing for the first coming of Messiah.
We now live right at the end of The Church Age. We are now waiting and watching for the fulfilment of His Second Coming. See Revelation 22:20, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Corinthians 1:7, Philippians 3:20 and 2 Timothy 4:8
Like Simeon and Anna do we love His appearing?
Are we watchers and waiters for Him?
Selah...
Shalom shalom

The LORD Jesus The Fulfillment Of Our Waiting Part 1

The LORD Jesus The Fulfilment Of Our Waiting Part 1
Luke 2:21-35
The LORD Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day after His birth as it is commanded in Genesis 17:12 and Leviticus chapter 12.
The need for purification arose from the mother being ceremonially unclean for 7 days after the birth of a son. The mother was to offer a lamb plus a dove or a pigeon. If they were poor however they could offer 2 doves or 2 pigeons which is what Mary offered. The first male child of every mother was to be presented to The LORD. See Exodus 13:2
This is the context as to why Mary, Joseph and the baby LORD Jesus had to make the journey up to The Temple of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:25-32 tells us much about this precious man Simeon. He clearly had a love relationship with GOD Himself.
He was devout and righteous- he observed The Law of Moses and lived his life before The Face Of GOD. He had an intimate relationship with The LORD - The Holy Spirit was upon him. Now this was before the death and resurrection of Messiah Jesus, so the Holy Spirit could not live inside of Simeon as He does in His born again children today ( see John 3:3-8, 14:6, Romans 8:9 Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 6:19),
but Simeon clearly longed for and loved GOD and as far as He was able, GOD The Holy Spirit revealed Himself to Simeon.
Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel" - a Messianic title. The Holy Spirit had assured Simeon that he would not physically die until he had seen The Promised One ( Luke 2:26)
The Holy Spirit prompted and guided Simeon so that he was in The Temple on the exact day and at the exact time that Mary and Joseph would be there.( Luke 2:27)
Selah....
How faithful and caring is our Beautiful ABBA Father. We are not told how many years or decades Simeon had been watching and waiting for Messiah but he was, faithful in his waiting. Simeon as a watcher, paid attention to the times in which he lived. He was, attentive to GOD's working in the world.
From the words Simeon declared it is abundantly clear that he was saturated in The Word of GOD since he quotes much from the prophet Isaiah.
(Luke 2:30-31 see Isaiah 52:10
Luke 2:32 (a) see Isaiah 42:6,49:6 and 60:3
Luke 2:32(b) see Isaiah 45:25 and 46:13)
Simeon clearly loved The Word of GOD.
GOD and His Word are One.
See John 1:1
The Holy Spirit is The Author of The Word
See 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21
Simeon was waiting for "the consolation of Israel" "Consolation" means "comfort" and Simeon's hope for comfort comes from Isaiah 40:1-2
At the physical birth, and indeed from conception in the womb of Mary, of Jesus Christ, The Word of GOD became flesh and dwelt among us
See John 1:14
The consolation is that GOD's anger for sin is past - the anger and the separation from GOD Himself that came about through The Fall of Adam( See Genesis chapter 3)- is dealt with in Messiah. The comfort to know that sins are forgiven and cast into the depths of the sea.
See Micah 7:19
This all was accomplished in the death and resurrection of the GOD Man Jesus The Messiah. HALLELUJAH!
(See John 19:28-30 and Galatians 3:13-14)
Simeon knew that Messiah was for all people everywhere. See Luke 2:30 and Isaiah 52:10
Messiah Jesus, is the consolation of The Father's open arms to both Jew and Gentile, to all nations and all people. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 49:13
Now let's look at Luke 2:32-35
A specific word is given to Mary. Simeon said to her that people will either rise or fall because of this child. He would be both a Sign and a Rock of offense.
In other words there will be no neutral ground with respect to Him. He will either bring people to Life in Him or they will die in their sins.
See John 3:36 and 8:24
We all either embrace The LORD Jesus or we reject Him.
We are either with Him or we are against Him. See Matthew 12:30
Selah
Shalom shalom

