God's Recent Loving Instruction to me

The letter below is a combination of the words God downloaded in my spirit and through the Word of God during the past 3 days of seeking His face for specific direction concerning a major decision I had to make. God is good!

My dear daughter Elsie,

You are the head not the tail. If you fully obey me your Lord your God and carefully follow all my commands I will set you high above the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed. You will always have what you need. You will be blessed when you come and blessed when you go out. Your enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. I your God will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. I will bless you in every land I bring and give you to. I your God will establish if you keep my commands and walk in obedience to me.  This I will do so the peoples on earth will see that you are called by my name, and they will fear you. I will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, and in every work of your hand.  The fruit of your labor shall be fruitful as well, for I the Lord your God will bless them too. I will open the heavens, the storehouse of my bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. Again I will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to my commands that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Be careful not to turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Elsie before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.  I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.  Do not say, Lord who am I that I must speak in your name. Never look at your gender nor your age or your ethnicity. Instead you must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of anyone, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord. I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. So get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.  Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

My daughter Elsie, this is only the beginning, walk in humility before me for I shall build you a platform. As I have declared before, you shall stand before kings and rulers and you shall say the words I will give you. Only be careful to do that which I only tell you. I the God of Abraham is the same God who called you. I am leading you to your promise land, do not fear the giants, do not fear the challenges, for I your God am with you. I shall direct you and grant you victory. You shall overcome the giants. Trust in me. As I have led Joshua to overcome and to conquer even in His old age so shall I do with you. I have given you a warring heart, but remember your strength and victory lies in me, your God Almighty, the One who delivers from generation to generation. Do not fear, I say to you but consecrate yourself unto me for tomorrow I shall do great and mighty things before you, so that through you my name may be glorified.

Elsie your predecessor’s season is over. You are his Joshua. You are the one who will bring the school to cross the Jordan into the land I have destined for it to go. Do not be terrified because I will give to you every place where you set your foot. As I have been faithful with your predecessor I shall be faithful to you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and take courage because you will lead the people I will give you to be in the place I want it to be.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to honor the work of your predecessor. Build on what he started. Obey my commands. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  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.

Have a strategic planning with everyone in the place I am bringing you the soonest possible. Start working on an audit of the things you already have, and the provisions you will need. Start making a list for this is a task I am giving you for your own.

Do not worry for the people I will give you to do the work will obey you and will follow your instructions. As they have been supportive of your predecessor, so they shall they support you for I the Lord your God who worked and gave success to your predecessor is the same God  who will be with you.  Those who follow you will recognize my presence in your life, only be strong and courageous.

See even before you start, I am already preparing the hearts of people. Your enemies will tremble and surrender to my Lordship and my will. Because of the mighty works and miracles I will fulfill through your hands, the fear of the Lord and my might and recompense shall be upon them. Those who follow you shall have their reward. They too shall prosper in the work of their hands. Now remember this do not forget I am the God who gives you success. Be careful to give me the glory for all things, flow in my direction, flow in my power, flow in my love, flow in my wisdom. Then through your life my name will be lifted up and the fear of the Lord shall be upon my people.

Stay in the presence of God. Watch the ark of the covenant. Where it goes you go, for I your God will lead you. I am your faithful Father. Because you have never been this way before I shall guide you with my presence, so you may know which way to go. But I warn you to honor my presence and to conduct yourself in a manner that is pleasing to me. Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.

Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of my people, so they may know that I am with you as I was with your predecessor. When you step into that water in faith, I shall perform wonders in your midst. I shall cause you to declare amazing things and I shall do that which I have caused you to speak. As I fulfill the words I have given you, I will elevate you in the sight of the people you lead. I will do this because I have called you and anointed you to do this.

Do as I have commanded you and know that I will always be with you to the end of the age.

Love,

Your Heavenly Father

What the year 2012 will be for you

 The post below is an entry in my electronic journal at the onset of this year. Even if it is a bit late for me to post this now, I believe some of you who may read this may still receive the blessing that year 2012 brings. God bless you as you read what I feel (from just reading the Word of God) year 2012 willl be.

It has been my habit since 2007 to ask God as to what each year brings. I trusted that if I seek God for His will He will be faithful to reveal it to me. So as I was approaching year 2012,  I sought the Lord. Below is what I believe year 2012 is going to be.

