Categories
Unthinkable – LJ Harry
Category: Bible Preaching
Categories
Fresh Oil
Text: Psalms 92:10, “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”
Fresh Oil
Oil plays a significant part in the Scriptures and in the life of the believer.
The first time oil is mentioned in the Word of God it was used by Jacob to anoint the stone he’d used as a pillow (Genesis 28:10-22):
(10) And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. (11) And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. (12) And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (13) And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; (14) And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (15) And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (16) And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. (17) And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. (18) And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. (19) And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. (20) And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, (21) So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (22) And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
There on that stone Jacob poured oil and dedicated it as a place of worship to God naming that spot Bethel – The House of God.
Later he came back to Bethel, built an altar and named it El-Bethel – the God of the House of God (Gen. 35:1-15).
The first time we see oil used on man it is the anointing oil poured on Aaron and his sons as they are dedicated and consecrated unto God as priests (Exodus29).
Throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, you will find the constant presence and use of oil.
- Consecration and Sanctification of Priests, Prophets and Kings, Tabernacle, Tools and Furniture (Exodus 30:22-25).
- Used Medicinally to Heal the Sick (both spiritual and physical restoration)
- James 5:14-15, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
- Acts 10:38, “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
- There is a lingering presence when you have been anointed – God’s presence will stick and stay with you.
- Worship
- Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume (oil-based) as an act of worship (Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3).
- Purification
- Leviticus 14:1-18 instituted cleansing rituals for those recovering from leprosy, symbolizing their legitimate return to society and acceptance into the general public.
- Joy
- Psalms 45:7, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
- Everyday Life
- Oil is used for cooking, cosmetics, skin care (Frankincense & Myrrh).
This fresh oil is a type of the Holy Spirit.
Just as oil pervaded, permeated, saturated, soaked and flooded every aspect of a person’s life in the Old Testament
The Fresh Oil of the Holy Ghost abides constantly in the life and spirit of the believer:
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
There are three types of oil that was produced from pressing of the olives:[1]
- First Pressing (Purest Oil) – Holy Use
- Used for anointing priests and kings, lighting the Temple menorah, and sacred meal offerings.
- Christ the Anointed One – Messiah
- Second Pressing (Medicinal/Food Oil) – Physical Use
- For healing wounds, cooking, and general household use.
- Christ the Healer and Provider
- Third Pressing (Crude Oil) – Cleaning and Fuel
- For soap (cleansing) and lamp fuel.
- Christ the atoning cleansing sacrifice and the Light of the World.
Gethsemane means “olive press,” and the three prayers of Jesus reflect these three pressings.
Just as the pressings extracted the oil in ever increasing intensity
Jesus was pressed to the point of sweating great drops of blood
The intense suffering of Jesus provides spiritual anointing, healing, and cleansing for believers.
1 John 2:20, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
“Unction” is the same word for “anointing”
To be anointed you have that fresh oil rubbed in our poured on.
That’s what happened to David (1 Samuel 16:1, 13)
(1) And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons….(13) Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”
Look what happened:
- God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem to find the next king, telling him to fill his horn with oil.
- Samuel sees Jesse’s older sons, but God rejects them, explaining that He looks at the heart, not the outer appearance.
- David is brought from shepherd’s field
- God confirmed to Samuel that is was the chosen one – the one after His one heart.
- Samuel then takes the horn of fresh oil and anointed David in front of his family.
- At that moment, the Holy Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David and never left him.
Tonight, at the beginning of this New Year, we need to receive Fresh Oil – Fresh Anointing.
Fresh Oil will Eliminate Fear, Confusion and Frustration.
Fresh Oil will propel us into a future that will see us operate in faith and boldness as we reach our families, our friends and our homes with the oil of gladness.
To receive Fresh Oil for this coming year lift your hands and hearts to God and begin to thank Him for His Fresh Oil
Receive a renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 92:10, “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”
My horn = You can find joy tonight in foreseeing the mercy of the Lord. You will not perish, but God will lift you up over your difficulties.