Don’t Be Fish Food

Don't Be Fish Food Jonah 1:1-3
A small child has the sense to know that no one can run away from GOD. The Hebrew text however clearly states that it was the Presence and /Face Faces of The LORD that Jonah was trying to escape from. The Hebrew word here is "panim" the plural of "panah" which means face. So Jonah was running from the faces of GOD. A plural word in Hebrew, as well as meaning more than one, is also used for emphasis. Jonah was therefore running away from an overwhelming Presence of GOD in his life. He was running away from every reminder of GOD's Presence and His call upon Jonah's life as a prophet of GOD. Thus he ran to a far away place that was pagan with nothing to remind him of The LORD.
Jonah 1:1
The Word of The LORD came to Jonah- Hebrew: the Debar of The LORD meaning specific words coming from the Heart of GOD. The Hebrew word "debar" could be likened to the Greek word "rhema" which in the New Testament refers to a specific, spoken or revealed word from GOD that brings guidance, quickening life and dynamic power personally applicable in the believer's life. The Word of The LORD is the living active Word of the living GOD - The I Am That I Am.
See Hebrews 4:12 and when we have His Word living in our own hearts, He teaches and guides us.
(See Psalms 119:11, Deuteronomy 11:18, Colossians 3:16, Proverbs 4:30-21 and Joshua 1:8)
Jonah wanted to mute GOD's Word. He didn't want to hear it.
As a young believer in my teens, for a while, when challenged by His Word, I did the same thing. For a while, instead of attending my usual church where people loved The LORD and His Word, I attended a very "high" church where people went through the motions of a service but didn't actually seem to believe any of it. They had an outward form of worship but their lives showed no evidence of The LORD being alive in their hearts. Like Jonah, I was running away from the Face of GOD, the Presence of GOD. Thank GOD, His Word is living and whenever it was read, even by people who didn't believe it, He still used it to pierce my heart. We may also seek to cram our lives with anything and everything that keeps us from contemplating on The LORD.
Psalm 139:7 tells us The Presence of The LORD, The Face of The LORD is everywhere, omnipresent. (See also Proverbs 15:3 and Jeremiah 23:23-24)
When we are born again, He takes up residence within us.
See John 14:17,Romans 8:9,I Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 6:16
He is always tugging at our hearts. As in Jonah's case, if we ignore Him, He can send a "fish" to get our attention!
There is a true story that took place in Romania many years ago when the Communists came in and took over a small Romania village. They went into the church and removed all the sacred objects, the Bibles, hymn books, prayer books, crosses etc. and threw them into a bonfire and then they burned the whole church down. One of the communist soldiers grabbed one of the Christians and made him look at their destruction and said: “See there, we are going to destroy your God and everything that reminds you of your God.” That Christian just looked up and smiled. That made the soldier angry and shouted at the Christian, “Didn’t you hear me, we are going to destroy your God and everything that reminds you of your God.” The Christian man answered: “I was just wondering how you’re going to manage to get the stars down from the heavens?"
The evidence of our Creator is everywhere.
(See Psalm 19:1 Romans 1:20) But more than this for the born again believer is our relationship with The Word of GOD Himself dwelling inside us, speaking to us and instructing us.
(See Jeremiah 15:16,John 6:63 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Hebrews 4:12) GOD is always speaking to His children, from the inside through the greatest love letter ever written : His Word and there is no where that we can escape His Presence, His Face. Psalm 139:7 in the Hebrew text says "Where shall I go from Your Spirit,and where shall I escape from Your Face?"
GOD's is present in all places ( omnipresent). His intimate knowledge and presence is constant in all parts of creation.
If our flesh kicks out against Him, we should never try to run from Him, since it is utterly futile anyway, but instead run to Him. In His amazing Grace, He will help us to do His will from a willing heart. Let us remember Jonah and hopefully we won't need a proverbial fish to swallow us up and spit us out first....
Selah....
Shalom shalom

Before We Point The Finger At Herod....

