OUR FATHER WHO IS GLORIFIED WHEN WE YIELD THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The book of Phillipians chapter 1 verse 9 says this;

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

The apostle Paul, writing a letter with Timothy to the church at Philippi,  tells them that he has a particular prayer for them.

He prays that they would grow abundantly in love and that this love would gain a deeper knowledge and insight because, as he follows up in the next two verses, they would gain the ability to discern the best path and thus would be holy and blameless on the day of the Lord.

As well, they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through the Lord Jesus Christ and which brings glory to God.

Phillipians chapter 1 verses 10 - 11 read this way;

so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO JUDGES HIS PEOPLE BUT PROTECTS THEM NONETHELESS

The book of Isaiah chapter 17 verse 9 says this;

In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah foretells of a time when Syria, a rival nation to Israel and also a buffer nation against the Assyrians, would be laid waste and their cities abandoned and left desolate.

At that time, Israel, facing judgment of her own,  would be but a remnant in the land and vulnerable to invaders but in this weakened condition and with Israel's buffer kingdom,  Syria,  destroyed, the Assyrian kingdom would take the opportunity to invade Israel but the Lord intervenes to protects them.

As Isaiah chapter 17 verse 14 says;

At evening time, now look, sudden terror! Before morning the Assyrians are no more. This is the portion (fate) of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who pillage us.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Senacherib's Assyrian army of 185,000 men was destroyed overnight by the Lord recorded in Isaiah chapter 37 verse 36;

Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 

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OUR FATHER WHO DEFENDS HIS PEOPLE

From Psalm 7;

Lord my God, in You I take refuge

Save me from all who pursue

You are enthroned as the Judge

Over those assembled around You

Vindicate me according to Your  righteousness

You are my shield, the One who saves

I will give You thanks for my defence

To you alone I sing praise

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 OUR FATHER WHO DRAWS US TO HIMSELF

The book of Psalm 15 says this;

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?

Who may live on your holy mountain?

The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;

whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord;

who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;

who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the  innocent.

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO TEACHES HIS PEOPLE HIS WAYS

The book of Luke chapter 9 verses 10 - 11 says this;

When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

The apostles had been given authority by the Lord Jesus to heal the sick and cast out demons and they were sent into the surrounding villages to preach the news of the kingdom.

Their activities had so much impact that even politicians like Herod the tetrarch wondered what was causing all the commotion in the land.

When the apostles returned from their missions, they reported to the Lord Jesus what their experiences were. He gathered them and retreated to a small town on the northeast side of the sea of Galilee to lower their profile and get less political attention but their movements were discovered and the crowds of people followed them there.

Jesus, though wanting to lower their profile among the authorities in the land, had mercy on the crowds and welcomed them and taught them things about the kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing.

The crowds lingered late into the evening and it was then that the Lord challenged His disciples to continue in the authority He had given them and feed the thousands of the people who were there.

They could not see how to do it so Jesus divided the loaves and fishes so that they were multiplied and could feed all the people.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WILL OCCUR IN THEIR PROPER TIME

2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 3 says this;

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 

The people of the church at Thessalonica had been concerned about what they had been hearing that the day of the Lord  had already occured.

Paul the apostle assured them in his letter to them that they should not be  alarmed by the false doctrines they were hearing.

To clarify the matter for them, Paul reiterated that the day that Lord appears would not be reached until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.

The rebellion mentioned is the great falling away when a great number of those professing to be Christian's will turn away from the faith.

The man of lawlessness mentioned as the one who will rise to prominence is the antichrist.

These events will predicate the day that the Lord returns in power.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO INVITES THOSE WHO SEEK HIM TO HIMSELF

The book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 11 says this;

“But you who abandon (turn away from) the Lord, Who forget and ignore My holy mountain (Zion), Who set a table for Gad [the Babylonian god of fortune], And who fill a jug of mixed wine for Meni [the god of fate], 

The prophet Isaiah captured a point of contrast that the Lord made between those who served Him and those who abandoned Him.

Whereas the Lord would preserve the righteous cluster of people who lived by the Spirit of God and they would dwell with Him on His holy mountain, those who abandoned the Lord and ignored the kingdom of God and those who sought fortune and luck by making offerings to the pagan gods, a fate of destruction awaited them.

Have mercy on us O God.

