DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (2): UPWARD AND FORWARD EXISTENCE

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Saturday June 10, 2023

DIVIDENDS OF PRAISE (2): UPWARD AND FORWARD EXISTENCE

Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
II Samuel 23:1 (KJV)

“The words of the man who was raised up on high.” Praise ensures existence in upward and forward living. You never know a better yesterday. Your paths are like the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day (see Proverbs 4:18). While others say that there is a casting down, you are always on the mountain top shouting there is a lifting up (see Job 22:29), and they are wondering at the wonders that are oozing forth from your life. Praise establishes one on the upward and forward life. That was the secret of David who at the end of his journey on earth made the statement we read in our opening text. When you are praise-full, you enjoy being raised. Yahweh designed praise for your supernatural lifting, but how much light you have on it determines how much raise you enjoy by it. No Christian will ever be at his best without an understanding of praise. Psalm 92:1,12 says, ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.’ “…He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”, that talks about you being outstanding. The cedar tree grows far above all other trees. In verse 14, God says you will not only be outstanding for a season, but you will also bring forth fruit in old age! That means you will keep producing results, until when you leave this earth.

EDEN: THE ENVIRONMENT OF YAHWEH’S PRESENCE

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Thursday June 8, 2023

EDEN: THE ENVIRONMENT OF YAHWEH’S PRESENCE

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:8 [KJV]

Eden in Hebrew means pleasure; delicate, delight. Yahweh planted a garden in Eden and there He put the man whom He had formed. When Yahweh wanted to make man, He spoke to Himself, ‘let us make man in our image, after our likeness’ (Genesis 1:26). Us here is the trinity, Yahweh, the Father, Son and Spirit. When Yahweh wanted to make the plants, he spoke to the ground (see Genesis 1:24-25). So for the plants to survive, it has to stay on the ground and connected to the ground. Whenever you remove the plant or disconnect it from the ground, death results. This is the principle of creation. Everything that is created must be connected to the environment that produced it to survive and live. Death occurs when creation is disconnected from its environment of creation. Yahweh spoke to the water to bring forth the fish. So the environment of the creation of the fish is the water. If the fish must live, it must be connected to the environment of its creation. This is a principle of creation that cannot be violated. Yahweh spoke to Himself to create the man, so Yahweh is the environment of man’s creation. Yahweh is a spirit. So for man to be in Yahweh’s image and likeness, he must of necessity be a spirit. Man is a spirit that has a soul and lives in a body. The physical body of man was made out of the ground. The soul of man came by the breathe of Yahweh. The breathe of Yahweh is the Spirit of Yahweh. The Spirit of Yahweh when it was imparted to the man activated the soul of man which comprise of the will, the mind and the emotions. So Yahweh made man and placed Him in Eden, the place of His presence. Eden is a place of delight where Yahweh’s presence created a climate of pleasantness for the man.

THE MYSTERY OF ENVIRONMENT

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Wednesday June 7, 2023

THE MYSTERY OF ENVIRONMENT

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.Genesis 1:20 (KJV)

There is a truth the Spirit of the Lord wants to ingrain into your spirit indelibly and that is that you are created to function in the presence of the Lord. If you can understand this and begin to consciously practice His presence, you would have achieved the purpose of today’s word. Man’s ability to fulfil his purpose and to be all Yahweh intended him to be is predicated on the requirement that he obey the principles Yahweh established when He created human beings. The presence of Yahweh is the environment that your life and destiny is designed to function in order to be fully actualised. That is why nothing can satisfy the heart of man on earth. The economists says that human desires are insatiable. That is because on earth, nothing can fill the void in man that was designed to be filled only with the manifest presence of Yahweh.

PRAISE IS YOUR PURPOSE

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Tuesday June 6, 2023

PRAISE IS YOUR PURPOSE

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Isaiah 43:21 (KJV)

