Monday, December 5, 2016

Psalm 114 "Rise And Go!" A Personal Testimony of Healing And Triumph

Daily Bible Study for Monday December 5, 2016

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns


Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc.



“Multiplying God’s Word Around the Globe”

Chapter Reading for Today: Please read in your Bible before proceeding. Note that most translations are considered paraphrases. The Young’s Literal Translation provides a more accurate translation since he is the one who authored a concordance. Others are helpful for seeing a different perspective, but we cannot always depend on their wording. I trust this is helpful to you. If you are studying in another version, that is fine. I am studying from the KJV.

 ***Please note a change! We will look at everything for our basic study from the King James Version going forward. It is helpful to stay with one solid version as we study so as not to cause confusion. I may add other translations for specific scriptures as the Lord directs. 

One final note: I will put the scripture in italics to differentiate from my own writing. I am adding red to the letters when it is Jesus talking – just like the Bible. Thank you.

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

John 10:7, 9-10
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Psalm 114
“Rise, and Go!”
After you read today’s chapter, what comes to mind is that God can make the seemingly impossible things in life become very possible. What seems hard, dry and dead can be brought to life. If God can make water gush forth like a river from a mere stone lying on the ground, then what do you suppose He can do in your life that looks completely impossible right now? Join me today as we dive into the deep water of the word today and find out the answers to that very important question. Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father:
There was a day when the disciples asked Jesus how a man could be saved if he had a lot of money. They couldn’t see past the natural things. Jesus gave them the answer, “With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Father, we are coming to You today with the questions in our hearts that ask, “Lord, what does this mean for me?” Lord, we know that You have the answers for everything. Father, I ask You to give me the utterance and the anointing to speak forth Your message with boldness today. Give me clarity, revelation and understanding as You open our eyes to see the wonderful new things in Your word. Show us what we could not see previously. Bring to light what has been hidden in the darkness of our hearts. Help us to get the answers we need for the situations we are facing. Bring the light of Your word to our circumstances by the power of Your Holy Spirit and lead us to higher ground. Father, may this message go out unhindered and unchecked by any outside force or my flesh. Bring those who will read this and appreciate it. We will purpose in our hearts to be doers of Your word and not hearers only. Thank You for always watching over Your word to perform it in our lives. When we obey Your word, anything is possible.  There is no sea too big nor mountain too tall when You show up in our circumstances. When we work Your word, big things happen. Thank You in advance for the answers and clarity that will come to us all through this study. We believe we receive them and thank You in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
As always when I begin to read a chapter, I wonder where the Lord will take us. I can see on the surface a thing here or there, but I quickly realize that without the help of Holy Spirit, I will not be able to proceed. As I sit and meditate on what I am looking at and listen to hear the sweet voice of God speaking in my spirit, the revelations begin to come. Even as I write, new things start coming. How many times would we get the answers we need to the questions we have about our life’s issues if we would just take the time each day to do this? How many failures could we avoid?
Someday we may find out the answers to that. For now, we have the word to think on and hide in our hearts. Right here, right now, whatever we may be facing, God has the answers. It only requires taking time in His presence. There and only there can we really get the answers. Some trust in chariots (things of the world) and some trust in horses, (a man’s strength), but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God -amen!
 In verses 1-4 today, we see what happened where God’s chosen people were concerned. They were in bondage to the enemy and enslaved by them. But there came a time when their cries to the God of Jacob went up and He came to their rescue. The Lord had prepared a place for His chosen people. No longer would they be strangers dwelling in a foreign land. They would be taken by the mighty strong hand of God Almighty and risen up to rule and reign in a place that would be their own – Promised Land, a sanctuary. 
These are not just stories to tell of us of the events that happened so many thousands of years ago. No, it is so much more. It was meant by the Lord to show us what He can do for His chosen ones even today, right here, right now. He wants to show this hurting world how He can show up in every circumstance we face and shake things up and bring lasting changes, healing, deliverance and comfort.
