NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

 

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 

(1 Timothy 2:1‑2) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 

Thursday, May 1st is the National Day of Prayer.  It is a time of national repentance and prayer for our great country.  Here is some history about the National Day of Prayer: 

1775 - The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer. 1863 - Abraham Lincoln called for such a day. 1952 - Congress established the NDP as an annual event by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Truman. 1988 - The law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May. 

In the Bible we see the nation of Israel calling upon the Lord in times of great need: 

- King Hezekiah when the Assyrian’s came to conquer the land (2 Kings 18-19) 

- King Jehoshaphat when the people of Moab and Ammon came against Israel (2 Chronicles 20) 

- Queen Esther calls for prayer when Haman the Agagite tried to exterminate the Jews (Esther 4:15-17). 

Each time God graciously delivered His people.  Even outside Israel, nations were able to call upon the Lord in repentance.  Jonah preached to Nineveh and they repented at his message and the Lord relented from the disaster He said He would bring upon the people (Jonah 3).   

President George W. Bush held a special national day of prayer just three days after the 9-11 terrorist attacks on our country.  God honors prayer.  We have risen from the ashes.  Our economy has recovered and America is back in business even after the Great Recession.  That’s the mercy of God.  It sure hasn’t been because of our ongoing repentance or moral uprightness.  But now we have another opportunity to seek God on this upcoming National Day of Prayer.   

Wherever you are this Thursday, say a prayer for our nation.  Let’s claim the great promise of the Bible:  (2 Chronicles 7:14) if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.    

The greatest and most effective thing we can do for your country is to pray.  God loves America.  Let’s fight for her on our knees!  

(Psalm 144:15) Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD! 

Louie

REJOICE!

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

REJOICE! 

(Mat 28:9) And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 

The word rejoice isn’t very popular in our vocabulary these days.  It means to be glad and to enjoy life.  Nowadays we just say let’s party!  But do we have to wait for the weekend to have a good time?  Is it just that one vacation a year that we can really live it up?  Do we have to drudge through life and only wait for certain times before we can get that lift and forget all about our problems?   

It was the women who were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb.  The disciples had fled and were sequestered for fear of their lives.  Leave it to the ladies to be so devoted and the men to be so spiritually timid.  It ought not to be but the reality is that women have such a beautiful sensitivity to spiritual things and sometimes men just don’t get it.  But be that as it may, the Lord rewards faithfulness and dedication and that is why Jesus appeared to the women first before the men.  And what was the first word He said to them?  Rejoice!   

What a wonderful surprise for the women.  Their sorrow was over and Jesus said it was time for them to be glad and joyful.  They dropped to their knees and held Jesus’ feet and worshipped Him.  Jesus said to go and tell His disciples that He had risen and that He would meet up with them in Galilee.  So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.  Jesus was alive and it was time to celebrate!   

But is it possible to celebrate and be happy even when the chips are down?  Or do you have to wait until you aren’t beat anymore to be upbeat?  The Bible says you can be glad and enjoy life no matter what the circumstances.  In fact you can be in the pits and still praise!  Paul said from prison:  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Phil 4:4)  When he and Silas were arrested in Philippi they were thrown into prison where they were singing praises at midnight and the other prisoners were listening.  The Bible says there was a great earthquake and the chains were loosed from the prisoners.   Through this the jailer and his family got saved and were baptized! (Acts 16:25-34) 

Knowing Jesus is risen gives hope to the believer!  (1 Pet 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.   We have a living hope because we have a living Savior.  Happiness depends on circumstances but joy is a fruit of the Spirit that is available for us no matter what we’re going through. (Gal 5:22-23) 

Rejoice Christian!  Jesus is alive!!  Tomorrow is going to be a better day because He lives!!!  

Louie

THIS IS THE DAY

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

THIS IS THE DAY 

(Psa 118:24) This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

I don’t know about you but mornings are not the easiest time of day for me.  I usually wake up groggy and it takes me a good cup of joe and a little time to ease into my day.  My brain will then finally begin to fire on all cylinders and I’ll be good to go.  All the while my prayer will rise to the Lord as I claim the day for Him and choose to rejoice and be glad in it.   

There was one special day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people greeted Him with shouts of hosannas (Mat 21:1-11).  We call this the Triumphal entry or Palm Sunday and we count it as a week before Easter Resurrection Sunday.  But did you know that Psalm 118:24 has special significance to this day and is a fulfillment of Daniel 9:25?:  “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.    

