STEADFAST (IS OUR GOD)

1 Samuel 24 Read for better understanding

The Scene:The Holy Cross made of very strong structural steel”H” beams, symbolic of the steadfastness of our Lord Jesus. The huge base represents the strong foundation of Jesus that is rooted in the Father’s love.

In 1 Samuel 24 King Saul has been in pursuit of David. The Lord delivers Saul into David’s hands, in the cave, near the crags of the wild goats at En Gedi. David, however, takes the high road and does not kill Saul but tells him, “I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lords anointed.” To which Saul replies,” You are more righteous than I.” David remained steadfast in the Lord.

We are called to follow Jesus’ example. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

As the time drew near for Jesus to die on the cross, He remained steadfast.

Luke 9:51 “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2017; Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to original content.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures quoted are NIV

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                                                              UNITY OF THE FAITH

John 17:20-22 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are one in me and I am in you. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.”

The Scene: The holy sacraments- one of the tenets of the faith, of the Christian Church.

1 Corinthians 10:17 “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are the one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united.”

Jesus, from the beginning,wanted and expected the church to be one with Him and the Father.

Matthew 26:25b-26 ” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,’Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,’Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the  covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'”

The holy sacraments are to be taken as spiritual food and as a unifier of the faithful.

John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world.”

John 6:35 “Then Jesus declared,’I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'”

The Church cannot be the Church without the cleansing of the blood of Jesus the Christ of Nazareth.

Hebrews 9:22 “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2017; Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to original content.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures quoted are NIV

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                          KEY TO SALVATION

Isaiah 33:6 “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”

The Scene: A symbol of the cross of Jesus, in the form of a key. Christ is the key that unlocks the treasures of heaven to believers in Jesus the Christ their Savior.

He who obeys God’s Word and commandments has the fear of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 10:12 ” And now O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Psalm 31:19 “How great is your goodness, which has been stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2017; Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to original content.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures quoted are NIV

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                                                      MORNING STAR II

2 Peter 1:19 ” And we have  the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

The Scene: A symbolic morning star as the love of Jesus that shines in the hearts of true believers–those who have been awakened to the Truth of His Word.

“When the light of the Scripture is datted into the dark understanding by the Holy Spirit of God, then the spiritual day dawns and the day- star arises in that soul. This enlightening of a dark benighted mind is like the day-break that spreads and diffuses itself through the whole soul, till it makes perfect day. It is a growing knowledge. All who do truth come to this light, while evil-doers keep at a distance from it.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary p. 1950- Copyright Zondervan 1961)

2 Peter 1:20 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2017; Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to original content.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures quoted are NIV

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GOD’S BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 2:1-5 “My Son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

The Scene: God’s complete Book of Knowledge, represented by the Holy Bible.

No other book on earth has all the answers to life’s questions. God’s Word can help us in every situation.

Hosea 4:6b “ My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God.”

We can gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding by reading daily His Holy Word, the Bible.

Romans 11:33-36 DOXOLOGY: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

Psalm 119:105 “ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2017; Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to original content.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures quoted are NIV

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                                               LOVE FOR CHRIST

Song of Solomon: 8:6-7 “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”

The Scene: Love of the Lord’s seal on the heart, symbolic of God’s heart.

As children of God we long to be in God’s love.

“Let me have a place in thy heart, an interest in thy love. Be though my high priest;  let my name be written on thy breast-plate nearer thy heart. Let thy power be engaged for me, as evidence of thy love to me; let me not only a seal upon thy heart, but a seal upon thy arm; let me be ever borne up in thy arms, and know it to my comfort.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary- Copyright Zondervan 1961)

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

Romans 8:38-39 ” For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2017; Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com, with appropriate and specific direction to original content.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures quoted are NIV

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