Jesus in the Old Testament, Micah

Jesus in Micah

Jesus said this.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me,"

Micah was a Prophet at the same time as Isaiah. We know little about Micah except that he was a Morasthite, from a town near the Philistines. He prophesied in Judah. His message was mostly concerning Samaria. One of his main attributes is he had a lot to say about the coming of Christ.

We see he starts out warning Samaria of coming oppression and destruction. In Micah 4, we see Micah tell us of nature and Character of Christ's Reign. He tells us that peace will never be realized for our world until it is found in the Person, The Christ. He predicted where the Kingdom would be established. That it would be a Supreme Power, Peacefull, and a Universal Worship. He saw the coming of the day when War would be no more.

"It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many Peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." Micah 4:1-5

It goes on to tell how He will Save His People. Then we come to Micah 5.

"Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the Judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace." Micah 5:1-5

He saw the Place of Christ's Birth. Although many Citied shared the name Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread" Micah specifically said it was going to be the Bethlehem out of Judah. As a matter of fact, The Word declares that this Promise was Fulfilled in this manner.

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7

When Herod asked the Chief Priests and Scribes where The Christ should be born, they quoted the words of Micah to him.

"They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.”"

Of course, you know that Jesus even called Himself the "Good Shepard" {John 10}

Now notice this. Micah saw the Christ was to be Born of Man. Not coming directly from Heaven as many believed when they read of the Messiah. He wrote, "From you."{Bethlehem} Not from Heaven. This "One" born in Bethlehem was to be ''a Ruler'' over Israel. The Word was to be made Flesh.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Now notice that Micah also saw Jesus's Deity. He wrote:

"one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Remember when Jesus made this Statement?

"Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."" John 8:58

This was one of the first times we see them immediately tried to kill Him. As soon as they heard this they picked up Stones to Stone Him. In Micah 6 we see that it will indeed be this One. Or Jesus, The Christ, who will judge all people. Can you say, "The Day of The Lord?"

We also read this.

"With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Remember Jesus said this.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

Which were what?

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John15:12

How did He love us? He died for us. We need to keep the Commandments by remembering this.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Micah 7 wraps up with the Command to Wait on the Lord. He is coming. He is coming back. Be patient. Be ready. Be watchful.  

"Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them." Luke 12:37

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

I Can Talk To You Because You're My Daddy.

God loves us more. 

I have to admit, sometimes God shows me things that are not too pleasant to receive at the time, but in time, they become crystal clear. Sometimes, they are things I would never change for the World. This is one of those times.

I will also admit this. I do not even remember what the issue was. Something was going on at the time and I became so angry I yelled and screamed and she just kept trying to talk to me. I was growing more and more angry with her and did not want this to escalate so I looked into those beautiful little eyes of my Daughter Maya, and said, "Don't even talk to me."

She looked back with tears in those eyes and said something that melted my heart instantly. She said, "I can talk to you. Because you're my Daddy."

Now my stubbornness and my anger delayed my receiving this totally, but she was right. I am her Daddy. She is my Child. My Baby Girl. My beautiful little Princess. There is NOTHING that could EVER possibly come between my love and her. Even when she made me so angry, she was still, is still, and will always be, my Child.

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:14-17

If you accepted Jesus's sacrifice, and believe that He Raised from the Dead, you have "received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Abba Father simply means? Yup. Daddy. A little bit further in this letter, Paul writes this.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8-31-39

Does God love me, you, as His Children, the same way I love my precious little girl? Can He possibly love us as much as we love our children? No. He loves us MORE! Look at this Teaching from Jesus.

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

We are fully sinful and evil beings. Our heart is evil continually {Genesis 8:21} Yet? You know the verse.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Like I just admitted, I do not even remember what the issue was that caused me to look at my little girl and say "Don't even talk to me." How bad was it? No idea. Yet what are some of the things we do as Humans? 

"Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. {Galatians 5:19-21}

Did my little Maya kill someone? Of course not. Was she being sexually immoral? At 5, thankfully not. Was she dancing around a fire, trying to conjure up a demon? Was she in a drunken stupor? No. We do though. As Humans, we do all these things and worse. Yet, Jesus came for us and died for us, anyway. In the middle of all of that.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

My Daughter can and will make mistakes. She will make me angry. She will do things she even knows will be wrong and will make me angry. I may even have to discipline her. My love for her, however, will never fade. Will never fail. You know why? Because I AM her Daddy.

