The Lord Jesus, our King, once forsaken by not only God the Father in our atonement but by His apostles beforehand. First Judas, when Satan entered into him to betray the Lord. Then Peter, with his denial of Jesus three times. Upon finishing the Passover supper, the Lord’s suffering began not at the point of His entrapment. His trials began well before that and became pronounced mainly from the time of the Last Supper onward.
(a.) Forsaken – Satan demanded to sift Peter to ruin Jesus’ work and His followers (b.) Forsaken – Satan entered into Judas where he would afterward betray Jesus to religious leaders (c.) Forsaken – While Jesus prayed at the Mount of Olives in severe agony from his sorrow, His apostles were asleep nearby (d.) Forsaken – Peter denied Jesus three times while with others in the Lord’s presence (e.) Forsaken – By God the Father upon the Lord’s crucifixion
The will of the living God sets in advance eternal outcomes. It is made sure through all of creation and through the faith of His people. More specifically, it is faith as a spiritual dimension bestowed that somehow resonates with the will of YWHW.
Yet there are those who come and there are those who will not. In refusal, a choice of a will is enslaved to sin. To the eternal glory of God one way or another.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
For the weary and burdened, for those who are given to abundant life. Because, we bear His image, because of His infinite love, for His glory, and for His purposes.
Come to Christ to find rest for your soul.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” In sadness and darkness and terror did the unhappy wretch set out upon his wanderings. Yet not in solitude. Even in this punishment, God had mercy; He gave Cain human companionship to soften and sustain him. The Bible makes no positive statement of any daughters born thus early to Eve; but Hebrew legends mention them, and the Scripture leaves us to assume them. For presently it speaks of Cain’s wife as accompanying him, and then of a son and grandsons gathering around the pair.
The little party fled from the more fertile regions of earth. Part of the curse upon Cain had been that when he tilled the ground he should get but little return in crops. This implies that his journeying was through a barren land. Hence the artist has here pictured Cain with fear fixed forever on his brow, leading his unhappy band through a wilderness, that dark and mysterious “land of Nod” wherein the Bible tells us that he dwelled.”
The Bible and its Story, Volume 1: The Law, Genesis to Leviticus Bewer, Julius; Horne, Charles
In Matthew 17, an amazing thing happens. Centuries ago four men head up to a high mountain where they came upon a situation that brought about wonder, deep reverence, and distress. While three of them were among themselves, the fourth one transformed into a being of a glorified appearance. Specifically, the man’s face emitted an intense shine like the sun. The man’s clothing became white as light. That man was Jesus the Messiah, the son of the Most High God.
Thereafter, two additional men who were once dead from thousands of years ago appeared with Jesus. To speak with Him, those men were Moses and Elijah. The two men that were speaking with Jesus as He was transformed into His glorified state. Who had his attention while a bright cloud appeared among them.
It was a cloud that appeared also among Jesus’ apostles as they were concerned about shelter and safety on the mountain where the encounter occurred. It was a cloud from which the Voice of YHWH spoke. The voice with a message to the negligent and reckless, “Listen to Him.” As the living God gave His reason; He was and is well-pleased with Jesus. By infinite wisdom and grace, it was a message to listen. A message from the living God about the man whose face shone like the sun. Listen to Him.
The winnowing fork in Matt 3:11-12 refers to the separation of both the repentant and the unrepentant. In my study today, it occurred to me that the chaff thrown into the unquenchable fire is the unrepentant. The unquenchable fire is not temporary as by baptism, but a “fire” everlasting.
Those who repent and trust in him will receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-21), while the unrepentant will receive the judgment of eternal fire, and even the repentant may undergo purifying fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” -Mt 3:11-12
The Lord (YHWH) is the name of elō·hîm (God). Elohim is plural for God; namely the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. YHWH is a Him who is three that bears one name elō·hîm among many others. So it appears from personal study, but there are other perspectives also.
Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.
LORD: 3068. יהוה YHWH (i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahweh) (217d); from 1933b; the proper name of the God of Israel:—GOD(314), LORD(6399), LORDS(111).
Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.
(1) Proper names: El, Yahweh, Adonai, Theos, Kurios (God). (2) Personal names: Father, Abba, Son, Jesus, Holy Spirit. (3) Titles: Creator, Messiah/Christ, Paraclete/Comforter. (4) Essential names: Light, Love, Spirit. (5) Descriptive names: Rock, Ba’al, Master, Rabboni, Shepherd. (6) Attributes: names of virtues or characteristics of the triune God-head.
