5-10-08 Malchi 2:5 God Brings Life and Peace

Malachi 2:5 (NAS)
My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me, and stood in awe of My name.

Malachi 2:5 (NLT)
The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and this is what I gave them. This called for reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name.
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You were separated from God because of your sins. There was no way that you could overcome this separation; you did not have the equipment or the ability to bridge this gap. Therefore, Adonai drew up a contract, a covenant, to legally and forever change this situation.

Originally covenants were ratified with the blood from each of the parties. In order for this covenant to be ratified, God sent His Son Jesus, to be born of woman and to become the Son of Man.Jesus was both God and Man; therefore, when He shed His blood on the cross for your salvation, He was signing Adonai's contract with both the blood of God and the blood of Man. Jesus stood in the gap for you, so that you would no longer be separated from your Heavenly Father.

When you chose Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you entered into the covenant that God had established. Through this, your dead spirit was made alive again. You were made fresh and strong; you were revived, repaired, and restored. Now you receive all the nourishment that you need from the Lord; He helps you maintain and preserve your life.

Wellness and happiness have become a normal state for you. You know that God desires your total health and increasing prosperity. You live in peace, rest, and safety. The Lord your God has made you whole and complete. God has made amends for the toll that sin took on you and has made your life good.

Adonai poured out His goodness and kindness upon you. He has done this so that you can learn to fear and revere Him. He desires your worship, as you stand before Him in awe. Soon you learn to prostrate yourself, bowing down in fear and respect of the Almighty. You see how small and insignificant you are without Him and you also see how great He is! You honor His name, which reveals His character and carries all of His authority. You know that the Lord Jehovah is lofty; He is higher than the heavens and is the Lord of both heaven and earth!

5-4-08 Deuteronomy 14:29 Give And The Lord Will Bless You

Deuteronomy 14:29 (NAS)
And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Deuteronomy 14:29 (NLT)
Give it to the Levites, who have no inheritance among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all your work.
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You have joined yourself to a local body of believers and those who lead you in your worship of Adonai are worthy of honor, recognition, and care. It is important that you share your prosperity and possessions with them. Take part of what the Lord has awarded you and give it to your pastor.

God also wants you to help take care of others. Sometimes foreigners, those not from your own land, may be temporarily residing in your country. They may be refugees from a war or perhaps from a natural disaster. The Lord asks that you share your food with them, so that they will have something to eat. You will keep them from wasting away and being destroyed.

The widow, who is alone and forsaken, and the orphan also have special needs that you can help fullfill. Whenever they come to your gate, welcome them, for the Lord has sent them to you so that you can bless them. Let them have enough food to fill their stomachs, so that they can rest satisfied. Even though their journey may have wearied them, what you do to help them will let them be fulfilled and at peace.

As you open your heart and hands to others, the Lord your God will bless whatever you put your hands to. You will see prosperity where you never saw any before. The Lord will give you the strength and power you need to work heartily, so that you will always be full and have an abundance.