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OUR FATHER WHO WARNS THROUGH HIS PROPHETS

The book of Amos chapter 3 verse 4 says this;

Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey?

Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing?

The prophet Amos, prophecing over the kingdom of Israel, declares parables that warn of the inevitability of the judgement that was to be  brought against them.

In the same way that a lion's roar in the thicket indicates that the lion has acquired prey, the prophecies against Israel indicate that judgment has been brought against Israel.

In the same way that a lion growls in its den when it has captured an animal, so does the prophet of God utter prophecy when the evil deeds of the people have triggered judgement upon them.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE JUDGES HIS OWN HOUSE

The book of Amos chapter 2 verse 9 says this;

“Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below.

This verse speaks of what the Lord did to secure the victory of the nation of Israel over the Amorites.

In spite of this intervention by the Lord, the people of Israel did the evil works mentioned in verses 6 - 8;

They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.

They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.

Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.

They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge.

In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.

The Lord sent prophets and Nazirites to the people of Israel to correct them but they silenced the  prophets and corrupted the Nazirities.

Their judgement of destruction is set against them from which there is no escape.

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OUR FATHER WHO BRINGS JUDGEMENT FOR ATTROCITIES

The book of Amos chapter 1 verse 13 says this;

This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not relent.

Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders,

This verse, captured by the prophet Amos,  describes the atrocity that the people of Ammon committed in order to the extend their borders. Specifically, Ammon targeted pregnant women and cut them open as part of their merciless campaigns for territorial domination.

In response to this conduct, the Lord declared through prophet Amos that He would burn up the city walls and destroy their fortresses while they themselves were under attack and while violent storms brought havoc to them.

Further to that, the leaders of Ammon were going to be exiled as part of the judgement against them for their actions. As verses 14 and 15 say;

I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day. Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together," says the Lord.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS THE JUDGE OVER THE AFFAIRS OF MEN

The book of Amos chapter 1 verse 10 says this;

I will send fire on the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses.”

The prophet Amos, revealing the judgements that were to come to  Israel and Judah and the surrounding regions, singled out the city of Tyre for a judgement of fire that would consume their fortresses to render them defenseless.

Tyre had undertaken to capture entire communities of the people of Edom and sell them as slaves even though they had a treaty of brotherhood between them.

Their disregard of a treaty and the wholesale destruction of communities and the enslavement of people invited  judgement of destruction upon them.

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OUR FATHER WHO CHOOSES HIS PEOPLE

The book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 4 says this;

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 

In this verse, Paul the Apostle, calls the believers in Christ "brothers and sisters" in an expression of familial closeness and love.

He then declares that they were chosen by God and in the next verse ( verse 5 ), Paul lists the reasons that he knows this;

because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 

In other words, these are markers of the circumstances that occur when God chooses a people;

1. The gospel arrives with power
2. The gospel arrives with the Holy Spirit
3. The gospel is carried with deep conviction

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO BRINGS JUDGMENT TO THE HOUSE OF DARKNESS

Amos chapter 1 verse 7 says this;

I will send fire on the walls of Gaza that will consume her fortresses.

This verse is a prophetic word from Amos the prophet fortelling the coming judgement upon the settlement of Gaza.

The people of Gaza had undertaken to raid towns and having captured the entire population of the inhabitants, they sold these captured people to neighbouring kingdoms.

For this aggrigeous conduct, their judgement was the destruction of their fortress walls by fire to leave them vulnerable to being raided themselves.

The judgment of God is just.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO GIVES FAVOUR TO THE HUMBLE

The book of Ruth chapter 2 verse 10 says this;

At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”

Ruth, in her encounter with Boaz, was puzzled by his favour toward her but she conducted herself humbly before him.

She, not knowing that the story of her compassion for her mother-in-law had preceded her, asked Boaz why he was singling her out from among the other gleaners and further to that, why he would concern himself with her when she was a foreigner in the land.

Ruth's humility and sincerity gained her great favour in the eyes of the leaders of the land and she was integrated into the fabric of the Messianic lineage when she became the wife of Boaz who was the father of Obed who was the father of Jessie who was the father of King David.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO TEACHES US A MOST EXCELLENT WAY

The book of Philemon chapter 1 verse 4 - 5 says this;

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.

