Book of Isaiah, Chapter 51

 Chapter 51

The Lord's Comfort for Zion

1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

    you who seek the Lord:

look to the rock from which you were hewn,

    and to the quarry from which you were dug.

2 Look to Abraham your father

    and to Sarah who bore you;

for he was but one when I called him,

    that I might bless him and multiply him.

3 For the Lord comforts Zion;

    he comforts all her waste places

and makes her wilderness like Eden,

    her desert like the garden of the Lord;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

    thanksgiving and the voice of song.

4 “Give attention to me, my people,

    and give ear to me, my nation;

for a law will go out from me,

    and I will set my justice for a light to the people.

5 My righteousness draws near,

    my salvation has gone out,

    and my arms will judge the peoples;

the coastlands hope for me,

    and for my arm they wait.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

    and look at the earth beneath;

for the heavens vanish like smoke,

    the earth will wear out like a garment,

    and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;

but my salvation will be forever,

    and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

7 “Listen to me, you who know righteousness,

    the people in whose heart is my law;

fear not the reproach of man,

    nor be dismayed at their revilings.

8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment,

    and the worm will eat them like wool,

but my righteousness will be forever,

    and my salvation to all generations.”

9 Awake, awake, put on strength,

    O arm of the Lord;

awake, as in days of old,

    the generations of long ago.

Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces,

    who pierced the dragon?

10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,

    the waters of the great deep,

who made the depths of the sea a way

    for the redeemed to pass over?

11 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return

    and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

    they shall obtain gladness and joy,

    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

12 “I, I am he who comforts you;

    who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,

    of the son of man who is made like grass,

13 and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker,

    who stretched out the heavens

    and laid the foundations of the earth,

and you fear continually all the day

    because of the wrath of the oppressor,

when he sets himself to destroy?

    And where is the wrath of the oppressor?

14 He who is bowed down shall speedily be released;

    he shall not die and go down to the pit,

    neither shall his bread be lacking.

15 I am the Lord your God,

    who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—

    the Lord of hosts is his name.

16 And I have put my words in your mouth

    and covered you in the shadow of my hand,

establishing the heavens

    and laying the foundations of the earth,

    and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

17 Wake yourself, wake yourself,

    stand up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord

    the cup of his wrath,

who have drunk to the dregs

    the bowl, the cup of staggering.

18 There is none to guide her

    among all the sons she has borne;

there is none to take her by the hand

    among all the sons she has brought up.

19 These two things have happened to you—

    who will console you?—

devastation and destruction, famine and sword;

    who will comfort you?

20 Your sons have fainted;

    they lie at the head of every street

    like an antelope in a net;

they are full of the wrath of the Lord,

    the rebuke of your God.

21 Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted,

    who are drunk, but not with wine:

22 Thus says your Lord, the Lord,

    your God who pleads the cause of his people:

“Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;

the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more;

23 and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors,

    who have said to you,

    ‘Bow down, that we may pass over’;

and you have made your back like the ground

    and like the street for them to pass over.”

Merry Christmas 2021

                           Merry Christmas To You and Yours

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Luke 2:1-14 

May you all have a very Merry Christmas, and always remember, there is nothing wrong with lights on the Tree, nor Presents under it, as long as you never forget, the reason for the season is the Gift God gave to all mankind. Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year. Be Blessed, Be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord.

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 50

 Chapter 50

Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience

1 Thus says the Lord:

“Where is your mother's certificate of divorce,

    with which I sent her away?

Or which of my creditors is it

    to whom I have sold you?

Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,

    and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

2 Why, when I came, was there no man;

    why, when I called, was there no one to answer?

Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?

    Or have I no power to deliver?

Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea,

    I make the rivers a desert;

their fish stink for lack of water

    and die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness

    and make sackcloth their covering.”

4 The Lord God has given me

    the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with a word

    him who is weary.

Morning by morning he awakens;

    he awakens my ear

    to hear as those who are taught.

5 The Lord God has opened my ear,

    and I was not rebellious;

    I turned not backward.

6 I gave my back to those who strike,

    and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;

I hid not my face

    from disgrace and spitting.

7 But the Lord God helps me;

    therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like a flint,

    and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

8     He who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

    Let us stand up together.

Who is my adversary?

    Let him come near to me.

9 Behold, the Lord God helps me;

    who will declare me guilty?

Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;

    the moth will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord

    and obeys the voice of his servant?

Let him who walks in darkness

    and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord

    and rely on his God.

11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

    who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire,

    and by the torches that you have kindled!

This you have from my hand:

    you shall lie down in torment.

