“THE GIFT OF GOD”!

Ecclesiastes 3:13, 14: And also, that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.  I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.  

May the LORD add a blessing to the reading, hearers, and doers of His Holy Word, Amen.

The ability to enjoy life and live it properly is a gift from God that comes only when we are brought into a right relationship with Him and sincerely submit ourselves to Him as our LORD and God. He then gives us joy in what we do.

To be happy and do good while we live are worthy goals for life, but we can pursue them in the wrong way. God wants us to enjoy life. When we have the proper view of God, we discover that real pleasure is found in enjoying whatever we have as gifts from God, not in what we accumulate.

What is the purpose of life? It is that we should reverence the all-powerful God. To reverence God means to respect and stand in awe of Him because of who He is. Purpose in life starts with whom we know, not what we know or how good we are. It is impossible to fulfill your God-given purpose unless you reverence God and give Him first place in your life.

The Teacher hinted at contentment in 2:24 [A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God], and was careful to say that this enjoyment of life was God’s gift. The advice of the Teacher is to seize the day in the joy of God, Biblical faith is a call for joy, even when we live in a wicked world and under terrible stress; this is because we find true joy in the living God.

Solomon is not encouraging pagan lifestyle, but rather the practice of enjoying God’s gifts as the fruit of one’s labor, no matter how difficult life may be. Life appears to be transitory, but whatever God does is forever. So, when we live for Him and let Him have His way, life is meaningful and manageable. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s enjoy what we do have and thank God for it.  The proper attitude for us is the fear of the LORD, which is not the cringing of a slave before a cruel master but the submission of an obedient child to a loving parent. (see 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13; 12:13.) If we fear God, we need not fear anything else, for He is in control.

So, don’t merely work for money; do something you like. Appropriate pleasures are a gift of God; enjoy them. But don’t expect to discover the ultimate meaning in these things. God has intentionally created dissatisfaction in life to drive us to Him.  You can’t change what God has made, so stop fighting the routine, the repetition, and the extremes of life. He’s made both life and you this way, so you’ll seek Him. 

Let us make ourselves easy, “rejoice, and enjoy the good of our labor”; as it is “the gift of God,” let us return to Him our sincere thanks and make Him the center of our joy, eat and drink to His glory, and “serve Him with Joyfulness of heart, in the abundance of all things.” Forever: (and everyone knows it, that knows anything of God.) His measures are never broken, nor is He ever put upon new counsels, but what He has purposed shall be effected, and all the world cannot defeat nor disannul it.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Remember: the advice of the Teacher is to seize the day in the joy of God, Biblical faith is a call for joy, even when we live in a wicked world and under terrible stress; this is because we find true joy in the living God.

I Thank you for allowing me to share with you the Word in thought of today.  I hope you can spare a moment and share your findings of what the Word found in Ecclesiastes 3:13, 14 means too you. Please let me hear from you.

THE CHURCH WITHIN YOU! podcast.

[https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara375/episodes/THE-GIFT-OF-GOD-e25pfh2/a-aa0mse9]

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

FLB|LAB|WSB|TEBC|MHSB

This is what the LORD says: I WILL DO A NEW THING!

THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS. This statement emphasizes the authority of the words that will follow. Isaiah repeated God’s promise to bring His people out of captivity in Babylon and return them to the land of Israel (43:14). This would be an act of God’s covenant faithfulness and mercy, not a result of His people’s merits.

This is what the LORD says. The same phrase (v.1) is used to emphasize the ultimate source of this prophecy, God Himself. Redeemer. The LORD is described as Redeemer because He zealously defends, protects, and purchases back His people (Is. 41:14, Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I Myself will help you, declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel).

God takes to Himself such titles as were very encouraging to His people their Holy One. He assures them He will break the power of their oppressors, will take care to send a prince to Babylon [who] shall bring down all their nobles and all their people too, even the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

He reminds them of the great things He did for their fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. “He [who] did this can make a way for you in the sea when you return out of Babylon.”

I will do a new thing for you; this is God’s promise even unto this day. As God encourages Israel with the hope of the coming Messiah, He exhorts the people, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old” because something new is going to happen. Those things that you hope for, those things that seemed so far off in the distance, God is doing something new. We must not give up nor give in – TIME is just a word to the LORD. Keep and hold on to your faith in God, for He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. God has intervened to resolve our past and redeem us for a life eternal. Old things will be washed away, as He redeems us in the newness of life everlasting. When God forgives and restores His people, He wants them to forget the failures of the past, witness for Him in the present, and claim His promises for the future!

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

LAB|HBS|MHSB|TEBC|TWSB

THE HEALING AT THE POOL, YOUR EXODUS!

