MAN’S FOOLISHNESS

Isaiah 45:21-22 “This is what the Lord says,’Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.'”

The Scene: A wooden carving made into an idol.

Isaiah 46:6-7 ” Some pour gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make a god and they bow down and worship it.”

Today there are many people practicing idolatry.  Idolatry takes many forms;iIt can be people, money, their own bodies, false gods, sports figures, false images like this wooden idol, animals.  Man’s idea of a god to worship is endless. But there is but one true God.

Psalm 135:15-18 “The idols of nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”

Romans 1:22-23 “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals.”

For the results of this idolatry read Romans 1:24-32

Idol worship will not help people in their time of need. Nor will they have the love and caring which human kind both needs and seeks.

Mark 12:28-30 ” One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’  ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this:”Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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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3-51

                                                  ROCK OF LIVING WATER

Psalm 114:7-8 “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.”

The Scene: A type and shadow of Jesus the Christ as a rock of water representing the Word of God. This same scene is played out many times in the Holy Scriptures, beginning in the first book of the Bible (See Genesis 49:24).

John 1:1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

 Exodus 17:6 ” I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock and water will come out of it for the people to drink.  So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Revelation 7:17 ” For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to the springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The Spirit and the bride say come!  For those who believe in Him, love Him, obey Him, Jesus is our life, and His bride will obey His Word.

John 4:14 ” The Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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.

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3-49

                                                                             ASK OF GOD

Exodus 28:6: “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen–the work of a skilled craftsman.”

The Scene: a replica of an ephod* as described in Exodus 28:6. Moses describes here the ephod, which was to be worn by his brother Aaron, the appointed high priest.

*The ephod was worn to make inquiries of the Lord. The Urim and the Thummim stones we used to hear from God, by oracles, to make right decisions and give the people direction. As Christians, descendants of Abraham, we have been given the Holy Spirit as our ephod. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and Jesus is our High Priest, the wearer of the ephod, and our protector.

Jesus is our light. He is ever-present with us and His disciples can count on Him at all times. We have the opportunity to ask of God for His help in making decisions for our lives.

NOTE: 1)The High Priest is chosen only by Father God. 2) Answers from God are called oracles. 3) Urim means light. 4) Thummim means perfection.  (See John 8:12.)

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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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3-47

                                                                   GOD’S PROMISES

2Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

The Scene: A long royal blue ribbon-looking list– symbolic of all God’s promises; God’s presence seen by the brightly lit cloud.

Promises of God, listed in the Bible, made to His children, who trust, fear and believe in Him, through His only-begotten Son,  Jesus Christ.

James 1:20 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.”

God tests those He loves ~~we will be tested through trials and temptations, throughout our lives so that we’ll become spiritually mature and help others to become overcomers, also.

John 10:28 ” I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

Revelation 3:21 ” To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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.

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3-48

                                                                MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY

Isaiah 40:3 “ A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.'”*

The Scene:  A straight** highway in the desert. **Straight, a Saxon root word,  has many meanings:  1)reach, stretch, right; all words having to do with maturity.                          People, including those in the church, lack growth in spiritual maturity;                        2)straight also refers to the word strait, which means narrow, used interchangeably with straight, according to Merriam-Webster 1828 edition; and 3) used as a math term meaning right, as in the word upright~~ that is, not deviating or going crooked, to the left or right.

Proverbs 4:27 “Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

*John the Baptist in Matthew 3:2 said,”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah.” John the Baptist is quoting what Isaiah had said some 700-plus years before John’s birth.  Isaiah was a type and shadow of John the Baptist, who was to come.  This is a call to holiness—to bring godly leadership to all levels of government in these United States of America.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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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3-46

                                                        ANCHORED TO THE ROCK

Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us entered on our behalf. He is our high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

 The Scene: A Kansas limestone post rock in a park, appears as the number one, with linked chain attached.

Our Lord is solid as a rock, we can depend on Him. Like the chains in the picture, we can stay connected to Jesus our  Rock. He said in His Word,”Fear not for I am with you.” Trust in Him. This world will let you down.

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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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                                                            ARMOR-BEARER

1 Samuel 14:6-7 “Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, ‘Come let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows.  Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.  Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.'”

The Scene: A shield – a symbol representing God’s protection for us.

Like Jonathan’s armor-bearer the Holy Spirit is with us. He carries us and helps us put on His protective armor. He goes before us as our armor-bearer. The Holy Spirit said, “I am with you, heart and soul.”

Our job is to be obedient to God’s call, putting on the whole armor of God as an act of faith.  (See Ephesians 6:10-11)  God goes before His children and fights our spiritual battles. We, however, are called to stand and be courageous and must be as might warriors– then we must stand and be still.

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

God’s Word is truth. His promises are true. We need only obey. Our job is to pray and praise our Lord for the victory.

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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.

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                                                         COMPLETE IN ME

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

The Scene: A well-built cabin in a peaceful setting–rolling hills in the background with 3 birds overlooking the scene, symbolic of the holy Trinity.

Psalm 121:1 “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

The flesh wants to be in control. Control too often appears to a person as,”Here, let me help and let’s get this done, now.”  The Scripture tells us, “Unless the Lord builds,” (leads) we should not expect good results, nor good results when we try to take the lead without God’s help.

Isaiah 41:1 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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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                                                    FIRM FOUNDATION

1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Building a strong foundation in a Christian’s life, at the beginning of our Christian walk, will produce great results for the Christian and for the Kingdom of God.

The Scene: The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy):  the tower is an attraction, a curiosity, but its original purpose has been abandoned. Form follows function, a theory credited to the father of the modern skyscraper, Lewis H. Sullivan,* an American architect of the 19th Century. L.H. Sullivan was thought to be the first person to put to use building materials of  structural steel framing, embedded in deep concrete piers and footings, upon which the steel beams could rest. This allowed the walls to be small, narrow, compared to the old wall made of rock. This, in turn, allowed for tall buildings to be built upon smaller spaces.  * The real theorist was a Roman architect named Marcus Vitruvius who said a building needs three elements:  1) be solid 2) be useful 3) be beautiful.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

We become living structures, called, chosen by God. The Christian foundation is built on God’s Holy Word, which helps people who follow Jesus Christ to be faithful. There are some that believe “function follows form” and have buildings that are less functional/ useful than they could be; so it is with people who choose not to follow God’s Word as He wrote it.

1 Peter 2:4-5 ” As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him–you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Timothy 6:18-19 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

Copyright: Larry Helms & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2021; 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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                                                                                   PEACE

Matthew 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

The Scene: A peaceful scene of a meandering stream, the sound of the trickling waters— representation of God’s peace, His living water flowing through a peaceful land.

“Be in peace, My people,” the Lord said. ” For when you lose your peace the enemy, the devil, can come in like a flood, to steal, kill and destroy. Loss of  your peace shows lack of trust in Me.”

Isaiah 48:18 “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

The Lord says, “You can find Me easily when at peace. In unrest you move away from Me. Follow after peace and stay near to Me, for these are perilous times.*

*peril: imminent danger, exposure to risk. (Merriam-Webster dictionary)

Psalm 34:14 “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Give Jesus all praise in all circumstances and the enemy must flee.

Copyright: Larry & Kathy Helms; hsvisions.wordpress.com 2014-2016; 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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