Highway to Zion

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Ps. 84:5
Are we considering the Lord in all that we do? Or are we so consumed with the cares of this world we forget the Lord. It is God who enables us to get all we have. Do only problems cause us to turn to the Lord? Remember where you have come from and be thankful. God has blessed us and continues to bless us. Come to Him and receive all. If we come to know Jesus, we will have peace, joy, fulfillment, direction, victory and life eternal.

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Ps 84:5

What does it mean to have strength in God? It means we go to God, whenever there is a need for strength. When do we not need strength from God? Always go to God. This well traveled path to the Lord is the highway to Zion. Always turn to God for direction, strength and fellowship.

Going through the valley allows us to become strong. No one gains strength by taking it easy.

A runner becomes stronger by running many miles a week and adding to the number of miles he runs as he gets stronger. It is not easy to increase the distance, but strength comes through the pain of exercise. Football players get better as they lift weights in the weight room, practice many hours on the field and spend time studying the play book. The vision is to play well, but it takes many hours of preparation to get there.

This is the meaning of "without a vision the people perish." Without a vision you will back away from the hardship you face. With a vision you press on through the problems to win the contest you are preparing for.

Return to God on the highway that is within your heart. Gain strength from Him and let Him lead you. Then you can say trouble is a learning process to strengthen and not a loss.

Isaiah 40:3-5 It is going down this highway that we will see His glory. The grace and glory of God will supply us with spiritual ability to live and serve.

The Zion highway is traveled many times because of the source of supply at the other end. Go back down that highway where your true home is. Return every day to relax, to enjoy, to be refreshed. Return down that highway to be with Jesus. Go back home to Jesus.

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Ps. 84:5

Other Scriptures to read:
Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah 40:3-5
Isaiah 62:10

Old post from wftr http://wftr.webs.com/highway.htm

The work of Ezra compared to the work of Nehemiah.

Ezra rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and established the government with a standing army. Both men returned to Israel to repair the nation from the cycle of servitude.

Judges presents the cycle of servitude. 1st there was prosperity. Then the people sinned by turning away from God to serve the idols of the nations around them. Then there came a invading army to plunder the nation and put them in servitude. Then the people called out to God and God sent a judge to deliver the people from the oppressor. Prosperity resulted and the lack of vision of the people cause the cycle of servitude to continue.

The cycle of life can be like the cycle of servitude in the book of Judges.

I was driving by a forested area when I started looking for an interesting tree, I took a photo of in March 2005,  but I didn't see it. So I got out to look for it.
But the tree was not to be seen. Walking into the woods I found it now on the ground. This photo was taken in November 2007.




The cycle of nature happens just as the cycle of servitude does. This cycle happens through out history. It takes extraordinary people to not follow this cycle. People of faith. People of commitment. People that realize the consequences of their actions and look at the long range picture. People committed to God and not just going with the flow. The work of Nehemiah would build the walls of faith into people.

The issue is not only to stay out of trouble. But to storm the gates of hell, rescuing people from the fire of hell. Then to rebuild into their lives and pave the way to give them a life in God as well. To teach them to stand on their own and be adult Christians.

This rebuilding in the Old Testament is called discipleship making in the New Testament. The walls are salvation and the willingness to carry the cross of Christ. John 3:16 and; Romans 12:1,2

Nehemiah's role was putting stability in the people, while Ezra's role was establish the temple and worship. A pastor is doing the work of Ezra and a discipler is doing the work of Nehemiah. Some pastors do both jobs. In my experience, there is not much going on with discipleship.

I see Nehemiah's work mostly neglected by the tyranny of time. Sunday morning is the time for Ezra and Monday through Friday is the days most people work and establish their purpose in life.

Ezra would be a type for a  preacher today. The  Levites, the servants of the temple, would be an Old Testament type for the support staff of the preacher. Nehemiah would be a type of the New Testament counselor/discipler/leader to the people today. So they can be solders, business men, workers for the kingdom of God.

Ezra taught people to worship and provided a place for them to express this worship and learning. Nehemiah built protection and carried weapons to repel the enemy.

In the present, people see the church building and participate with those events. But they don't see the weapons, spiritual war or walls today. Like the days of old they lose sight of their purpose and focus on what is right before them. This weakens their life and they fall because of a lack of protection in their life. Women are more inclined to do the work of Levites in the temple, (church staff). While men don't see that role as appealing and quit for nothing of value to do.

The work of Nehemiah is the prayer meeting and teaching people how to get their prayers answered and to walk in faith, and the resulting service of evangelism and outreach, service in the community that builds into their lives and other peoples lives.

Is there a position for the Nehemiah ministry? Yes but most of the work should be done outside the walls of the church building.

For further reading on rebuilding:
Isaiah 44:26
Isaiah 49:8
Isaiah 58:12
Isaiah 61:4
Ezekiel 36:10
Isaiah 30:13
Amos 9:11

Light to the Nations

I like the way this tree continues to curve to find light. Most trees will curve until they get clear of obstructions. This tree seemed to have obstructions to the right and as it got taller it had obstructions to the left.

It appears now the tree is clear and can grow straight up.

Isaiah 49:6 “... I will also make you a light to the nations. ...”

God makes us light.

We are sent as Jesus was sent. 1 John 4:17 as Jesus was so also are we in this world.

How does light affect us? You can't see where you are going if you don't have light.

One time I was in a motel room and got up to use the bathroom. It was pitch black and I didn't want to wake my wife up by turning on the light. I was just groping around the walls not knowing where I was going because I was disorientated by not remembering which way the bed was located.

It is the same in the spirit. Without the light of Jesus we won't know what to do.

Jn 12:35,36 "Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

We should walk while we have the light. Jesus is our light.