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. John 5:2 “Do you want to be made well”? This is the question that Jesus asks the man that laid by the side of this pool. Legend had it that an Angel would come down into the pool and “stir up the water”. The first person into the pool after the stirring of the water, “was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted”. This poor man’s infirmity had lasted a total of 38 years. He had experienced prolonged disappointment at not being healed, while repeatedly looking unto God in expectation. Yet healing did finally come to the man, and it may have been largely because of the length of this man’ suffering that Jesus, in compassion, chose to help him. We must never give up hope that the time for God to move directly on our behalf may come soon.

Jesus often healed as a response to the faith of individuals. Here, however, He required no faith at all; the man was made whole merely at the Word of Jesus. Even today people may be healed according to God’s purpose even though they do not demonstrate faith in Christ. The Bible teaches that there are three contacts for healing faith: (1) the faith of the one being healed (Mat. 9:27-29); (2) the faith of others on behalf of the afflicted (Mat. 8:5-10; cf. 17:15-20; Jas. 5:14-16); and (3) the faith of one who is anointed to heal (1 Cor. 12:9). The man Jesus spoke to did not recognize Jesus as the healer, but rather was focused on the healing pools (v.13). When Jesus questioned if he wanted to be made well, instead of replying “YES”! he provided an explanation in the form of a complaint that he had no one to put him in the pool when the water was stirred by the Angel.

Know this, no matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. Some people have been stuck in their negative circumstances for so long that they have given up hope that things can change. Your faith and hope are your exodus out of any situation. Although one may feel that their circumstance doesn’t stand a chance, that one must not give up on hope. When your way seems dark and bleak, when life seems to have you bound by chains that are invisible to the naked eye. When you feel as if all doors are closed and you are locked away behind them, with no escape.

Don’t just sit there wallowing in mud or stand there grieving it, press your way. To make a way of escape, you will sometimes have to press. Make a road out for yourself. Do not idle! No matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, the water is being stirred, step out in faith.

Ordinarily, faith in Jesus was essential to miraculous healing; however, in contrast to the healing of the royal official’s son, (John 4:46), Jesus chose to heal this man who did not even know who He was. Jesus, ask the man, as he lay there on his mat, “Do you want to be made well”? In response, the man told Jesus that every time there was a healing opportunity, he never had anyone to help him into the pool when the Angel stirred the waters. The man’s situation was hopeless, and he had no one to offer him aid. However, when the LORD Jesus showed up, O’ what a change! My Bible said, Jesus said to the man, “rise and pick up your mat and walk.”

Do not allow a problem or any hardship to cause you to lose hope. God may have special work for you to do despite your condition, or even because of it. Trust God, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Trust Him, where you can’t trace Him!

This is your exodus, press your way.

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

“THE CHURCH WITHIN YOU” podcast

FLB|HSB|TEBC|LAB

“AND HE DID IT, SUDDENLY!”

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara375/episodes/AND-HE-DID-IT-SUDDENLY-e24oo6s

This episode provides witnesses of those that because of their faith, and belief in the LORD Jesus received their healings instantaneously. Jesus once again emphasizes that the “kingdom of God” is associated with healing the sick. There were those that could witness, that when He healed them that He did it, suddenly.

There was the man that sat by the roadside and heard of the man Jesus and called out to Him, Jesus informed him that his faith had made him whole. The man received his sight immediately, and Jesus granted him his request for sight.

Prayer refers to the multifaceted communication of believers with the LORD God. In addition to such words as “prayer” and “praying,” this activity is described as calling upon God (Ps. 17:6), calling upon the name of the LORD (Gen. 4:26), crying unto the LORD (Ps. 3:4), lifting up one’s soul unto God (Ps. 25:1), seeking the LORD (Is. 55:6), coming boldly unto the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), and drawing near to God (Heb. 10:22).

Just as those in this message believed by faith that Jesus could deliver and that He could do it suddenly. Although, they might not have expected it to happen instantaneously. However, no one knows the Mind nor the Will of God. The man lay by the side of the pool hoping to be able to make it to the waters when the Angel came to trouble the water for there was none that would help him. Because of his belief, Jesus told him to take up his bed and walk. Thus, he did walk.

Prayer is the necessary link alone with having faith, trust, and knowing that He is able to receive God’s blessings and power, and the fulfillment of His promises. Not only must we pray according to God’s will, but we must be in God’s will if we expect Him to hear and answer us. God will give us the things we ask for only if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The apostle John unequivocally states: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

“DON’T QUIT!”

With all the challenges taking place today in our lives, we need sometimes to hear a word of encouragement. We need to feel that gentle wind at our backs pushing us forward and upward. “Don’t Quit”, provide us with just that little push. That unseen hand. As we know that things will go wrong, they often do, but we must pause and push our way through. Remember we have more strength than we know, we can’t give up now.

