When we seek God’s kingdom first, we don’t need to worry. We can be sure that He’ll take care of us.
Matthew 6 Notes
GOD, Father—This chapter makes frequent references to God as Father.
God is not the caricature of a doting grandfather. His loving compassion for His children is genuine, but not blind indulgence.
The Father’s love can be a tough love, a love that withholds blessings that we want and do not deserve.
God will not be manipulated, for He is a good Father, with our best interests at heart.
Some try to draw a contrast between the NT emphasis on God as Father and the OT emphasis on God as Lord as though one is the image of love (NT) and the other is the image of stern justice (OT).
Such a contrast does justice to neither expression for God.
The sovereign justice of God may be a little more prominent in the OT and the loving warmth more prominent in the NT.
There is certainly no conflict or contradiction. God as Father not only sees what is said or thought in public.
He also sees what is said, done, or thought in secret and responds accordingly.
He blesses or punishes, as may be appropriate. God invites the believer into a relationship of intimacy (6:9-13).
We express that intimacy in prayer as we address God as Father.
Standing as a sinner before our Creator and Judge, we would never dare be so bold except that we are invited to this intimacy.
God encourages us to address a wide range of petitions to our Father: praise, forgiveness of our sins, daily needs, the coming of God’s eternal will for time and eternity, relationships with one another, and our relationship with God himself.
We can rest in the assurance that God as our heavenly Father will faithfully provide for all our basic needs in life if we are properly related to serving Him in our lives (6:25-34).
SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things) ____
Thursday, Dec 26 cFaith
Faith Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin
OUR FATHER
“…For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father…” (Matt. 6:8-9)
Although God had given to Israel as clear a revelation of Himself as it was possible to give spiritually dead men, they still didn’t really know Him.
They didn’t recognize God manifested in the flesh when Jesus stood in their midst.
(Under the Old Covenant, God’s Presence was shut up in the Holy of Holies.)
Thus, it was into a hard, harsh atmosphere of Justice that Jesus Christ came.
And the Jews of His day could not understand Him. He talked about God as His Father. He told of the Father’s love and care for His own!
It mystified them.
When Jesus introduced God as a Father God of love, His words, for the most part, fell upon unresponsive ears.
Yet we must admit, as we meditate on Jesus’ words about the love of God, that even born-again children of God sometimes fail to see the love side of God.
Israel never grasped it. They didn’t understand who it was Jesus was talking about. It was new to them.
To tell the truth, it’s new to most church members today!
They have been taught to fear God, and to shrink from a God of Justice.
They’ve never really seen the love side of God that Jesus came to reveal.
Confession: I hereby make a quality decision to see and know the love side of God that Jesus came to reveal.
I will meditate on Jesus’ revelation of God until I really know Him as my Father God of love.
[Source: Faith Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin] ____
6 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
___
This is good news for ALL who want their sins to be forgiven and to be reconciled back into God’s family.
This invitation is extended to WHOMSOEVER will come and obey God’s call… who will accept and obey the Gospel message to be Born-again, filled with the Holy Spirit and become what the Bible calls the “Redeemed of the Lord.”
I also would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Blessed New Year…
On the Gregorian calendar we are moving into the year 2025, but on the Jewish calendar (which is the center of God’s prophetic time clock) we are already in the year 5785, which occurred on Rosh Hashanah (October 2, 2024, at sundown and it concluded at nightfall on October 4, 2024).
The Prophetic Significance of 5785
The year 5785 will be a year of GRACE, It’s also a year of Breakthrough, and Stepping into our Spacious Place for all of God’s CALLED and REDEEMED people.
2 Samuel 22:20 “He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.”
The Holy Spirit is breathing new life into His people this year!
This is a time to step confidently into the fullness of God’s plans for our life.
Most importantly, it’s time to speak the name of JESUS with boldness and authority!
The year 5785 will be about stepping into a spacious land, a place where we can breathe deeply, where burdens are lifted, and where there is freedom to move in the fullness of our Fathers plans for our life.
The Bible has a ton to say about the spacious place.
Job 36:15-16: “But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing us from the jaws of distress to a spacious place, free from restriction, to the comfort of our table laden with choice food.”
Exodus 3:7-8: The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt…So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Psalm 31:8: “You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.”
David knew all about the spacious place.
After years of being relentlessly pursued by King Saul and forced to take refuge in caves and strongholds, David finally stepped into the moment God had long prepared for him.
Though he had been anointed as king, the path to his destiny was anything but smooth—it was marked by trials, uncertainty, and seasons of waiting.
Yet, in God’s perfect timing, there came a moment when the Lord led David into a spacious place of peace and security where the fullness of God’s promises began to unfold. The reason being because the Lord delights in His children!