Gifts from God, Spirit

 Holy Spirit

We have been talking about the gifts that we receive from God when we first become a child of His. He gives us "Eyes to see" and "Ears to hear," so that we may be able to hear and see His words and His will for our lives. How does He do this? By giving us the greatest gift we could ever receive. "The Spirit to receive." The "Spirit of Life." The Holy Spirit. To fully understand how this works, you must first understand, who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit, in some translations, the Holy Ghost, is not a spook. He is not a concept. Nor an idea. The Holy Spirit is a very real Person.

You accept Jesus's sacrifice for you. His blood for your blood. His suffering for your suffering. His death, that you may live. Then the Holy Spirit comes and adopts you into the Family of God. Jesus said.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." John 14: 15-17

He said we should not mourn Him not being with us, or long for Him to be with us, because He will ALWAYS be with us. In the very next verse, Jesus said this.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:18-21

Now even some standing there, listening to Jesus tell us this, did not fully understand. Read on. Verse 22.

"Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." John 14: 22-24

You really need to understand what Jesus is actually saying here. Read on some more starting at verse 25

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Who will teach us the things of God, and bring to our remembrance the Words Jesus has taught us? The Holy Spirit. However, to fully understand the reality, you must fully understand who the Holy Spirit actually is.

Genesis 1:1

'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

In the beginning God. God was in the beginning. Next verse.

"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

When there was yet nothing, The Holy Spirit was there. Do you see that? Then a little bit later in Genesis.

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27

In the original language, the word "our" means three or more. We are created in the image of God. We have our brain. or mind. Our knowledge and wisdom, will and emotions. Fashioned after God the Father. Our body. Fashioned after the flesh of God, Jesus, Our spirit. Who we really are, the thing that lives on. Fashioned after the Holy Spirit. We are three, yet one.

But wait, Where does it say Jesus was there?

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1: 1

A little bit later.

"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

God, The Word, {Which became Flesh, Jesus} and the Spirit was there in the beginning and have always been. Then to fully understand who the Holy Spirit is, we need to go back to John 14.

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

He said "I" shall come to you. He is already there? Of course. So what He is telling them, is that the Holy Spirit is Him, He is God. Three yet one. That when the flesh dies, and He goes to be with the Father, the Spirit, who never dies, will come and dwell in us.

"Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. "

Again, "I" in you. Not some spook. "I." Jesus. The Holy Spirit is equal to Jesus. He IS Jesus. Jesus IS God. Are you following?

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Read that again. "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and WE will come to him and make OUR home with him." What is He saying? Remember, OUR means three or more. Jesus said WE will make OUR abode with him. The very real person Jesus, the very real person the Holy Spirit, and even God Himself will live IN us.

Now perhaps you can fully appreciate this passage.

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."1 John 4: 4

Once you say the Prayer of Salvation, once you ask God to set you free from the laws of sin and death, the old you, the flesh dies. You are dead. You are then transformed into a new creature where the real you, the Spirit you, is now in total control. Second, The Holy Spirit comes down from heaven and dwells in you, with you. You now have the power of faith. You are now going to live on long after the body dies. Who is the Holy Spirit?? Think about that. The Creator of all that is was or ever will be is now living in you. This is why you can hear and see. This is why you can receive the things of God when the rest of the world cannot. They do not have the greatest gift. They do not have the Holy Spirit.

We all have that little voice in our heads. Most of us anyway. We know right from wrong. We know when we should or should not do, this or that. Some call it a conscience. As a child of God, you can call it the Holy Spirit. You could, and you would be accurate, call it God Himself.

If we have God Himself, the alpha and omega, The beginning and the end, the Creator of all that is, was and ever will be, living inside of us, He knows better than we. Does He not?

"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. " Isaiah 30: 20-21

God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is with you always. Unless YOU chose to walk away. Unless YOU chose not to listen. Unless YOU chose to put the cares of this world over His Will. His plan and purpose for your life. He is with you always. Be with Him always. Trust in Him to know better than you. Learn to listen to that voice. Understand what that voice is. Who that voice is. He is there for you.

Hope you all have a VERY MERRY Christmas. If you have not said the "Prayer of salvation" yet, you can today. This very day. At this very time. 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's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose 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!"

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!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 49

 Chapter 49

The Servant of the Lord

1 Listen to me, O coastlands,

    and give attention, you peoples from afar.

The Lord called me from the womb,

    from the body of my mother he named my name.

2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;

    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me a polished arrow;

    in his quiver he hid me away.

3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,

    Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;

    I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;

yet surely my right is with the Lord,

    and my recompense with my God.”