We will Sin. We will fall short. We will all do things, if we are to be honest with ourselves, that we know are going to be against God and make Him angry. He may even find it necessary to discipline us. However, we can talk to Him. We can ask for forgiveness. We will be forgiven. He will also forget what we did wrong. We can have no fear whatsoever that our Father will leave us or forsake us. Why? Because He IS our Daddy. 

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Jesus in the Old Testament, Jonah

Jesus in Jonah

Jesus made this Statment.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me,"

Today we come to the Book of Jonah, The book of Jonah is the personal experience of the Jonah himself. The book contains no direct Prophecy, however, the experience of Jonah is itself a reflection of the message of God. The name Jonah means ''Dove.'' The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, {Of whom you know a Dove landed on when John Baptised Him} put His seal of authentication upon the story of Jonah here.

"But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:39-40

So right there we see that the life of Jonah is a shadow of the greatest event to ever happen in History. The Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, our Christ.

It is important to remember that Jonah was a man, not a myth. The book is fact, not fiction. It is history, not a Fairytale. We begin seeing that Jonah did not want to be obedient to God.

"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord." Jonah 1:1-3

As you can imagine, this did not sit well with God. How many of you can tell me that you understand God does get angry? He is Love. He created all things, including emotions. Remember the First Commandment and most important Commandment?

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:2-6

I know, I know, this is actually Commandments1-2. However, Jesus summed both of these, as well as number three, "Do not take the name of the Lord your God in Vain." With this.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Why? "I the Lord your God am a jealous God." He created emotions. He gets Happy, Sad, Angry, Jealous, so on and so forth. So when Jonah did not do as God asked him to, God became angry.

"But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep." Jonah 1:4-5

Stop for a second. Did you catch this? Jonah was in the belly of the ship, sleeping in the Storm, right before he was about to be cast away into the /sea itself? Remember this?

"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark4:37-40

Doesn't work out so well for Jonah though. The men were afraid and cast lots and this landed on Jonah and they asked him why God was angry, and why was he fleeing from God? Jonah even told them to throw him overboard to spare their own lives but they didn't listen at first. The Storm grew stronger and stronger.

"Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows." Jonah 1:14-16

God calmed the water. Sound familiar? Then Jonah ended up in the belly of a big fish.

"And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

I want you to read Jonah's Prayer with me. While we read this, think about Jesus and Him being in Hell for the Three days. Think of how He must have felt to leave Heaven and come down here to this Sin filled world to only suffer all Sin and be put to death innocent of any wrongdoing at all.

"I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,"

Stop. Sound familiar?

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”" Matthew 27:46

Back to Jonah. well, let's start over.

"I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.

When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:2-9

We then read how God set's him free or raises him from the deep. Can you say resurrection?

Then we see Jonah go and do as God asked him, and the people of Nineveh repent.

We see a shadow, imperfect in every way, but a shadow of Jesus in the life of Jonah. God called him out to go to Sinful people. Jesus came out of Heaven into a Sin filled world.

God calmed the waters with His "Chosen one" was asleep on a boat, after the fearful men cried out for Him.

God rejected and allowed both Jonah, due to his Sin, Jesus due to our Sin, to be put "to death." Jonah cast into the Sea and ending up in the Belly of a Fish for three days, and Jesus crucified and cast into Hell for three days. Both to be "Resurrected" resulting in the Repentance and Salvation of Sinful people. With Jonah, it was the people of Nineveh and Jesus for us all.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Serving Masters

I'm not a Slave.

When you read this, what do you think? What picture comes to mind? Colossians 3:22-25

"Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality."

Masters? MASTER? Wait. I'm no Slave. This can not possibly apply to me. Right? What did you picture in your head? Being bound in chains? Whipped? Underground Railroad? A Scene from Roots? Seriously. What did you Picture?

Yeah, you may not be bound in physical chains. You may not be forced via whips to work fields. Yet you DO have a Master.

Don't believe me? Do you have a Job? Yup. The Boss is your Master. He or she tells you to do this or that, you do it. If you work well you get Money. Money pays your bills. It buys your Food. In essence, it is a source of life. If not, the Boss will fire you, taking away this source of life. So in essence, you have no choice. You MUST do what your Master says.

However, you must not do it for him or her. No. You should not even do it for the money. But you should "work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward."

You must be careful to not allow your J.O.B. to become your G.O.D. Or? Do not allow Money, to become your Master. It is easy to do. Jesus even warned us of this. He told us the following.

