To most modern Americans, the Bible is an ancient collection of out of date stories. But that is wrong. The Bible is more current than today’s newspaper headlines, because God sees the end from the beginning. The word of God is living energy, transforming everything it touches. Consider this verse.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
The phrase “living and powerful” comes from Greek words that mean “alive” and “energy.” God’s word is alive! God’s word is energy! Think about it. His words are not lying around in some dead letter office. His message is throbbing with life, imparting life, breathing His very being into ours as we listen to Him.
When He speaks it is far more than inspiration. Powerful energy is released into our spirit, soul, and body. You need to understand that literally. When you are feeling blah, and listless, hearing the voice of God fires you up. I am not talking about the Bible as opinions of various writers, but as the Holy Spirit breathing out the very voice of the living Yehovah God, King of Creation.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
God lives outside of the human time/space continuum. When He speaks into our human condition, there is a supernatural effect. It is beyond natural. He speaks through the Bible, through visions and dreams, through prophesies, and even through circumstances. The key for us is to see what He is saying, to listen expectantly, ready to receive.
Most people think God never speaks to them. That is dead wrong. God speaks to every person on this planet. The problem is that we are not listening, or don’t want to listen, or are just too busy with our own selfish pursuits. The problem is that there are too many voices. Think of it as a radio with hundreds of stations with every imaginable programming. But, you hear every station, every frequency all at once, at the same time. Somewhere in the cacophony of sounds assailing your senses, there is one clear channel with the voice of God. How do you tune Him in, and tune the others out? The others are louder and demanding, and yet God is speaking. Can you hear Him? Try it.
Pastor John Thrift preached Sunday at Grace Assembly in Wake Forest, NC. He talked about a great commandment that is rarely preached. When Jesus appeared on the mountain with Moses and Elijah, who represented the Law and the Prophets, God gave a clear command. When Peter started talking, God interrupted Peter. Think of that. Even Peter was talking when he should have been listening. Whew!
Yehovah directed Peter to Jesus, His “beloved Son,” and commanded: “Hear Him!”
He (Peter) was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 ESV
Have you ever considered that commandment? Are you talking, instead of listening? Maybe it is time pay attention to His voice? Consider what I say. Try praying this simple prayer: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for the restoration of rains in Israel.
Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists
Abraham Did Not Know God’s Name
10 09 2021Remember that most English translations do not translate His name into English, but rather conform to the Jewish rabbinic tradition of not using His name. However, there is a simple code so you can know when His name, Yehovah, should be used. Every time you see LORD in all capital letters in English versions, the real word in the Hebrew text is Yehovah, His covenant name. How many times is this mistaken translation used (substituting LORD for Yehovah)? In the Old Testament alone His name actually is used 6,828 times. Wow! When you start using His name, a whole new level opens up. Look at the third chapter of Exodus.
In Exodus 3, Moses first learned Yehovah’s name at the burning bush, when God called Moses to go back to Egypt and bring Israel out of slavery. Many are confused because they only read verse 14 which mentions “I Am,” which is a descriptive phrase that means “the Eternally Existent One.” But, the next verse goes on to reveal the name, Yehovah, that appears 6,828 times, but is miss-translated as LORD. This comes from the tradition that Jews substitute “Adonai” which means Lord. Whenever the Hebrew text uses Adonai it is translated as “Lord” with only a the first letter capitalized. Now you know the code. All caps is His real name, and lower case Lord is Adonai. I cannot defend why modern Bible publishers persist in obscuring His literal name, Yehovah. By the way, some say it is Jehovah or Yahweh, but the pronunciation is secondary. Use His name!
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain. A small rain shower fell in southern Israel this week.
Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists, (Read more)
Why do I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah? Here is a link to the explanation in my book: The Hebrew God Who Has No Name. And here is a link to a great visual from my friend Keith Johnson.
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Tags: Abraham, God's name, Jerusalem, Moses, Yehovah
Categories : Israel Commentary