MORNING MEDITATION

[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 18)

The Crown: "Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:15-16)

In ancient times, names revealed the character of a person, and it was the custom of the Jews to build monuments and give them a name to commemorate a significant event in their life. Abraham named the place where God had provided a substitute for his son, Isaac, The LORD Will Provide (Genesis 22:14); and Gideon built an altar where the angel of the Lord had consumed his offering and spared his life, and named it The LORD is Peace (Judges 6:24). After a long intense battle against the Amalekites, in which Aaron and Hur had to help hold up his hands so that Israel could win the victory, Moses built an altar to the Lord and named it The LORD is my Banner, as a memorial to the One who had come to their defense.

Banners were carried at the front of an army or set on a high place to rally the troops in preparation for battle, and then used to lead them to action. Moses held his rod high in his hands to encourage the soldiers on the battlefield. As long as his hands were raised they were victorious, but as soon as his arms wearied and he began to lower them, the battle made a turn for the worse. Moses lifted his hands up in prayer to the throne of God acknowledging that God alone would be their source of power and protection in the battle. "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15b). God called Moses to be an intercessor for His chosen nation, and when His servant grew tired in the battle, He sent some reinforcements to support him. "When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset" (Exodus 17:12). There is no greater battle than the spiritual battles we face each day, and we cannot expect to achieve victory if we attempt to face them in our own strength. When we pray we draw the necessary strength and power we need from God to help us face the spiritual enemies who war against God's plans for our lives, and when the body of Christ rally's under the banner of of God, we find that there is even greater strength in numbers. Prayer is one of the most intense spiritual exercises in the Christian life; it requires daily discipline to build a successful life of unceasing prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). When we step out on the battlefield of life each day without first seeking God in prayer, we leave God out of His work in our lives and make ourselves vulnerable to the vicious attacks of the enemy, whose only intent is to rob, kill and destroy (John 10:10a); when we pray however we hold in our hands the power to bring heaven to earth. Let us praise God today for the victory we have been given living under the banner of Jesus Christ, and for the power He has given His army of praying saints to conquer the enemy and advance His kingdom on the earth. "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47).

"He has taken me to the banquet hall,
and His banner over me is love."
(Song of Songs 2:4)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 19)

The Crown: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

The Bible is filled with many names and titles for God. Some have calculated that there over a thousand names and descriptions in the Word of God which express the wonderful attributes and character of God. With each step of our journey we are discovering a God who is beyond our imagination, but who is instilling in us a deeper worship for who He is as we get to know Him more personally. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).

Of all the many names there are in the Bible for Jesus, the most important is Savior. The one who created the world, is the only one who can save it. When sin and death came in to destroy His creation and rob His creatures of the life He had given Him, God came down as Savior to rescue us. His name means deliverer. He came from the Father as a gift of love for the salvation of the world. "I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from Me there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:11). Jesus our Savior expressed His love for the Father and His love for mankind when in His loving obedience, He gave His life for us on the cross. Therefore, there is no more wonderful gift in all the world, and no one or no thing that is worthy of our love and devotion than the one who came into the world to save us from it and unite us to God for all eternity. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). This is the name by which we came to our First Love, may we return to Him with all our hearts today and worship and adore Him for all the wonderful ways He continues to draw us into a deeper understanding of who He is. Let us express our gratitude for His redeeming love, by making the most of every moment He has given us and using that time to grow to know Him and to fall more deeply in love with Him, and then share His love with world that He came and gave His life to save. "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!" (Psalm 18:46).

"The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"
(Psalm 27:1)

[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 20)

The Crown: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

Our Creator has provided mankind with everything needed to live in this temporal world. He has placed Himself in charge of our eternal happiness. When He laid the foundations of the earth, He did not overlook even the minutest detail of His glorious plan as He thoughtfully put every mountain, river, and star in its proper place to provide for us a wonderful home in which to live. He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider - the "God who sees beforehand and is able to provide for all our needs." He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 21:6) - He sees the end and the beginning in one view; therefore He is able to make provision for all our needs, before we even know we have a need, and He does so with perfect wisdom. Because He sees the end from the beginning - the past, the present, the future, and all that is in between - He is able to anticipate exactly what we need, and He has the power to provide it. What a wonderful provider our God is! "...your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matthew 6:8b).