Jesus is here tonight to anoint you with fresh oil that will enable you to be victorious, smooth the difficulties of life and prepare you for new levels of ministry and spiritual growth.
The overflowing effect of Fresh Oil will produce renewed purpose, focused vision, and divine wisdom.
God has sent Fresh Oil here tonight to refresh and renew you:
Acts 3:19 , “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
Fresh Oil releases Joy, Victory, Explosive Power and Divine Authority.
Fresh Oil will bring unity to this body:
Psalms 133:1-3, “(1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (3) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
- As the oil covered Aaron’s entire body, unity is a shared blessing that touches everyone.
- Unity is a divine gift, not just a human effort.
- The flowing oil signifies the blessing and life that God commands where unity exists, bringing a refreshing abundance, like the dew of Hermon.
- As Aaron was the High Priest, this anointing signifies that believers living in unity function as a unified priestly body, anointed and set apart for God’s purpose.
[1] Google AI Overview. Query: three oil pressings in the Bible. Accessed: 1/4/2026.
Categories
A Thing Called “Hope”
Text: Matthew 9:20-22
(20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: (21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. (22) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.[1]
Hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. A feeling of trust”[2]
Albert Barnes defines Hope as:
…a desire for an object, and an expectation of obtaining it.
If there is no desire for it; or if the object is not pleasant and agreeable, there is no hope, though there may be expectation – as in the expectation of the pestilence, of famine, or sickness, or death.
If there is no expectation of it, but a strong desire, there is no hope, as in cases where there is a strong desire of wealth, or fame, or pleasure; or where a man is condemned for murder, and has a strong desire but no prospect of pardon; or where a man is shipwrecked, and has a strong desire, but no expectation of again seeing his family and friends.
In such cases, despondency or despair are the results.
It is the union of the two feelings in proper proportions which constitutes hope.[3]
Hope is the place where desire and expectation unite:
A Thing Called Hope
She had been sick for 12 long years, but somehow she had not lost her hope. “She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.”[4]
She was ritually unclean and should not have even been out in the crowd, but there she was.
This was such a personal and private issue – an issue of blood – but fueled by desire and expectation – HOPE – and she quietly approached Jesus from behind.
She had no desire to make a scene. She simply had a hope kindled by an Old Testament messianic prophecy, and when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was expressing her faith in Him as the Christ:
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”[5]
You have been holding onto your own quiet, personal, private issue of blood for some time now.
You may even think that nobody really cares about your situation. What you really want to do it quietly come to Jesus, just brush the hem of His garment because still resident inside you, despite how long, weary, disappointed and tired you have become in this struggle – you still have HOPE (desire and expectancy).
Don’t give up! The miracle is just a brush away.
The moment she touched the border of his garment, immediately her issue of blood stopped.
Jesus said, Who touched me? …Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
And when the woman saw that she was not hid [she had tried to be as inconspicuous as possible], she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.[6]
A Thing Called Hope
Is something you cannot afford to let go.
It is in the waiting where Hope is tested. The sometimes-insurmountable fear that this delay is just foreshadowing the disappointment to follow, but I hear Lord say…
Habakkuk 2:2-3, “(2) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
There is a future Hope beyond this world, but there is a present Hope as well: Romans 8:24-28:
(24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
(25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
(26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
A Thing Called Hope will hold you together when nothing else will:
- Psalm 38:15, “For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”
- Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
- His face is turned towards you with favor and salvations.
- Psalm 42:11, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (See: Psalm 43:5)
- If you hold onto hope, one day your face will display the joy within because you hoped in God.
- Job 14:7, 14, “(7) For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again…(14) If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”
[1] Emily Dickinson. (1861). “Hope” is the thing with feathers.
[2] Oxford Languages.
[3] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible. 2 Corinthians 3:12.
