"while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."" – Hebrews 3.15 (NKJV)

The writer to the Hebrews quotes from Psalm 95 in this verse, in it he says 'do not harden your hearts'.  Just the fact that he says 'do not do this' means that it's up to you to keep your heart from becoming hard.  So we need to know what causes our hearts to become hard so that we can keep ourselves from it.    One of the major things that causes our hearts to become hard is unbelief.  In Mark 3, Jesus was in synagogue on the Sabbath day, there was a man there with a withered hand, and all eyes were fixed on Jesus to see if he would heal him.  They had no interest in seeing the man healed but rather to have something to accuse Jesus of.  The Bible says that Jesus was grieved at the hardness of the hearts;  Hard hearts grieve God.  Our text verse for today is a quotation from the Psalms, which itself recalls an event in the life of the Israelites as they were in the wilderness after coming out of Egypt - look at what happened.  In Exodus 17 the people contended with Moses, or challenged him.  They were not happy that there was no water to drink; their challenge was more than just asking Moses to get them water from somewhere, Moses stated that they had tempted the Lord.  That challenge became a complaint, they started murmuring against Moses and against the Lord. 'Why is that you want us to die of thirst?'; their hearts were becoming hard.  Verse 7 tells us the extent of their unbelief, it says they began to say 'Is the Lord among us or not?'.  Their hearts had become that hard they began to question God's presence with them and His love for them - this was the rebellion mentioned in Hebrews.  They had let doubt and unbelief reign in them; and hearts hardened by doubt and unbelief grieve God - but faith pleases Him.

Suggested Additional Reading:   Exodus 17.1-7;  Mark 3.1-6

"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." – 1 John 3.21-22 (NKJV)

If we have sin lurking in our lives our prayer life will become affected. Sin condemns us, our hearts condemn us because of that sin, and this verse tells us that if there is condemnation in our heart, caused by sin, then we don’t have confidence toward God. That affects our faith, which in turn affects what we receive from Him. The psalmist said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66.18). God does not hear us because sin condemns us – we regard it in our heart. However, if our heart does not condemn us then we have total confidence in God. That type of confident faith pleases God and receives from Him – He is ‘diligent rewarder of them that seek Him’ (Hebrews 11.6). Look at what this verse says: ‘whatever we ask we receive from Him’ - do you have that confidence today that whatever you ask you receive from God? That confidence comes from knowing God and keeping His commandments and doing those things that please Him.

Suggested Additional Reading:   Psalm 66.1-20

"You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes." – Psalm 119.68 (NKJV)

For me, this is a fundamental verse of Scripture. We have to accept that God is good and He does good all the time. Whenever we pray, stand in faith or talk we must believe wholeheartedly that God is good. God does not give us sickness, He does not curse us, and He does not tempt us. There is a false teaching that is prevalent in the church today that God puts sickness, troubles and problems on us to teach us lessons in faith or humility. That is a lie – God teaches us from His Word, not by putting these evil things on us. God is GOOD and does GOOD. His method of correction and instruction is through His Word not through symptoms of evil (see 2 Timothy 3.16). Now I’m not saying that God doesn’t allow things to come into our lives – He may allow us to go so far down a road before He turns us around. He may even teach us lessons while we go through various trials but we must believe and hold on to the fact that HE IS GOOD AND DOES GOOD all the time. He allows these things but He doesn’t put them on us. Jesus died to free us from the bondage and curse of sin, death and hell, so how can one honestly say that God teaches us using the very things He died to take from us.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Psalm 119.17-72

"May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." – Psalm 115.14-15 (NKJV)

Just think of it, the Lord who made heaven and earth will give you increase more and more. It is God who gives increase, not just a little but more and more. That’s an overflowing, abundant increase. This blessing of prosperity and increase is for all of God’s children. In the context of the psalm, this blessing was upon all those who reverently feared and worshipped the Lord. God delights and gets pleasure in the prosperity of His children (Psalm 35.27). He loves to bless His children and see that they do well. But all too often the church doesn’t want you blessed, they don’t preach prosperity, they preach God wants you poor to keep you humble. We said yesterday God doesn’t put poverty on His children, that’s from the curse. He’s a good God and Jesus died to free us from the curse of poverty. This promise isn’t just for you – it’s for you and your children. May you blessed by the Lord today with increase. Trust Him for it, cry out in praise – you are blessed with increase by the Lord of heaven and earth. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 24.1) therefore He will have no problem getting increase to you.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Psalm 115.1-18

"Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel" – Psalm 78.41 (NKJV)

Here is a sad occasion for the people of God. God was grieved with them, they had provoked Him, they tempted Him, they grieved Him. What was it that they did that caused this grief to God? – they limited Him. What does this mean? They didn’t believe Him. The next verse goes on to tell us that they didn’t remember the miracles they saw, they chose to forget and ignore them. They did not remember the day when He brought them out of Egypt and redeemed them from their enemies. On occasions they longed for the things of Egypt, they hankered for the things of the past. They remembered what they used to eat and then cursed God for His provision in the wilderness. Now they weren’t experiencing His blessing like they should have been. Even though God is Sovereign, and can do all things. Our unbelief will limit what God can do for us, it is like as if we put Him in a box and He can't break out. My wife and I were talking about this the other day. Those people who don’t believe in healing will go from sickness to sickness and never experience the divine touch of God on their health. They will seek advice and help from doctors and medication, spend thousands of pounds trying to get better. God cannot work in their lives if they won’t accept Him as healer. The same with finances, people who don’t believe in prosperity will go from one financial crisis to another because they are not in the place where they can receive from Him. Don't put God in a box. Stop limiting the Holy One of Israel through unbelief, rather put your faith and confidence in Him. Allow the word of God to produce faith in these areas so that the full blessing of God will flow in your life.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Psalm 78.1-72

"So he said, "Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath." And she said, "It is well."" – 2 Kings 4.23 (NKJV)

Here is a very interesting passage of Scripture. It is about the Shunnamite woman who hosted the prophet Elisha on several occasions. She even had a bedroom ready prepared for him in case he dropped by. One day the prophet prophesied that she and her husband would be blessed with a child, and soon after a son was born to them. In the process of time the child was working with his father in the field and complained of a headache, this got worse and the later in the day the boy died while sitting on his mothers knee. Look at what this woman did next – she went to visit the prophet, to seek God on behalf of her dead son. When questioned by her husband and those around her she replied “it is well”. She even said the same thing to Gehazi, Elisha’s servant. Here it comes – she wasn’t entertaining any other thought than ‘all would be well’. Her confession was “it is well”. She received her son back, raised to life – the impossible situation turned around because she refused to confess anything other than “it is well”. Keep your confession of faith. Continue to repeat the promise of God, even if the situation looks like it can never be reversed. God’s Word on your lips is as powerful as God’s word on His lips. With a confession like that the situation will have to turn around and surrender to the word of God. Remember Abraham – he staggered not at the promise, he kept his confession being totally convinced that what God had promised him, He would bring it to pass.

Suggested Additional Reading:    2 Kings 4.18-37

"Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise or because of wisdom that you ask this." – Ecclesiastes 7.10 (Amplified)

As I was growing up I often used to spend time with my grandparents. I used to sit for hours around the dining table just talking with them, and even into my latter years I did this, prior to them going home to be with the Lord. They spoke about all sorts of things, the Lord, church, the early days of their marriage and living through the Second World War. Often I would hear them say ‘It used to be so much better in the good old days’. They were talking about family life, or community spirit – most of which seems to have disappeared in the 21st century. I have heard these sentiments expressed too in church, ranging from the choice of hymns and worship songs we sing today to the preaching or programs of the church. Some even wish they lived when Jesus ministered on the Earth. The Bible warns us about hankering for those old days. A few days ago we were looking at the children of Israel who longed for the things of the past, the life in Egypt – this grieved God. It is not wise to live in the past – we cannot go back there, we cannot change what has happened, but we can change today and tomorrow. Wisdom looks to the future, it determines the choices we make about now and later. The choices we make today determine where we will go tomorrow. We are living in the best of days right now, we are the only generation that has lived this close to the coming of the Lord. The prophets of old looked forward to these days – Jesus said “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8.56). Make a wise choice today, live in faith for today, not hanker for yesterday because faith pleases God, longing for the past grieves Him.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Ecclesiastes 7.1-12

"For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order." – 1 Chronicles 15.13 (NKJV)