Don’t Quit

“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low, and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don’t quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don’t give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, It’s when things seem worse, that you must not quit.”

This Author is unknown to us I am thankful for the sharing of this message that was taken from his or her mind to pen and paper. Every day in every way we all at some time or another need just a few words of encouragement, to help us along our way.

“I just can’t give up now, I’ve come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me, the road would be easy. I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”

Remember, reach beyond the break, and hold on!

Blessings to each of you,

Elder Barbara

Morning Prayer with Elder Hayes

Summary

Pray with me…

A prayer of David.

1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
    for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust in you.

5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
    because you answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
    will come and worship before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
    you alone are God.

11 Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.

14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
    show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

Transcription

A WARNING OF THE DAY OF THE LORD!

Summary

THE DAY OF THE LORD! Although this episode is twenty minutes in length it provides the listener with a full reading of the Book of Joel’s telling of the Day of the LORD! The purpose is to warn Judah of God’s impending judgment because of their sins and to urge them to turn back to God. The author was writing to the people of Judah, the southern kingdom, and God’s people everywhere. This is believed to have been written during the time in which Joel prophesied.

The people of Judah had become prosperous and complacent. Taking God for granted, they had turned to self-centeredness, idolatry, and sin. Joel warned them that this kind of lifestyle would inevitably bring down God’s judgment.

Joel begins by describing a terrible plague of locusts that covers the land and devours the crops. The devastation wrought by these creatures is but a foretaste of the coming judgment of God, the “day of the LORD”. Joel, therefore, urges the people to turn from their sins and turn back to God. Woven into this message of judgment and the need for repentance is an affirmation of God’s kindness and the blessings he promises for all who follow him. In fact, “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (2:32).

As you read Joel, catch his vision of the power and might of God and of God’s ultimate judgment of sin. Choose to follow, obey, and worship God alone as your sovereign LORD.

My question to you do you think, with all that is currently taking place in our world today self-centeredness, idolatry, sin, wars and rumors of war, hatred, COVID, and of the extra? Are we soon to face another THE DAY OF THE LORD?

When time permits, read the book of Joel, or listen to The Church Within You! podcast’s reading of the three chapters of this book.

As always, blessings.

Elder Barbara,

Presiding Elder The Church Within YOU!

The Life Application Bible

Transcription

“ADVOCATE”

Summary

Prayer refers to the multifaceted communication of believers with the LORD God. In addition to such words as “prayer” and “praying,” this activity is described as calling upon God, (Psalms 17:6 “I call on You, my God, for You will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer”). Calling upon the name of the LORD, (Gen. 4:26 “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah.”) Crying unto the LORD, (Ps. 3:4 “I call out to the LORD, and He answers me from His holy mountain”).

Intercession may be defined as holy, believing, persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately need God’s intervention. Daniel’s prayer in Daniel the 9th chapter is an intercessory prayer, as he prays earnestly for the restoration of Jerusalem and for the entire nation. The Bible records the intercession of Christ and the Holy Spirit and numerous godly men and women under the old and new covenants.

Jesus interceded during His earthly ministry, praying for the multitudes whom He came to seek and save. He wept in brokenness over the city of Jerusalem. He prayed for His disciples, both individually and as a group. He even prayed for His enemies while He was hanging on the cross.

A present aspect of Christ’s ministry is to intercede on our behalf before the throne of God. For this reason, John calls Jesus our “Advocate” with the Father, one who pleads our case. Christ’s intercession is essential to our salvation; without His grace, mercy, and help mediated to us through His intercession, we would fall away from God and once again become enslaved to sin.

The Holy Spirit is also involved in intercession. Paul states, “We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”. The Holy Spirit through the human spirit of the believer intercedes “according to the will of God”. Thus, Christ intercedes for the believer in heaven; the Spirit intercedes within the believer on earth.

The Bible often refers to the intercessory prayers of believers and records numerous examples of remarkable, powerful prayers. In the O.T., the leaders of God’s people, such as kings (1Chr. 21:17), prophets (1 Ki. 18:41—45; Dan. 9), and priests (Ezra 9:5—15), were to lead the way in intercessory prayer for the nation.

The N.T. presents even more examples of intercessory prayers. The Gospels record how parents and others interceded with Jesus on behalf of loved ones. Parents pleaded with Jesus to heal their sick children (Mark 5:22—43); a group of mothers asked Jesus to bless their children (Mark 10:13); a man pleaded for his servant to be healed (Mat. 8:6—13); and the mother of James and John interceded with Jesus on their behalf (Mat. 20:20—21).