In 2 Samuel 22:20, David sings, “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
The “spacious land” represents more than just physical territory—it symbolizes a spiritual breakthrough, where the weight of past struggles lifts, and God’s abundant blessings are poured out.
The Hebrew word refers to a broad, open, or wide space. It symbolizes a place of freedom, relief from distress, and liberation from tight, constraining circumstances.
It conveys the idea of being set free from oppression or restriction into a space where one can move freely and thrive.
A person evolves from a place of suffering to wholeness.
Psalm 118:5: “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.”
5785 WILL BE A A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
The year 5785 is symbolized by the Hebrew letter “hey” (ה), the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The shape of the letter resembles an open window or an open space, inviting us to look through and see things from God’s perspective.
We are being called to return to a spacious and grace-filled relationship with our Heavenly Father, where His love, provision, and purpose flow freely into every area of our lives, bringing both restoration and expansion.
Let us be encouraged and let us literally start looking out the window, seeking the voice of our Father even in creation. He is speaking, and He wants to reveal wisdom and truth through what we see with our eyes.
In 5785, many will begin to see God’s plans with greater clarity, experiencing revelation that opens new possibilities for their lives, relationships, and callings.
God is shining His light into the areas of our life where there has been confusion, darkness, or misunderstanding, bringing divine revelation to guide and direct us into a future filled with hope.
He sees the ways we’ve been mistreated, and He desires to set us free from every form of bondage, fear, and stronghold.
In this season, God is going to reveal hidden truths, expose lies, and give us the understanding we need to walk in perfect alignment with His will for our life.
It’s important to remember that we are called to love our enemies, but that doesn’t mean we’re required to accommodate or appease them.
When God instructs us to separate from someone or something, it’s vital that we follow His direction.
Jesus Himself set clear boundaries, never running after those who walked away but remaining focused on His mission.
Likewise, when God leads us into a spacious place, it demands our obedience and trust, even when it’s challenging.
As we open our heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can expect breakthroughs in areas where we once felt stuck.
God is going to clear the path before us. The fogginess from a past season will be replaced with clarity as King Jesus brings peace and purpose to our life.
We are God’s children and He cares about our heart. He is going to show us the way!
1 John 3:1 (NIV) “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
This scripture shows God’s heart for His people and His desire to lead us out of a place of suffering and into a place of blessing and freedom.
David also experienced moments where he was trapped in tight, constricted situations, running for his life and hiding in caves.
Yet in Psalm 18:19, David declares, “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
God didn’t leave David in those narrow places of despair; instead, He delivered him into wide-open spaces where he could thrive and fulfill his calling.
Beloved, God is calling you forth from the cave at this time.
The training and hiding had a purpose, but now it’s time to stand and teach others how to evolve from merely surviving to truly thriving.
As we look to 5785, I believe God is inviting us into our own spacious place.
This is a place where old limitations fall away, and new opportunities emerge.
The Holy Spirit is saying that this year will be marked by divine expansions—spiritually, relationally, and even in our physical circumstances.
Just as God enlarged the territories for His chosen people, He is expanding the spaces in our life where He wants to dwell, work, and bring us deeper into His purpose.
If you’ve felt like you’ve been in a tight space—emotionally, financially, or spiritually—this is the year to believe in a breakthrough.
It’s important to trust in the Lord’s leadership. He is your Commander-In-Chief and your steps are ordered by Him.
The spacious place He has for us is one of peace, joy, and abundance.
It’s a place where we’ll be able to flourish and experience the fullness of His presence without the weights and restrictions of the past.
The spacious land will also allow us to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we build His Kingdom together.
We are called to love others and preach the gospel to all the earth.
Through Jesus, we are given the strength, wisdom, and courage to accomplish more than we could ever imagine, impacting lives for eternity.
5785: Prophetic Insight As we step into 5785, it’s significant that the year begins and ends with the number 5.
In the Bible, the number 5 holds deep meaning, symbolizing grace,
God’s unmerited favor, and divine empowerment.
As we enter this new season, we are reminded of God’s abundant grace that surrounds us both in the beginning and the end of this journey.
Beyond grace, the number 5 also represents the five-fold ministry outlined in Ephesians 4:11—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
These roles are essential in building up the body of Christ, equipping the saints, and helping the church grow in maturity.
In this year of 5785, I believe the Lord is calling His people to step more fully into their specific roles within this ministry.
Whether you’re called to lead, teach, speak, write, sing, or serve in any capacity, God’s grace will empower you to operate effectively in your assignment.
What’s also fascinating about 5785 is the presence of the numbers 7 and 8 at the center.
Seven, the number of completion and perfection, and eight, the number of new beginnings, are pivotal markers this year.
The Lord is speaking that this year will be one where the completion of past trials, seasons, and lessons will give birth to new beginnings and the fulfillment of His promises.
It’s a transition from a time of refinement into a time of renewal and breakthrough.
