My Dad went from being a 4 pack a day smoker to zero (0) in an instant. All it took was for him to go check out what 2 of my sisters was getting themselves into in an effort to protect them. What they were getting into was becoming “Born Again with God’s Spirit” Christians. Daddy got saved, he met Jesus. Daddy later became a pastor for many years. One thing that he has told me since I’ve become a “Born Again with God’s Spirit” Christian is this. The Holy Spirit will lead many totally unconnected people to be mindful of the same Bible scripture at the same time. (Hold that thought.)
About 8 or 10 years ago, the King of Kings worship team of Jerusalem introduced me to Hebrew worship music. King of Kings Community Church was started by Wayne Hilsden, a Canadian around 1983. Their story is here, https://www.kkcj.org/about/our-history
For years I only listened to their music which taught me some Hebrew and caused me to love it and God so much more. Only in the last couple years have I ocassionally listened to their church minister’s sermons, like 1 or 2 every 2 or 3 months. (Hold that thought.)
On March 22, 2020, Wayne Hilsden who has moved into a different position at the church only preaches occasionally, preached a message in the series covering the book of Daniel. He titled it, “Know God, Stand Firm, Take Action.” I listened to it for the first time yesterday. I did so because I had made my once every 2 or 3 month visit to their Youtube channel to listen to what they were preaching about during our troubling times. Pastor Chad had preached an online message titled, “Pointing To The End.”
He mentioned that Pastor Wayne had preached a message in their Daniel series so I download the 2 previous weeks messages.
Let me first remind you there is NO Hebrew word for “coincidence.” Everything is a “Happening of God” in Hebrew thought. On March 22, 2020 while eating a snack between my Bible study time, a scripture came to mind and I decided to write a post about it. I titled it, “The People That Know Their God.” The title verse comes from,
DANIEL 11:32 NASB “By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
I only found out this morning while writing this that God’s thought about that Bible verse came to me the same day Pastor Wayne preached it. With tears in my eyes I realize, the Holy Spirit of God broke the Bread of Life with me while I was eating natural food. I’m not a “thus sayeth the Lord” person. Most of the time it’s only after the fact that God allows me to realize He was directing my thoughts or actions. Maybe it’s because I ask Him to do that very often.
Anyway, while listening to Pastor Wayne’s message, link “Know God, Stand Firm, Take Action” while gardening yesterday, the Love of God hit me right between the eyes of my heart. In it Pastor Wayne brought up this verse,
Daniel 10:19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Some versions say, “highly esteemed,” or “very precious,” or “highly regarded” or “treasured by God.” You can read them all here, https://biblehub.com/daniel/10-19.htm
But Do You Know, “You Are Greatly Beloved” by God. If you don’t, maybe it’s because you haven’t been paying attention to all the things He is doing in your life and even in your mind and heart.
Maybe you’re thinking Tony is a really good person at heart (a goody 2 shoes) and have been all my life, that’s why God Loves him. You would be Dead Wrong!!! God should have taken the breath of life from me because of the grievous sins I’ve committed both before and after I became a “Born Again with God’s Spirit” Christian many times. Read my testimony in the sidebar link and you’ll understand.
Maybe if someone had seen me weeping as I gardened yesterday they might have thought I’d just received some terrible news about a loved one. Little would they suspect that I had received Great Revelation from our Greatest Loved One, our Dear Heavenly Father. The revelation that he gave me a though during breakfast a couple Sundays ago. A revelation that He broke bread with me. But mostly the revelation that even I am Greatly Loved, not just loved, GREATLY LOVED!!! And that revelation was before I knew the Daniel 11:32 scripture He shared with me and I wrote about was on the same day Pastor Wayne preached about it. This morning it’s like my Dear Heavenly Father put icing on the cake, my cake!!!
Spend every free moment you have seeking God’s heart and you will soon find out He is seeking your heart as well. Social distancing may be a blessing of God wrapped up in a not so pretty package. Maybe it’s what it takes for some people to think about death and where they’ll spend eternity. As for me, I’m doing what I normally do. Listening to praise and worship music and sermons and learning about God more in His Word. Mary taught us a valuable lesson, Jesus said so,
Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The “Good Part” Mary chose was to sit at Jesus’ feet.
If you ever get hold of God and let Him get hold of you, you’ll NEVER want to let Him go. And He will NEVER let you go.
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
I pray God hits you too, right between the eyes of your heart with a revelation of how much He Loves You. If you will only turn to Him, He WILL Run to you.
Luke 15:18-20 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a Great way off, his Father SAW him, and had Compassion, and RAN, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
That parable is a Word picture of our Dear Heavenly Father’s Love for us, it’s that GREAT!!!
P.S. Today is April 6, 2020. As a recommended video by Youtube I saw one by Paul Washer. I have listened many times to this “man of God.” By the title it seemed current, “Encouragement In Difficult Times.” So I decided to listen to what he had to say for this time we are in. To my amazement, the scripture verse he chose for this video is Daniel 11:32. Paul Washer didn’t post this video on the day God gave me that scripture while eating breakfast between Bible my study time, the same day Pastor Wayne preached on it. No he posted his video on the day I wrote this blog post about Knowing God’s Love for you, April 1st. 5 days ago!!! 5 Biblically means Grace. Father God’s Marvelous Grace!!!
In this video Paul Washer brings up the subject of our finances and supporting the work of God at this troubled time. Relax, what he said may surprise you. He quoted,
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
What Pastor Paul goes on to explain is that in these times of uncertainty, our 1st responsibility is providing for our family. That includes before financial giving to church or mission needs. That is a statement you might want to record or print & frame. Hardly ever can you expect to hear those words from a pastor. Instead, many will remind you of the 30, 60 or 100 fold blessing if you just send them your money first. Here’s Pastor Paul’s message, be blessed,
In The Word 