David was a man renowned for inquiring of God and waiting on Him for instructions. Yet when he wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant home to Jerusalem, he gathered all together and appointed those who would bring it back. On the journey because of uneven roads, and the stumbling of the oxen, the Ark was in danger of falling from the cart. Uzzah put forth his hand to steady the Ark and touched it leading to his death. David was angry at God about this and left the Ark in the home of Obed-Edom. The next time David thought about bringing the Ark of God back to Jerusalem, he decided to seek God. He realised that they didn’t do things properly the first time, they hadn’t sought God and His wisdom, they hadn’t waited on Him. He attributed the outbreak against Uzzah to the fact that they hadn’t heard from God properly. Sometimes we can do things ‘for the Lord’ without first waiting on Him in prayer and hearing from Him. We just expect God to bless our actions. Even us as ministers can be so busy working for God that we neglect to hear from Him. Let us take time today to come before Him and wait on Him, and not just assume that God wants us to do something a particular way, just because we have always done it that way. That’s a lesson David learnt and it served him well. David brought the Ark of God back to Jerusalem with much rejoicing and blessing because he learnt to wait on God and hear from Him.

Suggested Additional Reading:    1 Chronicles 13.1-14 ; 1 Chronicles 15.25-29

"Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!" – Ezekiel 37.4 (NKJV)

Can dry bones hear the word of the Lord? You’d better believe they can! The Spirit of God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel and told him to prophesy to the bones and command them to HEAR the WORD of the LORD. When we speak the Word of God to a situation in faith, it has to hear. Do you remember the time when Jesus and His disciples were going into Jerusalem. They passed a fig tree and Jesus went looking for fruit on it. He rebuked the tree and spoke to it – that tree responded and died. The next morning when Peter saw it he remarked that it had died. Jesus told him and the others to ‘Have faith in God’ and told them the secret – they should SAY to the mountain ‘be removed’ and if they truly believed and spoke in faith the mountain would move. Do we speak (prophesy) to the dead bones, mountains and lifeless situations in our lives and tell them to move or come to life, or do we doubt and do nothing. The Bible doesn’t tell us climb mountains, it does tell us to move them in faith – by prophesying and commanding them to HEAR the WORD of the LORD.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Ezekiel 37.1-10 ; Mark 11.20-24

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" – Acts 10.38 (AV)

At the house of Cornelius in Ceasarea, Peter recalls the miracles he saw Jesus do. He recalled all those who were healed and those he saw delivered from the clutches of satan. He tells this Gentile family that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Jesus all His ministry went about in that power, ministering to the sick and healing them, raising the dead to life, and delivering those who were being oppressed by the devil. You will hear some say that they are not sure about whether God wants to heal them, or they are serving God through their sickness. Listen my friend, Jesus died to heal us, not just from our sin but from sickness too. ‘By His stripes we are healed’ so says the prophet Isaiah. Later in his life Peter wrote this in his letter to the church (1 Peter 2.24) and he wrote it in the past tense. It was already accomplished at the cross. Healing and deliverance is your right as a child of God. There was a woman in the Gospels that fought for this right with Jesus and she was a Gentile woman. Her words to Jesus were: “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table”. Jesus acknowledged this statement of faith and gave her what she asked. Healing and deliverance is the children’s bread, it is your bread.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Matthew 15.21-28

"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!" – Jeremiah 18.6 (NKJV)

A few months ago we went with our Sunday School children to visit the home of a potter. We watched as she told us all about the clay, her skill as a potter, and then the children had a go at throwing their own pots. As part of the demonstration she showed how the pot can easily be marred, either because as a fault in the clay, the speed of the wheel or in the hand of the potter. She could easily correct the fault and refashion it, or crush it and rework it. When God sent the prophet Jeremiah down to visit the potter, He told him to watch the potter as he worked on the pot, just as we had done on our visit. Then God spoke to him and said that we are like the clay in His hand. On our demonstration the potter told us that the clay allows the potter to mould it, but she needed to work the clay with water. Water is symbolic of the Word of God. God works on us fashioning us into what he wants us to be, He changes us according to His word, remoulding us. If we become unyielding, He knocks us back and refashions us. In all this He is creating us to be a vessel of honour, for His glory. We are told not to despise the chastening of the Lord because it is working in us to produce something of eternal worth. God has us in His hands, working in and on us, until we become a vessel of honour and glory.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Jeremiah 18.1-6 ; Romans 9.21

"May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return." – 2 Thessalonians 3.5 (Amplified)