In this year, the Holy Spirit is also saying that many will be released from the bondage of past seasons.
Just as God heard the cries of the Israelites, He has heard your cries.
This is the year He’s not only bringing you out, but He’s also bringing you into a new, wide-open space where you can breathe, grow, and thrive.
Expect to see the hand of God moving in areas where you’ve felt stuck or pressed down. His grace is bringing expansion, and He is faithful to complete what He has started.
Jesus loves us more than we can imagine. He is always near, watching over us with the tender care of a loving Father.
His love for us knows no limits, and nothing in this world can separate us from it.
God wants you to walk into every room with the assurance that you are cherished by the King of kings—fully known, fully loved, and completely accepted.
We are His precious children, and He takes great delight in each one of us.
It’s time for us to step confidently into the future God has prepared for us, knowing that we are guided by His hand.
As we move forward, open the window and breathe in the fragrance of this new season.
God’s love and grace are like a fresh wind surrounding you, carrying you into spacious places filled with new opportunities and blessings.
Remember, as God’s child, you are also an heir to the throne, called to fulfill His purposes.
Romans 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…”
And Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We are not only loved but chosen, equipped to carry out the good works God has destined for us in this season of grace and expansion. Go forth in the mighty name of Jesus! 🩷
(from Tamara Jolee’s Newsletter)
May God Shalom-peace be with each of you this holiday season,
After Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi destroyed Shechem, God told Jacob to move to Bethel, where God reminded him that his name had been changed to Israel.
He then traveled to Hebron, but along the way his wife Rachel died near Ephrath (Bethlehem).
Read Genesis 35
When believers find themselves caught in the quagmire of sin and corruption, personal revival and purification are necessary.
And for Jacob this means getting back to Bethel.
35:1-5. God had seen enough. He intervened by sending Jacob back to Bethel to settle there, and build an altar there to God.
The time had come to rid the family of the stench of Shechem and their shame, but three conditions had to be met before the trip could begin:
Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.
Up to this point the only foreign gods we know about were the household idols which Rachel stole from Laban.
Now suddenly more idols appear, along with the rings in their ears, an indication that a significant portion of Jacob’s family still clung to some form of the paganism they had learned in Paddan Aram.
The purification dealt with complete washing of the body as both a literal and symbolical cleansing of the sin they left behind them.
The change of clothes depicted a new life for the return to Bethel (Gen. 41:14; Lev. 15:18; 16:23-24).
Formerly peaceful shepherds and reasonably good neighbors, Jacob’s family now carried the stigma of a pack of thugs who had to travel through alien territory.
But at least they left behind the symbol of their idolatry (quite probably including items Simeon and Levi had sacked from Shechem) under the great oak at Shechem associated with Abraham’s faith (12:6).
Unless we remove idols from our lives, they can ruin our faith.
What idols do we have? An idol is anything we put before God. Idols don’t have to be physical objects; they can be thoughts or desires.
Like Jacob, we should get rid of anything that could stand between us and God.
Thank God for His grace.
God’s grace still reigned over the patriarchal family.
We read that the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.
Even though Shechem’s rape of Dinah was wrong (Gen 34), Simeon and Levi overreacted and sinned.
Consequently, God told Jacob to move to Bethel and Hebron.
In the middle of life’s continuing problems and challenges, God reminded Jacob of his new name, Israel.
Through this reminder, God shows he is faithful to his promises.
God’s promises set believers apart. _____
Monday, December 23 The Berean by Mike Ford
Genesis 35:1-3
1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.”
In Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob made a vow that, if God would be with him, he would return to Bethel.
Instead, however, after leaving Laban, he stops first at Succoth for a time, then settles in Shechem, fifteen miles short of Bethel.
Perhaps he does not feel ready to go to Bethel, which means “House of God,” because some of his family still hold to their pagan gods.
Perhaps he feels that he knows best, and Shechem is a better spot (Bethel is about a thousand feet higher in elevation than Shechem).
God allows him this latitude, but in the Rape of Dinah and the subsequent murders (found in Genesis 34), it is obvious that God wants him to honor his promise to return to Bethel.
In Genesis 34:30, we see something else about Jacob:
Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, . . . and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.” (Emphasis ours)
This verse does not put Jacob in the best light! He appears to have been just a bit self-centered. At this point in the story, he was not thinking in terms of Dinah’s best interests, only of his own.
It seems that Jacob failed Dinah in several ways. He put her outside Shechem where she should have never been. He allowed continuing worship of pagan gods in his home. He was concerned more with his personal honor and image than that of his daughter. Moreover, he left it to his sons to deal with this tragedy rather than taking a leadership role. ____
The Bible is our Operations’ Manual for Life. As we study its pages, it becomes a lamp into our feet, giving us examples of things to do and things not to do, enabling us to learn from Israel’s mistakes.
SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 