Monthly Archives: September 2016

Zephaniah

Personal Updates, Spiritual, , , , ,

Interesting week.  I listened to and read Zephaniah over the last 5-7 days.  Then began exploring other scripture with a similar theme, message, perspective.  It was fascinating what the Lord was saying to the people of the day.  What really made me take note was how the person sitting next to me in the prayer room, was ALSO reading Zephaniah.  This obscure tiny 3 chapter book.  I was nothing short of flabbergasted.  What are the crazy odds of anybody in the room reading Zephaniah, much less sitting next to me?  I mean even though it’s a room filled with Bible readers, the odds of being in these 3 chapters, to me is outrageous!  I had to ask the gentleman what the Lord was speaking to him about, so I did my best to patiently wait until he was finished, but I had to interrupt him as he was getting towards the end – just in case he had to hurry off somewhere.  Fortunately, he was agreeable and we talked about this obscure tiny book.  I shared my experience in going through it myself recently.  He too kind of stumbled upon it as his story goes.  I greatly appreciated hearing his perspective on it as there were some definite similarities as to what he was getting and what I was getting.

I thought I would paste the entire book in my blog since it’s so tiny and highlight the things that stood out.  It’ll be interesting to see what transpires in the coming days… or doesn’t.  It seems there’s no lack for things to pray about these days.  Reading this book and making comparisons to the current world reality, provokes one to PRAY more than ever.

ZEPHANIAH

1 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 2 “I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land,” Says the LORD; 3 “I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,” Says the LORD. 4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the [pagan] priests— 5 Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear [oaths] by the LORD, But who [also] swear by Milcom; 6 Those who have turned back from [following] the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.” 7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD [is] at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests. 8 “And it shall be, In the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the king’s children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel. 9 In the same day I will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. 10 “And there shall be on that day,” says the LORD, “The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate, A wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud crashing from the hills. 11 Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! For all the merchant people (businessmen: also in Revelation – comment added) are cut down; All those who handle money (bankers: money changers in Jesus’ day – comment added) are cut off. 12 “And it shall come to pass at that time [That] I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’ 13 Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit [them]; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.” 14 The great day of the LORD [is] near; [It is] near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day [is] a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers. 17 “I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse.” 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land. – Zephaniah 1:1-18 NKJV

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, [Or] the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you! 3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’s anger. 4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted. 5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD [is] against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant.” 6 The seacoast shall be pastures, With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. 7 The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed [their] flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, And return their captives. 8 “I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders. 9 Therefore, as I live,” Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah–Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them.” 10 This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts. 11 The LORD [will be] awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; [People] shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations. 12 “You Ethiopians also, You shall be slain by My sword.” 13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness. 14 The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals [of] her [pillars]; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation [shall be] at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, “I [am it], and [there is] none besides me.” How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist. – Zephaniah 2:1-15 NKJV

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city! 2 She has not obeyed [His] voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the LORD, She has not drawn near to her God. 3 Her princes in her midst [are] roaring lions; Her judges [are] evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. 4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law. 5 The LORD [is] righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the unjust knows no shame. 6 “I have cut off nations, Their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; [There is] no one, no inhabitant. 7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, You will receive instruction’–So that her dwelling would not be cut off, [Despite] everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds. 8 “Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination [is] to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. 9 “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering. 11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain. 12 I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed [their] flocks and lie down, And no one shall make [them] afraid.” 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all [your] heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, [is] in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 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.“ 18 “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, [To whom] its reproach [is] a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the LORD. – Zephaniah 3:1-20 NKJV

Your First Love – David Wilkerson
https://youtu.be/lHChcGHz1K0

Communication

Communication, , , , , ,

Communication.

What an amazing idea this word represents.

  • ”  an act or instance of transmitting

  • 2 a :  information transmitted or conveyed b :  a verbal or written message

  • 3 a :  a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior <the function of pheromones in insect communication>; also :  exchange of information b :  personal rapport <a lack of communication between old and young persons>

  • 4 plural a :  a system (as of telephones) for transmitting or exchanging information b :  a system of routes for moving troops, supplies, and vehicles c :  personnel engaged in transmitting or exchanging information

  • 5 plural but sing or plural in constr a :  a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech) b :  the technology of the transmission of information (as by print or telecommunication)”

    From Merriam Webster

In the absence of communication, thoughts, perceptions and judgements – right ones or wrong ones form.  It’s amazing to me how often communication is in-effective, non-existent or completely misunderstood.  It happens every day.

I think the biggest challenge is between men and women. Two humans wired similarly, yet, completely different.  Different focuses. Different perspective. Different ideas. Different dreams. The list goes on.

Repeatedly, through-out society we see misunderstanding happen again and again.  No matter what the intention seems to be good, bad or ugly, in the absence of communication, poor judgement, condemnation, fear, anxiety, worry, and lies can form that are completely unfounded.  It seems the accuser of the brethren surfs on the the verbal ques, miss ques, etc and fills in the gaps of the unknown with a totally bogus story-line. Unfortunately, this tactic works  occurs over and over and over again.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “One of the biggest, if not the biggest issues with the fall (that came as a result of sin and disconnectedness to YHWH) is the impurity and brokenness of communication.” Perfect communication and understanding fell by the way side completely.  Think about how many wars could have been prevented, marriages or businesses could have stayed together??? Countless. All because of communication issues.

Fear came in where transparency used to be.  With the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we now can come boldly to the throne of grace.  We are restored.  If we can do that with the Most High, why not come boldly one to another?  Matthew 5 and 18 both talk about going to the one who apposes you, to work it out.  Another scripture comes to mind, “as much as it depends upon you live at peace with all men.” Two people seeking to follow Jesus, ought to come to peaceable conclusions in any situation.  Who knows, maybe it’s just me?  Maybe I need to raise my standard and everyone else already speaks boldly the truth in their heart, transparently in compassion for one another or maybe people are simply afraid of confrontation?  Satan wins if this kind of fear goes on.  This is what he wants, separation, with nobody communicating only letting the problem marinate longer and longer.  I can’t help but think of the scripture, “cowards have their place in the lake of fire…” paraphrasing of course.

8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8 NKJV

God’s people are not cowards.  Is this in context? Out of context?  You be the judge… I can handle it either way.

Talking about each other, rather than to each other, is such a waste of time. It will be an amazing day when we mature to a place where we can be completely transparent and okay with someone else’s perspective that is completely contrary to our own view.  Think of it, love, in total disagreement.  Thoughts discussed with honor, dignity and care for the other individual, without insecurely having to defend one’s own belief and writing the apposing view/individual off completely with the “them vs. us” mentality.  Healthy discussions, so enriching and stimulating.

Going after agreement, disagreement, truth, honor, compassion and dignity all at once is totally possible, when everyone in the room is capable of being an adult.  Let’s grow up.  I have much room to grow personally, yet, hopeful and excited for the possibility of more. There’s so much more.

Super expectant for the possibility of growth and maturity taking place in the days ahead. Yay Holy Ghost helper! Help us Your people. In Y’shua’s name. Amen. 🙂

PS – You’re free to not amen that prayer if you disagree. It’s really okay. It’s super okay. 😉

Agape.

Any thoughts, comments, ideas?  You’re more than welcome to share freely and openly.  I triple dog dare you… that’s right, the TRIPLE DOG DARE….. lol

Just remember, you’re not a coward.  If nothing else, I hope you’re entertained and amused.  Plus, now you have more to talk about with them. 😉

Communication. What a trip.