Since Jesus told His disciples that He was coming back to receive them, the world has been patiently awaiting His return. The disciples proclaimed the imminent return of Jesus, Paul declared it in his writings. However some have become slack concerning the coming of the Lord, ‘Where is He?’, ‘Where is His coming?’. Here the apostle Paul prays that the Lord would direct our hearts into His love and into the steadfast and patient waiting for His return. We have said it many times that the Bible use of patience is not the way the world uses it. It is not just waiting and putting up with something until something else happens. Patience used by the Bible means that you are waiting confidently, working towards the result. When Paul says that we are patiently waiting for His return, he is expressing that we have confidence in His return and are working steadfastly towards it doing what we know is right to be doing. Those who have grown slack in this are not being patient. Peter warns them in his epistle that even though they have become slack, the Lord is not slack. He then goes on to say that His return will be as a thief in the night and encourages them that they should be “looking for and hastening the coming day of God...”

Suggested Additional Reading:    2 Peter 3.9-14

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days" – Ecclesiates 11.1 (AV)

I may have mentioned this before, there is one place I always like to be that’s sitting on a shingle beach in early evening just listening to the waves come crashing in on the shore. God has ministered to me many times as I’ve sat on the shore. As wave after wave comes rolling in from the sea they bring new things. Over the years I’ve sat and watched seaweed and cuttlefish make its way to shore as well as other things. There is a blessing on each wave. That’s what our giving is like, as we give consistently we soon see that blessing comes in like the waves of the sea. This verse says that if we cast our bread on the waters we will find it after many days. As we give – our finances, our time, love etc., we put into operation God’s law of seedtime and harvest. The farmer sows seeds and they give a return in many days. As we give, it will be given unto us. The harvest will not usually come in straight away, it takes time, sometimes months. But if we give consistently we will soon find that the harvest comes in on every wave. We have to cast our bread on the waters for it to come back to us. So act in faith and start to give to the Lord and believe for your harvest.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Luke 6.31-38

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright." – Leviticus 26.13 (NKJV)

The greatest day in the life of the children of Israel was the day that the Lord broke the yoke of slavery and brought them out of Egypt. The Passover marked the beginning of their freedom. The yoke was broken the day they put their faith in the blood of the lamb that was sprinkled on their doorposts. This was their day of victory, they came up out Egypt a free people. They walked out of Egypt triumphant, blessed and free. Our greatest day was the day that the blood of Jesus set us free from sin. When we put our faith in the Lord and the blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross the yoke of slavery to sin was broken. We were slaves to sin, in bondage to the enemy but Jesus changed all that. We came out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Light. We can now walk upright knowing that the yoke has been broken, Jesus became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The next time the devil tries to convince you that you’re a sinner, just remind him that the yoke has been broken and you are FREE.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Leviticus 26.1-13 ; Romans 6.1-23

"The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him" – Nahum 1.7 (Amplified)

There is an old saying that goes “A problem shared is a problem halved”. I want you to know that this is not a verse in the Word of God, it is just a saying. Whenever we face a problem or a difficulty sometimes we often feel it helps to share it with someone, they can advise us or encourage us. As the children of God whenever a problem or difficulty arises in our circumstances we have someone that we can go to, someone that we can talk it over with, someone who really understands. The Lord is good, He is a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble. He is the One on whom we can depend in times of trouble. The Bible tells us to cast all our burdens on the Lord. Peter tells us we can cast our burdens on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5.7), the psalmist says that when we cast our burdens on the Lord then He sustains us and keeps us (Psalm 55.22). He can do that because as this verse says: He knows, recognises, has knowledge of and understands those who trust in Him. He is a Stronghold – that’s a place of safety and security. David often went to the stronghold to meet with God and assess his situations. The Lord is a strong tower into which we can retreat in those times of trouble and hear from Him. He understands what we go through and He is able to lift us up out of the trouble. Are you facing trouble today? Run to Him, retreat into His presence, roll your cares off onto Him and let Him sustain you.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Nahum 1.1-3 ; Psalm 55.1-22

"Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." – Numbers 20.8 (NKJV)