Van Groningen, G. (1988). God, Names Of. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 881). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
El in the OT is used particularly in the earlier books, where it describes God’s exercising dynamic power as distinguished from authority. El speaks of God as the great doer and producer. He is the One who exercises such power that whatever is made, done, kept, or destroyed is his doing (cf. Ex 15). El is also used to express the idea that God is not to be identified as part of creation but as the One who is above, behind, and beyond creation (Ps 19:1). In relation to man, the crown of creation, God as El is totally other (Ez 28:2; Hos 11:9).
Elohim is also commonly used as the name of God, occurring over 2500 times in the OT. There are differences of opinion concerning the exact origin and meaning of this plural name. Some have suggested that Elohim is the plural form of El, but it seems more likely that it is a plural of Eloah, which appears in the poetical writings. Some critical writers have suggested that this plural form is borrowed from pagan polytheistic sources; but no such plural form is found among pagans as the name of a deity. Others have suggested that the plural form is used to indicate the triune nature of God, and support for this has been seen in the use of a singular verb with this plural noun. The biblical doctrine of the Trinity, as it is developed throughout the Scriptures, does not appear to be based on the use of this plural form of God’s name, even though the two positions are not contradictory.
The plural form, Elohim, is best understood as expressing intensity. God makes himself known by this name as the Lord of intense and extensive glory and richness as he exercises his preeminence and power in the created cosmos. Hence, when the Scripture speaks of creation, it states, “In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth” (Gn 1:1). This name is repeated 35 times in Genesis 1 and 2 in connection with God’s power revealed in creation. In the Book of Deuteronomy the name Elohim is used repeatedly to stress the majestic power of God which was shown in Israel’s release from bondage in Egypt, her preservation in the wilderness, and her preparation for entrance into the Promised Land. In this context, God (Elohim) is also recognized as the lawgiver who will powerfully execute judgment on covenant-breakers. The psalmists also used this name repeatedly as they acknowledged and praised God the majestic ruler who had demonstrated his omnipotence in many dimensions of life (see Ps 68, in which Elohim appears 26 times.)
Evangelical scholars such as A. Juke and G. Campbell Morgan have interpreted Elohim as an expression of God’s covenant relationship with his people. They point to the use of Elohim when God spoke to Abraham and said he would be Elohim to the patriarch and his seed, that is, God would be in a covenant relationship to them (Gn 17:1–8). Included in this relationship is the idea that God is ever ready to use his power on behalf of those who are in covenant with him. Thus Elohim also expresses the concept of God’s faithfulness in regard to the covenant and the promises and blessings involved in it.
Van Groningen, G. (1988). God, Names Of. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 881–882). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House..
Yahweh (Joseph). Yahweh is a distinctly proper name of God. It is never used to refer to any pagan gods; neither is it used in regard to men. It appears 6823 times in the OT, occurring first in Genesis 2:4, where it is joined with Elohim. Yahweh is used 164 times in Genesis, and it appears 1800 times in Exodus through Joshua. It never appears in a declined form in the Hebrew language, and it never occurs in the plural form or with suffixes. It is abbreviated as Yah and Yahu (cf. Ex 15:2; Ps 68:4; Is 12:2, etc.).
The exact meaning of the name “Yahweh” is difficult to determine. Some have sought the root in the verb hayah (“to be”) or in an ancient form of that same verb hawah. There is no agreement as to whether or not the qal or hiphil form of the verb should be considered as the root. Those who opt for the hiphil form read Yahweh to mean, “cause to be”; thus Exodus 3:14 would read, “I will cause to be what has come to be.” Others look to the qal form and then translate the name as “I Am” or “I Shall Be.” Still others are inclined to disassociate the name from the verb hayah and regard it as an original and independent term, expressing the uniqueness of Israel’s gracious God.
Translators of the OT have not agreed upon the correct translation of the name “Yahweh.” Since it is translated into the Greek as kurios, which means “Lord,” many have rendered Yahweh as “Lord.” But “Adonai,” which is best rendered “Lord,” appears with Yahweh in various instances. The KJV, for example, translates “Yahweh” as “God,” and “Adonai” as “Lord.” Many modern translators have chosen to use Yahweh. The name “Jehovah,” as used in the ARV (1901) is judged unacceptable. This name arose due to the Jewish practice of not pronouncing Yahweh because of Leviticus 24:16, “He that names the name of Yahweh shall surely be put to death.” This warning against a vain or blasphemous use of the name was taken in an absolute sense, especially after Israel’s deportation (cf. Am 6:10). Hence, when reading the OT the Jews substituted either Elohim or Adonai for Yahweh. From this, the practice of adding the vowels of Adonai to YHWH (JeHoWaH) became established.