5 And now the Lord says,

    he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,

to bring Jacob back to him;

    and that Israel might be gathered to him—

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,

    and my God has become my strength—

6 he says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

    to raise up the tribes of Jacob

    and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

    that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

7 Thus says the Lord,

    the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,

to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,

    the servant of rulers:

“Kings shall see and arise;

    princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

The Restoration of Israel

8 Thus says the Lord:

“In a time of favor I have answered you;

    in a day of salvation I have helped you;

I will keep you and give you

    as a covenant to the people,

to establish the land,

    to apportion the desolate heritages,

9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’

    to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’

They shall feed along the ways;

    on all bare heights shall be their pasture;

10 they shall not hunger or thirst,

    neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,

for he who has pity on them will lead them,

    and by springs of water will guide them.

11 And I will make all my mountains a road,

    and my highways shall be raised up.

12 Behold, these shall come from afar,

    and behold, these from the north and from the west,

    and these from the land of Syene.”

13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

    break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people

    and will have compassion on his afflicted.

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;

    my Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,

    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget,

    yet I will not forget you.

16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

    your walls are continually before me.

17 Your builders make haste;

    your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you.

18 Lift up your eyes around and see;

    they all gather, they come to you.

As I live, declares the Lord,

    you shall put them all on as an ornament;

    you shall bind them on as a bride does.

19 “Surely your waste and your desolate places

    and your devastated land—

surely now you will be too narrow for your inhabitants,

    and those who swallowed you up will be far away.

20 The children of your bereavement

    will yet say in your ears:

‘The place is too narrow for me;

    make room for me to dwell in.’

21 Then you will say in your heart:

    ‘Who has borne me these?

I was bereaved and barren,

    exiled and put away,

    but who has brought up these?

Behold, I was left alone;

    from where have these come?’”

22 Thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,

    and raise my signal to the peoples;

and they shall bring your sons in their arms,

    and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.

23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,

    and their queens your nursing mothers.

With their faces to the ground, they shall bow down to you,

    and lick the dust of your feet.

Then you will know that I am the Lord;

    those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

24 Can the prey be taken from the mighty,

    or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?

25 For thus says the Lord:

“Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken,

    and the prey of the tyrant be rescued,

for I will contend with those who contend with you,

    and I will save your children.

26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,

    and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine.

Then all flesh shall know

    that I am the Lord your Savior,

    and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Gifts from God, Ears

 Ears to hear.

As we enter the Holiday Season, we are discussing some very important gifts we receive from our Father. No. I'm not talking about the new gaming console or the newest must-have gift of the year. No. We are talking about gifts that we receive from God, that He only gives to His children so that they may grow closer to Him and become wise in His ways to do His works here on earth. Without these gifts, it would be impossible to even get to know God or any of His ways. We read this in His Word.

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not." Jeremiah 5:21

Jesus explain that this is why He spoke to people in parables.

“To you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears, they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:11-17

Last time we talked about the gift of "Eyes to see" Today we will be discussing "Ears to hear." We know that the Word declares that faith comes by what?

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

Remember, Jesus was talking to the religious leaders of the day when He made these statements.

"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word." John 8:43

Why? He goes on to make it even more clear. Well, after He calls them the children of satan. He said this.

"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." John 8:47

God is the only one that can open your ears to hear His Word and His voice.

"The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both." Proverbs 20:12

Hearing God is not a natural state of man. We are not able to hear anything that is of God if we are not of God. It is impossible. Only by God calling us out, giving us "Eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to understand," we cannot even hear the words that are spoken.

When you read the Word and you see Jesus telling a parable, sometimes, you may even think that the people Jesus is talking to are stupid. It may be clear to you what He is talking about, however, to those He is talking to, it is far from clear. They are not stupid people. These were the rulers of the synagogues and the "experts" in the Bible. The Torah or the Law. They could quote it word for word, yet? Jesus called them the children of the devil and said they can not hear Him because they are not of God.

This is why some people seem to fail to understand you when you try to share the Word with them. I remember thinking to myself a few times, how can that person not understand these simple things I'm trying to share. It is not because they are stupid. It is because they are not physically capable of hearing what you are saying. It would be like someone coming to me and speaking Japanese to me. I will not understand what they are saying. Moreover, I will not even understand the words themselves. Why? I'm not Japanese.

When God calls us out of the world, we become His children. We become citizens of heaven. We can now understand heavenly language and we can now speak heavenly language as well. We can hear the wisdom of God that the world sees as foolishness.

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”" 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

God gifts us this very important and very precious gift of having ears to hear.

"For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

We are His children. Adopted into the Family of God. He gives us good gifts. He wants to have a relationship with us. He hears us. He wants us to have the ability to hear Him. The only way this is possible is that He opens our ears.