John ;8:12 "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

 Live by the guidance of Jesus from His word. Being a light is showing others the light you have. Use the opportunities you have to share the light with others. If we don't use the light we have we will lose it.

When we have the light we will love those who are around us.

Christians are known by the love they have for each other. That does not mean we do ignorant things to help others. But love will give a hand up for those in need. 1 John 2:10,11

If we turn away from showing love to others we lose our light to walk by.

It is our confession along with our care for others that brings light to others. Hold fast your confession. Continue to proclaim what Jesus has done for you, what Jesus is doing for you today and what Jesus will do for you in the future.

The works of love and the confession of Christ together, brings people to repentance of faith.

Further reading:
John 1:1-5
John 14:6

Whose Report Will You Believe

Isaiah 53:1 KJV ​Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Whose report
Will you believe
We shall believe
The report of the Lord

His report says
I am healed
His report says
I am filled
His report says
I am free
His report says victory


Are we going to believe the Bible and look for and wait expectantly and work for what God has promised, or are we just going to go with the flow? Will we stand in faith on God's word for us, or will we knuckle under to the world and peer pressure? Let us stand for God and believe for His arm of victory in our life and what we are working for.

John 12:38  NASB “This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?"

John 12:36 while you have the light believe in the light so that you may become sons of light. We are sons by the gift of salvation. So I consider this to be speaking of living in the kingdom by reigning in life by Jesus. Romans 5:17. We live as sons when we walk and believe the light of God's word!! If we don't walk and believe the light of God's word darkness will overtake us. Passive life, a life lived not aggressively to follow God's word, will result in being overcome by darkness.

Romans 10:16 “However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

Preachers need to be sent out for the spread of the gospel. Romans 10:8-17 So that faith can spring up in the soil of peoples hearts.

The report is true. God is not dead but is alive. So we can trust God.

Isa 61:11 NASB “For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all the nations.”

Righteousness comes from our belief in God and the work on the cross. Phil 3:9
Praise will spring up with faith. For praise is the expression of belief.

Psalm 85:11 “Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven.”

For further reading:
Isa 32:16,17 with James 3:18
Isaiah 45:8
Isaiah 58:8
Mark 4:27

God's Blessing

Psalm 128 NASB

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
2 When you shall eat of the [a]fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
[b]Within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.
4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!

v 1 is the condition of this Psalm of promise.

How blessed is everyone. Everyone means every one. Any that will believe this passage of Scripture can move into the blessings of God. It is not for the select but for all who meet the conditions of this Psalm.

What is the condition of this Psalm?
Who walks in His ways. And what are the ways of God? They are taught in the Bible. Proverbs 2:1-12 would be a start. The whole Bible, (the 66 books translated from the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek). As taught by the Holy Spirit. John 14:26; John 16:13f; 1 John 2:20,27.

What does it mean to fear the Lord?
To respect what He says. From this respect we then follow His teachings. As we follow the teachings of God the desire of the flesh fades. Romans 8:5,6

There are times when temptation come. If our reverence for God gives out, then the fear of the Lord will truly be a fear of the result of sin. This fear will turn us away from considering or participating in sin.

What are the blessings of following and fearing God? These blessing come from the inheritance that is in Christ Jesus Romans 8:17

Our work will provide for us and our family.
For God will bless our work. Our life will have happiness and things will go well.

The fear/reverence of the Lord will bring contentment Philippians 4:11 allowing us to take the time to enjoy life given to us. Fear and trust in God will bring us rest to our souls. Hebrews 4:1,2

Some do not have it easy in this life. I am thinking of the North Koreans. Yet even in agony, there is joy in Christ. For Paul talked of his contentment in Philippians from a first century dungeon.

Our wife is a blessing to us. Prov 31 We have a good Father and His gifts to us are good blessings. James 1:17

Our children will be like olive plants around us. Olive is a type of production. Our children will be productive in life.

They will carry on from our life to the future. They are the glory from God Proverbs 17:6.

We will see and live in God's prosparity from a Godly Kingdom perspective.

Our life will be blessed with loggivit;y and we will see our grandchildren.

We will live in peace and not have a tormented soul, but one with peace with God and our family and friends.

Word of His Grace

Acts 20:32
Now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Word of His grace.
Acts 14:3 …. Therefore they spent a long time there, speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

Paul and Barnabas were speaking boldly. Who was testifying of the word of His grace? Was it Paul or the Lord? It was the Lord by the signs and wonders done by the hands of Paul and Barnabas.

What did they do? They spent a long time there. They testified. They testified boldly. They testified boldly with reliance upon the Lord. And the Lord was working with them. The Lord was working with Paul and Barnabas as they laid hands on the people. There were signs and wonders being done by the hands of Paul and Barnabas by the power of God.

Is there power in God? Does the word have power? Yes, yes. Do we have this ability to minister to others with this power?

Mark 16:17-20 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

So who can lay hands on the sick for recovery? It is those who believe. V16 These signs will accompany those who have believed!!! It is not the special minister. It is anyone who believes. And what are we to believe? The word of His grace. God's word brings grace for us to minister.

What are the examples of this. Paul and Barnabas were ministering to the Lord in ch 13 of Acts. They were led to go and obeyed and went. And God was with them in power.


Acts 20:24 – testify of the gospel of the grace of God.
The gospel is the good news of God to man. It is explaining the good news of God to man. This word of explaining is God's grace. There is power in the gospel. Rom 1:16 … gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation.

The Scriptures on salvation have the power to bring salvation to the hearers.

I   am reminded that as we go from grace to grace we also go from faith to faith. God's grace comes from the Scriptures. And God's faith comes from the Scriptures.

John  1:16 "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace."
Romans 1:17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

So let us not neglect the word of God. For it is the word of God's grace which will build us up to receive the inheritance.

Steps to Life

Here was a teaching I gave this week.