God’s appointed times – the feast of Trumpets

 An Emoji Devotional for Thu,15 Sept. 2022

Topic: God’s appointed times – the feast of Trumpets

By Pastor Hans Ulrich Wenger

Highlights: 
Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51 – 52)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1. Thessalonians 4 :16 – 18)

In Leviticus 23 God gives Moses his appointed festivals he wants him to proclaim to the people as his holy convocations. In the Christian Community I grew up, I got familiar with the spring festivals but I never heard anything about the fall festivals until I studied theology. Certainly the feast of Passover, the feast of Unleavened bread, the feast of the First Fruits and the feast of Weeks (Pentecost), which have all been fulfilled through the coming of Christ Jesus as Messiah into our world, are central for our salvation and deserve to be observed with joy and thankfulness.

With the pouring out of the Holy Spirit over the Disciples of Christ, however, the countdown for the next appointed feast began. Jesus promised to come back and to suddenly and unexpectedly snap his Disciples away from the earth to reunite with them in the heavenly realm. The sounding of the trumpets was for the Israelites always either a call for decampment or a call for gathering together. 

God orders Moses in Numeri 10 to manufacture two silver trumpets. He gives him advice, how the trumpets should be blown for gathering the leaders and the whole community, as well as for the call to break-up.

The feast of Trumpets marked in Israel the beginning of an agricultural and civil New Year and therefore remains for outsiders often hidden behind the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah). The real New Year, however, begins in spring with the Jewish month Nisan. This year the feast of Trumpets starts on the evening of September 25th and ends on the evening of September 27th.

It is the commencing of the 10 days of awe for the Jewish people, which is a time of dedication and repentance with view to the day of Atonement, the most important feast in the Jewish calendar, that takes place on the 10th day of the 7th month, which corresponds in our calendar with the evening of the forth till the evening of the 5th October.

I want to motivate myself and you to earnestly celebrate the feast of Trumpets. We do not know, when the last trumpet will be blown, but we can know for sure that our reuniting with the Lord will somehow be in connection with the feast of trumpets. The Lord is about to pick up his bride. How can we know this? In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about the end of the end time. In the verses 32 to 34 he tells us to learn from the parable of the fig tree: “Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: as soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” With this Jesus confirms the prophecies of the Old Testament. According to Joel 1, 6 – 7 and Hosea 9, 10 Israel is God’s fig tree. All the signs Jesus mentions in Matthew 24 are fulfilled today and Israel is a green and blossoming nation.

It is therefore certain that his coming is near, right at the door. Let us joyfully wait for the sounding of the last trumpet. We have nothing to lose here, but we have everything to gain with his coming and in the future with him.

Dear Lord Jesus, take everything away from me, which hinders me in my life with you. Please give everything to me, which foster and enhance my walk with you. Let me be yours, and yours alone and snap me away into your presence with the sound of the last trumpet. 

https://emojidevotions.blogspot.com/2022/09/gods-appointed-times-feast-of-trumpets.html

God in Nature

An Emoji Devotions for Thu 21, Jan 2021


Topic: God in Nature

By C.C. Thompson

“His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.” Habakkuk 3:3b

Upon all created things is seen the impress of the Deity. Nature testifies of God. The susceptible mind, brought in contact with the miracle and mystery of the universe, cannot but recognize the working of infinite power. Not by its own inherent energy does the earth produce its bounties, and year by year continue its motion around the sun.

An unseen hand guides the planets in their circuit of the heavens. A mysterious life pervades all nature—a life that sustains the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, that lives in the insect atom which floats in the summer breeze, that wings the flight of the swallow and feeds the young ravens which cry, that brings the bud to blossom and the flower to fruit. Ed 99.2

The same power that upholds nature, is working also in man. The same great laws that guide alike the star and the atom control human life. The laws that govern the heart’s action, regulating the flow of the current of life to the body, are the laws of the mighty Intelligence that has the jurisdiction of the soul. From Him all life proceeds. Only in harmony with Him can be found its true sphere of action.

For all the objects of His creation the condition is the same—a life sustained by receiving the life of God, a life exercised in harmony with the Creator’s will. To transgress His law, physical, mental, or moral, is to place one’s self out of harmony with the universe, to introduce discord, anarchy, ruin. Ed 99.2

To him who learns thus to interpret its teachings, all nature becomes illuminated; the world is a lesson book, life a school. The unity of man with nature and with God, the universal dominion of law, the results of transgression, cannot fail of impressing the mind and molding the character. Ed 100.1

These are lessons that our children need to learn. To the little child, not yet capable of learning from the printed page or of being introduced to the routine of the schoolroom, nature presents an unfailing source of instruction and delight. The heart not yet hardened by contact with evil is quick to recognize the Presence that pervades all created things. The ear as yet undulled by the world’s clamor is attentive to the Voice that speaks through nature’s utterances.