The event that we read about from our verse today was a key point in the life of Moses. On an earlier occasion God had told Moses to strike the rock at Horeb and it would provide water for the people to drink (Exodus 17.6). On this occasion God told Moses to speak to the rock so that it produced water. A week ago we talked about speaking the word of God to the mountain, also we saw that Ezekiel had to speak to the dry bones. This is exactly what Moses had to do – speak to the rock so that it yielded water to drink. On this occasion Moses did as he had done previously, he stood in front of the rock and struck it with his rod – still the water flowed for the people to drink. Yet this was not God’s will – He told Moses to speak to the rock. This act of disobedience was the reason he could not lead the congregation of Israel into the Promised Land. Often we try and solve things, or meet needs by all means other than what God tells us to do. We go back to tried and tested methods but this is not necessarily what God wants – all He wants is our obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice and every other thing we try and do. We can learn a great lesson from Mary at the wedding in Cana, “Whatever He says to you, do it”. Don’t argue with God, don’t contend or bargain with Him, just obey.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Numbers 20.1-13

"The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.  Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.." – Proverbs 16.23-24 (NKJV)

A wise man teaches his lips how to respond and answer. Many years ago I was challenged by the Lord to remove certain phrases from my vocabulary. I was conscious that some of the things I said were not good confessions for me, even though many would say that they are just figures of speech. So I began the process of removing phrases like “that’s killing me”, “scared to death” and “I’m afraid not”, It took time to completely get them out of my vocabulary but it was worth it because I was training my mouth - The time soon came when my mouth had been taught and I said them no more. If we choose to speak pleasant words they are sweet and refreshing, and bring health and healing to our bones. I don’t take ownership of sickness and disease for I’ve learnt and trained my mouth and words to confess healing over my body. I don’t take ownership of fear – I’ve learnt to speak faith. Foolish men utter many things and wonder why they are always sick, always in need, always defeated. Live the sweet life – teach your mouth put God’s word on your lips. That’s the way of wisdom.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Proverbs 16.1-33

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy" – Psalm 107.2(NKJV)

I love this verse and often quote it during our praise times in church. It says the redeemed of the Lord should ‘say so’, that is we declare our praise for what God has done. Look back at verse 1 – Give thanks to the Lord! What are we to thank Him for? His goodness, His mercy and because He has redeemed us from the hand of the enemy. Isn’t that worth shouting about? Before you continue reading just take a few minutes right now and thank God that you are redeemed. The redeemed of the Lord should say so, they should declare it, they should let the world know. This whole psalm declares the goodness of the Lord, in fact the psalmist’s prayer is ‘Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men’. The old hymn writer, Fanny J Crosby, put it like this - “Redeemed how I love to proclaim it, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am”. Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord – say it loud, say it clear, shout it out for all to hear “I am redeemed”

Suggested Additional Reading:    Psalm 107.1-43

"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light!  Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens!" – Psalm 148.1-4 (NKJV)

Any serious reader of the Bible, and I know you are, will undoubtedly acknowledge that the psalms are a catalogue of praise. Actually the book of Psalms is a hymn book – a collection of songs, prayers and poetry that were set to music. The closing words of the psalms are “Praise the Lord”. Our text verses for today show us that God is always to be praised, everywhere and by all. They start off by saying that God is to be praised in the heavens and finish (verse 14) with all the men of earth praising Him. We said yesterday that we, the redeemed of the Lord, should shout it out in praise. I’ve heard people say that they don’t like praise because they don’t like the songs. I grew up as a young Christian in a Christian home. My father was a pastor and we went to church every week. The earliest time I remember is the early 1970’s and we grew up with what was then the ‘Elim Chorus Book’. During the latter 70’s and early 80’s with the Charismatic movement a whole host of ‘new’ songs were added. More recently the praise scene has undergone a major overhaul. Some people like the songs that I grew up with (I do as well) other can’t stand them and only sing the new ones that come out each year from the big name song writers. But praise, whatever we sing is good. Do you realise what praise does? Praise focuses our thoughts on the Lord and brings Him into the situation. Don’t ever discount the effect of praise, we don’t use it as a time-filler for our services. It is a really big thing with God – He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22.3)

Suggested Additional Reading:    Psalm 148.1-14

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." – Ephesians 2.13 (NKJV)

In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul is writing about the remarkable transition that we have made from death to life. He starts chapter 2 saying how we used to live and then goes to explain what grace has done - it has saved us, raised us, created us anew. Then he says in verse 12, “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world”. Those were the days before grace – we were strangers and foreigners to covenant of God, not part of the people of God, without Christ and God, and having no hope. Thank God for His grace, such amazing grace. Thank God that grace didn’t leave us there because Paul goes on with our text verse. “BUT NOW in Christ Jesus” because of the grace of God we have been brought near by the blood of Jesus, because of all that was accomplished by His death on the cross. We now are no longer strangers and foreigners, we no longer are without hope. We belong to the Lord, we are not without Him – we are not just the people of God, we are family. John Newton captured it in his famous hymn “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see”. We once were lost wretches but grace has brought us near.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Ephesians 2.11-22