[4] Mark 5:26, CEV
[5] Malachi 4:2
[6] Luke 8:43-48
(Preached on 11/16/2025 to the saints of Tornado Apostolic Church, Pastor Wilson Hudson)
Categories
Rejected, But Accepted
Text: John 1:10-13, “(10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Jesus always looks for those whom the world sees as rejects.
He knows what rejection feels like and He knows how it feels to be seen by others as a reject.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.[1]
“…touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” – Jesus understands all your weaknesses, all your hurts, for he faced all the stuff you have faced, everything, especially rejection.
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
It was prophesied that he would be rejected:
(3) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (4) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.[2]
Rejected, but Accepted
Because Jesus can sympathize with the rejects, the untouchables, the marginalized
He is drawn to people who recognize their need for Him – no matter how aware they are of Him.
There is a magnetic pull…a vacuum if you will…that Jesus is compelled to fill.
Jesus specializes in reaching for people many would not cross the street to talk with.
Men and women that society has deemed somehow unacceptable.
They have been called godless, useless, prodigals, wastrels, discards…trash.
Certainly, there were people when Jesus walked this earth in shoe leather and there are people now considered by the majority to be “rejects.”
Remember the moments when Jesus took time to come to the rejected:
- Zacchaeus – “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”[3]
- Other Jews did not like Zacchaeus, a Jew, because he chose to work for the Romans, and as a publican he was treated as a traitor to his people.
- When the people saw that Jesus was going into Zacchaeus’s home, “they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner” (Luke 19:7).
- Zacchaeus had risen to the top of the ranks of swindling tax collectors, he abused his authority by getting rich off the hard-earned money of others, and they rejected him.
- The people rejected him, but Jesus accepted him.
- Mary Magdalene – tormented by seven evil spirits, she was rejected by the people of her coastal hometown on the Sea of Galilee, but Jesus accepted her.[4]
- The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers – unclean and standing far away from Jesus and His followers, but “they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” [5]
- They were rejected by people and the Law of Moses, but Jesus accepted them.
- The man of Gadara – He was so full of unclean spirits that they called themselves “Legion” (possibly 2,000)
- The people there rejected him, but Jesus accepted him
- Thief on the Cross – ultimate form of rejection is when society demands your death – capital punishment.
- The legal system rejected this thief, but Jesus accepted him.
- Woman of Samaria – came to the well in the heat of the day. Rejected by the women of the city and perhaps the shame of her past caused her to reject herself, but Jesus accepted her.
Like so many truths found in Scripture, often the one most in need of spiritual rejuvenation, Holy Ghost regeneration, and Bible salvation is unaware of just how far they’ve fallen from grace.
Worthless, without value, insignificant – these are words sometimes used to “put people in their place,” by people who have forgotten the place where Jesus found them.
The sinner who has never come to Jesus before KNOWS she is lost, but the religious soul who has trusted in man’s tradition, in the trappings of religiosity, in the intellect of their own mind, and not in the power of the Holy Spirt – he has no idea just how lost he really is.
The fall of the haughty, arrogant and prideful is rarely overnight, but little-by-little.
Luke 18:9-14 highlights this truth:
(9) And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus reminding them, and us today, that we are blessed “…with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
He goes on to tell us, the Rejected, But Accepted: “…We have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.[6]
A permanent change is coming to us.
We who were once rejected are about to be eternally accepted:
(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
- The saying that is written (Isaiah 25:8), “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
(55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- We who were one time rejects are accepted in the beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
(58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- So, don’t stop serving Jesus, keep reaching for fellow rejects, and loving each other the way Jesus showed us to love one another.
Do you feel broken, marginalized, rejected?
Have you ever felt that way?
Your acceptance is as simple as believing and obeying the very words of Jesus:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
[1] Hebrews 4:15
[2] Isaiah 53:3-5
[3] Luke 19:5
[4] Luke 8:2
[5] Luke 17:11-19
[6] (10/26/2025, Sanctuary of Praise, Culloden, WV, Pastor David Gentry)
Categories
Drinking from His Cup
“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, will you do us a favor?” Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered, “When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left.” Jesus told them, “You don’t really know what you’re asking! Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?” “Yes, we are!” James and John answered. Then Jesus replied, “You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must!” -Mark 10:35-39, CEV
Categories
The Rock & The Name
Text: Matthew 16:13-20
(13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (20) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4, “(1) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
The Rock & The Name
Bishop James A. Johnson: “Men often fail in their religious pursuits because they are not convinced of the extraordinariness of Jesus.”
“Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?”
Apparently, there were many opinions in Jesus’ day regarding His identity: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
The world today has no need for men and women who have already ran their race, finished their courses and received their reward.
John, Elijah, Jeremiah, and the prophets – healed the sick, raised the dead, stopped the heavens from raining, brought the rain again
They preached great sermons, performed notable miracles, baptized many.
BUT, they could not make men, women, boys and girls inwardly whole. They were unable to save humanity from their sins.
Only Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God can do that.
I love, honor and respect our Apostolic / Oneness Pentecostal heritage.
I have great esteem for men like Urshan, Ewart, Goss, Haywood, Pugh, Kilgore, Kitchen, Simison, Kuntzman, Jenkins, McFarland, Tenney, etc.
They all served their generation well, but their time has come and gone.
It is now your time to do for this generation what God requires of you.
God has called you to this time and this hour and this day.
Esther 4:14, “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
This is your time! This is your place! What will you do with it?
The disciples gave Jesus a list of who people believed others Him to be, but Jesus cut through all that and simply asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?”
Who is Jesus to you?
Who is Jesus to you? Is He simply a good man, a healer, a worker of miracles, a teacher of great truths…
Do you see Him as some far off ethereal deity cloud robed and mystery hidden, or can you say like Peter did:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
He is the one the prophets spoke about, wrote about, prayed for, looked to, and rejoiced at His coming.
He is the Messiah, the anointed one, the savior.
He is God manifest in the flesh.
Jesus is The Rock, and properly identifying Jesus through the power of divine revelation brings a blessing into your life:
“Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
1 Corinthians 12:3, “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
Revelation comes by the Spirit of God and always agrees with the written Word of God.
1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy [undeniable, certain, without dispute] great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Matthew 1:20-25
(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Jesus then tells Peter who He is: “Thou art Peter [a piece of rock], and upon this rock [a mass of rock] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” <<Peter = “a piece of rock”[1] | Upon this rock = “a mass of rock”[2]>>
Peter, I’m not going to build my Church on you, you’re just a little piece of rock, but upon This ROCK, this massive rock of stone – the revelation of who I am – I am going to build My Church.
Jesus – The Rock – The Name, is who this Church is built on:
(10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.[3]
Jesus Christ is The Rock
- Deuteronomy 32:31, “For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.”
- Deuteronomy 32:3-4, “(3) Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. (4) He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
- Psalm 18:2, 31, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower….For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”
- Psalm 95:1, “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
- Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
- Ephesians 2:19-22, “(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Like Paul, when you receive the revelation of The Rock & The Name and realize His power you will be driven by a singular devotion and determination:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-2).
PERGAMOS[4]
Revelation 2:12-17
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
- Pergamos literally means “married with the world.”
- It refers to a condition and time when satan changed tactics to attack the Church.
- We all want to be accepted.
- So, satan stopped persecuting the church and began popularizing it.
- The church became the “in thing” to join. And so it became fashionable.
- But while fashionable it had become impure. Those joining didn’t leave their sinful practices and those already in it became influenced by the world.
- This led to a condition where the Church would become unfaithful to Christ and married to the world.
- Jesus is stating here that He is coming with a two-edged to divide the true Church from the false church that is full of compromise and polluted works.
(13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
- Even as popular culture tried to pervert, popularize, and convolute the name of Jesus, the Church held on to the truth of the mighty God in Christ.
- They still understood:
- Neither is there salvation in any other…
- In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily…
- Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name…
- God has always had a True Church that has held onto His name.
- Somewhere and somehow Truth has always been preserved.
