Tag: zeal for God’s house
Satan had no claim on Jesus!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: John 14, Psalm 69, Proverbs 2
John 14: 25-31 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me, but I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”
Jesus, in one of His last teachings to His disciples before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, told them of a new ‘Helper’, the Holy Spirit, Who the Father would send to them to instruct them and help them remember all He was teaching. He reinforced His soon departure, but told them He would return, giving them His blessing of peace and encouraging them not to give in to fear. Even though in the coming dark time, Satan would come close, Satan was not in control. Jesus was following His Father’s plan and instructions. He was demonstrating His love for His Father through total obedience in laying His life down for the sins of mankind. This message would be taken to the world. His zeal for building God’s ‘House’ would consume Him as He took on the reproaches of sinful man. Full understanding would come with the Father’s Gift, bringing to them sound wisdom and understanding of God’s plan and Word.
Psalm 69:9 “For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your love, wisdom and wonderful plan of salvation. Through Jesus Christ, all believers now have eternal life and a place in Father’s house. Even though Satan seeks to lay claim to us, Jesus has overcome by taking all the claims Himself and paying them off. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and empower me to share these amazing truths that reveal Your heart of mercy and love.
Proverbs 2:6-8 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.”
Zeal for His House!
Scripture reading for April 7th: John 2
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 2:14-17 “In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and over-turned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”
At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was angry at finding His Father’s house turned into a market! He quickly took cords and made a whip and drove the animals and money-changers from the temple. The disciples later remembered this event and the Scripture “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” They applied it to Jesus and his strong actions to cleanse Father’s House so that His people and the nations could be gathered there. Are we who follow our Lord as zealous for His house today?
Observations for over-comers: We listen to this story and ponder its application for us. Ask the Lord to give you new zeal and understanding of the purpose of His house. We are that ‘house’ today! “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to My rebuke, I would have poured out My heart to you and made My thoughts known to you.” (Proverbs 1:22-23)
Building a Spiritual Legacy
Scripture reading for May 13th: Nehemiah 11-13
Nehemiah was known as a man of prayer and a man of integrity and action. His faith in God and simple trust in God’s word moved him to take some strong actions. We have a record of these actions in the closing chapters of the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah and the people had finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in a record 52 days. He celebrated by gathering all the people and leaders and dedicating the wall to God. He had Levites come from all over the land to purify first themselves, and then the gates, the wall, and the people. (Nehemiah 12:27-30) He had all of the leaders go up on top of the wall and assembled two large choirs who would lead in the worship and thanksgiving. There were also trumpeters and musicians to help with the celebration. “And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” (Nehemiah 12:43)
The Book of the Law was also read that day and it revealed that no Moabite or Ammonite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God because of the curses of Baalam. They took action to exclude foreigners that day. Nehemiah found that Tobiah the Ammonite had been given a room in the temple by Eliashib the priest. He took Tobiah’s goods and threw them out of the temple and had the room purified. He also found that portions for the Levites were not being distributed and rebuked the officials. These acts are recorded as a record of a legacy Nehemiah built by obedience and zeal for God’s house! (Nehemiah 13:14)
Nehemiah also saw men working on the Sabbath and desecrating the Lord’s day. He warned them against doing what was contrary to God’s Law. He then ordered the gates of Jerusalem shut as the Sabbath began and not opened until it was over. The Sabbath day was to be kept holy! Nehemiah prayed that his zeal would be remembered as a spiritual legacy! (Nehemiah 13:22)
Zeal for God’s house and God’s word brings a spiritual legacy! Check out your life today and see if you can confidently pray that God remember what you are doing as a spiritual legacy! Treasures in heaven last forever!