This passage, written by Paul the Apostle (while he was in prison) to three believers named Philemon, Apphia and Archippus, describes why Paul was always grateful to God for these brothers and sisters  in Christ as he prayed for them.

He had been hearing of Philemon's love for all the holy believers and his faith in the Lord  Jesus.

For Paul, now an old man, having one of the people to whom he taught the gospel now demonstrating unwavering faith and showing love to others, was very encouraging to him.

Philemon was following what Paul called, in the book of 1 Corinthians, a most excellent way.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SAVES US FROM OPPRESSION

The book of Isaiah chapter 14 verse 3 says this;

 On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, 

This verse fortells of a time when the Lord will bring to an end to the regime of darkness over His people.

The kingdom of darkness, exploititavely ruling the kingdoms of the earth,  will be imposing harsh and unrelenting labour over  the people of the earth.

They will be oppressing the people with suffering and turmoil and it is when people are in this state, the Lord will bring to bear His power and authority to break the kingdom of darkness as Isaiah chapter 14 verse 5 says;

The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression.

Let us always give thanks to the Lord for His promise to intervene on  the behalf of the people of the earth to lift the burden of oppression off of His people.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO HELPS HIS OWN

From Psalm 94;

Unless You O Lord had helped me

I never would have survived

When my foot stumbled, you reached out to me

Your unfailing love kept me alive

When my heart within me was in distress

You turned my heart to joy with consolation

You have become my strong fortress

My rock in whom I have my portion

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OUR FATHER WHO LOVES US

From Psalm 37;

Trust in the Lord and do good

Dwell in His safe pasture

Take delight in the Lord

 He will give you the desires of your heart

Commit your way to the Lord

Trust in Him and He will make

 your reward shine like the dawn

 Your vindication like the noonday sun

Be still before the Lord wait patiently for Him

Hope in the Lord and keep His way

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him

though he may stumble, he will not fall  for the Lord upholds him with His hand.

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OUR FATHER WHO BLESSES HIS PEOPLE 

The book of Isaiah chapter 44 verse 3 says this;

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

This promise made by the Lord to the believer where the believer's offspring will be filled by the Spirit and be blessed by the Lord.

This declaration is a great comfort to the Lord's people for their offspring will flourish like grass in a meadow and like poplar trees by a stream.

As the believers seek first the kingdom of God, the blessing of God upon their children will be part of the things that will be added unto them.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES ANSWERS TO THOSE WHO ARE LOYAL TO HIM

From the book of Ezekiel chapter 14 verse 2 -3 says this;

Then the word of the Lord 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?

This passage captures the Lord's statement to the prophet Ezekiel that pointed out that the leaders of Israel had idols in their hearts and that they had regarded wicked stumblimg block.

The question was then asked whether the Lord should have let them make an enquiry to Him at all.

To make any demands on heavens resources, we must harbor no allegiances or have any incumberances to the kingdom of darkness.

Amen 

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OUR FATHER WHO VALUES FAITHFULNESS

The book of Ezekiel chapter 15 verse 2 says this;

“Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? 

The Lord, in giving Ezekiel an analogy of the faithlessness of the people who lived in Jerusalem, asks him in what way the wood from a vine was not the same the wood from any other tree in the forest.

The Lord completed the analogy by describing how the wood from a vine had no practical purpose when it was whole and even less when it charred by fire.

The Lord compared the people of Jerusalem to a burned twig that had no useful purpose because they were unfaithful.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS THE LORD OF ISRAEL

The book of Ezekiel chapter 14 verse 8 says this;

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 the Lord.

This verse, speaking of the people of Israel or foreigners who dwelt in Israel and who separated themselves from the Lord and then pursued idols and set wicked stumbling blocks before their faces, declares that the Lord will set His face against them and so as to set an example for others, would remove them from the midst of His people.

This just governance would be a demonstration of the Lordship of God over His people.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON HIS PEOPLE

The book of Isaiah chapter 14 verses 1 - 3 foretells of the day that the Lord will have compassion on Israel and at that moment, the state of affairs will undergo an inversion. The passage reads like this;

The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land.

Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

Nations will take them and bring them to their own place.

And Israel will take possession of the nations and make them male and female servants in the Lord’s land.

They will make captives of their captors  and rule over their oppressors.

On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, You will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon.