When the first man and woman despised God's great provision and disobeyed God's command, upsetting the order of the beautiful world He had provided for them, God was not at all taken by surprise. The plan He designed from the beginning is perfect and complete, and from the moment He said, "let their be light" His redemptive plan was already beginning to unfold. "There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world" (John 1:6-9). The light of creation was always meant to be a lesser light, for the light of redemption would be the true light that brings the light and life that God had always intended for man - for from the beginning the home God always had in mind for His people, was to be at home in perfect peace and rest with Him. "I did not see a temple in the city, because the LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp" (Revelation 21:22-23). May the eyes of our understanding be enlightened to the wonderful plans of God and the sacred trust we have been given to steward His wonderful light (not only the light from the day, but more importantly the light of God that has been placed within). May we use the time we have left to be witnesses of our Redeemer's light and love to a world that is growing darker and more wicked with each passing day. May our lives reflect the beauty of His holiness, and our mouths be filled with constant praise for His peace, protection, presence, and provision in our lives. "He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever - holy and awesome is His name" (Psalm 111:9).

"God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."
(Genesis 22:8)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 21)

The Crown: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3)

It seems the whole world is in upheaval and in utter chaos, and its' people are filled with more and more hatred and violence. All over the world, people are suffering and dying from poverty, war, famine and natural disasters. With all that is going on in the world today it is easy to lose hope and become fearful. The more we dwell on the condition of the world and forget the faithfulness of God, the easier it is to fall into despair. We, as His children, must not forget that, while the whole world may appear to be crumbling all around us, our God is still seated on the throne, and the world He created is firmly established."When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm" (Psalm 75:3).

The pages of the Bible are filled with exhortations from God to His people reminding them that He is with them and to "fear not." "Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you" (Isaiah 35:4). God has promised that He will not leave or forsake us. He is a God who saves, delivers, shelters and protects. Throughout the Scriptures, He is described as a refuge, shield, fortress, strong tower, and dwelling place for His people. God has promised to watch over and protect His people. He wants His children to look to Him as their first-line of defense. "But You are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head" (Psalm 3:3). Our troubles and tribulations should drive us to God, not drive us from Him. He is our shelter from the storms of this life. While we are in this world, we have many spiritual enemies within and public enemies without, but God is our stronghold and our sure defense. "You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance" (Psalm 32:7). The One who saved our souls is more than able to save and protect our lives! Let us offer up a prayer of adoration and praise to our faithful, loving God who has promised to watch over us and keep us safe.


"Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."
(Psalm 46:10-11)

[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 22)

The Crown: "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this He meant the Spirit whom whose who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." (John 7:37-39).

On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, as the priests performed the traditional water ceremony, which included marching around the altar seven times and pouring out the water that they had drawn from the pool of Siloam, Jesus made the great announcement that He was the fountain of living water where men would find eternal satisfaction. No longer would men have to labor to collect their water in pitchers to perform their endless religious rituals, instead Jesus invited them to find rest and refreshment in Him, and allow Him to make them a channel through which living water would freely and abundantly flow. "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3)

On the day of Pentecost the promised Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and took possession of them as God's holy temple (Acts 2:1-2). From their lips began to flow the life-giving water which alone could quench the spiritual thirst of the parched and weary people all around them. Immediately, those who heard experienced the benefits of the refreshing drink that was being offered, as one's who were once dying of thirst and close to death. "They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:8-9). Jesus had offered this gracious drink to the Samaritan woman at the well, promising her an internal, ever-flowing supply of water that would quench her thirst eternally (John 4:10-14). To a people who depended on water as their source of life and spent their days continually at the well drawing fresh supplies, His offer was extraordinary. The human body can hardly go beyond three days without water before it will lose strength and eventually die. Water rejuvenates life and causes it to grow. What water is to man physically, the Holy Spirit is to him spiritually. Spiritual water is necessary for spiritual life. As water turns dry, cracked ground into soft soil, so the Holy Spirit turns the dry soul into a fertile field for God to use. Nothing the world has to offer can quench the spiritual thirst of man - only the presence of Jesus Christ in the heart of man can revitalize His life. To those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is given to take full possession of our being and bring into our hearts the joy of the abiding presence of Jesus Christ, so we can live a life of continuous, unbroken communion with God as His Spirit gives us the power for a holy life and through us flows His life-giving power into the lives of others. Let us praise the wondrous works of God who has given His people the fullness of the Holy Spirit for our daily refreshment and supply so we can live a life of obedience, joy and sacrifice, and have power to conquer the flesh and the world and bring forth much fruit to the glory of our heavenly Father. "Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 14b).