"Happy and fortunate are you who cast your seed upon all waters [when the river overflows its banks; for the seed will sink into the mud and when the waters subside, the plant will spring up; you will find it after many days and reap an abundant harvest], you who safely send forth the ox and the donkey [to range freely]" – Isaiah 32.20 (Amplified)

Our verse today says that the one who sows seed by all waters is blessed. The picture here is of sowing seed when the river overflows and floods it’s banks. The flood water deposits rich nutrients on the river banks and the flood plains The seed sinks down into this rich soil and produces a great harvest. A few years ago we had the privilege of flying to Egypt. As we went towards Luxor we flew over the flood plains of the River Nile. It was an awesome sight to see this very rich, green floodplain. We saw the same thing in Israel a little while ago, the Jordan Valley was verdant with crops growing. A few days ago we read from Ecclesiastes 11 where it said ‘cast your bread upon the waters’ and you will find it after many days. There is a verse in that chapter that says you don't know which will produce, this or that (verse 6). So when you sow seeds in your financial giving, your time, talents, love, faith etc., do it in all places, besides all waters and you will reap an abundant harvest.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Isaiah 32.1-20

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." – Luke 11.9-10 (NKJV)

This is one of Jesus’ well known teachings on prayer – ask, seek and knock. But what does it mean to ask, seek and knock? (1) Ask – we need to make a request, asking is vocalising our request. The Bible says in James 4.2 ‘You do not have because you do not ask’. Paul writes: ‘Let your requests be made known to God’ (Philippians 4.6), we can only make our requests known by asking and vocalising. Notice that’s not thinking. Asking is key to receiving – ask and you shall receive. (2) Seek – seeking God is spending time with Him, waiting on Him, worshipping Him. Seeking God involves listening, when we enquire of God we need to take time to hear from Heaven. To hear what God is saying about us and our situations. He gives us His word through seeking. If we seek Him we will find Him. (3) Knock – some think knocking is continually bombarding heaven with your prayer requests. To some extent it is, knocking is repetitious but not just repeating words of a prayer or following the same pattern prayer. The same word is used in Revelation 3.20 which says: ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my word and opens the door...’. Jesus is gently revealing to us His word, the seeds are being sown waiting for us to open up. I believe the repetitious part of prayer here is meditation. When we meditate on the word of God we continually keep going over it again and again, giving thought to it, allowing it permeate our spirit and soul. Faith comes that way and that opens up the door to our victory – it’s our faith that overcomes the world (1 John 5.4). So keep knocking, the door will be opened for you.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Luke 11.1-28

"This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life" – Psalm 119.50 (Amplified)

I’ve said it many times before that Psalm 119 is what God’s word says about itself. The psalmist declared that the word of God revived him and kept him alive. The wise king wrote in Proverbs 4.22 ‘For they are life to those who find them and health to their whole body’ (Tree of Life Version). This is what the psalmist was saying here – he found comfort and consolation in affliction, this came from the word of God. Many times I have proved myself that God’s word brings health and healing. At a low point in my life, just after the death of my mother, I found comfort and healing in the word of God. It wasn’t necessarily the well intentioned kind words of friends, although they did help, the real healing came from meditating the word. We said yesterday that meditation unlocked the door to victory. It unlocks the door to health and healing too. Are you sick today? Get into the word of God, meditate on it, even if you don’t feel like it. God’s word is life to to those who find them and health to all their flesh.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Psalm 119.89-104

"I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." – Isaiah 44.22 (NKJV)

Clouds are quite remarkable things, these masses of water vapour float about in the sky. Everybody likes to see the fluffy white clouds as they drift by. Of course the clouds can also be black and angry looking ready to drop rain to the earth. Whatever colour they might be, as they drift over the sky they blot out the rays of the sun. The Lord says that in just the same way the clouds blot out the sun, He blots out our sin and transgression. However, the clouds only conceal the sun temporarily but our sin and transgressions are completely removed. Cloudy skies soon clear as the wind blows – again this is symbolic of the work of the Holy Spirit. The wind blows away and removes the clouds of sin from our lives. Another use of the word blot is connected to ink, in days gone by when ink was used for writing, blotting paper soaked up the excess to prevent it from smudging or running. The blotting paper lifted the ink from the paper. God says that when He redeemed us He lifted and blew away the sin from our lives. His blood blotted them out. No matter where you are in your walk with God today, or whatever you’ve done. Return to Him, come back to the Lord – He loves you and has paid the redemption price. He will forgive you and welcome you back, and like the clouds cover the sun and sky, He will cover, clean and blot out your sin.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Isaiah 1.10-20 ; Isaiah 44.18-28

