The Right One to follow and to worship

In Joshua we read of the people crossing the Jordan into the promised land at the time when there were enough rain-showers to provide harvest time floods and when “the Jordan overflows all its banks”. (chapter 3 v.15)

Because of the Name of יהוה {Jehovah} the Elohim of the Israelites the Ḥiwwites had heard the report of Him, and all that He did in Mitsrayim. We can see in many books of the Bible that it was because others heard about the Works of God that they came to see that He was the Right One to follow and to worship.

In the chapters by Isaiah we may hear that there is no gloom upon her who is distressed and that people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Isa 9:2-3 The Scriptures 1998+ (2) The people who were walking in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death a light has shone. (3) You shall increase the nation; You shall make its joy great. They shall rejoice before You, as in the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

Today, as in old times, we may have confused noise because of a lot of battles going on, against believers and unbelievers. Though those who love God and want to go for Him will be lead by that Most High God toward gladness, and they will be as happy before Him, as those who take joy in a harvest, and like those dividing up loot.

Isa 9:3 The Scriptures 1998+ (3) You shall increase the nation; You shall make its joy great. They shall rejoice before You, as in the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

What was promised in the garden of Eden and people at the time of Isaiah could look forward to came a reality, God His Word, His speaking coming into the flesh some two thousand years ago, when to us a child was born. This prophesy of the son been given should be our greatest hope, because that son of God would bring salvation and the government shall be upon his shoulder.

Isa 9:6 The Scriptures 1998+ (6) For a Child shall be born unto us, a Son shall be given unto us, and the rule is on His shoulder. And His Name is called Wonder, Counsellor, Strong Ěl, Father of Continuity, Prince of Peace.

That Good News had to be trumpeted all over the world. There should not be silence about it. No, the whole world should come to know that man from Nazareth who God has sent. Only in Jehovah shall be given righteousness and strength and shall be found the best reason to come to Him and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed. In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Isa 45:20-25 The Scriptures 1998+ (20) “Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the gentiles. No knowledge have they who are lifting up the wood of their carved image, and pray to a mighty one that does not save. (21) “Declare and bring near, let them even take counsel together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has declared it from that time? Is it not I, יהוה {Jehovah}? And there is no mighty one besides Me, a righteous Ěl and a Saviour, there is none besides Me. (22) “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am Ěl, and there is none else. (23) “I have sworn by Myself, a word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, so that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue swear. (24) “One shall say, ‘Only in יהוה {Jehovah} do I have righteousness and strength’ – he comes to Him. And all those displeased with Him shall be put to shame. (25) “In יהוה {Jehovah} all the seed of Yisra’ĕl shall be declared right and boast. ”

Every body who wants to belong to that son of God and his Father has to declare and bring others near, taking counsel together, spreading the reality that there is not a god besides the heavenly Father of that son Who is a just God and a Saviour; there is not one except Him.
It has been announced from of old. It was God Himself Who has declared it from that time. It is יהוה , Jehovah the Almighty All-knowing God about Whom every man should know that there is no mighty one besides Him, who provided this child which is like the angels, Pharaoh, Moses and others a god and whom many take and name him their god. But this son of god was first lower than angels and could not do anything without his heavenly Father, the Only One God.

Joh 5:17-27 The Scriptures 1998+ (17) But יהושע {Jeshua} answered them, “My Father works until now, and I work.” (18) Because of this, then, the Yehuḏim were seeking all the more to kill Him, ‘because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He also called Elohim His own Father, making Himself equal with Elohim.’ (19) Therefore יהושע {Jeshua} responded and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does. (20) “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all that He Himself does. And greater works than these He is going to show Him, in order that you marvel. (21) “For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son makes alive whom He wishes. (22) “For the Father judges no one, but has given all the judgment to the Son, (23) that all should value the Son even as they value the Father. He who does not value the Son does not value the Father who sent Him. (24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me possesses everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (25) “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Elohim. And those having heard shall live. (26) “For as the Father possesses life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to possess life in Himself, (27) and He has given Him authority also to do judgment, because He is the Son of Aḏam.

English: Our beloved Lady Saint Mary with Her ... — Miriam or Saint Mary with her Son, Jesus Christ, son of man and son of God (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Righteous Ěl is the Most High Saviour because He provided His son as saviour for all mankind. That son of God knew very well that there is none besides his heavenly Father, to Whom (Jehovah) he (Jesus) prayed.
We should be exceedingly glad receiving such Good News and should not worry to face the troubles we shall have to encounter in this world. We must know that we may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, but we should consider it as a form of trial or testing, so that the genuineness of our faith may be tested, our faith which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire.