Sir Robert Anderson in his book, The Coming Prince, has worked out the time schedule. Using a 360-day year (which Israel used in Daniel's day), he calculated 173,880 days (69 weeks) from the decree of Cyrus to restore and build Jerusalem to the triumphal entry, fulfilling the prophecy to the day.  On this day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, offering Himself for the first time, publicly and officially, as the Messiah.  What an amazing prophecy fulfilled in the Bible!  This was the day the Lord has made…the day Jesus rode in on that donkey as predicted by the prophet Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9) 

When we wake up it’s time to give the Lord the day and say This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.  No matter what lies ahead you know the Lord has gone before you and you can face the day confidently.  (Joshua 1:9)  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  We can then yield our bodies as a living sacrifice to serve the Lord throughout the day: (Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

All we have is today.  We can grunt it out or we can praise it through.  (Heb 3:15)…“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.  (Deu 30:19)…choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.  (Heb 13:8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, TODAY, and forever.  Let’s say it together:  This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it! (Psa 118:24)  I’m ready for a good day, aren’t you?   

Louie

A CONSCIENCE WITHOUT OFFENSE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

A CONSCIENCE WITHOUT OFFENSE 

(Acts 24:16)…I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. 

Conscience.  That sense of right or wrong when an action is performed.  Inside us is a moral consciousness that is God-given so we may always do the right thing and not have to be nagged with a guilty feeling.   We’ve all felt it from our first lie to modern day.  Our conscience will accuse us or excuse us.  It’s a gift and makes for a soft pillow to sleep on at night.   

Paul put it this way:  (Rom 2:14-15)  for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them).   Well said Paul!  Man is morally responsible because of his capacity of choice.  A conscience is like a judge and it’s better to pay this lower court judge now than to have to answer to God’s higher court when each of us stands before Him.   

The Bible speaks of three types of conscience: 

A GOOD CONSCIENCE:  (1 Tim 1:19) having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck.  Paul was guided by this internal moral compass and it did him well as he strove to be righteous before God and men.      

A BAD CONSCIENCE:  (1 Sam 24:5) Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe.  The Holy Spirit works with our conscience so we may always do those things that please God.  (Rom 9:1) I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.   

A SEARED CONSCIENCE:  (1 Tim 4:1 2) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.  Seared to means to brand or to cauterize.  A person may deny their conscience repeatedly to the point of not being able to listen to it anymore.   

A man consulted a psychiatrist. He complained, "I've been misbehaving, Doc, and my conscience is troubling me." The doctor asked, "And you want something that will strengthen your willpower?" The fellow replied, "Well, no, I was thinking of something that would weaken my conscience." 

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.  (Benjamin Franklin)  

Louie

BATTLE OF GOG AND MAGOG

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

BATTLE OF GOG AND MAGOG 

The Battle of Gog and Magog is a famous battle recorded in Ezekiel 38-39 and which is still yet future.  In short this battle pictures the forces from the north that will swoop down on Israel unexpectedly to seize their land and assets.  But God will defend Israel and slay her enemies. It is so exciting to study because we see events of today lining up in preparation for it.  So let’s study this prophecy because it will prove that time is short and Jesus is coming soon! 

WHO WILL ATTACK ISRAEL?:  Ezekiel was describing a battle that will involve Israel’s remotest neighbors. The nations involved in the attack seem to include the Soviet Union, Turkey, Iran, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya. (38:1-6).  It is interesting to note most of these nations today would have no problem attacking Israel.   

WHEN WILL THE ATTACK BE?:  Israel will be attacked in the latter years and during a time when they are a peaceful people who dwell safely.  That surely can’t mean today because Israel is vulnerable to attack by her enemies.   It appears to be during the end times and during the first half of the Tribulation when the Antichrist will broker peace with Israel. (38:8, 11)  (Note: The battle of Gog and Magog at the end of the Millennium is a different attack – see Rev 20:7-9.  In that battle Gog and Magog symbolize all the forces of evil that band together to battle God.) 

