Devotional Reading: Psalm 120 – 131

Praise & Worship: The Joy of Knowing You

---

Memory Verses: 1<> I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 | <> I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1 | Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 | 1<> They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Psalm 125:1 | The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Psalm 126:3 | They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5 | 1 <> Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1 | Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Psalm 127:3-4 | Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. Psalm 128:1 | Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me Psalm 129:2 | I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  Psalm 130:5

---

The Message

If you ever watch television, or go to a movie theater, you are bombarded by advertisements. Marketing is not sin (neither is watching TV or a movie. These are general topics. Which movie, what program and what are the thoughts in your head ? – These are the questions to clarify. Most topics are neither here nor there. Let’s put our fire into burning off sin and stop trying to make doctrines of the commandments of men. And our offering of anything as in the form of a tool, is fashioned only to help you if you are able to use it; and is not given as a “requirement” of salvation. But we know that surely as God works, He sometimes works through people.) Jesus “got the word out” too. He had something important to say.

It is not only the content of any vessel that determines it’s value. And the content for our context may be either what the vessel holds, or the fabric from which the vessel is made. The worth could be so because of who made it.

You have heard that the book should not be judged by the cover. Yet we add to this, that sometimes the book is the cover – because we wear our heart outwardly. This is the method designed by Christ, to draw his people unto himself. Thus if we remove completely the outward book that is our “conversation” (behavior), which is meant to model the Christ after whom we have our pattern, then where is the modeling for the world that needs a shape?

Christ made a thirty second commercial thousands of years ago – and it’s still running…

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Your thought process has such a vital role in everything you do. Perhaps the most prevailing reason why some have trouble taking the Word to heart is because they have not yet moved beyond it being “His Word.” When we speak of the Bible as “His word,” it is to distinguish it from other words that are not implied to be His – and not that we have depersonalized the Word as though we stand on the outside, looking in. For a purpose of the Holy Spirit within us is to guide us in truth; and as on we walk with Him, we are made to look from the inside – out. And this is the source of “vision.”

What would be the difference in our spiritual growth if we flipped that small switch from it is His, to It is mine? (Some of you just gasped (and that for the second time, since the first was when I started talking about movies).) Stay with me.

Jesus said, what belongs to the Father belongs to Him (Jesus). The Holy Spirit within us gives us access to what belongs to Christ and inherently what belongs to God our Father. Thus we say boldly, the Bible is mine. It is God speaking to me. I take it personally. It’s part of our relationship. We are communicating. OK. Questions? Comment. Moving on.

Jesus ate with sinners and that did not make Him backslide out of being our Savior. If we are not strong enough, not grounded enough in Him to take part, then that’s one thing. That’s a point of departure to grow on. But just because a snail’s shell is soft, doesn’t mean a mature turtle has to stay off the sidewalk. Jesus came to save the lost, not the just who need no repentance. Yes, evil communication corrupts good manners. But the Holy Spirit speaking to the lost is not “evil communication.” In fact, it is Holy communication. What has happened though is that some have taken a situation and lumped all into it, rather than understanding that when the Holy Spirit leads, He creates the situation; and as such it is NOT a corruption, but a light shining in darkness – and that is precisely what he left us here for. Else we could be with Him already.

God wants the Sauls of the world to release the Davids. The Philistines are coming! The Jeremiahs have spoken. The Lord has set His deliverance in order. Now let the Word work for you. If you love the Lord, it’s yours.

Today, absorb Psalm 121 again.

Psalm 121 is a good passage to commit to memory.  Brainstorm about it. Write notes. Sing it. In your journal (if you are not keeping a journal daily, now is a good time to start. A written or blog type will do.), work on it by writing your thoughts down. The Lord said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. What does that mean to you? Faith is majorly interpretation. That is why it is difficult to keep without understanding. We do not have to understand all situations. We have understand things about the nature of God. This is where faith comes from. Until it makes sense to you, you will have a hard time believing. If your faith needs bolstering, try putting the promises of God into your own words. You are supposed to take hope “personally.”

PSALM 121

1  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Now here is what it means to me…

I turn my full attention to God who is beyond myself; He is  my source. Everything I need comes from Him, the same God who is the creator of heaven (my home) and earth (my deployment). He will not abandon me so my enemies will not be able to overthrow the good work that I do in His name. He is watching over me continually; and though I must at times take rest, even as I sleep he is on guard. The Lord is my shelter and provision for every situation that I may walk without fear and have comfort according to His will. He will protect His Spirit within me, from the wicked rule of the enemy, allowing His way to flourish and keep me on a right path as I submit to Him. The Lord will make remembrance of me before Our Father and cause the works of my hands to prosper in His name. All this He will do continually; and the use of these shall even outlive my life.

If we can handle it, it is good to put the Word in our own words. If not, just keep reading until God gives you something you can use to remember his promises.