Purpose is the original intention for the creation of a thing. For everything created there was a purpose behind the manufacturer’s mind for the making of that thing. Man is the creation of Yahweh and He didn’t leave us ignorant of the purpose for Him making man. Dr Myles says that if purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. The reason there is so much abuse of purpose in the human race is because for most part, most people don’t even know the purpose for which they are alive. They were born into a routine of being born, going to school, getting a job or starting an enterprise, getting married and giving birth to children, growing old and dying. Most people go through this routine and for them, that is life. No wonder, there is so much bustle in the rat race. Everyone wants to beat everyone else. For the majority, there is no consciousness of purpose at all. Consequently, what you don’t know you can’t pursue. The good news is that man has a purpose for his making and it can be discovered. There is the general purpose of man and there is the specific purpose of man. The specific purpose gives the individual the specific ways to fulfil the general purpose. By all means the general purpose is the life assignment of man and that is to show forth the praises of the Yahweh; to bring Yahweh praise and glory. Whatever man is doing that does not fulfil this purpose is a wasted life and securing an eternity in agony and anguish. Though praising Yahweh is our purpose, it is only the living that can praise the Lord (see Isaiah 38:19). Ephesians 2:1 says that we were dead in trespasses and sins. Apostle Paul says that the law came and sin revived in him, thereby killing him (see Romans 7:9). Sin kills and Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of Yahweh. Therefore, everyone born of a woman was born in sin, consequently, spiritually dead. That implies that you cannot praise Yahweh until you are alive and living.

WHAT IS PRAISE (2)

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Sunday June 4, 2023

WHAT IS PRAISE (2)

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psalms 150:1 (KJV)

We continue from yesterday and we are beginning today from the third Hebrew word for praise and the third dimension.

3. Halal (Strong’s, H1984; Vine’s, “To Praise”), the third dimension of praise, is derived from a primitive root that means, among other things, “to be clear,” “to shine,” “to make a show,” “to boast,” “to be (clamorously) foolish,” “to rave.” It suggests a sense of foolishness or abandonment in praise. Therefore, some people won’t praise Yahweh with halal because they are too dignified. They refuse to look even a little bit foolish in their celebration of Yahweh. Whenever I think of halal, II Samuel 6:21-22 comes to mind. David said “… therefore, will I play before the Lord.” “and I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight …” Wow! This is halal in demonstration. It means to play before the Lord, to be clamorously foolish in giving adoration; to be vile and base in one’s sight just to show Yahweh how much one loves Him. In the Scriptures, in addition to “praise,” halal is translated as “commend” (see Genesis 12:15; Proverbs 12:8), “boast” (see 1 Kings 20:11; Psalms 10:3; 34:2; 97:7), “celebrate” (see Isaiah 38:18), “glory” (see 1 Chronicles 16:10; Psalms 105:3; Isaiah 41:16), “exult” (see Isaiah 45:25), “sing praises” (see 2 Chronicles 23:13), and “shine” (see Job 31:26; 41:18). Since halal is also translated “insane” (see 1 Samuel 21:13), or “fools” and “foolish” (see Job 12:17; Psalms 5:5; 73:3; Ecclesiastes 2:2). Found in the Old Testament more than 160 times, halal may also be used in the praise of people, but the more common usage is in praise of Yahweh—hence, the word Halleluyah, a Hebrew word from the same root, which is usually translated “Praise the LORD!”

WHAT IS PRAISE (1)

#WordForTodayDevotional Saturday June 3, 2023 WHAT IS PRAISE? (1) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.Psalms 100:4 [KJV] If man was formed to praise Yahweh, then it is of utmost importance to understand what praise is. Webster’s dictionary defines praise as “an …

OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING THE WORD (2): THE STONY HEART

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Saturday MAY 13, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING THE WORD (2): THE STONY HEART

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Matthew 13:5 (KJV)

Some seeds fell upon stony places, which represents the case of hearers that go further than the wayside hearers, who receive some good impressions of the word, but they are not lasting. It is possible we may be a great deal better than some others, and yet not be so good as we should be; we may go beyond our neighbours, and yet come short of heaven. How far did the stony heart go? Firstly, they hear the word; they turn neither their backs upon it, nor a deaf ear to it. Note, hearing the word, though ever so frequently, ever so gravely, if we rest in that, will never bring us to heaven. Secondly, they are quick in hearing, swift to hear, he anon receiveth it, he is ready to receive it, forthwith it sprung up (vs. 5), it sooner appeared above ground than that which was sown in the good soil. Note, Hypocrites often get the start of true Christians in the shows of profession, and are often too hot to hold. He receiveth it straightway, without trying it; swallows it without chewing, and then there can never be a good digestion. Those are most likely to hold fast that which is good, that prove all things, (1 Thess. 5:21). Thirdly, they receive it with joy. Note, There are many that are very glad to hear a good sermon, that yet do not profit by it; they may be pleased with the word, and yet not changed and ruled by it. Fourthly, they endure for awhile, like a violent motion, which continues as long as the impression of the force remains, but ceases when that has spent itself. Note, Many endure for awhile, that do not endure to the end, (see Matt 10:22); they did run well, but something hindered them, (see Gal. 5:7).

OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING THE WORD (1): THE WAYSIDE SYNDROME

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Friday MAY 12, 2023

OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING THE WORD (1): THE WAYSIDE SYNDROME

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Matthew 13:4 (KJV)

We shall start to examine the things that stop us from accessing, receiving and walking in the light of the Word. The Lord Yahushua told a parable in the book of Matthew chapter 13 of a sower that went to the field to sow seeds. In interpreting that parable to His disciples, we saw that the seed is the Word of Yahweh (see Luke 8:11). The field is the world. As you hear the Word of the Lord by reading, studying or listening, it is likened to a sower sowing the seed into your heart. Until the seed germinates, grows and bears fruit, it has not achieved the purpose of the sower. The fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of a changed life and the fruit of complete obedience to the Word is what we call the Word building you up and the result is that you enter into your inheritance in HaMashiach. But what is the cause why so many people miss the Word? Let us examine what the Lord Yahushua explained in Matthew 13:19, ‘When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.’ Some seeds fail by the wayside. The wayside is the heart that hears the Word but does not understand it. Let us understand that it is same Word that is being sown, the variance is the ground. So whose fault was it that this ground never understood the Word? It was the fault of the ground. These are the set of people that never heed the Word. They never pay attention to the Word. They never take a hold of it. In the first place, the wayside is not meant to be sown so existing on the wayside is planning ab initio to fail with the Word. They come before God as his people come, and sit before Him as his people sit; but it is merely for fashion-sake, to see and be seen; they mind not what is said. It comes in at one ear and goes out at the other, and makes no impression.

TO ENCOUNTER THE WORD (4): STAY LONG ON THE WORD

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Wednesday MAY 10, 2023

TO ENCOUNTER THE WORD (4): STAY LONG ON THE WORD

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Proverbs 23:30 (KJV)

No matter how light a person is, no one gets intoxicated with one cup of wine. Conversely, no matter how hard a person is, tarrying long at the wine will pass even the hardest person out. That is true with the Word. Just skipping a few pages, won’t achieve the result we are describing this month. It is tarrying long with the Word that brings about saturation. There is what is called saturation. It is the act of soaking thoroughly with a liquid. You cannot encounter the Word with a measure that cannot even satisfy you. Before you talk of saturation, then you have gone beyond satisfaction. But you are still in control at the level of satisfaction. We are talking of the level where you are no more in control. We are saying, stay long with the Word until the Word takes a hold of you and begins to control you and your actions. We are saying that the Word cannot saturate you in the skimpy way that you are handling the Word now. The principle of intoxication is staying long at the wine of the Word. Isaiah 5:11 confirms that it takes staying long at wine to be inflamed therewith, “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”

TO ENCOUNTER THE WORD (2): MEDITATE

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Monday MAY 8, 2023

TO ENCOUNTER THE WORD (2): MEDITATE

Meditate upon these things? give thyself wholly to them? that thy profiting may appear to all.
I Timothy 4:15 (KJV)

To meditate means to mutter; to speak to yourself in a low tone over a subject for over a period of time. Reading the Word is likened to eating food. The Word is spiritual food for the spirit-man. But what you eat doesn’t profit your body until it is digested and assimilated. Meditation is spiritual digestion and assimilation of the Word into your spirit-man. Joshua 1:8 says, ‘This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.’ Reading the Word is putting it into your mouth but beloved, don’t stop there, go further to speak that Word to yourself. To meditate actually means to murmur. Murmuring is a negative word because it is dwelling on the things that are not working in your life. But the process of murmuring is the same with meditation, the only difference is on what you are dwelling on in the process. When you are dwelling on the Word, murmuring it to yourself, it is called scriptural meditation. Meditation is not a gift, it is the result of the overflow of the Word in your spirit-man. Most times, meditation is involuntary. Other times, you must be intentional on what you are meditating upon. But I want you to see that when you flood your mind intensely and densely with the Word, meditation becomes involuntary. At all times, your mind is on the Word. This is the level and dimension I desire you come into.

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