"He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give
drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
He who overcomes will inherit all this,
and I will be his God and he will be My son."
(Revelation 21:6-7)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 23)

The Crown: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

God provided heavenly manna for His people during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. They were entirely dependent upon the Lord, and He faithfully took care of their every need. "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3). It was later expected that when the Messiah would come He would renew this miraculous feeding of heavenly manna. When Jesus declared that He is the bread "who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33), the people were only interested in having their physical needs met, not the spiritual needs that Jesus spoke of. The people had just experienced the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and they wanted more of what Jesus had to offer, but they didn't want Him. They were only interested in the provision, and not the Provider. "I tell you the truth you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous sings but because you at the loaves and had your fill" (v. 26).

We eat because we are alive; we need food in order to sustain and nourish our lives. We eat to live, but we are not to live to eat. The manna that God provided for His people in the wilderness sustained their daily life, but it could not provide everlasting life which Jesus came down from heaven to provide. "But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which man may eat and not die" (v. 50). Just as physical life needs physical food to survive, so must the spiritual life be fed with spiritual food. The soul cannot eat what the body eats, but it still must be fed. Jesus came to provide the awakened soul with spiritual meat. "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink" (vv.53-55). It is vital for those who have true spiritual life to feed upon Christ. He has given us this day to feed upon His daily bread. Let us come to His banqueting table and eat the gospel feast that He has prepared for us today, and nourish the spiritual life that He has deposited within us with the only food that matters - the Word of God and prayer. Let us praise our heavenly Father for the manna He has sent us to fill and nourish our souls, and thank Him for the privilege of knowing the daily sweetness of feeding on Christ. There is nothing else that can satisfy our souls! "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 24-25).

"For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son
and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will
raise him up at the last day."
(John 6:40)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 24)

The Crown: "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." (Hebrews 1:3)

Before Jesus came into the world, the earth seemed to be cloaked in silence and the people were desperate for a fresh word from God. When God broke through the hush that enveloped the world, He spoke the most beautiful, eloquent word ever spoken, and all the earth was awakened to the sound of His voice. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, provided in Himself the greatest chapter of history when He stepped out of heaven and stepped into our lives. He came to communicate the love of the heavenly Father, not in words written on tablets of stone this time, but as the word wrapped in human flesh so He could write His word upon our hearts. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

God wanted to make sure man understood who He is, and so, in His most important revelation to the world, He sent the only One who could communicate clearly the truth about Himself - His Son, Jesus Christ. He is "the most excellent messenger that was ever sent into the world!" "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touche - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. the life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us" (1 John 1:1-2). The Son provides for us a clear portrait of the Father - all His power, goodness and wisdom is revealed in Jesus Christ. The Word, Who accomplished the work of creation, had come also to fulfill the work of redemption, and now having created and redeemed His work, He continues to uphold all things by His powerful Word. "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17). Let us praise our Father in heaven for the extraordinary way He has chosen to communicate Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the way He continues to communicate Himself to all who have received Him, through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Let us praise God for the assurance and confidence we have in Him, for the one who wrote the first words of creation has already written the final chapter and will be faithful to bring us all to that glorious and grand conclusion. Let us rejoice in what will be the greatest happily ever after there ever was written! Until then let us be faithful to daily feed upon and proclaim the Word that He has graciously given to us.

