AD 387 – 17 March 461

Question: “Who was Saint Patrick and why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?”

Answer: Patrick, whom almost everyone calls “Saint Patrick,” although he was never canonized by the Catholic Church, was born to a wealthy family in AD 387 in Kilpatrick, Scotland. His real name was Maewyn Succat. It was his extensive missionary work in Ireland for which Patrick is famous. During the thirty years of work there, he supposedly converted over 135,000 people, established 300 churches, and consecrated 350 bishops. Patrick died on March 17, 461. For over a millennium, the Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

Got Questions
https://www.gotquestions.org/St-Patricks-Day.html

Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Patrick

Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick

WTW 2021
March 17
Isaiah 45

“This is what Yahweh says to his anointed (mashiach), to Koresh, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will raise up Koresh in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says Yahweh of Armies.” Isaiah 45:1‭, ‬13

Do you read & hear, understand & apply God’s WORD for what He says or do you always aim to come through your understanding? We understand the Good News. It is always best to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and to walk according to His WORD & by His mighty & Holy Spirit, Ruach Elohim.

WTW 2021
March 16
Isaiah 44

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” Isaiah 44:9, ‬20

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Idolatry. A lie.

Easy to point fingers.

Impossible to read Isaiah 41 42 43 44…

Without being shocked by the matter.

Without being reminded of Ezekiel 14

Without recalling Jeremiah 10

Without beginning to see the extent.

The extent of idolatry.

The extent of God’s hatred of idolatry.

The extent of His WORD on idolatry.

Then…

You have to consider Catholic images.

You can understand Islamic shirk.

You can appreciate the Shema.

We have a dear friend, a dear brother beginning to enter dialogue with a Catholic man called by a title we are told not to be called. That is a tiny matter.

So is an idol, a fetish a man can conceal in his right hand.

Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” Isaiah 44:20

Can you talk with everyone you meet today about idolatry? Will you also listen to them to begin understanding the ubiquity of the lie?

It’s easy to point fingers.

We usually point with our right hand.

The Catholic you speak with today is surrounded by lies.

The Muslim you speak with today is surrounded by lies.

The Jew you speak with today is surrounded by lies.

You are surrounded by lies.

I am surrounded by lies.

If you are unsure, ask your Jewish coworker what he thinks of Isaiah 44.

Ask your Muslim neighbor what he thinks about Isaiah 44.

Ask your Catholic relative what he thinks about Isaiah 44.

What do you think about Isaiah 44?

What does God say in Isaiah 44?

Idolatry.

A stumbling block.

A lie.

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“Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles beside the spreading trees and on the high hills. This is what YHVH says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from YHVH. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I YHVH search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:1‭-‬2‭, ‬5‭, ‬9‭-‬10

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Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of YHVH came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what Lord YHVH says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I YHVH will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’ “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what Lord YHVH says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! “ ‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire of me, I YHVH will answer them myself. I will set my face against them and make them an example and a byword. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am YHVH. “ ‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I YHVH have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim, declares Lord YHVH.’ ” Ezekiel 14:1‭-‬11

Childhood

I was raised on the mission field in a Godly & Spirit filled home where God’s Holy Spirit & Presence were abundantly and evidently experienced and recognized by all. This home and family was one where the WORD was rich, where worship was vibrant, where love and discipline, hard work, excellence, diligence and ministry were hallmarks. (Audio backstory)

There are so many things to share in regard to all these experiences. I confessed Christ as LORD & Savior from a young age of 8 and was baptized in water. I was marinated and saturated in God’s Presence and by His powerful Holy Spirit in full grace, goodness, fear and admonition.

I remember dad starting me in daily Bible reading when I was 10, and being challenged by others at various points in areas of daily prayer times, stille tijd and intercession. I remember a particular year devoted to early 4am departures to daily morning prayer meetings.

Calling age 14

I can still see myself in my upper room with a clear understanding of this calling:

Called to a ministry of discipleship, to growing and challenging others to maturity in this faith journey.

The key verse which remains focal in this from that time and to this very day is

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:2‭-‬3

Filling age 15

I was surrounded by God’s Spirit and kept being filled. I was deeply impacted by the powerful anointing of the LORD’S Holy Spirit at a particular home meeting standing in a time of worship at the Centrum Ranch in Pahrump, NV when I was 15. I distinctly remember a brief vision of God’s holiness, worshiping there at His feet, deeply impacted even seeing only His feet, overcome by His glory.

…

How is your spiritual immune system?

Most people are aware that staying healthy requires a balanced diet, regular exercise and a healthy immune system. People who eat regularly will stay alive but they will not be healthy without exercise and a strong immune system.

This is just as important spiritually.

Many people know the importance of eating, so some who are serious about their spiritual health will try to eat at least a little bit every once in a while. They may even open God’s WORD a couple times a month and read a Psalm or even look around in Revelation.

Okay, how about Daily Discipleship, engaging together with others in and around God’s WORD?

