Numbers 26 :52-28 :15, Luke 3 :1-22, Psalms 61 :1-8, Proverbs 11:16-17

What God said to me – I called John the Baptist to be a voice crying in the wilderness telling people to get ready for Messiah.  He preached the gospel loud and clear that in order to be saved they had to repent and believe and if they were truly saved there would be fruit in their lives that demonstrated that salvation.  He made it clear that baptism didn’t save them and being a Jew didn’t save them.  He didn’t pull any punches or sugar coat it in order to draw bigger crowds or to pump up his numbers.  He didn’t have a comfortable auditorium or entertainment to draw them and yet they came because I drew them.  In these last days I have called the church to be a voice crying out for people to get ready for Messiah.  Don’t deceive them into thinking because they “prayed a prayer” that they are saved.  Don’t pull any punches or sugar coat it – tell them the truth – they must repent and believe and when they do that, their life will bear fruit showing it.  You walk in a manner worthy of your calling and share the true gospel so that they too will be able to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.

Numbers 26 :1-51, Luke 2 :36-52, Psalms 60 :1-12, Proverbs 11 :15

What God said to me – You’ve heard the phrase “now I can die happy.”  Sometimes it is said flippantly and sometimes with absolute sincerity.  It means you have experienced something so fulfilling and satisfying that your life is complete.  Mary and Joseph encountered two people in the temple when they took My Son, Jesus, after His circumcision to present Him to Me to fulfill the requirement of the Law.  They met Simeon and Anna – both elderly people who had spent their lives serving Me and looking for Messiah.  When they saw Jesus, they recognized Him for who He was, and they excitedly shared with those who were there.  So, what about you – is the focus of your life serving Me and worshipping Me in ministry and prayer and fasting like Simeon and Anna?  Are you anxiously looking for My coming and telling others?  It’s easy to say you want Me to come – but maybe not before I get married and have kids and grandkids and have a successful career and retire and enjoy life.  None of these things are bad things, but they are not the things that will enable you to say, “now I can die happy.”  While those things are wonderful, true peace and joy comes in knowing Me and serving Me in ministry and sharing with others.

Numbers 24-25, Luke 2 :1-35, Psalms 59 :1-17, Proverbs 11 :14

What God said to me – Remember the story of the Trojan horse.  After years of war the Greeks came up with a scheme because their direct attacks were not successful and they entered the city of Troy inside the Trojan horse.  Similarly, Balak, the king of Moab, knew from the prophesies of Balaam that he could not defeat Israel in an outright war because I was with them.  So, they came up with a scheme to invite them to come and eat with them and see them sacrifice to their gods.  Thousands in Israel fell because of immorality and idolatry and My judgment on them.  They wanted to “belong” and be “accepted” in local society, and they slid into sin as a result, and it was their downfall.  You face a similar deceptive enemy.  Very seldom are you confronted with blatant sin because you would see it for what it was and resist.  However, the enemy doesn’t usually come at you head on like that – instead he slips things that seem innocuous into your life through television, movies and books.  You must constantly guard your heart and mind and eyes, or you too will find yourself sliding into sin and accepting it as normal.  Stay alert and seek Me continually.