In Exodus, the nineteenth chapter, the people of Israel were to see their God at mount Sinai. The awesome might and presence of God was heralded by thunder and lightning, thick clouds and a loud trumpet (V16). The Lord descended in fire and smoke, causing the mountain to quake (V18) and God spoke (V19). In all of this, one thing struck me in verse 23; the people were separated from God, only Moses came into Gods presence as their mediator.

This gulf between God and man was only broken by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Heb 10:19-20). As he died the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt 27:51), by Gods hand, signifying that we were no longer separated from his presence. As Christians, in our new relationship with Jesus Christ, we now have direct access to God, to his throne room and his very presence (Heb 4:16). We can come boldly into the throne room of grace.

Christ dwells in us as the Father dwells in Christ (John 17:23). We are Children of God the Father (1John 3:2); we can ask the Father anything in Jesus name as long as it is according to his will (1John 5:14-15). This is the kind of intimate relationship that we have with the God of Mount Sinai. Think about that!

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

Have you ever stopped to consider what words come out of your mouth on a daily basis? In Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) it says, "death and life are in the power of the tongue". That verse also implies that we will eat the fruit of our words, good or bad. What we say is really what we believe in our hearts (Matt 12:34). This is well illustrated by the confession we made when we were born again (Rom 10:9-10). We confessed belief in Christ with our words and asked him to be Lord of our life. This was only of value if it reflected the faith of our heart.

Jesus said that if we believed we could speak to the issues and challenges in our life (mountains) and they would move (Matt 17:20). If we believe we will receive what we ask for, it will be ours (Mark 11:24). Job said the things he feared had come upon him (Job 3:25). If we speak and confess evil we will reap a harvest of evil. Ask God to put a guard over your mouth (Psalm 141:3) so that only God's word is your confession over your life and that of others - and see the results.

As we speak God's word it builds our faith to receive the promises from His word (Rom 10:17). That's what I want, how about you?

                  Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

The church is the body of Christ with Jesus as its head (Eph 1:22-23). The Holy Spirit baptized each one of us into the body of Christ or church (1 Cor 12:13). The church (Greek ecclesia) refers to the Christian church universal and the local church. As it is the Holy Spirit that places us into the church we should very prayerfully seek his guidance as to our local church home. We don't make such a decision based on convenience or feelings but purely on God's guidance.

In the book of Acts the normal church is described; a church focused on the apostles' teaching (for us the Bible), prayer, fellowship, care and unity (Acts 2:42-47). In such a church the power of the Holy Spirit was manifest in signs, wonders and miracles and thousands of people were discipled into the church (Acts 5:14-16).

Paul exhorted us to be in church (Heb 10:25). The Bible tells us we are all needed for the local church to function effectively (1 Cor 12:12-19); this includes you. We all need the church so we can be equipped for ministry and mature as Christians (Eph 4:11-13).

Take Your Place, you are Needed.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

We are commanded to praise God (Ps 150). We praise him for what he does for us but more especially, for who he is: God above all gods, King of kings and Lord of Lords, mighty God and creator. His love never fails and his mercy endures forever

If you look at the Hebrew words used to describe praising God, we are told to praise him with our voices (Ps 149), loudly, with passion and even wildly (Ps 109:30; Ps 150; Ezra 3:11). In Psalm 150 we read that: "everything that hath breath", should praise the Lord (Ps 150:6). We should praise God using all kinds of musical instruments and also with the dance (Ps 149; KJV). God says he takes pleasure in his people of praise (Ps 149).

Our praise should perhaps take a cue from God's expression of joy over us as given in Zephaniah. 3:17. Here, the meaning of the Hebrew words for joy, rejoice and singing encompass rejoicing over us with gladness, love, loud sounds and singing; dancing and spinning for joy with an indescribable intensity.

Praise comes from the heart (John 4:23). We should praise God at all times and in all circumstances (Ps 34:1). There is power in praise, because God is enthroned in the praises of his people (Ps 22:3). To be enthroned means that God comes and settles down in our presence. Praise ushers us into God’s presence (Ps 100:4). In his presence there is power to break every bondage that holds us, power to lift us up and open doors to set us free.

If you are down today, then praise God and he will lift you up.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

We serve an excellent God (Ps 8:1; Isa 12:5). God does all things in excellence. Just think of the splendor, detail and perfection of his creation that he prepared for us to enjoy (Gen 1:1-31). No detail was missed in his design for the tabernacle in which he dwelt with his people (Ex 26:1-37). As we read Leviticus we can see the excellence that God expected of his people in their festivals and sacrifices, their obedience; no animal with a blemish could be sacrificed before him (Lev 1:3).

How do we respond to a God of such excellence and love? We can only humble ourselves before him and give him our best; serve him in excellence and awesome fear and respect.

How can this be expressed in a practical way? We need to put him first in our lives and our time, not giving him our spare time at the end of the day. Serve him with excellence, whenever, wherever and however he prompts us. Our God is a jealous God and will not share us with others or other priorities (Ex 34:14).

Let his will be done in our lives as it is done in heaven (Matt 6:10) and remember, the most excellent way is love (1Cor 12:31-13:1); love for God and love for each other. God wants to show his “fullness” to the world through us; he wants to work, “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think”, in us (Eph 3:19-20; KJV); how can we; therefore, not love him and serve him with all we are?

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.