Another Gentile King Favors God and His People

8 “I hereby give official orders on how you are to help the leaders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that Temple of God: 1. All construction costs are to be paid to these men from the royal bank out of the taxes coming in from the land beyond the Euphrates. And pay them on time, without delays.
9 2. Whatever is required for their worship – young bulls, rams, and lambs for Whole-Burnt-Offerings to the God-of-Heaven; and whatever wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil the priests of Jerusalem request – is to be given to them daily without delay
10 so that they may make sacrifices to the God-of-Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 I’ve issued an official decree that anyone who violates this order is to be impaled on a timber torn out of his own house, and the house itself made a manure pit.
12 And may the God who put his Name on that place wipe out any king or people who dares to defy this decree and destroy The Temple of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued an official decree. Carry it out precisely and promptly.”

Ezra 6:8-12 (The Message)

I must “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”

Psalm 122:6 KJV

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psalm 122:6 KJV

God Said It. That Settles It.

1″In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia – this fulfilled the Message of God preached by Jeremiah – God prodded Cyrus king of Persia to make an official announcement throughout his kingdom. He wrote it out as follows:
2 From Cyrus king of Persia, a Proclamation: God, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has also assigned me to build him a Temple of worship in Jerusalem, Judah.
3 Who among you belongs to his people? God be with you! Go to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build The Temple of God, the God of Israel, Jerusalem’s God.
4 Those who stay behind, wherever they happen to live, will support them with silver, gold, tools, and pack animals, along with Freewill-Offerings for The Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

    Ezra 1:1-4 (The Message)

Believe, pray, and act on God’s promises of blessings or judgement. They will be fulfilled as He says.

God’s Wisdom Is Worth Everything You Have

5 “Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
6 Never walk away from Wisdom – she guards your life; love her – she keeps her eye on you.
7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
8 Throw your arms around her – believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go – she’ll make your life glorious.
9 She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”

    Proverbs 4:5-9 (The Message)

If I have God’s Wisdom and obey Him, nothing in His will is impossible. Trust Him and pray for His Wisdom.

God’s Word Is Beyond Value

7 “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.
8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.
9 God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
11 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.”

Psalms 19:7-11

    (The Message)

Treasure, pray, love, obey, and share God’s Word at all times with all who will listen.

Heathen King Blesses Jehovah!

34 “At the end of the seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven. I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever. “His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, his kingdom never declines and falls.
35 Life on this earth doesn’t add up to much, but God’s heavenly army keeps everything going. No one can interrupt his work, no one can call his rule into question.
36 “At the same time that I was given back my mind, I was also given back my majesty and splendor, making my kingdom shine. All the leaders and important people came looking for me. I was reestablished as king in my kingdom and became greater than ever.
37 And that’s why I’m singing – I, Nebuchadnezzar – singing and praising the King of Heaven: “Everything he does is right, and he does it the right way. He knows how to turn a proud person into a humble man or woman.”

Daniel 4:34-37 (The Message)
Bible Study Tools Bible Version MSG Daniel 4:34-37

Was the miracle of four beings seen in the fire in chapter 3 greater than the change of heart for Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4?

I must expect a miracle when God intervenes. This is another proof of Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1 NAS)

Choose Ye This Day

“16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”

Bible Study Tools Bible Versions NIV Psalm 10:16-18
Psalm 10:16-18 (New International Version)View In My Bible

I must always choose one of these statements: “God is now here”; or “God is nowhere.”
That will determine whether I trust God or not in any situation.
I choose “God is now here.”

If ….then….

I have been reading a book, Miraculous Movements, by Jerry Trousdale, about God’s work among Muslims in very high percentage Muslim areas.

He said they teach the participants to ask themselves a question during the Discovery Bible Studies which they use in discipleship, “If this is truly from God, then what must change in my life?” Therefore, for this month of September, 2013, I do not plan to comment on Scripture as I post it on
Facebook, apart from posting that question along with the Scripture. This month, I hope to regularly share the impact of the posted Scriptures in my life through my blog, Passage to Higher Ground. I want the reader to let God impact them with the Scripture before they read of God’s impact on me through the Scripture.
Today’s selections are Psalm 1:1-4; Proverbs 1:1-6, and Joel 2:28-34:

Bible Study Tools Bible Versions NAS Psalm 1:1-4
Psalm 1:1-4 (New American Standard)View In My Bible

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.
“1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers !
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither ; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.”

Wow, what awesome blessings God bestows on those who follow Him, delight in His law, and meditate on his law and grace day and night! I have noticed these blessings when I think about God’s Word through the day and obey Him. I must continually do so.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

Bible Study Tools Bible Versions MSG Joel 2:28
(The Message)View In My Bible

“28 “And that’s just the beginning: After that – “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters. Your old men will dream, your young men will see visions.”

I must continually trust the Holy Spirit to fill, control, and empower my life if I want to see God’s perfect will accomplished through me.