How do we receive these eyes to see, and ears to hear? It comes with the Spirit to receive. The Spirit of adoption. The Spirit of life. The Holy Spirit. More on this next time. Do you have ears to hear? Eyes to see? 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 hear 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's sacrifice for me. I believed He has risen 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 that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall 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!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 48

 Chapter 48

Israel Refined for God's Glory

1 Hear this, O house of Jacob,

    who are called by the name of Israel,

    and who came from the waters of Judah,

who swear by the name of the Lord

    and confess the God of Israel,

    but not in truth or right.

2 For they call themselves after the holy city,

    and stay themselves on the God of Israel;

    the Lord of hosts is his name.

3 “The former things I declared of old;

    they went out from my mouth, and I announced them;

    then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.

4 Because I know that you are obstinate,

    and your neck is an iron sinew

    and your forehead brass,

5 I declared them to you from of old,

    before they came to pass I announced them to you,

lest you should say, ‘My idol did them,

    my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’

6 “You have heard; now see all this;

    and will you not declare it?

From this time forth I announce to you new things,

    hidden things that you have not known.

7 They are created now, not long ago;

    before today you have never heard of them,

    lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’

8 You have never heard, you have never known,

    from of old your ear has not been opened.

For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously,

    and that from before birth you were called a rebel.

9 “For my name's sake I defer my anger;

    for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,

    that I may not cut you off.

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;

    I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,

    for how should my name be profaned?

    My glory I will not give to another.

The Lord's Call to Israel

12 “Listen to me, O Jacob,

    and Israel, whom I called!

I am he; I am the first,

    and I am the last.

13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth,

    and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I call to them,

    they stand forth together.

14 “Assemble, all of you, and listen!

    Who among them has declared these things?

The Lord loves him;

    he shall perform his purpose on Babylon,

    and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.

15 I, even I, have spoken and called him;

    I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way.

16 Draw near to me, hear this:

    from the beginning I have not spoken in secret,

    from the time it came to be I have been there.”

And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit.

17 Thus says the Lord,

    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

    who teaches you to profit,

    who leads you in the way you should go.

18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!

    Then your peace would have been like a river,

    and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

19 your offspring would have been like the sand,

    and your descendants like its grains;

their name would never be cut off

    or destroyed from before me.”

20 Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea,

    declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it,

send it out to the end of the earth;

    say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!”

21 They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts;

    he made water flow for them from the rock;

    he split the rock and the water gushed out.

22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

Gifts From God, Eyes

 Eyes to see

As we enter the Holiday season, we here at TAG did a sermon series entitled "The Gift." We have done this for the past few years. I encourage you to check it out if you wish in the archives. However, this year we are going to do things a little differently. This year we are going to talk about some of the, oh so many gifts, that we receive from God when we receive the Spirit of adoption.

Of course, the greatest gift we could ever receive is Jesus. Is salvation. Is the very Christmas story. With that though, comes many gifts and some, are of the uttermost importance for a child of God. As a matter of fact, the world cannot even receive these gifts.

Jesus tells us this.

He said, “To you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others, they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’" Luke 8:10

Jesus was referring to Isaiah 6:9

And He replied: "Go and tell this people, 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

We also read this in Jeremiah 5:21

"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear."

The world cannot see the things we can see. Jesus put it this way.

"For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:17

We read this in 2 Thessalonians.

"And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Paul spells out how the world would become in Romans 1. He talks about God giving the people up to their own desires and lusts. All because they can not see, hear, or understand, the ways of God. But this is not you. No no no. This is not you anymore.

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:17-23

Without God, without Jesus, without the Holy Spirit, we can never see the things of God. Well, we can see them, but we cannot perceive them. We cannot understand them. We cannot accept them. Take the crucifixion of Christ itself. The Cross.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

We see the cross as our salvation. A new beginning. The world sees the cross as an end. The death of Jesus. We have been giving the gift to see Jesus rise from the dead. We see Jesus at the right hand of God. We see Jesus getting ready to return. The world cannot see Him. They cannot accept Him. They cannot believe in a God that would do such things as these.

We are given eyes to see God's hand in all things. We can see God move in situations where the world may call coincidence, happenstance, or even just plain luck. Jesus even told us that this gift, our eyes to see, will be given to us, so that we may be His witnesses.

"He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:7-11

We are given eyes to see. So that we may share. For the? The glory of God. Yes, we have a great commission. We are to spread the gospel. We are to share the Word. We are to give God praise and glory.