Year 2012 will be a year of healing among the people of God both physically and spiritually.  Biblically the number 12 points to the congregation of God, hence there are 12 sons of Jacob, 12 apostles and the stars of the woman mentioned in Revelation 12 points to the congregation of the Lord. Just as Jesus raised a 12 year old damsel from the dead, year 2012 will also see to the healing of the church from deadness. As Jesus healed a woman which had an issue of blood for 12 years so shall God heal many sicknesses this year amongst His people.  Implicit in the healing of the woman with issue of blood for 12 years is the truth that year 2012 will also be time of healing from uncleanness and unrighteousness. God will heal so people may know He is God.  

Year 2012 is also a year of shaking of world governments so God’s authority and truth may prevail.  All these shaking of the nations are to come to past because eventually they will usher to the worship of the One and Only Ruler and Righteous King. 

Year 2012 will also saw to many new beginnings even structural foundation of organizations that God will raise or freshly pour His Spirit upon. It is a year when the Spirit’s anointing will be great among those who God has chosen. Those who God has chosen to lead govern wisely and righteously.

2012 is also a year of God’s provision of deliverance for His people. Just as God raised 12 Judges in Israel to use them to bring deliverance to Israel during a difficult time under the hands of the enemies, so shall God raised modern day judges to bring deliverance to His people.

Finally year 2012 will also be a year of great perseverance of the Church due to God’s faithfulness. Just as 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes are saved during the Great tribulation, so shall God’s people experience a strengthening in their inner men. Thus in the midst of difficulty and adversity, the people of God shall persevere and overcome.

When God speaks...He sure hits the mark!

Just recently I entered into a fast for two reasons: (1.) Fix my troubled heart before the Lord and (2.) Seek specific direction concerning some things He has been speaking to me about to do. In the next few days I will be sharing highlights of my intimate encounter with the Lord during this personal retreat.

As I mentioned earlier the first reason for my fast was to fix my troubled heart. Life after moving to the USA has been a mixture of a lot of things. While everyday, I wake up to a loving presence of a godly husband who has been a tremendous blessing to me since the day we got married, living in the west has its challenges. One of these challenges is feeling of alienation and missing everything that is Asian. I miss being able to freely share what is in my heart with friends back in my home country. Here I soon learned that people are not as comfortable to listen to confidences. Private matters are supposed to be that..private. I guess that is the reason why psychiatry is a booming profession in this land. Though happily married, a part of me felt empty and alone. Thankfully God gave me a husband who supported me through this time. In spite of this, I knew that no one can ever fix how I feel except my LORD hence the fast.

First day of fast, God led me to read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19. While meditating on the life of Elijah  God met me where I was, by confronting my sense of alienation. Elijah's complains..."It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." (I Kings 19:4)... "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."(I Kings 19:10;14)... resonated with me. As my heart repeatedly grumbled, God repeatedly addressed  my murmurings with compassion..."Arise and eat" the Lord told me, "because the journey is too great for you."As I pondered on God's word, I slowly found rest and fullness in the feast that He has served before me through His word. 

While in the room enjoying my personal retreat the word of the Lord came to me..."What are you doing here", Elsie? It was a question that exposed everything that was wrong in my heart...then God's words came clearly...What are your doing Elsie? Stand before me and be still and hear my words...Go back to to what I have called you to do. Do not think you are alone for I have preserved the lives of many who have remained faithful to me in the midst of many trials. As the Lord spoke these words, He brought my attention  to the manifold sufferings other faithful servants of the Lord are currently going through. My mind went to a friend in Libya who is trapped there and is waiting deliverance…I thought of another missionary friend who lost a son while serving as missionaries in another country...Indeed I am not alone in my pain and I will never be alone even in suffering, because so many people who are faithfully serving the Lord are also experiencing trials and tribulations…Realizing this my heart was changed from a position of neediness to a position of intercession. I then prayed for all my brothers and sisters all over the world, who are going through tough times like I do. I prayed that God’s comforting words be upon them….that each one of them may also learn to walk in the grace and mercy that God has made available to them each waking day of their life.

