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“The LORD sent Nathan unto David”

Nathan was on mission from the LORD. Why did God send Nathan to David? Remember how the LORD sent Nathan to correct David after David had sinned? Did the LORD do such to destroy or to restore David? Restore. For a most significant revelation of the will and character of god, memorize Luke 9:56 and John 3:17.

“And the LORD sent Nathan unto David…” 2 Samuel  12:1

“The Lord sent – When the ordinary means did not awaken David to repentance, God takes an extraordinary course. Thus the merciful God pities and prevents him who had so horribly forsaken God. He said – He prudently ushers in his reproof with a parable, after the manner of the eastern nations, that so he might surprise David, and cause him unawares to give sentence against himself.” John Wesley

“2 Samuel 12:1-14: THOU ART THE MAN
A year followed on his sin, but David gave no sign. He describes his condition during that awful time in Psa. 32:3-4. Conscience scourged him incessantly, but he did not return to God until Nathan had been sent to fetch him. The Good Shepherd went after that which was lost until he found it. “He restoreth my soul!” But soul-agony is not enough, keen though it be; there must be confession.

Nathan’s parable was the mirror in which the true enormity of the king’s sin was held up to his face. He was judged, and he judged himself. By the manifestation of the truth, Nathan commended himself to the king’s conscience, as in the sight of God. And finally came the home-thrust-Thou art the man. The words of confession were immediate and deeply sincere. There was no thought of the human wrongs he had done. All were included in the great sin against God. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned.” And the confession was met, as it always is, by an instant assurance of pardon-“The Lord… hath put away thy sin.” FB Meyer

The enormity of his sin was now made real to David and he cried out to the LORD for mercy, knowing and declaring openly that his sin was first and foremost against God who is holy, and then toward man.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalms 51:4

Read Psalms 32 and 51.

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalms 38:18

Wow! Can we begin to imagine just how great a reward awaits our brother Nathan for being obedient to our LORD, for being instrumental in restoring the very “sweet psalmist of Israel” whom the LORD later called “a man after mine own heart”? (Read 2 Samuel 23:1; Acts 13:22.)

Remember this? – “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

“What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:15

David experienced the devastation of sin. In his season of darkness, of gross sinning, the LORD was gracious (Psalms 86:5, 15). He sent His prophet, His servant Nathan to bring a parable of rebuke to the “sweet psalmist of Israel” … whereby David was forgiven and restored.

Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5

Notice David’s prayer. Can we imagine how much depth of meaning were in his words? David knew on a firsthand basis the restorative blessing involved in being rebuked by the righteous. When he penned the words above, he was sitting pretty with the LORD and was in perfect communion with Him, in contrast to his former state of complete separation from the LORD until Nathan was sent by God to rebuke and bring restoration to David’s life.

When the LORD allows us to be rebuked, corrected, it’s “a kindness … an excellent oil” that wounds us to life. It’s the loving corrective action of our heavenly Father to ensure our place with Him eternally. He sees all, including the future.

With a heart after God, one is abandoning his own life and delights to be corrected by His Master, Savior, and LORD Jesus (Hebrews 12:5-11).

“May we all be as David with a humble heart! To actually want the chastising of the Lord. God does love us enough to rebuke and discipline us. But the question is are we humble enough to receive it? It seems the more crucified you are the quicker you recognize when God is chastising you. God lets me know when I am in sin and I have to repent and confess it and get right with Him. And I am not right inside until I do. God doesn’t let me get away with anything! I am grateful for that.” Karen Cochran

DO NOT GROW WEARY

5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 for whom the Lord loveth he  chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;” Hebrews 12:5-12

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REBUKE A WISE MAN?

Finding favor after rebuking a wise, a teachable man:

“He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” Proverbs 28:23

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REBUKE A SCORNER?

In contrast, reaping shame after rebuking a rebel scorner:

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.” Proverbs 9:7

Unrepentant scorners hate those who dare attempt to correct them in their sin (John 3:19-21). Wise men love those who correct them. It’s a heart posture. The blessings of being a humble teachable, correctable servant of Christ are mountainous. Check this out:

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.” Proverbs 9:8-12

Teachability and pliability are characteristics of those who fear God.

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” Proverbs 1:5

“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth (remains) among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 15:31-33

PRAYER: Holy Father, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus, asking You to forgive all my sins right this moment. Against Thee alone have I sinned and done evil. Please grant my heart to be an heart of flesh. Remove all stony places and cause me to be humble, contrite, and teachable, correctable as was Your beloved David. Let it be said of me by Thee that I am a man after Your heart. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Abiding

WHAT’S On Jesus’ Prayer List? [podcast]


What Did Jesus Pray for His People?

John 17 – knowing Him. Being one with Him and the Father and one another.

Jesus prayed the highest priorities of the Father for His people as is recorded in John 17.

Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer – John 17

“Jesus’ prayer in John 17, often called the “High Priestly Prayer,” is a profound discourse to God before His crucifixion, focusing on His own glorification, the protection and unity of His disciples, and the future unity of all believers, emphasizing eternal life through knowing God and Christ, and asking for believers to be set apart in truth and one, just as He and the Father are one.

Having offered His precious, sinless blood to the Father for the redemption of the fallen race, Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for all of His saints.”

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:24-26

Due to His perfect sacrifice and redemption of fallen mankind, we who are His, are invited to “come boldly…”

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 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. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

As we “come boldly unto the throne of grace” the LORD is going to fill us with His grace and love.

Those most powerfully used by God to help others, are those who are set apart to Him, crying out to the LORD to be filled with His gracious Holy Spirit and to be made more and more one with Him.