Did you know many people have read the Bible? It's true. Number one bestseller in history. Many people over the years have read it. Some feel it is nonsense. Some feel it is filled with contradictions. Some feel it is just another "religious book," written by man, most likely to attempt to control the masses.

However, when you, with the Spirit of God, read the Word, you see it for what it is. It is the living word of God. It is an owner's manual for this journey called life. It is salvation. It is the absolute and final truth in all things. We have eyes to see Jesus in all the old testament. We have eyes to see God speak directly to us, as we go through the Word. Make no mistake about it. "Eyes to see" is a great gift from God that we should all be so very thankful to have received. As Jesus told us.

"For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:17

We are truly blessed to have eyes to see. Do you? 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 hear 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's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose 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 that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall 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!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 47

 Chapter 47,

The Humiliation of Babylon

1 Come down and sit in the dust,

    O virgin daughter of Babylon;

sit on the ground without a throne,

    O daughter of the Chaldeans!

For you shall no more be called

    tender and delicate.

2 Take the millstones and grind flour,

    put off your veil,

strip off your robe, uncover your legs,

    pass through the rivers.

3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered,

    and your disgrace shall be seen.

I will take vengeance,

    and I will spare no one.

4 Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name—

    is the Holy One of Israel.

5 Sit in silence, and go into darkness,

    O daughter of the Chaldeans;

for you shall no more be called

    the mistress of kingdoms.

6 I was angry with my people;

    I profaned my heritage;

I gave them into your hand;

    you showed them no mercy;

on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.

7 You said, “I shall be mistress forever,”

    so that you did not lay these things to heart

    or remember their end.

8 Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,

    who sit securely,

who say in your heart,

    “I am, and there is no one besides me;

I shall not sit as a widow

    or know the loss of children”:

9 These two things shall come to you

    in a moment, in one day;

the loss of children and widowhood

    shall come upon you in full measure,

in spite of your many sorceries

    and the great power of your enchantments.

10 You felt secure in your wickedness;

    you said, “No one sees me”;

your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,

and you said in your heart,

    “I am, and there is no one besides me.”

11 But evil shall come upon you,

    which you will not know how to charm away;

disaster shall fall upon you,

    for which you will not be able to atone;

and ruin shall come upon you suddenly,

    of which you know nothing.

12 Stand fast in your enchantments

    and your many sorceries,

    with which you have labored from your youth;

perhaps you may be able to succeed;

    perhaps you may inspire terror.

13 You are wearied with your many counsels;

    let them stand forth and save you,

those who divide the heavens,

    who gaze at the stars,

who at the new moons make known

    what shall come upon you.

14 Behold, they are like stubble;

    the fire consumes them;

they cannot deliver themselves

    from the power of the flame.

No coal for warming oneself is this,

    no fire to sit before!

15 Such to you are those with whom you have labored,

    who have done business with you from your youth;

they wander about, each in his own direction;

    there is no one to save you.

Why Are You So Strange? Finances

 They can't understand you. 

Why do you work? Hello, welcome today. I'm serious. Why do you work? Are you saving up for something? A new car? A house? Retirement? Do you work just to survive and to pay bills? Are you just trying to accumulate wealth? What are you working for?

Yes, we are going to talk about money. Do you know what the Bible says about work? First, God created it.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Genesis 2:15

Second, we should not be working solely for ourselves.

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Ephesians 4:28

Read that again. "let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Say "so that." In order to give. We should be working for the betterment of others. We should be striving to be blessed, so that, we may bless others. Jesus puts it this way.

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." John 6:27

Life is NOT about working for someone else to pay bills and struggle to survive. This is not life. Jesus said,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Oh yes, you work for the Power Company. Yes, you work for the Car Company. Yes, you are a Garbage Professional, Teacher, Cop, Doctor, ETC. Yes, you have a title. However?

"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." Colossians 3:22-24

We should be respectful, hard-working, dedicated, and loyal. However, we should never be fearful or feel that we rely on men for our jobs and positions. We do not. God provides. He got you that job. He put you in that position. If you lose your job? Especially for His name's sake? Truly blessed you will be. Yes, God will get you a new job. The Creator of the universe has a bit of authority to get you a new job anywhere He chooses.

He does, however, require one little thing. A tithe. You would have nothing if it were not for God. You would not even be breathing right now. God would be well within His right to require 50 percent. He could demand all of it. But He chooses not to. No, He has decided that a tithe is ten percent. We see the first tithe in Genesis 14 starting at verse 17

"After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was the priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:17-20

This is the first time a tithe is mentioned in the Bible. Abram or Abraham gave away ten percent of his captured goods. It was a thanksgiving offering to God on behalf of the people who had been miraculously rescued and brought home safely. Notice this, Abraham did not give this ten percent out of his own possessions or property. He gave out of his gain from the battle. His "salary" if you will. He did so in gratitude to, and in recognition that, without God, the Victory would not have been possible.