- Even when satan changes tactics, God is always steps ahead preserving and protecting the Church.
- You see, Truth doesn’t need protecting. Truth is true whether all believe it, or none do.
- It was Adrian Rodgers who said, “It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. Let me tell you something, friend, it is not love and it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God. It is better to be hated for telling the truth, than to be loved for telling a lie. It is impossible to find anyone in the Bible who was a power for God who did not have enemies and was not hated. It’s better to stand alone with the truth, than to be wrong with a multitude. It is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie. There is only one Gospel and Paul said, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”.” -Adrian Rodgers, National Religious Broadcasters Convention in 1996
- The Church in Pergamos had martyrs who had died for Truth – Antipas (thought to be the pastor).
(14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
- It was Balaam who couldn’t curse the Hebrews. So, he encouraged Balac to have his pagan people intermarry with the Hebrews.
- Thus, the Hebrews brought a curse on themselves when their gentile wives brought false gods, heathen practices, and compromise into their homes.
- The devil wants you to bring a curse on yourself by allowing a marriage of the holy with the profane in your life.
(15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
- The doctrine (deeds) of the Nicolaitans: Corrupts Paul’s teaching concerning grace, and made it a license to sin.
- They were sensual and unrepentant.
- They turned the grace of God into lasciviousness.
- Paul wrote in reponse to them: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2).
- 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
- According the Joseph Benson, “They allowed the practice of the most abominable lewdness and adulteries, as well as sacrificing to idols; all which they placed among things indifferent, and pleaded for as branches of Christian liberty.”[5]
(16) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
- REPENT – Jesus here gives to John the very first word of the Gospel that He shared in the beginning – REPENT.
- It is the only solution for your sin.
- It is better to fall in humble repentance now than to be broken by God’s judgment.
- Psalms 103:8-11, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
(17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
- Hidden manna = Divine provision both natural and spiritual.
- The Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ, is our sustenance.
- White stone = a sign of purity and innocence.
- Even in this wicked age of compromise God can keep you pure and declare you innocent.
- Name recorded in stone = worthy of eternal life.
- God would not condemn the True Church to Hell because of the failures of their generation.
- Is your name recorded in the Stone?
If not, you need to enter into The Rock
Isaiah 2:10, “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.”
How do you “Enter into the Rock?” How do you get in Jesus? Peter told us on the Day of Pentecost how to do that:
…God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.[6]
Get into Jesus?
Obey the plan of salvation and be born again of water and Spirit.
That is how to enter into the Rock.
Death, Burial & Resurrection = New Birth:
Colossians 2:8-12, “(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh [repentance] by the circumcision of Christ: (12) Buried with him in baptism [water baptism] wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead [Holy Ghost].
When you properly identify The Rock you will operate with the same delegated authority Peter was granted:
“…whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
So, Preach Jesus – Teach Jesus – Live Jesus – Share Jesus – Love Jesus – Praise Jesus
And the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
No secret council of hell will ever prevail against God’s Church – the gates of hell
Who is Jesus to you?
You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Matthew 16:17-18, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
“Thou art Peter” = Petros – “a (piece of) rock.”[7]
You are a small pebble, Peter, I’m not going to build My church on you…
“And upon this Rock” = Petra – “a (mass of) rock.”[8]
But I’m going to build My church on this massive boulder, this Stone hewn out of the mountain, OUR ROCK that’s going to grow and cover the whole earth.
…and establish an eternal Spiritual kingdom that cannot be destroyed.”
[1] Strong’s & John Gill
[2] Ibid.
[3] Acts 4:10-12
[4] Dustin L. Abbott. 2007. Revelation Unveiled. Pages 44-48.
[5] Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments.
[6] Acts 2:36-39
[7] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. G4074.
[8] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. G4073.
Categories
The Golden Ephod
Text: Judges 6:34, “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.”