In looking at our chapter today, we can see what things were like. We see what happened. Then we see the question – to the surrounding onlookers. In this case the earth itself was a witness to the miracles of God. Finally, in verses 7 & 8 we see the answer, the results of what happened when God arrived on the scene to help raise up His people to new heights. As we study, we would do well to put ourselves in that place. 
Let’s not think of it as “those Israelites way back then.” Rather, let’s think of it as “this is me, right here, right now.” As we go, let’s keep putting ourselves in the place of the scripture where it fits, and watch how Holy Spirit will illuminate the eyes of our hearts to see what can happen for us as we see what He did for others in the Bible stories/real life events that happened so long ago.
Let’s start with this chapter, excluding a few of the first and the last two verses. Keep this in mind as we study this lesson…
Jeremiah 30:1-22
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. 13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. 18 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.
22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
In this passage, we see the problems they faced and the promises of the Lord to step in and help. God would raise up a king to usher in the King of kings one day in the future. David would give birth to the seed that would eventually produce the word made flesh who dwelt among us – Jesus! The promises of God then belong to you and me today. That is the gospel because the gospel is always good news. Praise the Lord! In this life we face many trials. We come up against things that we just cannot see clearly. We cannot understand what is really going on beneath the surface. Left on our own, we would never really be able to get to the bottom of it. This is why the Lord so graciously sent us a Helper.
First, we needed Jesus. Then when Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent us the precious gift like the good Bridegroom He is to seal the promise that He would come back for us. He knew we would need help after He left the earth until the time when He would come back to get us. The Lord is in the business of bringing deliverance to His people. He always wants to help. He is and has always been raising up help for His people, if we choose to accept it. That help can come from Him in many forms too. It started after the fall of man and continues today in the church as people get raised up from the ash heap to help others to be brought up too. Now let’s look at some examples of others who would be raised up to help people to see Jesus for who He really is and get saved from destruction… 
Acts 8:26-39
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Here we see a man that was obviously hungry for the word of God, but as he studied the scriptures, he could not understand what he was reading. Can anyone relate to this? There was a time when I carried my Bible with me on trips and I read it daily, for years. But I wasn’t making as much progress as I could have been. The scriptures have to be spiritually discerned. We cannot lean on our own understanding. That is what I was trying to do and it was producing very little fruit. Fortunately, God’s word is more powerful than our human intellect by far.
The Eunuch wanted to see what he couldn’t see. He desired it. But he had no person to help. The Lord knew his heart and his desire for a greater understanding. When God sees that we want more of Him and His word in our lives, He will be happy to accommodate us and send the help we need. In this case, Philip was the man God chose to raise up and send to him to help him get saved and see the Lord and His word with spiritual eyes. This was a glorious day for the eunuch and he went away rejoicing in the Lord. Now he would be able to read the scriptures with the eyes of Holy Spirit living inside of him. God had delivered him from spiritual darkness - Hallelujah!
Now let’s turn our attention to another one who would be raised up to reach many people and even help the church of Jesus Christ spread across the known Gentile world. His name is Paul…
Acts 9:1-22
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
What a glorious event this was indeed! A man who even called himself the “chief of sinners” would be raised up to witness to the world at large the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. And, he would be used by the Lord through the powerful working of Holy Spirit to pen a great deal of the Bible. What a calling. After Paul saw the Light of Christ, he was never the same again. The darkness in his life had to flee! He would be a man willing to go wherever God would send him and even suffer to the point of death to carry the gospel wherever he was asked to go. Is that the cry of your heart right now saints?
Now I will share with you a dream that I had last Friday night. It took me until today to fully see what the Lord would use this dream for. He is so amazing. Who can know the depths of Him? On Saturday while I was exercising, Holy Spirit was showing me what the dream represented. I thought that I had all the answer I was going to need about it. Even Saturday morning, I had deep cries come out of my soul and did not understand what was happening. I knew the Lord was doing something. I just did not understand what. 