Debbie Lord writes:

“GOD is our sustaining force via prayer:

The Holy Spirit praying for us from within,

Jesus, our risen Savior and High Priest praying for us at the right hand of God, Brothers and Sisters in Christ praying for us on this earth, and us praying for believers everywhere,

even those we’ve never met. Ephesians 6:18

Each member of Christ’s body should be assured of the constant prayer of other believers as well as lifting up in prayer other believers themselves.”

Memory Truth:

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

We grow in Christ’s grace to realize that our own misguided, unwarranted, self-righteous attitudes and actions of wrath on sinners, is not of God.

Pray to “grow in grace” (2 Peter 3:18). When we are growing in His grace in that abiding oneness, His ministry of grace will flow through us. It has been wisely stated that “We can never lead someone else to a place we aren’t ourselves walking in.”

“For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…” Hebrews 13:9

WHEN we see something in God’s Word, such as the verse above, let us pray it – pray He will bring it fully into our lives.

WHO has God Used to Truly Minister to Us?

Did God use vessels of self-righteous wrath?

Or, has the LORD used crucified vessels who were full of His love?

Can we not reflect back on how God used others to minister to us? Who did He use? It wasn’t the harsh self-righteous ones He used but rather the vessels of His love – who when they spoke His truth, did it out of His concern and desire for us to truly come to Him… right?

There is so much evil in this fallen world. We are bombarded with words, attitudes, and images daily with the iniquity of fallen mankind. That will not change till Jesus returns. For now, we must abide in Christ, to seek Him to make us one with Him and the Father who are one in agreement, unison, etc. It’s only in being made one with the Father and Jesus that God’s love will fill and flow from us. May God settle us at His feet, truly.

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father in Heaven, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus Christ. Please teach me Your ways and make me, and Your body, one with You. In Jesus’ holy Name, amen.

Pouring prayerfully over the prayer of our LORD Jesus recorded in John 17 would greatly benefit us saints.

John 17: Jesus’ Prayer, the Real “LORD’s Prayer”

The High Priestly Prayer of Our Savior: Beholding the Highest Divine Priorities in the Prayer of Jesus

“1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 

2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 

5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 

6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 

7  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 

8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 

9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 

11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 

12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 

14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 

19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 

23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 

26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” 

The Gospel key to walking in God’s love is the cross. The Bible teaches us that “God is love” and it’s only the crucified vessel that will be full of God’s love and used effectively by the LORD.

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18

All ungodly fear is cast out when we are full of the love of God. Being full of the love of God requires that we seek His face and become one with him (John 17). Fear is ejected when God’s love permeates our hearts via fellowship with Him (1 John 4:16-18).

Ministry from Heaven can only come out of a crucified vessel.

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Love is at the top of the divine list of priorities and can only come out of the oneness our Father desires us to have with Him (1 Corinthians 13). Are we asking Him to be made one with Him? (See John 17.)

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

Sister Debbie Lord offers us the opportunity to pray this Scriptural prayer: “Lord, I pray for your saints world over, that You would draw us closer and closer (increasingly) to Yourself as time grows short. Please help us give up and let go so that You can live in us fully and minister to us, in us and THROUGH us. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

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Abiding

5 Loaves, 2 Fishes, and 12 Baskets Left Over [podcast]


“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Galatians 2:9-10

It’s amazing how much God does with so little from us right and how He multiplies it! Remember this? How our unchanging LORD, when He’d multiplied and fed the multitudes with 5 loaves and 2 fishes? Then after He miraculously turned the 5 loaves and 2 fishes into enough food to feed 5,000, there were 12 loaves left over??? See Mark 6:37-44.

So that tells us, that reveals that as we give of ourselves – our energies and substance – that God is going to multiply it, in this life and more notably, in glory!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Alleluia! All glory to our God who made heaven and earth! Praying everyday for the ministry and His fruitfulness to come forth. And will pray for these new believers who the Lord rescued out of the gates of hell. Praise His holy name!” Karen Cochran

Did Jesus come as a celebrity or servant? Read Philippians 2 each morning this week.

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Matthew 5:42

“Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.” Luke 6:30

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11  If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12  If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:12


FEEDING THE POOR IN SPIRIT AND STOMACH: Because you care, you prayed, you gave….. Cenovio, a homeless man, was treated to the hearing of our LORD’s bless-ed Gospel message, a delicious hot meal, hot coffee, fresh water, and a JESUS tract. It was a super blessed time with this man. Thank God and you!

Would you like to pause and pray for Cenovio? | Mission Mexico


Of Jesus feeding the multitudes, one source notes:

Jesus fed a large crowd on at least two occasions, most notably feeding 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish, and later feeding 4,000 men plus women and children with seven loaves and a few fish. The miracles occurred when Jesus had compassion on the hungry crowds who had been following him, and the food multiplied supernaturally, leaving 12 baskets of leftovers in the first instance and seven in the second.”  


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Abiding

10 Truths to Behold in Isaiah 41:10 [podcast]


“Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not
cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen
thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:9-10

There are 10 truths to behold in Isaiah 41:10:

• “Thou art my servant”
• “I have chosen thee”
• “and not cast thee away”
• “Fear thou not”
• “I am with thee”
• “be not dismayed”
• “for I am thy God”
• “I will strengthen thee”
• “I will help thee”
• “I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”

The soul that prospers is that one who clings to, trusts in and
relies upon Christ alone, day by day, walking ever nearer to
the soon coming Savior. He is with us and promises to “never
leave thee, nor forsake thee”—that is, for those who abide
with Christ (Hebrews 13:5).

1 Peter 1

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Prayer: Dear LORD, thank You for helping me today, and
continuing the good work of salvation You began in me the
moment You saved me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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