1Pe 3:15-18 The Scriptures 1998+ (15) But set apart יהוה {Jehovah} Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the expectation that is in you, with meekness and fear, (16) having a good conscience, so that when they speak against you as doers of evil, those who falsely accuse your good behaviour in Messiah, shall be ashamed. (17) For it is better, if it is the desire of Elohim, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (18) Because even Messiah once suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim,1 having been put to death indeed in flesh but made alive in the Spirit, Footnote: 1Rom. 5:18.

Looking forward to grow by the Words of God and facing the proving of our faith which is intended to redound to our praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ ( the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.

2Pe 3:9-13 The Scriptures 1998+ (9) יהוה {Jehovah} is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11 Tim. 2:4. (10) But the day of יהוה {Jehovah} shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. (11) Seeing all these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in set-apart behaviour and reverence, (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, through which the heavens shall be destroyed, being set on fire, and the elements melt with intense heat! (13) But according to His promise we wait for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth in which righteousness dwells.

When the last battle shall come we shall know that Jesus is near and that he will be working up to his reputation! He is ultimately seen as

“Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David … “[v.7 of to days reading of Isaiah]

It is prophetic visions such as the one given in the book of Isaiah that has inspired many and which should still inspire many today. In such messages we should find hope and find light in the darkness.

Believing in God and his Son we may be partakers of the body of Christ and find the “great light” that takes away the “gloom” and the “deep darkness.” (v.1,2) Even when, like Christ did not know when he would return, we do not know when Jesus will return, but trust God the Father that it will happen, even when it might be “like a thief in the night.”

Today not many are interested in God and lots of them may find they live reasonably well in a world of peace and security. Though we must be careful. We must know that sudden destruction will come upon man.

1Th 5:1-6 The Scriptures 1998+ (1) Now, brothers, as to the times and the seasons, you do not need to be written to. (2) For you yourselves know very well that the day of יהוה {Jehovah} comes as a thief in the night. (3) For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. (4) But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. (5) For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. (6) So, then, we should not sleep, as others do, but we should watch and be sober.

Therefore let us be awake and alert. Let us go out in the world and shout it out loud, that Jesus is the Messiah and that the Day of God is near.

Let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation, thriving on the helmet of salvation, God’s Sacred Holy Word. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

1Th 5:8-10 The Scriptures 1998+ (8) But we who are of the day should be sober, putting on the breastplate of belief and love, and as a helmet the expectation of deliverance. (9) Because Elohim did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain deliverance through our Master יהושע {Jeshua} Messiah, (10) who died for us, so that we, whether awake or asleep, should live together with Him.

All flesh to worship Jehovah, the Only One True God

We are not made to be destroyed. Lots of people do think nothing about God. They do think it is a spin-off of man’s head, an illusion. Or they think there may be gods but they are stronger than any god. They should know that the strongest person shall have no power to resist Him. Lots of people do think they know all but they forget that it is the Creator Who knows everything. they lose out of sight that He is the One and Only One Who is able to give or take life for ever.

There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though the enemies shall come to their end and shall have to face their worthlessness in the eyes of God. Many shall be surprised to find how easily they shall be broken. Others will see how they are as great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry stubble before devouring flames.

We should not be ashamed of the Good News of Christ because it is the power of Elohim unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first and also to the Greek. In the Book of books, the Bible we can find the infallible Word of God giving us insight in His Plan. In it we can find the righteousness of Elohim revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,

“The righteous will live by Faith”.

But we can also see that the anger of Elohim is revealed from the cosmos against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold back the Truth in unrighteousness; because what may be known of Elohim is manifest in them; because Elohim Jehovah has showed it to the world. Having the visible and invisible things in the world. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the universe are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his Age-Lasting power and Divinity; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew Elohim, they glorified him not as Elohim, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:16-21 The Scriptures 1998+ (16) For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, for it is the power of Elohim for deliverance to everyone who believes, to the Yehuḏite first and also to the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of Elohim is revealed from belief to belief, as it has been written, “But the righteous shall live by belief.”1 Footnote: 1Hab. 2:4. (18) For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because that which is known of Elohim is manifest among them, for Elohim has manifested it to them. (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse, (21) because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened.

Let us exhort each other and help others to grow in the Word of God and in the love of Christ, as brothers and sisters in Christ, following his words and the task of going out in the world proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Looking for more security, tranquillity and peace let us take the Word of God, and use the Bible as our guide for life.

Let us show to others how important it is to read the Word of God which is our “breastplate” and “helmet” to be secure!