An interesting question is whether Yahweh was used initially in a specifically geographical area. Some scholars have concluded that Moses first learned of the god called Yahweh while in the desert of Midian. Later it became the name used of the god worshiped in southern Canaan, that is, the area of Judah and Simeon. These scholars posit that Elohim was the name used in northern Canaan. They also suggest that each area developed its own religious traditions and wrote its “records of religious beliefs,” each employing the divine name in use in its respective area. Later, when the nation of Israel was united, the two documents were joined, and the names “Yahweh” and “Elohim” were both used to refer to their common god. This view of the origin and use of the names of God finds no basis in the text of the OT. Both names are used in unique combinations and are also shown to have been known and used long before the time of the exodus. Abraham, for example, spoke of lifting his hand to Yahweh, El Elyon (Gn 14:19–22), and Abraham and Isaac built altars to Yahweh and called on his name (13:4; 26:25).
The interpretation of Exodus 6:2, 3 has caused much debate. “And God said to Moses, ‘I am Yahweh; I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as El Shaddai, but by my name Yahweh I did not make myself known to them.’ ” This passage has been understood to mean that the name Yahweh was not known or used prior to the time of Moses. But that is not what the passage states; rather it speaks of the patriarchs not knowing God as Yahweh. They knew him as El Shaddai in actual revelatory historical deeds. They had not come to know God according to his unique character, that is, as Yahweh. In other words, God had always been Yahweh; he is saying to Moses that the descendants of the patriarchs would come to know the full rich meaning of the name by the way God dealt with them.
This name “Yahweh” reveals God’s nature in the highest and fullest sense possible. It includes, or presupposes, the meaning of the other names. Yahweh particularly stresses the absolute faithfulness of God. God had promised the patriarchs that he would be their God, that he would be with them, would deliver and bless them, keep them, and give them a land as a place of service and inheritance. Moses is told by God that Israel is about to behold and experience the unchangeableness of God as he steadfastly and wondrously remembers his word and executes it to the fullest degree. God would prove to be a faithful, redeeming, upholding, restoring God. In working out this redemption, God would demonstrate that he is all that his name implies: merciful, gracious, patient, full of loving-kindness, truthful, faithful, forgiving, just, and righteous (Ex 34:5, 6). Truly, Jacob had received an insight into the meaning of the name when he exclaimed, “I wait for thy salvation, O Yahweh” (Gn 49:18).
Yahweh, then, is the name par excellence of Israel’s God. As Yahweh, he is a faithful covenant God who, having given his Word of love and life, keeps that Word by bestowing love and life abundantly on his own.
In view of the richness of the name Yahweh, it can be understood why there were stringent rules regarding its proper use (Lv 24:11, 16). It also explains why thankful, rejoicing, worshiping Israelites used the abbreviated form of Yahweh in song when they sang Hallelujah: “Praise Yah” (Pss 104:35; 106:1; 149:1; 150:1).
Yahweh is used in a number of phrases which are considered names of or ascriptions of God. The most common of these compound names is Yahweh Sabaoth (“hosts”). The word “hosts” is used very frequently in the Pentateuch to refer to the armies of Israel (cf. e.g., Nm 10:14–28). This is because the word is derived from the verb saba which means “to wage” war. It also means “to serve” in some contexts; for example, Numbers 8:24 clearly has reference to the service performed in the tabernacle. The noun sabaoth first occurs in Genesis 2:1, where it refers to the many components of the earth and heaven. Some would limit the reference in these contexts to the stars. Still others would suggest that the sabaoth refers to the angels, appealing to Psalm 33:6 for confirmation.
