12-23-06 Isaiah 30:18

Isaiah 30:18 (KJ21)
And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you. For the LORD is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for Him.
Isaiah 30:18 (NAS)
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

Isaiah 30:18 (NIVUS)
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18 (NLT)
But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.

Sometimes you may think that the Lord Jehovah is dragging His feet in fulfilling what He has promised to you. However, it is never His intention to drag His feet; He wants to give you the desires of your heart. He, however, waits and tarries until every condition is just right. He takes His time to carve out the very best plan for you.

The Lord God wants to be gracious to you and show you favor. He longs to show you consideration and to have mercy on you. He inclines Himself to you, bending down to communicate with you face to face. He loves you deeply and has tender affection for you. He, therefore, will rise up to show you compassion.

Jehovah desires to show you His justice and set things right in your life. He has judged your enemies, bringing you vindication. Where punishment is due, He will execute it; where mercy is needed, He will extend it. He will set in place everything that is proper and fitting.

You will be blessed and happy as you to continue to walk in a straight path after Him. You will advance and make progress, even as you wait for Him. The Lord God waits to bless you and you must wait to receive His blessing. For you will receive His best, if you wait for it.

12-22-06 2 Timothy 4:2

2 Timothy 4:2 (KJ21)
Preach the Word. Be instant in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NAS)
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NIVUS)
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NRSV)
Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

2 Timothy 4:2 (Philips)
Preach the Word. Never lose your sense of urgency, in season or out of season. Reprove, correct, and encourage, using the utmost patience in your teaching.

The Lord your God has called you to be His herald. Your voice is one of authority and must be listened to and obeyed. Unashamed, you proclaim openly and publicly the living word of God. You boast of Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh. Nothing and no one will prevent you from preaching in His name.

Always be ready to preach when the opportunity presents itself, whether timely and acceptable or at an unseasonable time. It does not matter who you stand before--judges, kings, or just common people--always be prepared to speak what Yeshua gives you.
At times what you speak will bring conviction of sin. This rebuke, though seeming to be hard and harsh, will really bring honor to those who listen and heed what you say. When a person accepts and believes God's word, his value is raised; he becomes precious and esteemed in the sight of the Lord.

At others times God's word in your mouth will bring encouragement, consolation, and strength to those who hear. These will receive your teaching and instruction and will be comforted also. So invite and beseech all that the Lord leads across your path. Call them by name to join you in following in the steps of Yeshua.

Teach with patience and endurance. Be constant and steadfast as you share the doctrines of Christ. Take time to explain and expound the gospel. When you do, you will be rewarded not only with souls, but also with the blessing of Adonai on every aspect of your life.

12-21-06 Hosea 13:14

Hosea 13:14 (KJ21)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues! O grave, I will be thy destruction! Repentance shall be hid from Mine eyes.

Hosea 13:14 (NAS)
Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

Hosea 13:14 (NIVUS)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? "I will have no compassion,

Hosea 13:14 (NLT)
Should I ransom them from the grave? Should I redeem them from death? O death, bring forth your terrors! O grave, bring forth your plagues! For I will not relent!

In horror stories you hear of vampires and zombies, creatures who seem to live even after they have died. However, these monsters are not living full, abundant lives. They must prey on the living to maintain their lives after death.

You, however, can be assured that there is true life after death. Jesus Christ the Lord has ransomed and rescued you from death and has given you life ever-lasting. With His very own blood He has redeemed you and has paid the price that sin demanded. Hell and the grave no longer have power over you; the hand that held you in bondage no longer has strength. Yeshua your Messiah fulfilled and completed all that your punishment and judgment required.

Jehovah the Lord has become a pestilence and plague to hell, death, and the grave. Instead of threatening you, these now are threatened by Adonai the Most High God. They are put to flight by His mere presence. As the Lord is your salvation, He is their destruction. Death cannot seek repentance from Almighty God, for it does show sorrow for its crimes. There is no comfort for or in death and the grave. Those who refuse to repent in sorrow for their sins and to receive the redemption that Jesus offers will be hidden from the eyes of God. For them death and the grave will be everlasting, but for you there will be everlasting life, peace, and comfort in the hands of the Lord your God.

12-20-06 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 (KJ21)
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10 (NAS)
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIVUS)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you.

God has fashioned something especially for you, by His favor and His grace. You, therefore, should not hesitate to receive what He desires to give. It is a gift by which faith, knowledge, virtue, and holiness will be displayed through you. Since you have received extraordinary power to serve the church of Christ, you help other believers to be blessed with divine grace that operates on their souls by the Holy Spirit. God's gift, working through you, displays His kindness and benevolence, His forgiveness and pardon, and His restoration and preservation.