So this became a normal practice in the old times. People started to tithe ten percent of their gains, for both gratitude and thanksgiving to God. It was also a way to ensure that all would be taken care of, even if someone was in lack. Then of course, what happens often happened then. Some chose not to tithe. Like today, some felt that they should, or that they needed to keep all 100 percent. What does God feel about this?

"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:8-12

Why does God want this? Read this again.

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house."

This is the reason. Not for the Pastor to gain riches. Not for those giving to gain riches, but so that the church has the ability to meet its needs and to meet the needs of the people less fortunate. Now we get to the point some pastors are using to trick people into giving them money.

God did not create our financial system. We did. God does not need money. We do. Instead of bringing in grains, cows, chickens, milk, honey, fruits, and veggies, today's modern church needs money to

1- Pay bills. lights, heat, AC. ETC.
2- To buy grains, cows, chickens, milk, honey, fruits, and veggies, AKA food to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
3- YES-To meet the needs of the pastor. The pastor should not be part-time. He should not be in need and worrying about where his next meal will come from. He should be spending his time in the word, in prayer, and in the care for others.

Electric is not free. Heat is not free. Food is not free. The pastor's needs are not free. Again, not in God's system, but rather in ours. God promises us that if we DO tithe, we do not ever have to worry about that 90 percent. That it will go far farther than that 100 percent ever will. That if we bless others, by blessing the Church, God will bless us in all things. Not that we hit the lotto tomorrow, but in life itself. As a child of God, it is our duty to do this. Remember this passage? James 2:15-16

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

Seriously. If you say you are "religious" and yet you do nothing but show up and listen to the pastor, and go home, what do you accomplish for God? God does call for us to tithe, which is 10 percent, for no other reason than it is for the good of those tithing and for the good of those receiving. It is practical, factual, and needed. It should be something, like with Abraham, that we LONG to do. Something we do proudly and humbly. Please keep this in mind. Read it, highlight it, memorize it.

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you."

Now, is there abuse in the church? Of course. Are there pastors and church officials that will take your tithe and use it for their own gain? Yup. Just like bad doctors, police officers, drug company CEOs, whatever, there are bad pastors and administrators in the family of God. Does that change any of the reasons we need to tithe and give offerings? Nope. You are obligated to tithe. If that pastor is misusing the tithes, that is between him and God. Nothing you could ever do could compare to what God can and will do to a deceitful person using Him and His church for selfish gain.

Just to be clear, a tithe is ten percent. An offering is anything more than ten percent. For example, if you make $1000.00 a Paycheck, your Tithe is $100.00. Not $90.00. Not $20.00. Not $120.00 Your tithe IS $100.00. If you chose to, or God puts in on your heart, to give $120.00, then $100.00 is your tithe, and $20.00 is your offering.

Tithes and offerings are to ensure that all God's children's needs will be met. Food, clothes, shoes, a roof over their heads. ETC. Again it is to meet the needs of the church, pastor, and people. So the next time you give, do not give out of obligation. Is it? Yup. Do not give out of expectations. Does God lie? No. Will He bless you? Of course. But God is not a get-rich-quick scheme. No. When you give, do not do so out of obligation, nor expectations, rather do it, out of love.

People will look at you as being strange. Why do you throw away all that money? God doesn't need your money. The preacher is just getting rich on your dime. Why are you so strange? Think of all that you could but with the money you are just throwing away. The problem is, they can't see your 401 E. Your eternal retirement plan. They cannot see the treasures that you are storing up in heaven. Be strange. Give generously. Store up those treasures in heaven. You will be much happier.

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 hear 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's sacrifice for me. 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 that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall 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, 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 of all!

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Let's not make this just a one-day-a-year thing, where we have set aside this one day to remember to give God thanks. Oh, we will all, I included, say grace at the big dinner with family and friends and when people ask me what am I thankful for, I will answer this...

My life, for without Him, I would not even be here in the first place.

My Wife. Without Him, I would not have been so blessed with a Woman that supports me in any and every way. One that loves me no matter what. One that serves with me. One that I truly love.

My three beautiful children. Joshua my firstborn Son. Elijah, the Second, and of course, my Baby Girl the Princess, Maya.

My Home, when so many have lost theirs.

Truck in the Drive.

Food on the Table.

Pretty much anything and everything.

The Word of God declares.