Little did I know that Monday was coming and would bring with it the opportunity to incorporate it in into this lesson. Even as I started writing this, I was heading down a path that was not quite on the mark, so the Lord turned me in the right direction as He began to reveal to me how my dream would fit perfectly into today’s lesson like a puzzle piece - praise His name forever.
Friday’s dream was about a heavy-set blonde lady going up a ladder. She was carrying what looked like a gallon jug in one hand while grabbing the ladder with the other hand as she took the next step. Suddenly she began to try to run up the ladder more quickly, still carrying that heavy jug. I wanted to help her. I was right behind her. I wanted to take the jug from her hands. Suddenly, she lost her grip and fell to the ground. I looked down and there she lay on the ground. It looked as if she were dead. I went to feel her heart to see if it were still beating. She laid there looking lifeless but her heart was still beating.
I had opened my bedside Bible to this before going to bed and having this dream…
Job 36:15-16
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
On Saturday night I had another dream. It was quite ugly. It was as if I was standing in a room with the man I had left my husband and children to marry back in 2003 – 13 years ago! I was looking at him. He looked very ugly – like a demon looking at me as he stood before me. I looked at him and said, “I am through with all of this.” Then I got in my car – a large brown Cadillac and began to drive away.
I was in some alley driving through a grassy field with tire tracks in it. There was a person standing there and I stopped to ask him how to get out of there. (Someone God had put in my path to show me the way out) He pointed to my right and told me the street is that way (that was the street called “straight” for me). I turned and started driving. I said, “I have to find a church – a spirit filled church.” I remember looking at a church building in the dream. This seems to line up quite perfectly with what actually happened way back then.  
Before I had left him, I had said we had to get back to God and I started going to church. Then one day I told him I was leaving. It was over. Look at what I opened to on Saturday and Sunday, within one page in two separate Bibles…
Luke 13:11-13
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Now I will share with you what the Lord spoke to my heart about this. He said…
“That was what you were carrying all those years – a spirit of infirmity. I laid my hands on you and healed you.” When I knew you were done for good with the whole thing involving that man you were never supposed to be with, I was able to reach in and begin to help you. You had to let go of it on your own. Once you did, I was able to help.”
Hallelujah! The Lord had shown me that the person behind the woman going up the ladder was Him. He had been there all along trying to help me and wanting to remove the yoke of bondage around my neck. But I went from walking on my own to running, all the while carrying that heavy burden on my own until one day, I completely lost my grip and fell to the ground. Everyone who knew me – including myself, thought it was over. Even my daughters reacted as if their mother had died and they were devastated. Everyone was shocked to see me do what I did, including myself. I was in bondage to the enemy – just like Israel was in bondage to the Egyptians which represents the devil.
Over two nights the Lord gave me separate dreams to show me things that I am learning right now in my studies as I prepare to minister to others in the Fish N Loaves Ministry along with my husband. But little did I know that He wanted to place this testimony in this Bible study today. He is always so amazing and way out in front of us. He sent people along my path to try to talk to me and point me in the right direction on more than one occasion, but I was pretty stubborn. 
I thought I could handle things on my own. The harder I tried, the worse things got. Finally, I hit the pavement and it didn’t look like there was any way out of the terrible mess I had gotten myself into. I wondered why I was still alive. I had taken enough painkillers on an empty stomach to kill anyone. And the Lord knows that death was just a few short breaths away for me.
I remember when I woke up choking on the ventilator, I was angry to discover that I was still alive. I was not messing around when I tried to end my life. I was 100% serious and I made sure that I took enough pills to do the job. I did not ever want to wake up on this planet again. As I laid there on the hospital gurney in front of a staff of doctors and nurses in the critical care unit, I looked up toward heaven and said, “why am I still here God? I have made a mess of everything.” I didn’t hear any answers at that moment. In fact, it took quite a few months before I would even begin to get the answers to why God had spared my life that dreadful day in April of 2004.
By the time I really surrendered my life to Him in October of 2005, I found that there was a reason I was still alive. I did not know what my future would hold. The details in my life were quite a mess. My reputation was destroyed among family friends, coworkers and the neighbors. My children wanted nothing to do with me and my finances were completely wiped out. I was broke and went bankrupt. I was homeless and unemployed. I had a long way to climb to even get to ground level, much less be in a place where I could begin to make any real progress.