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20

What if you are working so hard {Workaholic} that you give up your freedom, family, and even health.

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" Matthew 16:26

Jesus said this.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24

Of course, we need money. But God did not set up the Finacial System. We did. We said you need money to live. To have a roof over your head. Food on the Table. Cloths on your Body. We did that. Jesus tells us this.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

See, it is easy to create Idols. Masters. To give yourself over to them. This is why God even created the Commandment about Idols.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:4-6

Remember, whatever you put before God is an Idol and a Master. You become a Slave to it.

"Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin." John 8:34

So as long as you put God first, then you become a Slave to God. A Servent to the Creator of all there was, is, and ever will be. When you serve your Earthly Master, do so as if you are, and you are, serving God. Let Him be the one to reward you. He will. Let Him be the one you call Master. He IS. Let Him be the one who decides what is next for you, both now in this time, and in the next.

Just do what Jesus told you to do.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”" Mark 12:30-31 

You are serving a Master. Just choose wisely, which one you will serve. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Jesus in the Old Testament, Obadiah

Jesus in Obadiah

Jesus said this.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me,"

Obadiah is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It's a Prophecy against Edom, a mountainous country southeast of Israel. It had been settled by the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. It was Edom that refused Israel passage through their land on the way to Canaan {See Numbers 20:14-21}.  Esau was the son of Isaac, just as Jacob was, but he cared more for the things of the world than for his birthright As seen in Genesis 25:29-34.

"Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.)  Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now." Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."

His descendants were just like him. The message, therefore, is directed to those who have the opportunity to be spiritual, but who choose instead to be worldly. This is something that we all must deal with and decide. After some time, they as a people, and a Country began to engage in open hostility against Israel.

We do not know who Obadiah really was, or where he came from. Yet we do know that his name means ''Worshiper'' or ''Servant of Jehovah.'' This Book is his Prophecy against Edom.

"Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them." Obadiah 1:10-11

This is a reoccurring theme all throughout the Word. Bless Isreal and be Blessed. Curse Isreal and be Cursed.

"I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3

We are God's Chosen people. We have been adopted into the Family of God, through the Blood of Jesus. We are now the same people as the Israelites. Remember, there is no difference now.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

So this Promise applies to you as well. However, we are relatives of Isreal now, remember, so was Edom. So we should also take to heart Edom's Sin. There are steps if you will, that get progressively Worse.

   1 - They stood aloof {Verse.11}. In every conflict between right and wrong, the person who remains neutral also does damage.

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17

  2 - They actually witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem with their own eyes. They witnessed Evil and did nothing. This is NOT how we are to behave. Jesus said this.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

He died for us. We need to be prepared to love to this degree, as Jesus Loved us.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

  3 - The Edomites gloated when Israel fell. {Verse 12}. Pretty self-explanatory here.

  4 - They spoke proudly. Edom stood by and said, ''That's all right; they probably deserved it.''

Remember, we all deserve it. Jesus came to earth because we all deserve it. We all deserve to be utterly destroyed.

 5 - Not only were the Edomites guilty of wicked indifference, they eventually became actively involved in Israel's distress {Verse.13}.

 6 - Edom took advantage of Judah's trouble by plundering some of their wealth {Verse 13}.

 7 - They gave open assistance to the enemy {Verse 14}. When the Israelites escaped and tried to flee, the Edomites cut them off from their defenses and handed them over to their pursuers.

Remember, there are steps to Sin. All are bad, but there is a progression. Sin starts with a thought. Ends in death.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers." James 1:13-16

Sin is never a sudden outburst. Or just a single happenstance. You have Thought, Desire, Deception, Action, which WILL bring forth the last in this progression, Death. Obadiah was warning Edom, that they were on this progression. That the end result would be destruction and death.

If you find yourself in the progression, remember stories like this one. It was written for us, to be used as an example for us. We must not be like the Edomites. But be rather like Isreal. We must be God's Children and follow God's plan and purpose for us. We have Jesus who came to earth to die for us, yet rather, Rise from the Dead so we do not have to follow after Edom. But we can be and should be, the Children He wants us to be.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Peace of Mind

Not as hard as you think

We live in a world of worry. We worry about everything. From Dying to "What's for Dinner?" We worry about our homes, bills, jobs, Loved Ones, and even up to and including death itself. How is it that we can actually have Peace of Mind? It is not as hard as you think.

