MONDAY MORNING!

"... the Spirit of counsel and power ..."

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him ---

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power,

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD ---

and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

-- Isaiah 11:2-3

Of course this scripture reference from Isaiah has to do with the coming of Messiah.  We see it fulfilled in Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21, John 1:32) and in Luke 4:18 where at the synagogue in Nazareth on a Sabbath day He stood and read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) and then declared for all to hear that -- "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Just some thoughts:

It has been my observation in scripture that the Holy Spirit always, always, always, comes in power. It is so obvious in the life of Jesus as we read through the Four Gospels. It is obvious in Genesis 1:2 -- "... and the Spirit of God was hovering (brooding, moving, fluttering) over the waters."  In my humble thinking -- you cannot move or brood or hover without energy, without power. The Holy Spirit power at the ready to hear and to jump to obedience at the sound of the voice of Creation. It is obvious when we read time and time again of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon people in the book of Judges. 

Concerning Othniel: "The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war." -- Judges 3:10

Concerning Jephthah: "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah." -- Judges 11:29

Concerning Sampson: "and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him..." -- Judges 13:25

"The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power ..." -- Judges 14:6 

"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power." -- Judges 14:19

"...The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power." -- Judges 15:14

The prophet Joel prophesied the pouring out of the Spirit: " ... I will pour out My Spirit on all people." -- Joel 2:28.  And, Jesus words -- "...but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." -- Luke 24:49. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you:" -- Acts 1:8. Lastly, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." -- Acts 2:4

Bottom Line: The same Holy Spirit power that was present at creation, that was present with Othniel, Jephthah, Sampson and others I did not name. The same Holy Spirit that come upon Jesus. The same Holy Spirit that was poured out upon people in the upper room on the first Pentecost after Jesus' crucifixion is the same Holy Spirit that indwells believers today, this hour, this minute, this moment. May you believe it! Amen? Amen! 

MONDAY MORNING!

"If ..."

If (no pun intended) we are honest with ourselves we would probably find that we all use the word, "if", more times than we care to mention or keep up with. It can mean: 1. in the event of; allowing that; on condition that; 2. whether; 3. an exclamation expressing a wish; 4. even though. Here I think we will find it  means -- "on condition that".  In all of scripture where "if" is used we find that 54% of the time that is the meaning. Let's look at the entire verse:

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Obed. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you."

-- 2 Chronicles 15:1-2

To paraphrase: "on the condition you seek Him, He will be found, but on the condition you forsake Him, He will forsake you." Now, I know the Word here is speaking specifically to King Asa and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Nevertheless, I do not want to entertain for even a brief moment the thought or idea of me forsaking God and He forsaking me. 

But, that "if" denotes a choice for King Asa. We read later in 2 Chronicles 16 that King Asa chose not to seek the LORD. In essence, forsaking Him.

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.

-- 2 Chronicles 16:12

What an extremely sad way to end -- not seeking help from the LORD. So hard for me to understand because of knowing that Asa knew better. He was warned! Which brings me to another scripture that I hope we all let rule in our lives.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

-- Matthew 6:33

Bottom Line: May we come to realize without a doubt that when the LORD is with us we are with Him. May we come to realize that as we seek Him and His righteousness He will never leave us nor forsake us. And, may our "if" always be one of seeking Him so that He will be found by us. Amen? Amen! 

 

  

MONDAY MORNING!

"...and would not listen"

 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." -- Zechariah 7:9-10

Administer (execute, bring about) 
--- true (assured) justice (a verdict to restore order)

Show (grant, practice, provide) 
--- mercy and compassion to one another

Do not oppress (defraud, deceive, violate) 
--- the widow (one without a husband, her covering)
--- the fatherless (one without parents, the orphan)
--- the alien (a guest traveling in your country)
--- the poor (the afflicted, lowly, needy)

In your hearts do not think (contrive, imagine, plot) 
--- evil (calamity, harm, trouble) of each other

Just reading that scripture kind of spelled out and expanded should make us consider a lot of things differently. The words were spoken to God's people while they were in exile and captivity in Babylon. They could be spoken to us today as well. In verse 12 the word of the LORD through Zechariah says, "They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen ..." May that never be us.

 Bottom Line: Even in these words spoken to a rebellious people may we pay attention. May we not turn our backs on these words. May we not stop up our ears to these words. And, may we not harden our hearts to these words. Amen? Amen.