The devil had a field day with me and my thinking was really a mess. I was in a lot of bondage and the Lord was right there, pointing me in the way I should go. I began to walk toward Him more and more. The more I did that, the more I fell in love with Him. And the more that happened, the things began to become clear. Over a period of 11 short but intense years, He has brought me to a place of great victory and success – praise His name forever. He took what I couldn’t see spiritually and made it plain to me by His Holy Spirit. He showed me the way I should go, and as I willingly took each step He was showing me, He would reveal more.
That is how it has been over these past few days. First the dream on Friday. Then the dream on Saturday. And I had yet another dream on Sunday night that showed me giving birth. The water was dirty. I was trying to step into some water but others had been in there before me and made the water dirty. As I was getting into the large tub of water (looked like a big hot tub) I thought “we have to pull the plug and drain this and fill it with clean water.” Then the water would become clear. As I write this I am getting revelation even now.
These dreams and their purpose is becoming clear to me now even as I step into explaining them in this Bible study. What had been dirty in my life had to be cleaned by the living water of Holy Spirit (Jesus) living inside of me. I had been like a dry, dead rock. But God wanted to produce offspring in my life. He wanted me to give birth to spiritual children and produce much fruit (offspring) by His anointing on my life. Even my husband spoke it out of his mouth yesterday as we ate lunch after church. We had just witnessed to our sweet young waitress and told her how to ask Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. Then my husband said that I would have many spiritual children.
But the water had to become clear for me first. Then I could give birth to others by telling them the gospel. On the way to church my husband just said at random (I thought), “Look over there where they are working on the highway expansion. They are pulling up a lot of roots.” I thought that was rather profound considering the not so pleasant dream I had had on Saturday about the man I had left my husband and children for.
I had not even told my husband or another soul about these dreams until right now. I believe the Lord is pulling the roots of all that bad stuff out of my heart by bringing it into the light. Now look at the scripture I pulled today from my little memory card box…
John 3:21
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Lord wanted to bring all this out by the roots into the light for me so it would never trouble me again. And He is using me as an example to you. He wants you to know that He wants to do the same thing for you. He wants to make the water clear in your life and pull up those dark roots hiding in the canyons of your heart. Once He gets it into His light, the devil no longer has a hold on us. I am sitting here absolutely amazed at all this. Never before have I experienced such a thing – glory to God. What He has done for me He wants to do for you. What it hidden must be revealed so satan no longer has a hold of any kind on our hearts – hallelujah!
Matthew 10:26
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Now look at the verse the Lord showed me today…
Acts 26:16
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Friends, only God could raise this dead girl from the ash heap and use her for His purpose. And what He did for me He will do for you – I will say it again. If we submit ourselves to Him completely, there is no limit to what He can do in us and through us. We are on a magnificent journey with Him. Day by day, even as we minister to others, He will minister to us and help us in ways we cannot imagine. I never would have been able to come up with all this in ten million years or eternity. It could only be God.
There are three main points to consider from today’s study…

God wants to bring you into His sanctuary.
When the Lord steps in on our behalf, every devil in hell will tremble
Nobody is too far gone for God to raise up as a servant for His purposes

Questions:

What stood out the most to you in this lesson?

In what way could you relate to my testimony?

How will this change your thinking going forward?

What will you do differently from this time on?

Who can you share this study with?

What is God raising you up to do?

Let’s pray…



Heavenly Father:

I stand amazed at Your glory, power, love and healing in my life. I am so grateful. You are my strength, my hope, my Cornerstone. You are faithful. The mountains may tumble but the righteous won’t fall. I’m trusting in You Father through it all. I put my hope in You Lord - all of my hope in You. Thank You for all You have done for me. Now I ask Lord that You would raise many up to be a witness to Your mighty grace, mercy and power to heal, deliver and comfort all those who mourn under the oppression of the enemy. Thank You for helping us Lord and uncovering the dark places in our (my) hearts. Bring glory to Yourself in me in Jesus name. Amen.

And God Said… You fill in the blanks.

             
Matthew 22:1-14

22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.


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