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth:
it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
(Isaiah 55:10-11)

[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 25)

The Crown: "Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:16-20)

A rock is a symbol of permanence and protection. That Jesus is called the Rock speaks to His enduring faithfulness and security. He cannot be moved, and all who believe in Him have nothing to fear when everything else seems to be out of control. "When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm" (Psalm 75:3). Jesus is the spiritual foundation on whom believers build their lives. The One who upholds the earth by the power of His Word can be trusted to give us stability and keep us steady in the storms of life; we only need to rest in Him. He wants His children to be utterly dependent upon Him, and build our lives upon His trustworthy and powerful Word. "Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn" (Isaiah 51:1)

Jesus Christ is both "the founder and the foundation" on which the church is built. Peter's right confession of who Jesus is became the great truth upon which the church was built: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This rock solid foundation is the firmest of foundations; and it is also everlasting (1 Corinthians 3:11). Every other counterfeit support that we may look to is nothing but sinking sand. It is only when we build our lives on the Word of God and keep our eyes firmly fixed upon our Lord that we will stand firm and not be shaken. When times of trial and testing come, and they surely will, the ground which we have built our lives upon will be shown for what it is. "...his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work" (v. 13). Let us praise the Lord this morning for being the firm foundation upon which He has built His church. Praise Him that He has promised to preserve and protect His church and secure its presence on this earth no matter what forces rage against it to seek its ruin. "...the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Let us also remember the great responsibility He gave to His church when He handed her the keys which lock and unlock the doors of heaven to bring its blessings of peace and pardon to the earth; therefore, may we remain in unceasing prayer for His kingdom to come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line" (Isaiah 28:16, 17a).

"For no one can lay any foundation other than
the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
(1 Corinthians 3:11)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 26)

The Crown: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)

Of all the countless names of God which express His great love, the name Shepherd encompasses the constant care and protection He provides for His people. A shepherd is one who leads and protects his flock of sheep, and provides for all their needs. A true shepherd willingly gives up the comforts of home to live in the fields with his sheep. He gives up his sleep to search for any lambs that wander from the fold and get lost. He sets aside concern for his own safety to protect his sheep from predators who seek to destroy them. He lays down his life for the sheep because he will give everything to save them. He is always with his sheep caring, comforting, protecting, guiding, feeding, and rescuing them. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

In ancient times, kings were called shepherds. Israel's leaders were also referred to as shepherds of the people, but Jesus often rebuked them for failing to care for the flock. The twenty-third Psalm provides a description of what it means to be a good ruler, and it is also a perfect portrait of our great Shepherd. He leads us by walking in front of us, He does not drive us, but leads by example. "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them; and they follow Me" (John 10:27). He leads us to green pastures and beside still waters. Sheep won't lie down until they know they are totally secure. He wants us to know that we are secure in Him and that He will abundantly care and refresh us and restore our soul. He does all of this for His name's sake. "I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me" (v. 14). He guides and protects us through all the dark and difficult valleys of life; He has conquered death's power, so we have nothing to fear (1 Corinthians 15:54b-57). He is right there beside us promising to never leave us and lavishing His love upon us as He spreads a rich banqueting table before us to feast upon. Even when our enemies surround us we are able to sit down in perfect peace and rest and feed on Him, so we can have a fresh anointing of His power for our day to day duties. We lack nothing as our good Shepherd is more than willing and infinitely able to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19). In Him we have all that we need for this life and the life to come. Our cup overflows with His abundant mercy and abounding love. Let us offer up a song of praise for the strong and tender way He cares for us. "He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11). Let us praise Him for opening the door for us to enter in and be saved; we are now eternally safe in Him. "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep...I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:7b, 9a, 10b).