DSC00237 Bible Translation on the shelf — One of the book-shelfs with Bible translations at the office of the Belgian Christadelphians

Preceding articles:

For it is no empty word

Establish your hearts blameless in holiness

God has not destined us for wrath

Displeasure of יהוה , Jehovah the God of gods, and His wrath against all the gentiles their divisions

Additional reading:

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Additional reading:

The Wrath Mindset vs Inheritance
Ephesians 4 and 5 goes through a whole litany of what appears to be “dos and don’ts” in the kingdom of God, but with a little more enlightening, one can see that this is really more a list to help the reader recognize some unwholesome fruit reflecting incorrect thinking on their part. We all know that salvation is a free gift, not something we can earn. Along with this gift comes our supernatural inheritance and destiny for our lives. Again, this cannot be earned by our self efforts, but rather occurs very naturally as our minds are renewed.
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The Truth – does it really matter?
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Freedom from Broken Peace
WWUTT: Hates the sin but loves the sinner? Not so fast dear!

What If God Was Cruel

Think about why God should be the way we want Him to be. If God is God, and there is no higher authority, who are we to demand God be anything other than God – whoever He is and wants to be.

Think about it: if there is intelligence behind the Universe, the intelligence and power necessary to create the Universe is not something we could control, let alone judge. When we say that we cannot believe in a God as described in the Bible because he does not seem loving, aren’t we just projecting our own desires on God? What difference do our desires make to the God of the Universe?
What If God Is Cruel
How tender an All-Powerful, Creator-of-the-Universe God must be to sustain such delicate life as we live on this planet in the gaping expanse of the cold Universe. Without a word from the Bible, we know something of the character of God and His attitude toward us.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18,19. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!“
Revelation Chapter 8
Revelation Chapter 10
The Wrath of God Against Sin

The only way to escape the wrath of God is to turn to our Saviour Jesus Christ. He absorbed God’s wrath on the Cross, and rose to give new life.
Last Days, part 1 – Pastor David

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and Believing the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Believe today. The time is short.
The Wrath of God – Commentary on Romans 1:24-32
While God’s Word and God’s World are overflowing with the evidence of His unrelenting love and radical grace, they are also unabashedly declaring His holiness, justice, and wrath. God’s righteous wrath is the subject of Romans 1:18-32.
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In essence, God shows His wrath by allowing their foolish rejection to lead them into the natural consequences of their sin.
The Great Escape
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, as it was in the days of Lot they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all so will it be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
Knowing about Repentance (Reading Isaiah 57)
Today, we receive the help of the Holy Spirit to move away from our sinful ways. He will “create the fruits of his lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near.” In them and surrounding them, they will experience a peace that comes from within, that would be spoken of through their mouths – fruits of peace (v19). Against the wicked, He will not stay His hands. He will cause chaos and stir their hearts (v20,21). They will have no peace so that they may turn around and repent.
The End of Punishment and Fear
I think there are a lot of Christians struggling with the fear of God. I want to offer some thoughts on an alternative to fear, that is, grace. I’m going to spend the next few weeks developing this, but if you want to know my main point, it’s this: grace ends fear. So don’t be afraid.
A Thief In The Night
The gargantuan crisis soon to slam against the world is the end of time, and ultimately the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is my firm belief that in our lifetime it will soon be time to make our exodus with our Lord and savior from this wicked world and go home. However there are many trials ahead of us. It is a most solemn statement I make that we shall be here on earth when that storm crashes against the world with overwhelming force.
Why is Jesus the Only Way?
Jesus himself taught this, as did the first Christians. To believe otherwise is to depart from a Biblical Christianity. But why did it have to be this way? Why can’t God just make it such that all sincere believers of anything, or something, or nothing in the case of a sincerely good atheist, are all on a path to God?
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When justice is missing in the world, we long for it, we work for it, we pray for it. If justice were missing in God, we very soon find ourselves longing for it. The wrath of God, the expression of God’s justice is part of the glory of God. To ask God to express no wrath would be to ask God to have less glory. Wrath is part of the goodness of God. God is perfectly just. God cannot be perfectly just and turn a blind eye to sin no more than a judge can be perfectly just and pay no attention to the evidence just because he or she happens to like the defendant.
Chased like chaff off mountains
The LORD tells humanity that no matter how much of a roar we make, he will have the last say. He will sweep the arrogant and noisy oppressors away from the mountain like he blows the chaff off the mountain with his rushing wind. It is amazing how efficient the wind is at clearing a mountain of everything, leaving the bare trees until springtime.
You shall not avoid tribulation.
If God has not destined us for wrath, then He intends to make everything go well for me! However, this verse is speaking in the context of the end, of eternity. The Church at Thessalonica was confused about death and the end, they even became fearful that they had missed the rapture! Thus Paul wrote to explain about the end, that those who had died would be raised from the dead and that when everything is said and done, we will not suffer eternal judgment but salvation through Jesus.
Wrath of God
When we know the truth of God and it has manifest in our spirits, yet we choose to act in unrighteousness God will give us up to the “vile affections” in our hearts. He is not giving up on us as His children, but He is allowing us to give ourselves to the lustful desires of our own hearts. Our own desires, when not in line with God’s desires, will always lead us down the road to disaster. But God always works everything out for good and will often use these disasters and “rock bottom” moments in our lives to bring us back to Him as wholly (holy), devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Even when we are walking far from Him, He is always still right there with us, protecting us from more than we think.
Know the Bible!
A knowledge of the Bible is essential to a rich and meaningful life. For the words of this Book have a way of filling in the missing pieces, of bridging the gaps, of turning the tarnished colors of our life to jewel-like brilliance. Learn to take your every problem to the Bible. Within its pages you will find the correct answer. But most of all, the Bible is a revelation of the nature of God.