December 28th for many Christians around the world marks the remembrance of what is often called The Feast Of The Holy Innocents, the commemoration of when King Herod ordered the slaughter of the baby boys, of age 2 and
younger, in and around Bethlehem. See Matthew 2:13-18
This particular King Herod became known as "Herod The Great" because of his great achievements in architecture and buildings throughout Judea including the finishing off and adding to the Second Temple in Jerusalem which includes what we today call "The Western Wall" . ( The First Temple of Jerusalem, also known as Solomon's Temple or the Bayit Rishon (First House), was destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian Empire, led by King Nebuchadnezzar II, in 587/586 BCE, following the siege and fall of Jerusalem, leading to the Babylonian exile. "Herod the Great" 's massive reconstruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem transformed a modest structure into a magnificent complex, expanding the Temple Mount and adding grand courts, making it the spiritual heart of the Jewish people until its destruction by Romans in 70 AD). But despite his achievements, "Herod The Great" was a profoundly wicked man. He murdered several of his own children, one of his wives, and had many other family members executed or killed to protect his wealth, power and influence. He was clearly paranoid about self preservation. This event is similar to that of Pharaoh at the time of Moses, when, out of fear of the growing population of the Hebrew people, had all the baby boys thrown into the River Nile.
(See Exodus chapter 1)
Satan through Pharaoh was trying to preserve himself from the One which GOD had declared was coming Who would destroy him. Through the covenant GOD made with Abraham, it became clear that this One would be of the Seed of Abraham, specifically through Isaac, Jacob and King David culminating in Messiah Jesus of Nazareth.
See Genesis 3:14 - 15,
12:1-3, 17:1-19, 22:18 and Galatians 3:16.
From the moment of Genesis 3:15 Satan was paranoid because he knew that there was One coming, born of a woman, Who would destroy him. Whilst Satan would bruise this One's heel, referring to the suffering of our LORD Jesus Christ on the cross as He bore the punishment for our sins. In His glorious resurrection however, Christ crushed the serpent 's head underfoot for all eternity.
This same demonic spirit of fear, self preservation and self worship, that consumed Herod and Pharaoh , is prevalent in our society today.
Whilst we remember each year the terrible murderous act of Herod, how many of us recoil in horror and weep before GOD over the many millions of children that are murdered every day in the abortion clinics?
If we believe the Word of GOD then we belive that human life begins at conception in the womb.
Abortion is the pursuit of mammon.
Mammon is the pursuit of wealth, power and is all about self preservation. Eg if one chooses to believe that having a child is a hindrance to one 's career or economic stability, then that is seen by many as a justification to kill the innocent child in the womb. Is not that the same spirit that consumed Herod The Great? See the words of The LORD in
Matthew 6:19-21,and verse 24
Mammon means far more than money. It means power, accumulation of wealth, and at its root, it means the worship of self, self reliance, self preservation. This is the Anti Christ spirit of this age in which we are living where the lives of many millions of children in the womb are destroyed, seen as worthless, in the abortion industry, which comes under the label of "Healthcare".
So consumed with self preservation was Herod The Great, that he even organised that at his death, a whole crowd of people would be killed.
The Roman-Jewish historian Josephus records that the paranoid" Herod the Great" ordered a large number of distinguished Jewish leaders to be executed upon his death to ensure that there would be mourning throughout Judea, even if it was not for him personally!
Herod's reasoning was: "I know that the Jews will rejoice at my death. But I may be lamented by others and have a splendid funeral if you are willing to perform my commands... in order that all Judea and every house may weep for me even against their will". Thanks be to GOD that his cruel command was not carried out. His sister Salome and his brother-in-law Alexas chose not to execute the prisoners, and they released them after Herod's death.
This man, titled by the world as "Herod The Great" thought nothing of killing innocent people throughout his life. How many in our society today, think nothing of the many millions of children, made in the image of GOD Himself ( Genesis 1:26-28) in the womb that are killed day in, day out. But every one is known to GOD and precious to Him.
See Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:13-16
Recent data shows that millions of abortions occur annually, with figures like 73 million abortions annually worldwide from 2015-2019, translating to roughly 200,000+ abortions per day.
Let us remember that Christ died for human beings, the passion of GOD's heart and pinnacle of all His creation.
See Psalm 8 and Job 7:17
So before we quickly point the finger at Herod, let us each be sure to check our own hearts... Is there any part within me that is obsessed with self worship, self preservation or self reliance?
If so we have the gracious gift of repentance granted to us as human beings.
Repentance is given as a gift to Israel in Acts 5:31,to Gentiles in Acts 11:18 and to all people everywhere in Acts 17:30-31.
Repentance is not granted to the fallen angels. See 1 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Matthew 25:41 and Hebrews 2:16
All human life is precious in the sight of GOD from conception in the womb unto a natural death.
Selah
Shalom shalom