Judges 8:22-27, “(22) Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. (23) And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. (24) And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (25) And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. (26) And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. (27) And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”
The Golden Ephod
Judges 6:11-16, “(11) And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. (12) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. (13) And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (14) And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? (15) And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. (16) And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”
Judges 6:24-27, “(24) Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (25) And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: (26) And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. (27) Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.”
- Jehovahshalom = “the Lord’s peace; the sign or witness of God’s speaking peace to me, and to his people: or the place where he spake peace to me, when I expected nothing but destruction.[1]
Judges 6:28-35, “(28) And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. (29) And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. (30) Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. (31) And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. (32) Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar. (33) Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. (34) But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him. (35) And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.”
The temptation of this church age is also its burden.
- The temptation of the golden ephod
- The burden of the golden ephod
KJV, Judges 6:34, “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.”
ESV, Judges 6:34, “But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.”
The Spirit of God – God’s Glory, God’s Anointing – wrapped around Gideon like a garment.
Came Upon (H3847) = “A primitive root; properly wrap around, that is, (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively: – (in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear.”
The golden ephod was Gideon’s attempt to manufacture what only God’s anointing and power can produce (Judges 8:22-28).
The result of this ephod was Israel’s fall into idolatry worshipping man made idols and not God, the created and not the Creator.
Rather than return to what attracted God’s attention to him in the first place, Gideon tried to establish his own system of worship.
There is only One Way to God and any other method leads to idolatry.
“The sword of Lord, and of Gideon” = Gideon taking partial credit for Divine success, and pride beginning to creep in:
Judges 7:16-20, “(16) And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. (17) And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. (18) When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. (19) So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. (20) And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
Judges 8:27, “And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”
Israel went a whoring — they committed idolatry by going to Gideon’s golden ephod in Ophrah to inquire the will of God.
This false ephod drew Israel away from the true ephod, instituted by God for this end, which was to be worn by the high-priest only and was in Shiloh where the Tabernacle rested.
Which thing became a snare — Sin and ruin came upon Gideon, his children and Israel because of this golden ephod.
Judges 8:33, “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.”
Gideon may have been a decent man who made the golden ephod with the good intention of worshipping God, but any desire to set up a religion on your own terms and not by the Word of God ultimately leads to sin and ruin.
Why was this sin so dangerous and how does it relate to the church today?
- Superstition and will worship, worshipping God by a device of his own, which was expressly forbidden:
- Me and Jesus we got our own thing goingGod knows my heart, He knows I’m a good person
- Good people don’t go to heaven. Born again people go to heaven.
- Presumption, in wearing, or causing other priests to wear this kind of ephod, which was peculiar to the high-priest:
- Presumption stems from pride, insolence, and arrogance. It is total rebellion against God, His Word and/or His appointed leaders.
- Transgression of a plain command, of worshipping God ordinarily but at one place and one altar,
- Deuteronomy 12:5, 13-14, “(11) But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:… (13) Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: (14) But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.”
- Making a division among the people:
- Laying a stumbling-block, or an occasion of idolatry, before that people, whom he knew to be too prone to it.[2]
[1] Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments.
[2] Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. Judges 8:27
Categories
Light Dawned
Luke 2:8-14, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Matthew 4:16 in the King James Version (KJV) reads: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up”.
I’ve always liked the NEB’s translation of Matthew 4:16: “…Light dawned on the dwellers in the land of death’s dark shadow.”
John 9:1-7, “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Mt. 5:14).
The problem with false (artificial) light:[1]
- Too much radiation from strong artificial light sources can cause the formation of toxic levels of harmful chemicals
- Long-term UV exposure can lead to the development of carcinomas
- Can also cause problems for people with chronic actinic dermatitis, the UV or blue component of artificial light aggravates the associated skin lesions.
- In sufferers of lupus erythematosus, it can worsen the disease
- It also “disrupts human circadian rhythms, suppressing melatonin, which leads to sleep problems, mood disorders (depression/anxiety), and increased risks for chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”[2]
Satan can distort himself to appear as an angel of light: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”[3]
Some indeed preach Christ: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”[4]
Some present another Jesus: “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”[5]
We preach Jesus: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”[6]
The Lamb is the light: “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21:23).