And for those of older years, needing continually its silent reminders of the spiritual and eternal, nature’s teaching will be no less a source of pleasure and of instruction. As the dwellers in Eden learned from nature’s pages, as Moses discerned God’s handwriting on the Arabian plains and mountains, and the child Jesus on the hillsides of Nazareth, so the children of today may learn of Him.

The unseen is illustrated by the seen. On everything upon the earth, from the loftiest tree of the forest to the lichen that clings to the rock, from the boundless ocean to the tiniest shell on the shore, they may behold the image and superscription of God.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, teach us to honour your creative,  life giving and life sustaining ability, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Vacuumed in Spirit - Be Healed

 

An Emoji Devotional for Sat, 10 September 2022

Topic: Vacuumed in Spirit - Be Healed

Highlights:

 Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: Psalms 103:2

The lifestyle of a man is attracted to remember troubles and so easy to forget things that are in order.

I'm pointing this out also to guide anyone having trouble with other humans to understand that people who trouble them are humans taken up by such lifestyle.

If you have anyone troubling your peace of mind all You can command the Holy Spirit to change their lifestyle from them.  Or ASK THAT SUCH LIFESTYLE BECOMES UNEASY FOR THEM AND THEY BECOMES UNSETTLED WHEN THEY INDULGE IN SUCH LIFESTYLE.

No one can fight their maker. St. John 14:14 says "If you ask me to do something in my name, I will do it."

This is a higher calling. We should not create a vacuum in our spirit to tolerate trouble! Once you forbid such acts with such command others will behave themselves in their accord before you.

In Mark 4:39 The stormy sea knew that if it refused to behave itself before Jesus- The King of Kings it may be sanctioned. It remembered the days of Moses and days of Elijah. The Sea knew what Jesus could do, so it obeyed.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39

Prayer: Father, I command every lifestyle around me that is not giving glory and honour to your name be changed for good now in Jesus mighty name.

Power of Undying Love for God

 An Emoji Devotional for Thu, 8 September 2022

Topic: Power of Undying Love for God

Highlights:

My people ask their wooden idols for help. A piece of wood tells them what to do. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray. They commit adultery by giving themselves to other gods. Hosea 4:12

The dangers are great when a husband and wife have few interests in common. "Your husband is your maker. His name is the LORD of Armies. Your defender is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth" Isaiah 54:5

God want us to be only for Him as husband who does not want His woman to love another. God always wants to be there when we need him and he promises to give us all that can satisfy His own. David understood that many people after receiving God's blessings desire to build canal relationship with worldly pleasure which later could make them lose interest in Godly ways of life. He promised God many times in Psalms 23:6 and Psalms 27:4 that

"Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the LORD's house for days without end."


"I have asked one thing from the LORD. This I will seek: to remain in the LORD's house all the days of my life in order to gaze at the LORD's beauty and to search for an answer in his temple."

If you truly desire God's blessings that will change your life. You must be ready to recognise yourself as God's love and must be willing to accept that you belong to him and will remain His at all time. As God's bride, you must agree to remain in God's house and NOT have any plan to go away longing for another love. Our love for God must be an undying love. It was idolatry and spiritual adultery that lead the children of Israel into captivity of their enemies but as God would show mercy he sent Jesus Christ to come to save all who will be willing to return back to the love of their Husband who is their creator.

If you are still living in sin, it is time to repent before it is too late. Jesus is calling all sinners to repentance as the love of God never dies but our sin is the cause of rejection. Read James 4:4

Prayer: Dear heavenly creator, my husband, my maker, Lord of Armies, my defender, The Holy one of Israel, My God, the God of the whole earth. I love you forever and will always love you forever. I declare my love for you in Jesus name. Amen.

On His Shoulders

 

An Emoji Devotional for Mon, 5 September, 2022

Topic: On His Shoulders

Highlights:

They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.
Psalms 91:16

Have faith on God's shoulders. Grow your self confidence in God's ability to protect, provide and preserve you. You will not be pressured at all as God's Shoulders makes life easy.  You must have an undying trust in God by keep on believing that what is missing in your life will be provided.

God's Word promised us  "No harm will come to you. No sickness will come near your house. He will put his angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways." Psalms 91:10-11. First we have to build self confidence in God's Word then have an undying trust for Him.

