Jehovah Tsidkenu: God is our Righteousness

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

I found a great reference for this study.            

The Names of God - Jehovah-Tsidkenu  http://www.brandonweb.com/sermons/sermonpages/jeremiah8.htm

I had written in my journal a few years back about this very name, Jehovah Tsidkenu. I love looking back at old journal entries and seeing how God continues to work in my life and those around me. Here is a little of what I wrote:

Christ is the righteous branch from David's line and because we are in Christ we are part of that righteous branch. Jesus was adopted by Joseph and we have been adopted into the kingdom of God. 1John 2:1 He calls us his children. Christ came for those who needed Him. Not for those who didn't need Him. 

This is one of my favorite pictures of our relationship with Christ. We have used this to explain adoption to our sweet Abi on many occasions. We love her in an imperfect way, but to the best of our ability. We try to explain to her how much greater and deeper God's love is for us that He would sacrifice and send His son that we might have a full relationship with Him. Our adoption of Abi isn't a perfect picture of our adoption and inheritance of the kingdom, but it is a wonderful earthly illustration. Just as Abi inherits our name and all that that means we have the amazing privilege of sharing in a glorious inheritance because of what Christ did on the cross for us. 

We all need Christ and His righteousness to be placed upon us. All our efforts are in vein if they don't first seek to glorify Him and rest in His perfect will. 

There are some days when I really don't know how that looks and when I hit a rut I just read God's word and keep pressing forward. As we are being shaped and molded by God's perfect hand our experiences will be used to encourage others and prayerfully to draw them closer to the one who can fill them in every way. 

I had a sweet friend from my childhood except Christ as her savior this past week. It brought tears to my eyes because I know all that she and I went through as children and I know how much I want all my friends to know the peace and joy that only Christ can bring. I'm amazed at God's righteousness and how because of His son He is willing to place that on us even as filthy sinners. I pray for my friends and family and ask God to reveal Himself to them in a mighty way. 

Jehovah Rapha (God, My Healer)

False Gospel

There is nothing Biblical about the "name it claim it gospel". If you just believe enough or try harder or give more then God will honor that and provide for you. If he hasn't then you must be doing something wrong!! This is unfortunately believed by thousands of people and is a totally false and an extremely exhausting gospel. 

What We Should Really Know About Jehovah Rapha

Exodus 15:25 "Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them."

As I read this passage I realized that my 'piece of wood' is God's word. There is true healing in His word. People want to be freed from their physical and mental ailments, but God wants something much deeper for them. When He does chose to heal us it is for His glory and for our benefit. If He doesn't chose to heal us it is for His glory and our benefit. Jehovah Rapha has a perfect plan and will use every aspect of our lives to bring about a deeper love for Him and a greater glory for Him. I used to ask for the different 'thorns' in my life to be removed and God's word reminded me that He is sufficient in all things and has a reason for allowing each issue in our lives, even the ones He allows us to bring upon ourselves.

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."   (2 Cor. 12:9, 10) 

James 5:13-16

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

I'm so thankful that the Lord gives us power in prayer. This verse is often misused or misquoted. I will pray this way, but try to remember to ask for God's perfect will to be done. We make our requests known and trust Him with the outcome. His plans are not our plans and His ways are not our ways. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. " Isaiah 55:8

Jehovah Rapha, God my healer, but not always the way so many people try to teach that He is. He is the ultimate healer because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I long for the day that we have total healing and are part of the new creation.

One of my closest friend lost her father this week. My heart is broken for their family, but I also know he loved the Lord and is rejoicing in Heaven with his new body. Our deepest desires were to see him healed and we cried out for him in his final hours, but God's plans are not ours. We trust His sovereignty and perfect will for the Platt family and are so thankful for 'Papa Platt', 'Pa Platt' or 'GPops' testimony. "Well done, thy good and faithful servant!" We will miss you!

Tearing Down Walls

Jehovah Jireh

I'm on yet another journey in my walk with God. The more I trust Him the more I see areas where I have built walls. I'm praying that God will continue to help me tear down those walls and let Him reign completely in my life. There is TRUE freedom in Christ!

 

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV) 

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
(Psalm 107:19-20 ESV)

 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
(Isaiah 12:2 ESV)

Can I trust God with my pain?

In Genesis 22:1-14 God shows himself as Abraham's provider. He provides a sacrifice for Abraham. God has provided for us in ways that we will never understand. He provided Christ as our sacrifice Hebrews 9:28. He bore our sins. When we trust Him with our hurts and allow him to open old wounds so that they can be healed then we are able to move forward in our walk and in turn begin to walk others through their ordeals and help them in the healing process.

My goal is to diligently listen to God's word and trust Him to work through my life to glorify Him. This doesn't mean being free of pain, but there is freedom in His word that gives us a peace that passes all understanding. 

    Surely he has borne our griefs
        and carried our sorrows;
    yet we esteemed him stricken,
        smitten by God, and afflicted.
    But he was pierced for our transgressions;
        he was crushed for our iniquities;
    upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
        and with his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV)

Lord, Help us to not be wise in our own eyes, but to have your wisdom. Turn our bitter experiences, pain, and sorrow into something sweet that we wouldn't change for anything because we know that you have a purpose and will use those issues in our lives to give you the glory. Help us to recognize that you are better and the goal is to dive headlong into your word and trust you with the outcome of our lives. Help us to be bold for your kingdom and to never forget who we serve. May we be a light in this world.

Everyone Wants to Heal

The Pier

The end of the Pier––

I know I must plunge into this water

But what if, the what if happen to me?

I tremble and shake and cannot decide

if I should jump feet first or go for a dive?

I wish someone could push me so I wouldn't have to decide.

What waits in the water, what lies beneath the calm surface?

Will the waves carry me out to a roaring sea

or gently toss me back to Thee?

A Sequel

Jump, jump, jump ––  you can do it!

Your whole life has been a preparation for this leap. 

Can't you see the Lord has a special plan?

It's not your plan.

He leads you on to places far beyond your reach.

Each event in your life has been designed

by Him for something unique.

Don't be afraid––leap! His arms will catch you. 

You'll never hit the water...

Instead, He wants you to fly!

His love will sustain you, help you grow

You will soar like an eagle high in the sky

Free to be all you were meant to be!!

                                                 Susan Fitch

I know it's been a while since I have been on here, but it seems like the right time to start again. My hearts desire is to see people healed spiritually. I know we would all like to be healed physically, but the truth of the matter is that from the day we are born we are on a trajectory for physical death. Because sin entered into the world we are forever battling our flesh both spiritually and physically. The only hope is in Christ.  Jesus said,  "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 

There are so many man-made religions but only one way to be forever satisfied. 

In the past I have worked through some of the names of God. I love doing this and am praying that I can share some of that here. So, my next post will be on Jehovah Jireh (God, My Provider).