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I do have a question for you. If you are like me and are truly thankful to God for, well, everything, then why do you only give Him thanks once a year?? Also, is giving Him thanks in the method of speaking, merely saying it, enough, for all He has done for you?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

What does this mean? It means you are a child of God. He is your Father, yet rather, He is your Daddy. He is your Daddy 24-7 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, from the time you were adopted until the day you leave this earth to go to be with Him. Not a day a week, if you feel like going to church, and not one day a year.

God wants a one on one relationship with you. Oh yes, of course, He wants to be invited to thanksgiving day dinner, but He also wants a one on one, daily, relationship with you. He wants to be there when you get up. He wants to be there when you lay down. He wants to be there in everything in-between. The good times. The bad times. He wants to meet your needs, comfort you, laugh with you. He wants you to BE His child.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

We should be those people that other people look at and go, "Wait, what?" Seriously, we should be those people that we have all known or have known of. Those weirdos. Those strange people. Always seemingly happy, no matter what is going on. Always ready to serve others. Always with a kind word and a warm embrace. Open and honest. Loving.

Am I saying that we should not celebrate Thanksgiving? Of course not. I will be. I do it right every year. Get as stuffed as the turkey and pass out in my chair attempting to watch something on TV.

What I AM saying is, don't forget to give thanks to God the other 364. He is not only God then, but He is God always.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all!!!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 46

 Chapter 46

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

1 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;

    their idols are on beasts and livestock;

these things you carry are borne

    as burdens on weary beasts.

2 They stoop; they bow down together;

    they cannot save the burden,

    but themselves go into captivity.

3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

    all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been borne by me from before your birth,

    carried from the womb;

4 even to your old age I am he,

    and to gray hairs I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

    I will carry and will save.

5 “To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

    and compare me, that we may be alike?

6 Those who lavish gold from the purse,

    and weigh out silver in the scales,

hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;

    then they fall down and worship!

7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

    they set it in its place, and it stands there;

    it cannot move from its place.

If one cries to it, it does not answer

    or save him from his trouble.

8 “Remember this and stand firm,

    recall it to mind, you transgressors,

9     remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

    I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring the end from the beginning

    and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11 calling a bird of prey from the east,

    the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

    I have purposed, and I will do it.

12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,

    you who are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,

    and my salvation will not delay;

I will put salvation in Zion,

    for Israel my glory.”

Why Are You So Strange? Time

 They can't see you.

Do you know Sally? Why is she so strange? She actually goes to church every time the door is open. She is standing outside Planned Parenthood. Do you know what she does on Friday nights? She goes down to the inner city, yeah, you know, "downtown" and hands out sandwiches to the homeless. I even heard that she has been talking to young girls in the neighborhood trying to teach them how to be ladies or something. Why is she so strange?

Why are you not? I know, I know. You do not feel you have enough time to Pray, read the Bible even, let alone go to church more than the Sunday morning check box. Friday night? That is when you relax and party with some good friends after a long week of work. Right? You just do not have the time Sally does.

There are 24 hours in the day. Most people work somewhere between 8 to 10 hours a day. Most work 5 days a week. What about the rest of the time? What you do not know about Sally is that Sally has decided to tithe her time, as well as her finances. What does that mean? She decided that if God requires only ten percent of her money, and He does, then why is it not that we should devote ten percent of our time? So since there are 24 hours in a day, she has decided to tithe 2 hours and 40 minutes to God. I know that seems like a lot. But is it? 

She prays for part of that time. She reads the Word for part of that time. She goes out and does her Father's work part of that time. I know, it seems like a lot. But how long is that show on the TV? How long is your lunch hour at work? What time do you wake up in the morning? Hobbies? Gym? Where do you invest your time?

"The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:7-8

What are you working for? What are you spending your precious time doing? Look at this story that Jesus shared with us about the man working hard for material gains.

“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

Jesus teaches us this lesson as well. He said this.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Our life is so very short here on earth. The Word declares it is but a vapor. A mist. Something that is here one second, and gone the next.

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:13-17

Think about this. Think about your friend or neighbor that has just passed on. How old were they? What were they doing? What were their hopes and dreams? Barring sickness and disease, and old age, for the most part, we never know when our time will come up. Jesus called the Rich man a fool and told him that he was going to die that very night. He teaches us that instead of laying up treasures for ourselves here on earth, we should be storing up treasures in heaven, so we have them later when we arrive. Jesus also teaches us that we need not fear tomorrow.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

I want you to think about this. Seriously think about this. What would you do today, if you KNEW it was your last day on earth? Would you really be concerned with who gets voted off your show? Would it really be worth it to spend your last day on earth making another dollar? Seriously. How would you change what you do and how you are living? Would you?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I'm really not. If you add up the hours for a week you get 168 Which is roughly 16 hours being ten percent of that time. 16 hours out of the entire 7 day week. Is that too much for God to expect from us? Do you nearly break your knee by the speed you kneel, pray, and get up? Do you spend a minute in prayer and an hour surfing your phone? As a matter of fact, there is an app that will tell you how much time you spend on the screens. Do you even read the Bible?