Israel will have foreign nations join and support them even as the kingdom of darkness tries gain permanent  control the Lord's people.

The nations that oppressed God's people will be brought under the ownership of Israel.

On this day, Israel (and the spiritual kingdom of Israel),  freed by the Lord from the dominance of the kingdom of darkness, will take up a taunt against her oppressor that is recorded in Isaiah chapter 14 verses  5 - 20.

The taunt will tell of the sudden fall of the kingdom of darkness where the king of Babylon will be exposed for what he actually is.

The whole of  creation will wonder why they feared him when they see him under the judgement of the Lord.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO ASSOCIATES WITH THE FAITHFUL

From Psalm 101;

My eyes, says the Lord, will be on the faithful

That they may dwell with Me forever

And those whose walk is blameless

They will ever minister unto Me 

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OUR FATHER IS WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE

From Psalm 100;

Shout for joy all the earth.

Worship the Lord with hearts of gladness

Know that the Lord is God We are His creations

His faithfulness endures for all generations

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

Fill His courts with cheerful laughter

Give thanks and earnestly praise Him

For the Lord is good His love endures forever

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OUR FATHER WHO IS BRILLIANT TO BEHOLD

Psalm 97 verse 8 says this;

Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, Lord.

The Lord God Almighty approaches the earth and His glory and brilliance are seen by the people of the earth.

His arrival is marked by flashes of lightening and the mountains melt like wax in His presence.

The adversaries of God are judged in fire and those who worship idols are disgraced because even the spiritual entities will be unable to avoid worshipping Him.

At the sight of their God, the settlements of people will be glad because of the judgements that are metted out.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO REVEALED TO HIS PROPHETS WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO TO SAVE US OUT OF DARKNESS

The book of Isaiah chapter 9 verse 5 says this;

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

The prophet Isaiah, foretold of a time of darkness when the land of Galilee would host the Light of the world.

The awaited Light would transform the nation into a large kingdom under the throne of David and this kingdom would be marked by joy as victory over the oppressor is celebrated.

The arrival  of the Light would be predicated by bloodshed and the boots and garments stained by blood during the battle in the heavenlies would be added to the fire of judgment against the agents of darkness.

What was being resisted was the arrival of the child mentioned in Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 which reads;

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Amen.

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OUR LORD WHOSE BRIDE WILL FLOURISH

The book of Isaiah chapter 54 verses 3 - 5 says this;

For you will spread out to the right and to the left;  your descendants will dispossess nations  and settle in their desolate cities.

 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

The bride described in this passage is the spiritual church which has been sanctified by God and prepared for victory over the kingdom of darkness.

The bride will flourish as the Lord draws His people unto Himself and they will do great exploits and dispossess the realms of spiritual wickedness.

This is achieved because of the close relationship they have with their redeemer who is the Lord Almighty, the Holy God of all the earth

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO IS GREATER THAN ALL

The book of Isaiah chapter 7 verse 9 says this;

The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”

Judea, under king Ahaz, learned that they were going to be invaded by the kingdoms Ephraim and Aram. The King and all the people were shaken and fearful.

Our verse captures the central  case that the prophet Isaiah was instructed to make to king Ahaz of Judea.

King Ahaz was told that he and his people must be fearless in the face of the new enemy alliance.

The verse makes the argument that the leaders of the enemy alliance were weak and if King Ahaz and the people of Judea could not stand in faith against them, they would not stand at all in the face of any challenge.

This is a remainder to stand in faith even when we initially perceive that the odds are insurmountable.

As it says in the book of John chapter 10 verse 29;

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE JUDGEMENT IS INESCAPABLE

The book of Isaiah chapter 15 verse 9 says this;

The waters of Dimon are full of blood, but I will bring still more upon Dimon—a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon those who remain in the land.

The people of Moab, under judgment, suffered the swift destruction of their cities and homes. Some of them wailed and lamented and went to their temple and high places to find spiritual help from their gods but get no relief.

They were forced to flee in convoys  of refugees to other lands. In the panic of departure, they grabbed anything of value they had and traversed the ravines and to get away.

As they moved, their cries and wails were heard by other towns which spread even more fear through the whole land.

Even as the the people of Dimon fled, they could not escape for a lion set upon them and caused havoc among the refugees and the remnant stayed behind.

Amen.

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