"My sheep listen to My voice;
I know them, and they follow Me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one can snatch them out of My hand."
(John 10:27-28)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 27)

The Crown: "For your Maker is your husband - the LORD Almighty is His name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth." (Isaiah 54:5)

One of the great promises and encouragements of the Bible is Jesus' departing words to His disciples, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b). Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us, and He left with the promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5b). He is a faithful God who will never abandon His people. In His passionate love and zeal for His people God is revealed as "husband" in the Scriptures. He presents Himself as the perfect husband, one who is loving, a faithful provider and protector, who pursues his wife with a jealous love. "I have loved you with and everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

Israel was married to Jehovah-God at Mount Sinai. "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession" (Deuteronomy 7:6). God bound Himself to His people in a covenant relationship that would last throughout the history of the world. In linking Himself to His people in the bonds of holy marriage God demonstrated the sacredness and intent of the marriage bond. "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:6b). The history of Israel reveals a people who, like an unfaithful spouse, kept straying from God and prostituting themselves with the world; while He, like a faithful husband, keeps pursuing her and forgiving her. calling her back to Himself. God's love is "as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave" (Song of Songs 8:6b); He loves with an unfailing love - He will never let His people go. Let us praise God today, as our faithful Husband. Even thought we may have been wounded and disappointed in past relationships, He will never abandon or disappoint us, and His love for us does not depend on our faithfulness to Him. Let us praise Him that nothing can separate us from His love. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from teh love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

"No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah;
for the LORD will take delight in you,
and your land will be married."
(Isaiah 62:4)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 28

The Crown: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the bedrock doctrine of the Christian faith. "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith...And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17). In the story of Lazarus (John 11), Jesus makes His bold declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life" (v. 25a), and then proceeds to prove that He possesses the power over life and death by raising a man who had been dead in the grave for four days. Jesus had a way with words and always backed them up with His actions (John 6; 9). Up to this point the people believed Jesus had power to heal, but their faith fell short at the door of death, because that was the world they lived in. They lived in a world of sorrow, suffering, sickness, and grief, and Jesus wept with them, because He was "a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering" (Isaiah 53:3a). Jesus stood at the door of death, knowing that He Himself had an appointment to keep with that foe in just a little over a week, but today He would give them a preview of a promise He had made: "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned" (John 5:28-29).

In this wonderful illustration of God's life-giving power we see the glory of God put on display. "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). Jesus had declared that this sickness would not end in death, but that it would be used for the glory of God (v. 4). He did what He did for the glory of the Father alone. "I am no seeking glory for Myself; but there is one who seeks it" (John 8:50a). God wants us to see His power and glory on display in our lives, but to do that we need to turn our eyes from our circumstances and fix them on Christ, who alone has the power to raise the dead to life (Hebrews 12:2-3). Today let us praise God for His divine timing which reveals to us the glory of God when all hope seemed lost, and thank Him for His glory He reveals to us in the normal everyday circumstances of our lives.

"And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also
give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit,
who lives in you."
(Romans 8:11)

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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 29)

The Thorn: "They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off the path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: "Because you have rejected this message, and relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant." (Isaiah 30:10-13)

God sent His prophets to Israel time and time again to warn them of the impending danger and destruction that was coming upon them as a result of their sin and rebellion towards holy God, but they refused to listen and reform their ways. They did not want to be shown their faults and their sin. They couldn't endure being confronted with the holiness of God. They had contempt for the word of God that was being delivered to them, and they rebelled against divine authority. As a result, they endured God's wrath and suffered unnecessary punishment, when they could have easily been saved from all their calamity by repenting of their evil ways and returning to God. "This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it" (Isaiah 30:15).

God is absolute holy perfection - He is perfectly holy and cannot change for the better - He is immutable. While He does not change, He has given man the blessed ability to change and experience a higher level of life through His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). Through His death, Jesus Christ rewrote the law of death, that was hanging over mankind, into a covenant of life. Jesus was not sent into the world to deliver men from their political troubles, but rather to address their greater spiritual needs by rescuing mankind out of captivity and bondage of sin. God has provided us the remedy for all our troubles, by calling us to returning to Him with all our hearts; sadly, like Israel, our wicked and wayward hearts are bent on seeking foreign aid which will never bring us the relief they truly need. Truly we need the power of God to bend our will to His. God waits patiently for His people to return to Him, so He can meet our needs with His mercy and grace. The first step toward revival is simply elevating our concept of the holiness of God in the church. When men begin to see their sinfulness in light of the awful holiness of God they will begin to cry out in repentance and seek God's forgiveness, and then we can experience the presence and power of God in our lives and in His church once again. The presence and growth of the church in the land is a blessing to all mankind and proof of God's divine power and promise for His gospel to spread throughout the world. "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:12-14). Let us repent of our lack of reverence and awe of the holiness of God and our tolerance for any sin in our lives which distorts His perfect image in our lives. Let us thank the Lord today that He has opened our eyes and our hearts to greater understanding of His holiness, and for giving us the power through His indwelling Holy Spirit to live a life of holiness, so we can honor and glorify Him with our lives. "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16).