Our High Priest The Source Of Eternal Salvation

Our High Priest The Source Of Eternal Salvation Hebrews 5:5-10
This passage quotes from Psalm 2:7 and 110:4
Christ was Divinely appointed as our Great High Priest Who is both fully GOD and fully human.
Hebrews 5:7 "the days of His flesh" refers to His being conceived in the womb of Mary right up to His death and resurrection. In the days of His flesh He offered up prayers- definate requests including need - and supplications-a cry from one in need of protection- supplications of urgency.
Our LORD did so with strong crying- a loud vocal outcry with tears.
In Gethsamane we catch a glimpse of Our Saviour 's suffering on our behalf. Luke 22:44
His suffering was so intense that His sweat became great drops of blood.The LORD sweating blood (hematidrosis) is described in Luke 22:44 as His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground in extreme agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a rare but real condition where intense stress causes tiny blood vessels around sweat glands to rupture, mixing blood with sweat.
Our LORD was heard by The LORD because of His reverence. He walked in the fear of The LORD in total obedience to the will of The Father. All that Christ endured spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally show to us His humanity. Hebrews 10:8.
What does it mean that He learned obedience?-Whilst being fully GOD as also being fully man He had to partake of discipline which is a part of Sonship. He learned obedience not because He ever disobeyed The Father but that He learned what obedience as a man costs which is suffering.
There was no self seeking in His office of being our Great High Priest because it involved His self sacrifice of suffering and death. These sufferings also mean He has compassion for us since He understands by experience every dimension of human suffering.
Hebrews 5:8
"Being made perfect "- the Greek word here for "perfect" means the completion of a process or a goal and His suffering was completed on the cross. The Greek word here "teleioō" comes from the same root as the words He cried out on the cross "Tetalestai" See John 19:30
He became The Author of salvation by means of His suffering and death He was the final effectual sacrifice for sin.
He is the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him ( Hebrews 5:9). This obedience is not that of works but the obedience of faith in Him and what He has Himself suffered and accomplished on our behalf.
See Hebrews 2:10
Therefore my brothers and sisters in Messiah, whatever aspects of human suffering we may face we can go to our Great High Priest Who lives forever and intercedes for us
See Hebrews 7:25.
He is forever faithful.
See Hebrews 10:19-23
Shalom shalom

Bearing The Stamp Of Christ

A message for Boxing Day which was originally known as St Stephen's Day,or The Feast of St Stephen, marking immediately after Christmas Day the death of the first Christian martyr. The original commemoration of the first Christian martyr, known as the Protomartyr, immediately after the celebration of Christ's birth serves a symbolic purpose within Christian tradition. Sadly by many church denominations this observance has been lost, since suffering for Christ is not a popular topic in our hedonistic culture. The placement of St Stephen's Day by the church fathers, highlights that following The LORD Jesus means carrying a cross and being willing to suffer for one's faith, a strong message following the joy of the Nativity. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. (See Acts chapter 7)
I John 2:3-6
See also these verses in the JB Phillips translation 3-6: "It is only when we obey God’s laws that we can be quite sure that we really know him. The man who claims to know God but does not obey his laws is not only a liar but lives in self-delusion. In practice, the more a man learns to obey God’s laws the more truly and fully does he express his love for him. Obedience is the test of whether we really live “in God” or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ.".
Obedience to GOD leads to knowledge and is our expression of love for Him and means that we live in Him. If we live in Him, our lives will bear His stamp of ownership.
See 2 Tim:19
The Greek for the words" firm foundation" are "stereos themelios"- a solid unmovable base. Here it refers to the Unchanging truth of GOD's Word and His Eternal Covenant with those who belong to Him. GOD's firm foundation stands. The Greek for "stands firm " is "histēmi" - standing firm, endurance, being established- meaning here the permanent reliability of GOD's Word in a world of shifting values and beliefs.
Remember the lyrics of the old hymn:
"On Christ The Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."
Many today even in church leadership have rejected the values of GOD's Word claiming that they are outdated and should evolve. GOD 's Word and values remain unchanging however.
A seal is a mark of authenticity and ownership. The Greek word here is" sphragis"-a guarantee or sign of authority- a sign of GOD's ownership and protection over His own people offering their identity in Him.
The LORD knows those that are His.
This echoes the words of Numbers 16:5.
The Greek word for "knows" in 2 Timothy 2:19 is "ginōskō" - an intimate personal knowledge.
Let those who call upon Him depart from Iniquity. "Depart" here in the Greek is "aphistēmi" to depart or withdraw from. It underscores the importance of repentance and holiness in every believer 's life reflecting our identity in Christ and bearing His stamp of ownership - in both life and death-by walking His path with Him.
Jim Elliott, a devoted husband and father, one of 5 missionaries killed in 1956 whilst bringing The Gospel to the Aucas tribe in Ecuador wrote these words "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose".
Jim's life exhibited the value of knowing God personally and intimately . It was a life of obedience to His Love and Lord Jesus Christ and it bore the stamp of Christ. Obedience is the outward expression of our love for GOD. We back up our claims of love with action. Obedience means that we live in Him. To say we love Him but not obey Him however is to live in self delusion. Obedience is costly but it's rewards are eternal and priceless. Stephen knew this as he was stoned to death for his witness for his LORD Jesus. The LORD knows those who are His.
Selah
Shalom shalom