Some may recognize the need for a personal prayer life, for Bible reading, even Bible study, and possibly even focus on their personal faith walk. These may set out to apply and do what they read in their own personal faith walk, relating to themselves and their own spiritual diet.

With any of these things we are getting closer to the elements of wholeness and total health.

But these things alone would only take a dying person from dehydrated and malnourished to anemic at best. Things which have to do with one’s own personal health still fall short when it comes to spiritual fitness. Spiritual health requires getting out and getting active, getting exercise and building a strong immune system.

Of course, some people would prefer just to wear a mask rather than get out in the Son and get active in order to boost their immune system with the D they really need.

What about you?

Do you really want to get healthy?

Do you really want to get serious about a balanced diet, quality exercise and a strong immune system?

How about

Integrity

Discipleship

Evangelism

Accountability

Now there’s an IDEA 💡

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:20‭-‬21

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Science means knowledge. Ideally knowledge is based in truth. Unfortunately, statistically most knowledge is not based on truth. That means most knowledge is based on lies. The best focus is knowing what is based on the Truth.

JESUS said: “I am the Way, the Truth & the Life.”

True knowledge is Truth.

True science is Truth.

Follow the Science.

WTW 2021
March 15
Isaiah 43

You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
Isaiah 43:23‭-‬24

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On this Ides, consider and reflect:

What are the things you ought to examine? What ought you beware? What should you be wary of? What should you evaluate and apply caution?

Here is an article with just a sample thought this Ides on something worth considering.

WTW 2021
March 14
Isaiah 42

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“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.”
Isaiah 42:1

JESUS.

Messiah.

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JESUS MESSIAH (by CT)

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel

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JESUS (by CT)
Messiah
My Savior
There is power in Your name
You’re my rock and my Redeemer
There is power in Your name

WTW

I just had an

IDEA
I.ntegrity
D.iscipleship
E.vangelism
A.ccountability

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Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as JESUS did.

There are followers who need to get serious about INTEGRITY and genuine relationship.

All need to grow toward greater maturity in their walk of DISCIPLESHIP.

Many still need to become active in EVANGELISM.

Others also require a renewed focus on ACCOUNTABILITY in order to keep their walk on the straight and narrow.

WTW 2021
March 13
Isaiah 41

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Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Ezekiel 14:3

Idolatry.

That is what keeps people from walking with the One True Elohim.

The WORD is clear, yet people continue to miss it, perpetually miss the simple message, the clearly evident Good News of the One Who alone will save and redeem, help and restore, heal and reconcile.

Listen.

One more time, speak LORD.

And let us speak Your WORD and may those who have not yet heard and those who have not yet understood, may they hear and understand and turn and repent and be saved.

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Isaiah 41 The Message

“Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen! Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength. Gather around me. Say what’s on your heart. Together let’s decide what’s right. “Who got things rolling here, got this champion from the east on the move? Who recruited him for this job, then rounded up and corralled the nations so he could run roughshod over kings? He’s off and running, pulverizing nations into dust, leaving only stubble and chaff in his wake. He chases them and comes through unscathed, his feet scarcely touching the path. “Who did this? Who made it happen? Who always gets things started? I did. God. I’m first on the scene. I’m also the last to leave. “Far-flung ocean islands see it and panic. The ends of the earth are shaken. Fearfully they huddle together. They try to help each other out, making up stories in the dark. The godmakers in the workshops go into overtime production, crafting new models of no-gods, Urging one another on—‘Good job!’ ‘Great design!’—pounding in nails at the base so that the things won’t tip over. “But you, Israel, are my servant. You’re Jacob, my first choice, descendants of my good friend Abraham. I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. “Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you will end up out in the cold—real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed—nothing to show for their lives. When you go out looking for your old adversaries you won’t find them—Not a trace of your old enemies, not even a memory. That’s right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’ “Set out your case for your gods,” says God. “Bring your evidence,” says the King of Jacob. “Take the stand on behalf of your idols, offer arguments, assemble reasons. Spread out the facts before us so that we can assess them ourselves. Ask them, ‘If you are gods, explain what the past means—or, failing that, tell us what will happen in the future. Can’t do that? How about doing something—anything! Good or bad—whatever. Can you hurt us or help us? Do we need to be afraid?’ They say nothing, because they are nothing—sham gods, no-gods, fool-making gods. “I, God, started someone out from the north and he’s come. He was called out of the east by name. He’ll stomp the rulers into the mud the way a potter works the clay. Let me ask you, Did anyone guess that this might happen? Did anyone tell us earlier so we might confirm it with ‘Yes, he’s right!’? No one mentioned it, no one announced it, no one heard a peep out of you. But I told Zion all about this beforehand. I gave Jerusalem a preacher of good news. But around here there’s no one—no one who knows what’s going on. I ask, but no one can tell me the score. Nothing here. It’s all smoke and hot air—sham gods, hollow gods, no-gods.”
Isaiah 41:1‭-‬13‭, ‬21‭-‬29 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/isa.41.1-29.MSG