WHY WILL ISRAEL BE ATTACKED?:  This attack will be based on greed and control of the Middle East. Israel has a warm water entrance to the waterways of the world, is close to oil deposits, and possesses valuable mineral deposits. (38:12)  God will use this attack to bring glory to Himself among the Gentiles and to bring Israel into a relationship with Himself. (39:21-29)  

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ISRAEL’S ATTACKERS?:  God will knock the bow out of their left hand and cause arrows to fall out their right hand (39:3).  God will bring down judgments and the marauding coalition will begin fighting against itself.  It will take seven months to bury the bodies of the soldiers and seven years to burn the leftover weapons. (39:1-16)   

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US TODAY?:  The Bible teaches that the Rapture will happen first before the Tribulation (2 Thes 2:1-12).  Today we also see Russia (the “far north” of Eze 38:6) trying to regain its former glory and be a superpower again.  They have shown themselves to be land grabbers and to act independently from other nations in so doing.   These are signs of the times.  The coming of the Lord is closer than we think and it’s time to live for Him! (1 John 3:3) 

But the real battle is in our hearts.  (James 4:1) Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  Are you fighting against the Lord?  (2 Chr 13:12)…do not fight against the Lord God…for you shall not prosper!”   Surrender today to the Lord and let God’s peace rule your life! (Col 3:15)  

Louie

NAMES OF GOD

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

NAMES OF GOD

In the English language we basically have one name for God.  But in Hebrew there are many names for the one God.  In an English translation a particular Hebrew name for God may lose its basic meaning by just being translated God.  I would say it’s like the difference between black and white and color TV with the full splendor of the image being represented by color.  (Dan 2:20) Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God…  Happy study of God’s names! 

- YAHWEH - The name Yahweh (or Jehovah) means “I am that I am” and means God is self-existent in His nature and Being . . . always was and always will be.  In the Old Testament Yahweh occurs 6,519 times.  This would be the covenant name of God for His people.  (Exo 3:14-15) And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”  15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever…

- ELOHIM - The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one.” This name occurs 2,570 times in the Old Testament.  It is a plural of majesty and intimates the Trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, His creative work, and His mighty work for Israel - (Gen 1:1)  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

- ADONAI - Translated “Lord” in our English Bibles.  In the Old Testament Adonai occurs 434 times. The first use of Adonai is in . . . (Gen 15:2)  But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"   

- EL SHADDAI - God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." Used 48 times in the OT.  (Gen 17:1)  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 

- EL ELYON - “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy. - (Gen 14:19) And he (Melchizedek) blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 

- EL OLAM - "Everlasting" God. This is a seldom used name, however, it indicates that God exists for all eternity. He is the God of all ages. (Gen 21:33) Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 

- EL ROI - “The God who sees me” – Hagar’s name for God when He saw her affliction - (Gen 16:13) Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?" 

Louie

BIBLICAL FASTING

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

BIBLICAL FASTING 

In the Bible we read about how the Israelites enjoyed the feasts of the Lord in the Old Testament.  The gospels also reveal how Jesus ate often in fellowship with others.  But when we have a serious concern on our heart or if we as a body have a corporate concern, then it’s time to seek the Lord with fasting.  Fasting is a very rewarding experience.  May the Lord direct us to fast as the Spirit leads.  And I pray the following Bible study will give you insight on scriptural fasting: 

Definition - “To go without food for the purpose of seeking God”. 

CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT FASTING: 

·               For guidance (Judges 20:26-28) 

·               Victory over temptation (Matthew 4:1-2) 

·               National repentance (1 Samuel 7:5-6) 

·               Burdened for others (Nehemiah 1:3-4) 

·               Personal concerns (1 Samuel 1:7, 10) 

·               Direction for ministry (Acts 13:1-3)

 PITFALLS TO AVOID 

·               Pride (Nehemiah 9:1-2; Joel 2:12; Matthew 6:16-18) 

·               Empty ritualism (Zechariah 7:5-7) 

·               Forgetting true spirituality (Isaiah 58:4-6) 

KINDS OF FASTS 

·                      Supernatural fast - No food and no water (Exodus 34:28).  Not a normal fast and usually never lasted more than three days (Ezra 10:6-8; Esther 4:16).   

·                      Normal fast - No food but liquids okay and for a time that the Spirit would lead (most common in the Bible). 

·                      Partial fast - Eating lightly (blander food) while abstaining from rich and sweet foods.  This is good if you have to keep up your busy and strenuous schedule as Daniel evidently did.  Fasting doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  (Daniel 10:1-5) 

*Please check with your doctor if you have special needs. 

How blessed we are to enjoy the food God has graciously and abundantly given to us.  And what a blessing it is to go without food for a time when we feel directed to seek the will of the Lord for our lives. 

Louie