"I will make known My holy name among My people Israel.
I will no longer let My holy name be profaned,
and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel.
It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD.
This is the day I have spoken of."
(Ezekiel 39:7-8)
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[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 30)

The Crown: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)

Israel was chosen by God out of all the other nations of the world to be His special people, His chosen possession; but rather than live in peace and enjoy this favored and blessed relationship, they lived in a continuous cycle of rebellion, repentance, and restoration. In the time of the Judges God provided Israel with various deliverers to restore them back to a right relationship with Himself time and time again. They were in the middle of another cycle of apostasy and oppression when God raised up His servant Gideon to be His chosen deliverer for the nation. For seven years the people had been hiding out in caves because the oppression of the Midianites was so great. It was then that they finally cried out to God for help. "Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help" (Judges 6:6).

Israel had no peace because they were in rebellion against God and He was no longer with them. The presence of God is peace. The absence of peace means the absence of God. When God visited Gideon and called him out of the winepress from threshing wheat to become His "mighty warrior," Gideon was fearful whether Jehovah was there out of wrath or to extend His mercy. When his "peace-offering" was received by fire, Gideon realized the Lord had come in peace and would now deliver His rebellious people once again. "So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace" (v. 24a). Having a relationship with holy God does not guarantee peace. Our peace with God is determined by our being in a "right" relationship with Him. God has provided peace with Himself through the death of His own Son, and He invites us to receive His peace through His atoning work on the cross. Jesus is our peace offering with God; an acceptable sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Let us praise the Lord our Peace today for the perfect peace He has given us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Source of all peace and in Him alone do we find safety, wholeness, completeness, and harmony with God. Praise Him this morning that we can live without fear of God's wrath, but have our minds filled with His perfect peace. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace
at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."
(2 Thessalonians 3:16)

[Godbetheglory]

CROWNED 40 Days (Day 31)

The Crown: "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46)

God has given the sun to be the physical light by which we see in this natural world, and He has given His Son to be the spiritual light by which we see the spiritual world. Just as light is necessary for physical life and growth: it helps us to see things as we move and travel about, and it provides warmth and comfort and protection in the dark; so also, Jesus Christ provides the light for spiritually blinded people to receive the spiritual life necessary to help them walk safely through this life into their heavenly home. The One who created light is the Source of all light, both physical and spiritual; and He is also the Source of all life - physical, spiritual and eternal. Jesus is the greater light that has come into the world - the true light that gives light to every man. "For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light to shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus is the true light that has come into the world (John 1:9). "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). He is the Source of all spiritual light and truth; and He alone provides the spiritual light necessary for the spiritually blind to see the plan of salvation. Jesus shines His light into the dark recesses of sinful man's heart and illuminates the spiritual path for him to find his way into the presence of God and find peace with Him. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12b). We are the candle and Christ is the flame - the light of the gospel sets the spirit of man on fire, so that the once blinded soul will never have to sit in darkness again. Christ has set our hearts aflame with the gospel, so that we will eternally burn for Him. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8-10). Let us praise God today for opening our blinded eyes with the light of His salvation, which has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into His wonderful kingdom of light, where we can enjoy the warmth and comfort of His presence, and experience His goodness and peace. Let us bask in the light of His glorious presence today. All glory to God, "For You have delivered me from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life" (Psalm 56:13).

"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light."
(Psalm 18:28)

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[Portcullis]

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."