You are His servant and minister. As you wait on His people, you provide those things necessary to sustain their lives--spiritual and natural. Since you are faithful to carry out the commands of your Lord, the Master of your life, you are a commendable and admirable manager in Adonai's house. You are complete and in harmony with God's will.

Because of your honor and excellence, you have been made an overseer of His flocks. He allows you to give freely of various facets of His grace. Through you others see His nature, which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness. He has given you grace of speech to declare His good will, loving-kindness, and favor. You constantly tell of His mercy, forgiveness, and pardon. In you He displays His strength and power. You are a portrait of your Father, who constantly increases you in knowledge and all other Christian virtues. Others see how you are blessed and prospering, thriving in every area of your life.

You are a salty believer who causes others to thirst for the kind of relationship that you have with your heavenly Father. Rejoice and be glad in what He has done in you and is doing through you; for you are His son and humble servant.

Vacation :-)

If you are a regular reader of my Jolts, I want to apologize for the schedule this week. I am on vacation visiting my family. I have been having a difficult time getting on a routine schedule. You may not see a new Jolt first thing in the morning, but if you check later in the day, I hope to publish.

I pray you all have a most Blessed Christmas and an Abundantly Prosperous New Year!

12-19-06 Isaiah 25:8

When the Tsunami hit Asia, houses, lands and people were literally swallowed and engulfed by massive waves of ocean water. Most could not run fast enough to escape the destructive force that was headed their way. The devastation was vast and complete. Even though Death was the ruler in this disaster, there is coming a time when he will lose his power.

Soon a day will come when Adonai, the Lord God, will violently swallow and engulf Death. His power will be broken and death will die. Jesus Christ will manifest the everlasting victory that He has already won. Everyone will see Him as the Overseer and Chief that He is. His excellence and preeminence will be known to all.

Then He will wipe away the tears that His people have shed. The reproach and scorn that they have suffered will be removed forever. They shall no longer live in shame and disgrace, for the tauntings of the enemies will be silenced. It will be a time of perpetual harvest, as the Lord Jehovah takes His betrothed bride to be forever with Him. Since the Lord God has declared it, so it shall come to pass.

Therefore, if Death seems to be plaguing you and the enemy is continually harassing and reviling you, you should take heart. Soon that power will be shorted-out and you will walk in the power and might of the Lord your God. He has already gained for you the victory! Hallelujah!

12-18-06 Genesis 39:2

Genesis 39:2 (KJ21)
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Genesis 39:2 (NAS)
And the LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

Genesis 39:2 (NIVUS)
The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:2 (NLT)
The LORD was with Joseph and blessed him greatly as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

Often the world thinks that God's people are unsuccessful losers. In their opinion, belief in the Lord God is a crutch to only be used by people who cannot succeed themselves. However, this idea cannot be further from the truth. Adonai, the Most High God, always wants to add to and increase those who are His.

Israel's patriarch Joseph, although he came from a wealthy family, found himself a slave in Egypt, which is certainly being in dire straits. He was bound and confined against his will. How could he be increased as a slave? It did not seem possible. However, in spite of his state, the Lord Jehovah was with Joseph. Even though someone else owned him, Joseph soon found himself advancing and succeeding. All that he did prospered, which allowed his master to profit.

Therefore, if you think that you and your house have no hope of success, then you should remember Joseph. Perhaps you are employed by another and you just do not see how you can get ahead. However, you will get ahead, succeed, and prosper for the Lord is with you as He was with Joseph. Even though your boss (your master) tries to thwart your progress, Adonai will by pass him to add to and increase your life. And like Joseph, you could rise to become the second highest in the land.

12-17-06Judges 6:16

Judges 6:16 (KJ21)
And the LORD said unto him, "Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."

Judges 6:16 (NAS)
But the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man."

Judges 6:16 (NIVUS)
The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

Judges 6:16 (NLT)
The LORD said to him, "I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man."

As an individual person, you usually do not have to fight against other nations as the Israelites did. You do, however, have other enemies with which you must do battle. The children of Israel had a series of enemy tribes whose names ended in "ite". One of these groups was the Midianites, who were a people filled with strife. These were the ancient Arabians and their names meant contentious.

Perhaps there are people in your life who are like these Midianites. These people are always striving and contending with you. They may have judgmental attitudes and try to lord it over you. You may be tired of quarreling with them, but there may seem to be no escape. That is when you need to rely on the promises that the Lord Jehovah has given you.

Adonai, your true Lord and Master, has declared that you are already victorious and He has already provided the strength and power that you need to conquer your foes. He will show you how to smite and destroy the strife that is in your life. Those who have judged you will see the judgment of Almighty God come upon them. Contention, strife, and discord will receive fatal blows and you will be declared the champion.