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Peter Responds to Critics (nineyearbible.wordpress.com)
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:8-12)
Hearing Voices: Counterpoint in the Epic of Moses (3quarksdaily.com)
We may not pay attention to the overlaid melodies of our multiple story lines very often, but it is the way we experience the world, in all its harmony and all its dissonance. While the essential complexity of it all may at times be lost in the chaotic shuffle of busy days, our lives and our literatures reflect this phenomenon.
In with the New (joyfullnuggets.wordpress.com)
Change is coming for Joshua and this vast group of people he is leading into the Promise Land. Joshua was no longer second in command; he was the leader for all of the Israelites. The new leader’s had the challenge to leave the desert and cross over into their future home.
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Throughout Scriptures, this same pattern is repeated. Moses and the Israelites were freed and able to leave after the death of the first born of Egypt. Rahab’s world was turned upside down after the destruction of Jericho; she was free of her past. Naomi and Ruth returned to Israel after the death of their husbands. David became king after King Saul’s death. The same is true in the New Testament; many of the examples there are people who left their old way of life behind to embrace what the Lord offered them. Peter, Andrew, James and John leave their old fishing boats and begin fishing for men. Matthew began giving to the people instead of collecting from them. Each one of Jesus’ disciples left their old of life and became men who wanted to spread the Good News of Jesus. This continues throughout the New Testament.
Damascus, the Anti-Christ and Armageddon – Veterans Today (veteranstoday.com)
Recent events in Syria have caused many scholars to revisit Isaiah Chapter 17, which speaks of the total destruction of Damascus and associate it with Armageddon.
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If, according to Isaiah, due to the fall of Damascus, “Israel” itself is punished, how can it be leveled by God on behalf of Israel? One has to ask, is this really on behalf of Israel? And is this really a struggle for mankind? Or is it a struggle by the Kingdom of Judea, the tribe of Judah against the Kingdom of Israel in the time of Isaiah when there was conflict that divided Israel into two Kingdoms?
Old Testament God angry, New Testament God loving. Right? Or wrong? (theway21stcentury.wordpress.com)
There is no doubt that God is portrayed in the Old Testament as commanding and doing some things we would regard as barabric today.
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But this isn’t the whole story. God is also portrayed as loving and patient, and there are many commands to love and be merciful, and practical commands that care for the poor and the defenceless (Deuteronomy 24:14-15), even refugees (Deuteronomy 10:18-19), and to provide opportunities for justice rather than revenge (Exodus 24:13).
Another word not to use carelessly (blcasey.wordpress.com)
Let’s not make a mockery of a word that so clearly signifies worship. By virtue of its etymological components, and in countless languages across the globe, it means the same thing:

Hallelu – jah (Yah)

Praise God
Good News (activeinspiration.wordpress.com)
We are in the last days of God’s offer of His Grace. God’s delay in pouring out His wrath upon this world of the wicked is only delayed because God knows all who come to him. When they come, this age is over, and this world is going to get real nasty and violent. Come to Jesus before its too late.
Return To Joy (achristianmeditation.wordpress.com)
David drew to his Heavenly Father for his comfort and joy. As the youngest of eight brothers, shepherding out on the hills by himself, he found solace and significance in a deep mature relationship with God.
Return To Joy (devog.wordpress.com)
It is no surprise then when David was in the pit of despair, sinking in the mud and mire of life; He turned to his relationship with God. He waited patiently for the Lord to help him. God heard his prayer and returned him to joy. Today, turn to God. He knows your situation. He hears the groaning of your heart. Spend time with Him and His word. Let your relationship with God your Father return you to joy.