Jesus is the true Light: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”[7]
Jesus is Light & the Father is Light: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”[8]
The Light brings us together = fellowship
Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Micah 7:8, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”
Habakkuk 3:2-4 (KJV), “(2) O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. (3) God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. (4) And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.”
Habakkuk 3:2-4 (CEV), “I know your reputation, LORD, and I am amazed at what you have done. Please turn from your anger and be merciful; do for us what you did for our ancestors. You are the same Holy God who came from Teman and Paran to help us. The brightness of your glory covered the heavens, and your praises were heard everywhere on earth. Your glory shone like the sun, and light flashed from your hands, hiding your mighty power.”
John 12:44-47, “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Is. 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
Matthew 4:16 (NEB), “…Light dawned on the dwellers in the land of death’s dark shadow.”
“Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.”
-Charles Wesley[9]
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/artificial-light/en/index.htm | https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/human-health/ | https://www.news-medical.net/amp/health/Health-Effects-of-Artificial-Light.aspx
[2] https://youtu.be/pFcwGkAPgQk?si=_Z3QVU_Ekbjd6JZi
[3] 2 Cor. 11:13-15
[4] Php. 1:12-17
[5] 2 Cor. 11:1-4
[6] 2 Cor. 4:3-6
[7] John 1:4-5, 9-14,
[8] 1 John 1:5-7
[9] Stanza from Charles Wesley’s poem “For Christmas Day.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45461/for-christmas-day. Accessed: 12/18/2025.
<Preached at Sanctuary of Praise (Culloden, WV) for Pastor David Gentry during their Annual Christmas Candlelight Service on 12/17/2025>
Categories
NO!
Categories
The Magnetic Power of Praise
Text: Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The Magnetic Power of Praise[1]
Reuben = firstborn of Jacob and Leah
- He sinned against his father by sleeping with his concubine.
- Unstable as water
Simeon & Levi = sons 2 & 3
Judah = Praised[2]
- Fourth son of Jacob and Leah: “…and she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah…”[3]
- Judah always signifies the act of praise.
“Praise” appears 248 times in 216 verses in the KJV:
- Deuteronomy 10:20-22, “(20) Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. (21) He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. (22) Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.”
- Judges 5:3, “Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.”
- 1 Chr. 16:4, 35, “And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:….And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.”
- David appointed worshippers and praisers: “Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.”[4]
- Ps. 7:17, “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”
- Ps. 9:1-2, 14, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High….That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.”
Some try to silence praise.
They will try to silence praise through spiritual death, unthankfulness, sin, shame, fear.
Others are too prideful to praise God. They call it “dignity,” but it’s really pride. Too fearful of what others may think.
You can make a choice to either entertain God’s presence, or pursue man’s acceptance.
God is captivated by Praise!
- Psalm 22:3, “For thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
- Psalm 147:1, “Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”
- He is attracted to your praise
- Ps. 3:1, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”
- Comely = “beautiful, seemly”
- “It becomes them; it is their duty; they are bound unto it by the mercies and favours they have received; should they not give praise to God, the stones of the wall would cry out, and rebuke them for their ingratitude: it is beautiful, and looks lovely in them…”[5]
- Psa 34:15, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
- True praise is righteous.
- Woman at the well: “(19) The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (20) Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (21) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (22) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (25) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (26) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
Hebrews 13:12-15, “(12) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (13) Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (14) For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Judah – praise – scepter not depart – gal pet – to him shall all the people come – magnetic pull of praise – praise draws people to JC –
Gen. 49:10
Ps. 33:1
Gal 3:13-14
[1] SOURCE: Conversation over breakfast with Bishop Jerry W. Dillon (Parkway Church, Madison, MS) at the 2025 UPCI GC in St. Louis, MO.
[2] Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions. H3063.
[3] Gen. 29
[4] 1 Chr. 23:5
[5] John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible.
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 