The compound name, Yahweh Sabaoth first appears in 1 Samuel 1:3. In view of the frequent use of sabaoth in 1 and 2 Samuel to refer to armies (1 Sm 12:9; 14:50; 17:55; 2 Sm 2:8; 8:16; 10:16, etc.), it is thought that the compound name refers to Yahweh as the God of armies, that is, God has his armies to serve him. These are considered to be armies of angels who are ministering servants to God. It has been correctly pointed out that the compound name, Yahweh Sabaoth, is used most frequently by the prophets (Jeremiah 88 times, Zechariah 55 times, Malachi 25 times, Haggai 14 times) at times when God’s people had either suffered defeat at the hands of enemy armies or were threatened by defeat. So the compound name was used to remind them that their covenant God had great hosts to fight and work for him on behalf of his people. Thus, though Israel’s armies failed, their covenant God was sufficient for every possible circumstance. And it was to this Yahweh Sabaoth that Israel’s commanders were to give allegiance (Jos 5:14, 15), and in whose name Israel was blessed (2 Sm 6:18).
Van Groningen, G. (1988). God, Names Of. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 883–884). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
There was a recent posting on a familiar blog site about how to know God’s will. It was in reference to George Mueller’s outline about how to understand, discern, or follow God’s will. In faith, once it is understood, recognized, or accepted.
How to know God’s will for you:
1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s Will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.
6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.
Further interest in the amazing life of George Mueller is in this podcast:
According to the inerrant and inspired word of the Lord, there are specific rewards for accomplishments and work done through the faithfulness of His followers. There is a spectrum of reward at the judgment seat of Christ. When his saints appear before him, their works will either become burned up due to futility, carnality, or by having no value to the glory of God. Or there will be a specific series of rewards survived as by fire according to scripture.
Judgment of the Saints
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” – 2 Cor 5:10
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (2 Co 5:10). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. – 1 Cor 3:11-15
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (1 Co 3:11–15). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Five (5) Crowns. At least that we know about. Specifically mentioned in scripture.
Crown of Life
Crown of Righteousness
Crown of Glory
Crown of Incorruptibility
Crown of Rejoicing
Crown of Life
For those who have suffered for His sake. “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” -James 1:12
Crown of Righteousness
For those who loved His appearing. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” -2 Tim 4:7-8
Crown of Glory
For those who fed the flock. Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” – 1 Pet 5:1-4
Crown of Incorruptibility
For those who press on steadfastly. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.” – 1 Cor 9:25
Crown of Rejoicing
For those who win souls. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. – 1 Thes 2:19
My dad is dying. Terminal cancer and he will be gone soon. So I am closer to him and the Lord than ever before.
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” -Ps 37:4
So a few days back, I am in prayer about what is on my heart. And I recall this verse, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Then without second thought or hesitation, the overflow of my heart was, “YOU LORD are the desire of my heart.”
Yet His blessings are abundant when the winds are strong and the uncertainty prevails day by day. So I only trust and believe.
Here is a meaningful short video segment that follows the KJV word for word. About how to pass from death to eternal life and exist in the Lord’s kingdom without the presence of time, pain, suffering, or sin. This is a precise view of what it is to be born again. Becoming born of the Spirit is to invite Jesus into your life, admitting in truth your sinfulness and accepting the Holy Spirit to lead you all your days. Believe in Jesus, what He has said and what He has done. Call upon Him, and you will be saved. You will become born of the Spirit. His Spirit will enter into you and will begin to regenerate you (Titus 3:5-7).
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” -Jn 3:4-8
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:5-7
Last night a delivery was made to my dad’s house. In the dark a knock at the door from a man who had a large bag which contained a supply of morphine. What is morphine? A pain medication of the opiate type which is found naturally in a number of plants and animals. It acts directly on the central nervous system. It is the latest attempt at relieving the pain associated with my Dad’s cancer that is terminal and has grown throughout his body. He has tried numerous pain suppression types to now involve a more potent form of medicine, but this is the substance to relieve trauma all the way through to his passing.
He doesn’t have long. In the past two weeks, I have been pouring into his soul through prayer, testimony, time in the word, encouragement and daily help here and there. Entering a time of hospice, he will become closer to our Lord’s kingdom. From a couple of days ago, he has approximately two months or so left. Another image of God moving into eternity toward His glory and His purposes.
While reading Psalm 21 today, I came to two verses that stood out the most. While the overall chapter is about the favor of the Lord upon His king, these verses are entirely descriptive of the relationship between the two. Especially when the Lord is most glorified in the Psalm of David. Among His people and among the king’s enemies.
“His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him. For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.” – Ps 21:5-6 NASB
“His glory is great in thy salvation: Honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.” – Ps 21:5-6 KJV
Numerous times through the day and remainder of the week, it came to mind that the source of splendor, majesty, honor is from the the LORD YHWH. I let that dwell within me while out and about to absorb and contemplate.