I'm not telling you that you have to give God ten percent of your time every day. I'm asking you why not? I'm suggesting that maybe that is a good goal to shoot for, but let's try to spend say a minimum of 15 minutes in prayer a day. Maybe another 15 to 30 minutes in the Word. Maybe 15 more minutes doing something to be a blessing to another. Let's try to start out with 1 hour. Let's build up from there.

An hour is not that long of a time. Read more than one chapter in the Bible and you got some if not all, your reading time in for the day. Talk to God about life itself. thank Him for your life. From birth to life everlasting and all stops in between. Talk to Him about your hopes and dreams. Ask Him what He wants you to do about this or that. If you run out of things to say, try this. Remain quiet. Listen. Seriously. Listen. God may be trying to tell you something.

Why does Sally look so strange? Why will you start looking strange to others? You little weirdo. It is simple. It is because they can't see you. They can't see a child of God, serving God, and storing up treasures in heaven. It doesn't make any sense to them. More on finances next time. But it makes no sense to those who are not of God, or to those who are looking at you in a worldly sense.

"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 8:7-8

Be strange. Reduce your time in the world, and increase your time with God. Today may not be your last day on this earth, but then again? You never know. Jesus tells us to occupy until He returns. But He stresses the importance to do so while watching for Him.

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 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 he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants but know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40

Invest your time wisely. Spend time with God. If this is an area you need to work on, then work on it. Get up a little earlier. Stay up a little later. set aside at least one hour a day to start to train yourself to invest your time more wisely. More time in prayer, reading the Word and doing your Father's business.

If you have not done it yet, start with this. Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear 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's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose 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 that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall 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!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 45

 Chapter 45 

1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

    whose right hand I have grasped,

to subdue nations before him

    and to loose the belts of kings,

to open doors before him

    that gates may not be closed:

2 “I will go before you

    and level the exalted places,

I will break in pieces the doors of bronze

    and cut through the bars of iron,

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness

    and the hoards in secret places,

that you may know that it is I, the Lord,

    the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,

    and Israel my chosen,

I call you by your name,

    I name you, though you do not know me.

5 I am the Lord, and there is no other,

    besides me there is no God;

    I equip you, though you do not know me,

6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun

    and from the west, that there is none besides me;

    I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form light and create darkness;

    I make well-being and create calamity;

    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,

    and let the clouds rain down righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;

    let the earth cause them both to sprout;

    I the Lord have created it.

9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,

    a pot among earthen pots!

Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’

    or ‘Your work has no handles’?

10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’

    or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”

11 Thus says the Lord,

    the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:

“Ask me of things to come;

    will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

12 I made the earth

    and created man on it;

it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

    and I commanded all their host.

13 I have stirred him up in righteousness,

    and I will make all his ways level;

he shall build my city

    and set my exiles free,

not for price or reward,”

    says the Lord of hosts.

The Lord, the Only Savior

14 Thus says the Lord:

“The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,

    and the Sabeans, men of stature,

shall come over to you and be yours;

    they shall follow you;

    they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.

They will plead with you, saying:

    ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,

    no god besides him.’”

15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself,

    O God of Israel, the Savior.

16 All of them are put to shame and confounded;

    the makers of idols go in confusion together.

17 But Israel is saved by the Lord

    with everlasting salvation;

you shall not be put to shame or confounded

    to all eternity.

18 For thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

    (he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

    (he established it;

he did not create it empty,

    he formed it to be inhabited!):

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19 I did not speak in secret,

    in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,

    ‘Seek me in vain.’

I the Lord speak the truth;

    I declare what is right.

20 “Assemble yourselves and come;

    draw near together,

    you survivors of the nations!

They have no knowledge

    who carry about their wooden idols,

and keep on praying to a god

    that cannot save.

21 Declare and present your case;

    let them take counsel together!

Who told this long ago?

    Who declared it of old?

Was it not I, the Lord?

    And there is no other god besides me,

a righteous God and a Savior;

    there is none besides me.

22 “Turn to me and be saved,

    all the ends of the earth!

    For I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn;

    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

    a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

    are righteousness and strength;

to him shall come and be ashamed

    all who were incensed against him.

25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

    shall be justified and shall glory.”