There is blessings of blessings on God's Shoulders. If we get a lift on God's Shoulders, even our worst nightmare will become meaningless to us as our faith will be unwavering by the peace around the sovereign Shoulders of the Alimighty.

You have to love God to be wrapped up in him His Shoulders. It is what we love we embrace because where your heart will be where your treasure is. So put your heart in God's shoulder, feel the undying trust and grow your self confidence that you are under His Shoulders at all times. Sing about His Shoulders, laugh at yourself and forgive yourself for being such a person that dwells under the shoulder of All-Powerful God.

Prayer: Dear God, I love your Shoulders today. They are very strong and most powerful shoulders I've ever seen. Shalom!

Don't forget - Jesus is Coming

 An Emoji Devotional for Monday, 29 August 2022

Topic: Don't forget - Jesus is Coming

Highlights:

No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:18


Brethren, don't give up your hope. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself went through the hardest of rigour to bring his creation back to Himself. He has opened that aspect of you that was lacking exposure of The grace of God to its proper understanding that we humans, all need God to become a proper person. However it is not by animal or human sacrifice to idols that will make us come to the Father but by Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was not buried with His cross neither did he ressurected holding any. Your cross is all the burden of self righteousness, human pleasing doubt and self efforts to satisfy the heavenlies. While we think we were trying to please God, we were all pleasing ourselves. Jesus left that cross broken with his body, stained by His blood and rendered it powerless by Saying "It is finished" leaving it where it was, went to the grave and ressurected to glorify the grace of God. Now to those who are having the cross in their conscience -its a mystery. To those who are still buried out of enlightenment of grace - it is a puzzle but for all who are already enlightened into ressurected grace of God - It is a secret. Psalm 25:14. The secret will not be revealed to all but only to the spiritually ascended souls who can not be corruptible again forevermore.

Now through same grace, Jesus said "I am coming and my reward is with me" (Revelation 22:12), to those who believed and were enlightened by His grace, His coming will not take long as we were already joined with Him in spirit of same enlightenment and of knowledge of God's Grace that His Holy Spirit already is dwelling within us. He is dwelling already within the aspect of ourselves and we believe He is coming soon. God forbid that we should expect Him like canally minded people without enlightenment expecting that things just happen with human psychology but as He has purposed and arranged for his elect that We will experience His coming in glory. Amen Mark 13:26. It is a blessing to the enlightened ones who believed.

May His Coming remain a mystery to the canal minds forevermore. Amen

Prayer: The grace of Jesus Christ be with me. Amen

https://emojidevotions.blogspot.com/2022/08/dont-forget-jesus-is-coming.html

Surviving on every word that God speaks

 An Emoji Devotional for Wed, 27 August, 2022

Topic: Surviving on every word that God speaks

Highlights:

Jesus answered, "Scripture says, 'A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.'" St. Matthew 4:4

Jesus was hungry, he had just fasted forty days and forty nights and was lead to be tempted in the desert. Some people would have blamed the leadership of heaven why will the Spirit ask them to go to the desert at such particular time. First of all we have to understand why desert

It reflects something in Jesus's life that is cold, meaningless, unenjoyable, or lack respect. Feeling empty inside or that nobody cares about Him. Endless or unbearable boredom. Feelings about a situation being barren, or stark. An enduring kind of deprivation. A longing for life to be fresh and fertile again.

The Spirit is likewise foretelling Jesus that He is moving into a new zone where anybody could be His worst enemy within a twinkle of an eye. He will experience situations that seem empty, unbearable or pointless. Situations of betrayal, denial and death.

If you find yourself in a deserting situation, remember to be equipped like Jesus Christ. Before the angels comes the tempter. So what must be your first priority in mind?

That for you to be fulfilled in life, you need not only 'bread' but every words that God speaks. This could only happen to you by having the Holy Spirit - "the Spirit of Truth" dwelling in the interior part of you according to John 16:13

Only those who are born again and sanctified can have the Spirit that speaks the truth of God's word.

Life is a desert to those who have aims and ambition given from God. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour if you have not done so - surrender your life to Jesus and ask him to give you the Holy Spirit, and if you are already a born again Christian, please continue walking in the way of light. Read your Bible everyday to learn more about Jesus and Holy Spirit. Let God bless His Word in your life and make it grow on a fertile soil Matthew 13:8. Amen

Prayer: Blessed Holy Spirit of Christ lead me out as a winner from the desert of life to the throne of grace today in Jesus Name. Amen