pomegranatesandchains

John 4:14 is so central to Christ’s promises of eternal life for believers; today’s date serves as an important reminder to hold onto this verse as April unfolds.

How is joy to be obtained in this life? Isaiah, the prophet, gives the answer in Isaiah 12:3, “With great joy, you people will get water from the well of victory.” Where is victory then found? In salvation comes the joy.

Jesus promises in John 4:14, “but whosoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Fountains of living water flow freely from the throne of God to whomsoever will believe. We just need to supply the faith; God will supply the living water. Hosannah! Glory to God in the highest.     “Please spring up a well in me should be the cry of all believers today” There is joy in the river indeed. There is hope. There is life everlasting. “Words of wisdom are a stream that flows from a deep fountain.” (Proverbs 18:4)

On May 1, 2016, Holy Spirit added this 4:14 from 1 Thessalonians: “We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died.”

“Open the ancient gates, so that the glorious king may come in.” (Psalm 24:7) Doesn’t that just stir your soul? The idea that Jesus, glorified, will as promised return to earth from the same place that he left — Jerusalem, Israel. Those ancient gates that have remained shut until the Prince of Peace arrives, will once again be opened and used to glorify the Lord.

“Who is this glorious king? He is our Lord, a strong and mighty warrior.” (Psalm 24:6) Jesus came the first time as a meek, suffering servant savior — the lamb of God sent to take away the sins of the earth for all who believe. BUT — his 2nd appearance, which is oh so very close after 2,000 some years, will be as a conquering warrior, having the keys to death and Hades. God tells us ahead of time, through his chosen prophets, what the end of this age of grace will be like. We are very close. Choose to believe and join God’s mighty spirit-filled army of believers. The next psalm offers this promise: “You lead humble people to do what is right and to stay on your path.  In everything you do, you are kind and faithful to everyone who keeps our agreement with you. Be true to your name, LORD, by forgiving each one of my terrible sins. You will show the right path to all who worship you.” (Psalm 25: 9-12)

How close is your daily walk with the Lord who created you…who imagined you specifically from before the foundations of the earth? You were meant to live for such a time as this. You’re not an accident…an oops…a child carefully planned for by your parents…you were made by a Maker…God almighty.

Job 35: 9-10 claims that “In times of trouble, everyone begs the mighty God to have mercy. But after their Creator helps them through hard times, they forget about him.”

“If God took back the breath that he breathed into us, we humans would die and return to the soil. God created us all; he has no favorites, whether rich or poor.” (Job 34: 14-15 & 19)

So….on this Easter weekend, I would challenge you to recommit to following the Lord closely no matter what the circumstances or seasons of your life look like to the natural eye. God knows you personally and is waiting for you to follow his wisdom towards the narrow path that brings life through acceptance of his only Son’s sacrifice on the cross and resurrection to create the one and only bridge from God to man. There are no manmade ladders tall enough to reach towards your own salvation…just that one bridge offered by God. Accept his free offer of salvation today. Walk into your predetermined destiny partnering with God while there is still time.

Now — all is well. Because there was a first noel. Notice there is no 2nd or 3rd noel. The one and only advent, heralded to shepherds, considered a lowly profession, tending their flocks in a field outside of Bethlehem — where temple sheep were raised for sacrifice in Jerusalem — most likely around 2 b.c.

God chose to send his one and only son, “the Word made flesh,” the same Word that was with God at the creation of the world when Holy Spirit blew across the surface of the waters…as a lamb…so much symbolism…laid to rest in a manger with animals (as he was to be the lamb slain to take away the sins of the world), born in the same town where Temple sacrificial sheep were raised, and the physical acting out of Passover, the prophetic day mandated by God to be commemorated forever, where a lamb’s blood was brushed along the Jewish doorposts to save the people — a mandated Hebrew celebration.

Celebrate the first and only Noel with these worship songs to increase your joy at the promise given through Christ’s birth for redemption of all man, truly “…tidings of great joy which will be for ALL the people.”

-from Michael W. Smith’s Christmas album, 1989: “All is Well” and “Gloria”

-from David Crowder Band’s Oh for Joy, 2011: “The First Noel” and “Go, Tell It On the Mountain”

As my parents’ named me “Carol” at birth (a song of joy), I have been drawn to these songs o praise from a young age and listen to them year-round on my ITunes account — a reminder that now, because of God’s son born humbly, Messiah who came first as a suffering servant, and will come again as triumphant Lord, all is indeed — well.

Why is it that so many godly men in the Old Testament were followed by children that disobeyed the Lord?

The great prophet Samuel had two sons, Joel and Abijah.  “But they were not like their father. They were dishonest and accepted bribes to give unfair decisions.” (1 Sam. 8:3) Unfortunately, there are many other examples. As a mother, it grieves me that children raised in a godly home can turn from God and choose rebellion.

I think the reason lies in them viewing rituals connected to worship without ever realizing that God wants relationship with his people. The Bible describes him as the great potter, molding willing vessels to reflect his glory to a hungry world thirsting for salvation. But what if God’s people are rebellious broken vessels — full of pride, self-serving, lacking self control and belief?

Parents who demonstrate a godly fear of the Lord, that is recognizing His holiness and control of all world events both past and present — rightly and naturally fall into right relationship, where all they can do is marvel at His wondrous deeds and fall on their faces before him in worship. Offspring view their parent’s relationship one-dimensionally, as following a certain set of strict rules and regulations — that is — rituals to salvation while completely missing truth — that God desires our worship as an outward sign that we love him internally. His rules are meant to protect us and cherish us.

We willingly turn and follow him only through a relationship where we are his children, and He is a good father. This produces, in turn, fruits of the Holy Spirit such as love, faith, hope, joy and self-control. This amazing grace sets us free from all chains and lies binding us to worldly ties and is the one true path to joy, since “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”  (Nehemiah 8:10). You notice it doesn’t say parties, alcohol, drugs, wealth, self-serving, etc. is the way to joy. Think about it. Ponder. Are you in right relationship or serving dryly out of ritual…or are you not yet under the sheltering wings of the Lord Most High? Seek him today with all your heart while He may still be found.

Children cannot inherit the kingdom of God through their godly parents. Everyone must choose for themselves to come into agreement with the words of Nehemiah 9:6   “You alone are the Lord, Creator of the heavens and all the stars, Creator of the ocean and all its creatures. You are the source of life, praised by the stars that ill the heavens.” Only God is holy. Do you believe that? Keep a good hold on the reality that you are an undeserving sinner, only redeemable through God’s great mercy in sending his son, Jesus.

What if around the world great-grandparents, grand-parents, parents and their children all came into alignment with this statement by the Lord’s people in Nehemiah 9:32: “Our God, you are powerful, fearsome and faithful, always true to your word.” The unity of relationship with Almighty God would shine forth to the ends of the world.

Try listening to “Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)” by Hillsong Worship on their No Other Name album.