In His Presence Radio

Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[a] The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back. Numbers 22:31-34 (Living Bible).

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, John 3:14The children of Israel were being attacked by fiery snakes until they repented and Moses lifted up the bronze snake.We must all look up to Jesus so that we might be saved.

 Then the Lord descended in the Cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam, step forward,” he commanded; and they did.  And the Lord said to them, “Even with a prophet, I would communicate by visions and dreams;  but that is not how I communicate with my servant Moses. He is completely at home in my house! With him, I speak face-to-face! And he shall see the very form of God! Why then were you not afraid to criticize him?”   Number 12:5-8 Living BibleMoses was a friend to God and spoke to Him face to face. As His children, we must guard our time with God and spend time in prayer and Bible study. 

So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family. Numbers 2:34The family is the building box of society. Families may be biological,., chosen or it may be a church family..  Everyone needs a family. It is where we find strength and encouragement.

Promises are wonderful when they reveal great gifts and a bright future.  In today's scripture, we are reminded that God's Word contained great promises for the people of God but also warnings about the consequences of disobedience.

‘Do not lie about the weight or price of anything.  Always tell the truth about it. I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt.  Lev.19:35-36Questions about the episode?  Ask here:https://swellai.com/chat/01gzw2ar19g20r08c0t2pafmt2

Show respect to the person with white hair. Honor an older person and you will honor your God. I am the Lord.                  Levitites 19:32 (NLV)We must honor and respect the older individuals among us. 

Pastor James Willis teaches at the Resurrection Power Church, Consider.

Part I Pastor James Willis, the guest speaker at Resurrection Power church,  teaches from the book of Job, Consider.

 Share in a time of transforming power of praise and prayer at Resurrection Power Church.

" so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,  and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.” Leviticus 10:10-11.(NIV).Know the Word, Live the Word, and Teach the Word faithfully. This is the responsibility of everyone called to serve in the house of God.

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; Leviticus 10:10 Leaders must be willing to hold themselves to a higher standard.  They must  know, understand, and faithfully teach the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean 

The Levites were educated on God's requirements of them as priests and the requirements for the Tabernacle. God has specific requirements that need to be fulfilled including the need to come before God in holiness.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)God has prepared you to do  a great work and he will bring it to pass. 

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Exodus 6:9God sent a message that expressed what He would do for His people. There were seven I will statements in today's lesson but the people were so discouraged they seemed to miss the message. We can't afford to miss what God is saying. He will deliver and care for His people. we can depend on Him.

“Forget the former things;     do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing!     Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness     and streams in the wasteland.  Isaiah 43: 18-19.   We stand on the edge of a New Year ready to begin our journey.  Some are looking back and some looking forward. At this moment in history what is the Lord saying to our hearts and minds?

The scriptures spoke of Christ's coming and he fulfilled the prophecies. For to us a child is born,     to us a son is given,     and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace     there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne     and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it     with justice and righteousness     from that time on and forever.  Isaiah  9:6-7(NIV)

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.'” Exodus 3:14 (NIV).God is present with us now and in the future. We can always depend on Him.

God asked Moses a critical question, "What's in your hand?  Moses saw a staff but that staff it became symbolic of the wonder-working power of God.  We all have something in our hands  We all have something God can use to do great things..

Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.  Exodus 3:5-6 (NIV).Moses had fled his home and started his life over when he realized that God was using everything in his life, to prepare him for his assignment. God takes note of us even when we think He doesn't see us or remember us..

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams.” Genesis 37: 19-20.Joseph's dream seemed impossible and yet it came to pass. When God gives us a dream we can be sure the Lord will bring the dream to pass in our lives.Image is courtesy of Free Bible Image

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Genesis 17:17 (KJV)When God makes a promise we can depend on it no matter how long it takes. Abraham and Sarah waited years for their son, Isaac but God kept his Word.  He will also keep His Word to us. . God has spoken destiny into our lives. Hold on to it and He will bring it to pass.