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified" – Isaiah 61.3 (AV)

I gave my life to the Lord as a young boy of five years old but I can’t give you the time and date like some can. So, many years ago I just picked a day that I would celebrate my new birth. The day I picked was today, 25 August, so on this day every year I remember the day that I was born-again. It’s good to celebrate and praise God for all He has done in our lives, but especially the day we were saved. This verse tells us that God has given us a garment of praise and the oil of joy. Praise lifts the spirit of heaviness and mourning and causes us to rise up in the strength of God. Nehemiah 8.10 states that the ‘joy of the Lord is our strength’. This brings me on to the next thought of the verse – that we are trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. As we grow in Christ and read His word we become strong like a tree that has spread down it’s roots. A few days ago I mentioned flying to Egypt and how the floodplain of the Nile was verdant green. On that trip we sailed down the Nile and saw many great sights, some included the vegetaton that was growing and drawing life from the river. Trees grow well by any water source because they can tap into the supply and feed on it. How much more us as we draw on the source of our life, the Word of God, will we grow strong and fruitful. What can you thank God for today? For me, I thank Him today for loving me, saving me and making me a tree of righteousness.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Isaiah 61.1-11 ; Jeremiah 17.7-8

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." – 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18 (NKJV)

What an exhortation! In these three very short verses the apostle tells us three things that are God’s will for us no matter what our circumstance or the situation we are in. Rejoice always – Pray without ceasing – Give Thanks. Notice that our prayers are to be sandwiched by praise and thanksgiving. This is a good formula to remember when we come to God in prayer. I like to approach God in this way, Jesus taught us to pray that way in the model prayer. He started “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” this is praise and worship. We begin by praising and focusing on the Lord, the One who is able to meet all our needs. Then comes “Give us this day our daily bread”, here Jesus was teaching to make your requests known to God, to pray. Then finally He taught us to finish our prayer time with thanksgiving and praise, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever”. Why do this? Because there is nothing like praise to lift the spirit and bring God into the midst of the situation. These aren’t just three basic principles for our prayer life, they are how we are to live. Acknowledging God by giving Him praise all the time. Praying without ceasing – prayer is our breath, our communication with the Father. And lastly, give thanks in everything - thankful people receive from God more and more (we are going to touch on this a little tomorrow). Look at the prophet Habakkuk – when everything seemed to be going wrong around Him – he chose to rejoice and give thanks, “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” Habakkuk 3.18

Suggested Additional Reading:    Habakkuk 3.1-19 ; Matthew 6.9-13

"Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs." – Isaiah 61.7 (Amplified)

Yesterday we were saying that it is good to be a rejoicing, thankful people. This is in every situation, circumstance and state we find ourselves. What had been happening to God’s people? I asked you to read this chapter a couple of days ago and as you look back through it you see a people that were broken, bound up and in mourning. They had nowhere to live as their houses and cities were destroyed and desolate. Yet God says that the Spirit of the Lord God has come to heal, proclaim liberty and to bring comfort and restoration. The we have this amazing promise that instead of the shame that they were in through being broken and in captivity, they would have a two-fold reward. First, instead of dishonour, shame and reproach they had to begin by rejoicing in their portion – that is what they had. Remember yesterday I reminded you of Habakkuk who rejoiced even though it was all going wrong. This rejoicing cause the two-fold blessing, the double blessing to come upon them. They would receive double what they had before in their land. Instead of poverty they would have double, an abundance; where they were sick and brokenhearted there would be double measure of health. Instead of bondage and captivity now they would have a double victory and instead of mourning a double portion of joy. This promise also states that the joy they would receive would be an everlasting joy which would be poured on them from above. How much more will you and I receive. To the thankful, praising person a double portion comes, this is echoed in Zechariah 9.12 where God says “Even today I declare that I will restore double to you”. Go ahead and praise Him right now.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Zechariah 9.9-17

"Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me" – Isaiah 45.11 (NKJV)