The key is to stop thinking worldly, or thinking down, and start thinking up. Jesus gave us the famous Sermon on the Mount and then He made this statement to YOU.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:25-33

A little bit before this, He told us that we do not even really have to Pray to God to meet our Daily Needs. Why?

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:8

You are a Child of God. The Creator of all that is, was, or ever will be, is your Aba Father, or? Daddy. What can come between you and your Daddy?

"Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Isaiah said this in Isaiah 26:3

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you."

It is really easy to lose your peace by reverting your Mind on the things of the World. It can drive you crazy. It is crazy. It is confusion. It is Sin. Paul tells us this also in Romans 8

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God" Romans 8:5-8

The World says many confusing and complicated things. Most of which are straight-up lies. There is no need to worry about any of it. Our Father is bigger than ANY situation that you may be facing. As Paul leaves those in Philippi.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

If you truly want true Peace of Mind, stop thinking down, and start thinking up. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Jesus in the Old Testament, Amos

Jesus in Amos 

Jesus said this;

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me,"

We have been going through the whole of the Old Testament, Book by Book, until today, when we come to the Book of Amos. Now Amos was a Shepard in Tekoa. A village located about five miles south of Bethlehem. This is where he was, and what he was doing when the Lord came to him and gave him a Prophecy to Prophecy.

First, of course, you see a Shepard that God called to Shepard His People. Jesus IS the Good Shepard. Jesus said this.

"So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:7-11

God goes on to tell Amos to Prophecy of the Sins of God's People and the destruction to come unless they repent. God makes Amos a Shepard to His People like Jesus would be to come. God tells Amos, tell the People this. Amos 5:4

"Seek me and live;"

5:6

"Seek the Lord and live"

5:14-15

"Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

Jesus tells us that we should have no fear. That we should be anxious for nothing.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

As God told Amos to Preach Repentance and to not go after the things of the World but to seek first God and all things will be granted to them. Jesus came to fulfill this promise.

Jesus told us time and time again that He did not come on His own by was sent by God the Father. When Amos was accused of coming in and of himself, he made is clear.

"I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now therefore hear the word of the Lord." Amos 7:14-16

Like many of the Prophets before him, although he hated to be called a Prophet, he warned of "The Day of the Lord" or the coming of the Day of destruction.

"The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass by them. The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day,” declares the Lord God. “So many dead bodies!”“They are thrown everywhere!”“Silence!”" Amos 8:2-3

The Day of the Lord is coming. The only hope we have is in Jesus. Those who accept Jesus will be in the new times.

"Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God." Amos 9:31-15

We know that those who endure will see this time as also described in Isaiah.

"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6

This time is also depicted in Revelations

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelations 21:3-4

Amos was simply being Amos and in the fields Shepherding Sheep when God called him to go into the world and Preach Repentance and Salvation through the seeking of God first, above all things. Jesus Himself was in Heaven being Himself, or God, when He came to Earth to be the Good Sheperd who came to preach Repentance and Salvation through the seeking of God first, above all things. There is no other way than through Jesus Himself.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Hurricane Dorian

May God be with you.

Hey folks,

We are going to take a break from our Current Series, "Jesus in the Old Testament." We are currently going through the entire Old Testament in light of this Statement by Jesus.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me,"

We have come all the way to the Book of Amos. We will get back to this next week. However, we are going to take a break from this serious to deal with a possible emergency situation, Hurricane Dorian.

Let us Pray,

Heavenly Father, Lord God, we give you the Praise and Glory in and for all things, always. All the Praise and Glory be to you Father. We thank you, Father, we thank you for Life itself, and all of our countless blessings. We thank you, Father, for loving us so much that you sent Jesus to come and die for our Sins. We thank you so much Father, that you are our Father, and have allowed us to become Children of God, through the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we can cry Abba Father.

Father, we come before you in the face of an oncoming storm that they have named Dorian. The last check, it was a Catagory 4 Hurricane. I know this is causing fear for many in the State of Florida, and I know there is a potential for vast damage and destruction. However Father, I also know you. I know you are greater than any storm. That you are more powerful than anything in Creation since you are the one that created all things. I know that you love all your Children and with a thought, you can cast this Hurricane away.

I do not even pretend to know your Will in all situations. I do not even pretend to understand most things. But I come before you Father, as your child, in the Name of Jesus, and ask you to protect and keep us safe in this Storm. Please be with all of us. Come what may. Your Will be done. We will put our trust in you.

All the Praise and Glory be to you. In all things, we give you thanks. In the name of Jesus. Amen! and Amen.

See you next week.

Peter