In The BeginningJames Weldon Johnson captures the beauty of the message of the Black Preacher in the Creation.  In the beginning, there was God. It is He who was then and is now.  It is He that loves and created us with His own hand. It is God who loves us more than anyone else.

Elder Charles Mayle pastor of the Morning Star Church of God in Christ shares the message, You Can Win.   Christians can be victorious when they put their faith in Jesus.  He will give joy and peace.

 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.'  Revelation 14:13 (NIV)Author, Terrell Lewis, shares the encouraging and hopeful message in the book of Revelation.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away  Revelation 21:4 There is a day coming when suffering and pain will end.  It is a day when all of the people of God will be gathered together in the presence of God. and rejoice.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11There is power in the blood.(image credit-quotemaster.org)

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.  Revelation 3:1-2John urges the church to wake up before it is too late and finish the work the Lord has assigned.Photo by Zac Durant

“But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.  Rev 2: 4-5   Living Bible

Jude encourages and warns the church before he commits them to the Lord, the one who will keep them safe.Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:4-5.

 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. + It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (III John 1: 1-4)

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. II John 1:6John encourages the people of God to walk in obedience  and faith on their Christian journey.

 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. I John 5:4Through our faith the Lord will grant us the victory..

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:7-8 NIVLove is both the easiest and hardest thing to do. It is both the easiest and most difficult gift to give. 

 But those who keep on sinning are against God, for every sin is done against the will of God.  And you know that he became a man so that he could take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him, no missing of God's will at any time in any way.  So if we stay close to him, obedient to him, we won't be sinning either; but as for those who keep on sinning, they should realize this: They sin because they have never really known him or become his. I John3:4-6 (New Living Translation)When we stay close to God we can live a life that is pleasing to Him.

 Evangelist Sharon Blevins shares a powerful message at the Ohio West Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Women's Convention where Dr. Mother Barbara A. Jackson is the Jurisdictional Supervisor.  Evangelistic Sharon Blevins is the District Missionary for the Mansfield District, Ohio North 1st Jurisdiction..The entire message, as well as other speakers, can be heard at http://stjamescc.com/. St. James was the host church for the Ohio West Women's Convention. Bishop James DeLaney is the Pastor. 

Evangelist Sharon Blevins shares a powerful message at the Ohio West Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Women's Convention where Dr. Mother Barbara A. Jackson is the Jurisdictional Supervisor.  Evangelistic Sharon Blevins is the District Missionary for the Mansfield District, Ohio North 1st Jurisdiction..The entire message, as well as other speakers, can be heard at http://stjamescc.com/. St. James was the host church for the Ohio West Women's Convention. Bishop James DeLaney is the Pastor.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.I John 2:15 (NIV).Our greatest love must always be for God.Read full chapter

. Correction: The scripture is from the KJV not the NIV as noted in the podcast.And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. I John 1:4John writes that the joy of the Saints might be full and complete. Christ is there and even when happiness fades they can have joy.

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  I John 1:9

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: II Peter 3:1-2

Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better.  For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! (II Peter 1:2-3 Living Bible)

 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.I Peter 5:7You are never alone. God is there to help share the burden.

Love has a forgiving nature and the ability to forget what God has forgiven in others.

Peter shares the secret to true beauty.

 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. I Peter 2: 9-10God's people are  both special and chosen. They  are in the world but are different from the world .

 For,“All people are like grass,  and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;the grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of the Lord endures forever.” I Peter 1:24-25.The Word of God stands no matter what comes and goes. The Word endures.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13Giving our best means taking the time to develop our talents and ,knowledge and using  them for the Lord.

See, I am doing a new thing!     Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness     and streams in the wasteland. Isa 43:19 God is doing a new thing in and for His people.

 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Matthew 2:9-10 What will we give to Jesus today?

. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James    2:26 (NIV) Body and spirt are connected, one visible, one invisible but the impact of the invisible will be see in the physical world .