Those who don’t understand the Lord start getting all on edge and very apprehensive when we say that God is going to bless or He will heal. They think we are being arrogant or presumptious, but listen to what God says. This verse begins by stating ‘Thus says the Lord’, this is what God says, it is not the word of the prophet or another man. If God is saying this then we can take it to the bank that He means it. One thing I learned in my early days was this – God says what He means and means what He says. ‘Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons’, God wants us to ask Him about our lives, His plan for us, the future things to come. What does He want to do in your life? Have you asked Him? I remember preachers that said things like ‘something good is going to happen’, of course they can say that because that’s God’s plan for us – He is good and does good. How can you be sure God is going to heal the sick? because that’s His will, He bore the stripes for our healing, He took sickness and disease to the cross. But listen to the next part of the verse ‘concerning the work of My hands, you command Me’. Who are we to command God? God tells us to command Him concerning the work of His hands. His work is blessing, healing, forgiving, delivering – command Him. The word command in this verse means to give an order, command or charge. Now it is not saying I command you God to do this and that, to give a command is to declare the word of God over the situation. There is a verse in Job 22.28 which says “You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you”. This verse in context is in line with prayer and communing with God. He says declare something, command it, decree it and it will be done and established. This is faith talking, look at the woman in Mark 5 with the issue of blood ‘if I touch His garment, I will be made whole’. She decreed and declared it and it was done for her. What will you command Him today, put the word of God in your mouth and believe it, and it will be established for you.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Job 22.21-30 ; Lamentations 2.17 ; Mark 11.22-23

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye" – Zechariah 2.8 (NKJV)

What a beautiful statement and thought – you are the apple of His eye. Did you know that God thinks of you like that? A lot of people have the concept of God as someone fierce who is waiting to punish them for every wrong move they take. How wrong that concept is – the Bible is very clear that God loves us and adores us. We are His creation, created good and in His image. The prophet Zephaniah writes: “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3.17). The Lord rejoices over you with gladness and singing. Peter writes in his first letter (1 Peter 2.9-10): “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy”. Does that sound like a God that’s ready to strike you and take you out? No. He is a God of love and mercy – you are His own special people, He delights in you, He rejoices over you, you are the apple of His eye. He takes care of His children, those who come against you or touch you He deals with. Rest, meditate and take comfort in that thought today.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Zechariah 2.1-13

"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!" – Proverbs 15.23 (NIV)

I was never the best at examinations, I think it was the pressure and stress that I felt during them. However, I remember the joy, and sometimes relief, of knowing that the answer I gave in an examination was the correct answer. I could rest in the fact that I knew I was correct. In more recent years when I have needed to give an answer to someone’s question, it brings joy to know that it was a good and appropriate answer. Our verse today says that a man finds joy in giving an apt reply, another translation says “An appropriate answer brings joy to a man” (ISV). When we give an answer or speak a word of counsel or advice in situation – an appropriate word comes from the Word of God. This brings not only joy to the hearer, because he has heard the truth but the speaker also gets joy. A timely word, the right word at the right moment, is good because it imparts grace to the hearers. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4.29). A timely word is one that is necessary for edification, building up others – that’s what brings joy to the speaker. Don’t speak what you think others want to hear, say what they need to hear – that’s the timely word. It will not only bring you joy, but them too.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Proverbs 15.1-23 ; Proverbs 25.1-28

"But let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry." – Amos 5.24 (CEV)

It doesn’t matter how low you fall or how bad you feel. You cannot do anything that is beyond the mercy of God. You cannot escape the lovingkindness of God – wherever you go, He is always there to pick you up again. David knew that, he said: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139.7). He learned that wherever he went, the Lord was there and His mercy flowed. In todays text it says that God’s mercy flows like a river that never runs dry. There is an abundance of mercy available to you and me. God loves you, so no matter how far you’ve fallen there is mercy to lift you. His mercy flows like a river – bringing life wherever it goes. The prophet Jeremiah realised it too, he stated that it was because of mercy that he hadn’t been consumed, he hadn’t been swallowed up in self pity. In Lamentations he writes: “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”. How great is His mercy, how great is His love. His love is steadfast, His compassions don’t fail – they are new every morning. Do you need a touch from the Lord today? His compassion and mercy is fresh today, available right now for you. Turn to the Lord, drink from that river of mercy and He will lift you up.

Suggested Additional Reading:    Lamentations 3.22-25