Every Saturday afternoon at the 2 PM hour intercessory prayer is held via conference line to one and all throughout every region, led by various Sisters, Deacons, Pastors, and Evangelists, men and women of God. Prayers are lifted heavenward on behalf of those that are unable to attend due to various circumstances, i.e., illness, family, loss, marriages, behind walls (visible and invisible), the homeless, etc., etc., etc. The prayer intercessors intercede to Jesus, as LORD Jesus, intercedes to God our Father in Heaven on behalf of one and all no matter what state one may be found in, we pray.

You are welcome to join. You are welcome to share with all listeners the prayers prayed by the prayer warriors. Remember, the day and the hour, no matter where you are to lift up your voice in prayer and join the many voices united and willing to stand in the gap. And if you can’t say a word, then just wave your hand! The Father knows the hearts and thoughts of all.

Are you willing to be an intercessor, an “Advocate” with the LORD Jesus, one who pleads the case of another?

Blessings,

Elder Barbara | FLB

Transcription

A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS

This episode is taken from the (LAB) Book of Mark chapter 11:17. A house of prayer for all nations, not to the Jews only, for all of the children of God. When Jesus entered the Temple in verse 12 of this chapter, He found those that were buying and selling within the Temple and He cast them out, He overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves; and suffered not any man to carry any vessel through the Temple. He taught them saying; “It is not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

He would not allow anyone to carry goods or wares through the Temple or the courts. After He had turned out the oxen and doves which were things of sacrifice, He revived the appointment of it as a house of prayer to teach us that when all sacrifices and offerings should be abolished, the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise should continue, and remain forever.

The kind of prayer that moves mountains is a prayer for the fruitfulness of God’s kingdom. It would seem impossible to move a mountain into the sea, so Jesus used that picture to say that God can do anything. There is nothing impossible for Him. God will answer your prayers, but not as a result of your positive mental attitude. (1) you must be a believer, (2) you must not hold a grudge against another person; (3) you must not pray with selfish motives; and (4) your requests must be for the good of God’s kingdom.

To pray effectively, you need to have faith in God, faith in the Will of God for you. Our prayers are often motivated by our own interests and desires. We like to hear that we can have anything. But Jesus prayed with God’s interests in mind. When we pray, we should express our desires but want His Will above ours.

Check yourself to see if your prayers focus on your interests or if they focus on what God has for you.

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

LAB|MHSB

THE LORD GOD, the Adversary, and JOB!

Summary

This episode provides you the listener a reading of the first three chapters of the Book of Job, who was a faithful man of God. The purpose of the story of Job was to demonstrate God’s sovereignty and the meaning of true unwavering faith. It addresses the question, “Why do the righteous suffer?”

Job was from the land of Uz, being a prosperous farmer, he was very well off for his time in Biblical history of the Old Testament. During that time lost his wealth, children, and health through no fault of his own. Even his friends were convinced that Job had brought this suffering upon himself. They wrongly assumed that suffering always came because of sin, and tried to persuade Job to repent of his sin. But the three friends were wrong. Suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. When we experience severe suffering, it may not be our fault, so we don’t have to add to our pain by feeling guilty that some hidden sin is causing our trouble. For Job, the greatest trial was not the pain or the loss; it was not understanding why God allowed him to suffer.

Satan attempted to drive a wedge between Job and God by getting Job to believe that God’s governing of the world was not just and reasonable. Satan had to ask God for permission to take Job’s wealth, children, and health away. Satan was limited to what God allowed. Satan was allowed to destroy Job’s children, servants, livestock, herdsmen, and home; but John continued to trust in God. Next Satan attacked Job physically, covering him with painful sores. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die (2:9), but Job suffered in silence.

Suffering can be, but is not always, a penalty for sin. In the same way, prosperity is not always a reward for being good. Those who love God are not exempt from trouble. Although we may not be able to understand fully the pain we experience, it can lead us to rediscover God.

We must learn to recognize and not fear Satan’s attacks because Satan cannot exceed the limits that God sets. Don’t let any experience drive a wedge between you and God. Although you can’t control how Satan may attack, you can always choose how to respond when it happens.

It is easy to think that we have all the answers. In reality, only God knows exactly why things happen as they do, and we must submit to Him as our Sovereign. As you read this book, emulate Job and decide to trust God no matter what happens. Trust and believe in God, He will never leave you nor forsake you. What we must remember is that our God is bigger than any of our problems. When someone tells you how big their problem is, ask them, how big is their God.

Blessings,

Elder Barbara

LAB

Job lost his wealth, children, and health through no fault of his own. Even his friends were convinced that Job had brought this suffering upon himself. For Job, the greatest trial was not the pain or the loss; it was not being able to understand why God allowed him to suffer.

Transcription