“thou wilt reveal the path to life, to the full joy of thy presence,
to the bliss of being close to thee for ever.”
David wrote that God was his share, what he obtained from life. He had fair prospects, a blissful heritage. His welfare rested on God alone. God reveals the path to life, it is found in Him, the joy of His presence, the bliss of being close to Him.
Matthew 7: 13, 14. (Moffatt)
“Enter by the narrow gate:
for the gate is broad and the road is wide that leads to destruction, and many enter that way.
But the road that leads to life is both narrow and close, and there are few who find it.”
John 17: 3. (Moffatt)
“And this is life eternal, that they know thee, the only real God, and him whom thou hast sent, even Jesus Christ.”
Life is found in the Trinity, the Triune God!
The life Jesus gives is vital and full of vigour and zest!
It means literally: activity; being; energy…
you’ll have all this in abundance, it will be the very essence of your existence!
This vitality causes growth in your very soul-
all of your life-span it will continue.
This life is why Christians would rather die than give it up,
why they do seemingly crazy things and step out of boats and walk on water!
“It all happened to them by way of warning for others, and it was written down for the purpose of instructing us whose lot has been cast in the closing hours of the world.”
You may well say ‘who me?’
Your lot has been cast! You were meant to live in the closing hours of the world!
What a privilege! You have been given an advantage over those who came first in the Kingdom of God. They have gone before and made a way for you to follow in their steps! To you goes the favour of the saints, they have done the hard work, sown the seeds, others have watered the seeds…
Now you get to reap the grown plants!
Such a great cloud of witnesses before you, cheering you on in the race.
1 Corinthians 9: 26, 27. (NIV)
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
’Time please gentlemen!’ This was the call given out in Hotels, to the men in the front bar.
It meant you had time for one last beer before closing time.
Time please!
You’ve got time for one last race before closing hour!
Fix your eyes on Jesus, don’t swerve to the left or the right. Don’t waste your energy, punching empty air!
His eyes are on you, these are the end days, keep safe within His will for you.
When the curtain comes down, when it is all finished, will you have run your race?
Fulfilled the role given to you?
Let it not be said of you that the understudy stole the show!
It was shown unto me this day to announce this word .
This is your day to have an Epiphany! The high point in your life!
I hearby announce Christ to you!
May there be a bright light shining around you, a light from heaven!
May you hear the LORD’S voice speaking to you.
May you realise that God is real and He uses people like the shepherds, the Magi, Ananias, and others to confirm His words to the world.
Epiphany= the announcement of Christ to the Magi.
Matthew 2 : 2, 10, 11. (KJV)
“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Acts 9: 3- 20. (KJV)
“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mighest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”
“Amen and Amen!”
I hope and pray that your eyes will be opened and that you will see Jesus the Son of God high and lifted up!
Goodwill- kindly feeling; heartiness; right of trading as recognised successor.
Let’s break it down.
He whose aims are good, good means- commendable, so God is saying that when we act in a commendable , right and proper way, in an excellent way, virtuous, kind to others; with their well-being in mind- sharing our benefits; profit; propery; wares; in a large, considerable way, then we will win the Goodwill of God!
Which is all of the above coming back to us, and then some!
God will act with the commendable and right way to us, the proper way; the excellent and virtuous way. He’ll be kind to us, with our well-being in mind- He’ll share His benefits with us, His profit with us, His property with us, His wares! His goods with us in a large, considerable way! With kindly feeling; heartiness; AND THE RIGHT OF TRADING AS RECOGNISED SUCCESSOR!!!
If you bought a business with ‘goodwill’ included- that means you the new owner can trade from that business…you step into that role with the purchase of the business- you don’t have to start from scratch to build up the supply or customer base- you inherit it with the business! You’re handed an operational business, stepping into it and working it, reaping the benefits of the previous owners hard work!
Something like ‘Goodwill’ can’t be bought, you are given it through no success of your own. You don’t merit it but you’re given it anyway!
Don’t waste the opportunity-step up to the mark.
There is the ‘Goodwill’ of the parent who has built up the family business, or Estate. The children inherit it as the recognised heirs! Without any money exchanged!
They have to build on what they are given, and honour the family name- show themselves able to continue with the same ethics as their parents.
Well goodness! He whose aims are good wins the Goodwill of God: A good man blooms like a leaf!
As a son or daughter of the King you inherit all that! In Jesus Name it all belongs to you. You are in the Family business! You inherit all that Jesus did for you!
“This 1st day of August in the year of our Lord 2009, I proclaim: ‘Jesus is your Beth-el.’ “
Genesis 28: 12, 13. (Moffatt)
Jacob had a dream. There stood a flight of steps rising from earth, till it reached high heaven!
And there were God’s angels ascending it and descending!
And the Eternal stood beside him, saying, “I am the Eternal, the God of your ancestor Abraham and the God of Isaac; to you and to your descendants I give this land where you are lying.”
Wow! Imagine having a dream like that!
God is talking to you and saying promises for your future!
Such great promises that all nations of the world shall seek bliss such as yours and your descendants!
God tells him He is with him!
He will guard him, never leave him, and do what He has promised to do!
Jacob proclaims in v16:
“The Eternal must be here, and I never knew it!”
(He was terrified, and he said, “what an awesome place! This is a very dwelling of God, a very opening into heaven!” So Jacob rose in the morning and, taking the stone he had put under his head, he erected it as a pillar, pouring oil upon it.)
He called the place Beth-el ( God’s dwelling).
When you come to Jesus and give yourself to Him and be Born- Again, you too will say:
“What an Awesome place! This Jesus is a very opening into heaven!
In Him is a very dwelling of God!”
This is the bliss that the world seeks!
The Eternal is here and they never knew it!
2 Corinthians 1:20. (Moffatt)
“The divine ‘yes’ has at last sounded in him, (Jesus) for in him is the ‘yes’ that affirms all the promises of God.”