It is amazing how suffering and pain has a tendency to make one feel alone and alienated…Elijah felt it…I felt it….But thanks be to God for refocusing my eyes to see the reality that I will never be alone…Even in times when I think I am, somewhere around the world there are thousands maybe millions of saints in the same situation that I am…maybe even worse situation that I am…In times of suffering God is there too…In fact He spoke to Elijah. 

Thank you Lord for speaking to me and showing me this truth. You are truly ONE amazing GOD. Thank you for compassionately meeting and correcting me. Amen.

God's word for me for 2011 Part 3

"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'

Matthew 20:6-7

The 11th hour pertains to the last working hour of the day. A lot of people think not much can be accomplished in an hour. In fact many laborers start preparing to head home on the 11th hour (last working hour of the day).In this passage we see potential workers standing idly in the market place "all day". If you are one of this men howwould you feel? There is something about unemployment that is discouraging or disheartening. By the 11th hour these men must have lost hope.Thankfully the landowner had a different view of the 11th hour. The 11th hour to him presented opportunity to hire some more people until before the closing of the work day. So, he sets out looking for more workers in his field. There are several insights I glean from these passages.

First is the 11th hour ushers in opportunity...

(a)  to bring in the harvest. This is something that the landowner saw. The opportunity was so great for him that he did not mind paying a day's wage for a laborer who will work his field for only an hour. What would be willing to pay to bring in the harvest?

(b)   To encourage those around us to work in the vineyard. Can you imagine how encouraged those men who were employed on the 11th hour were? After a day long of rejection from potential employers someone finally hired them. 

(c)   To seek for workers and enlist ourselves as workers. The landowner went out seeking for workers not just one or two or three times during the day to seek for workers in the field. At the last hour, he went out again and hired some more to bring in the harvest. We too must assume the attitude of the landowner. We must encourage each other to work in God's vineyard. In fact we must encourage ourselves to be a worker in God's vineyard.

Secondly the 11th hour can be an hour of hope, restoration and breakthrough. As mentioned earlier the unemployed men who waited until the 11th hour to be hired must have felt discouraged and felt like a failure. As they watched the sun set their hopes diminished and darkness started to envelop their spirits. Yet like the landowner the 11th hour does not have to make us feel like it is too late. A breakthrough is still possible on the 11th hour. At the end of the day those who were hired on the 11th hour were paid a whole day's wage. What would have happened if they gave up and just reasoned..."yeah right just how much will I earn working for an hour? But they did not. They agreed to work for the landowner on the 11^th hour and they were rewarded beyond what they have expected. 

In conclusion the 11^th hour can be an hour of disaster or utter waste or an hour of opportunity or breakthrough. How the 11th hour will be for us will depend on the attitude and the choices we make. I pray today that we will make the right choice and allow the Lord to use us even if we feel we have wasted so much time and it seemed like it is too late to start now.God is calling you this 11th hour and is telling you ...I want to hire you to work my vineyard....What would be your response?

God's word for me for 2011 Part 2

   "About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'" 

Matthew 20:6

The second message God gave me upon meditating on the 11th hour as stated in the passage above is "11th hour is an hour of flexibility and willingness to move as the Lord moves us." 

Much still needed to be done on the 11th hour. Not wanting his harvest to be wasted the landowner went out to hire "them" (emphasis on plural form of the pronoun) to work his vineyard during the 11th hour. This probably was not the original plan of the landowner. After all he did go out first thing in the morning to seek workers. But as the days went by he must have realized more workers were needed to work in his vineyard to gather the harvest, so as needs mount before him he went out to the marketplace in search for more workers. He did what needed to be done so his harvest won't be wasted. He hired men to work in his vineyard not just one time but four times even  up to the last working hour. Think about it, all the workers even those who work during the last hour were paid in full (denarius) according to Scriptures. What an investment! Such willingness to make necessary changes and be flexible as needs arose. Obviously the landowner in the parable was not a perfect planner for he was not able to project how much workers he needed initially. But this brings encouragement to me. As God's worker I need not know all things, I just have to be flexible and be willing to flow with what God is instructing me to do to bring in His harvest. The landowner's disposition also points me to the truth of how much the Lord values the harvest. Today in many churches the first ministry that is often let go in times of financial difficulty is missions. Many of us Christians do the same. From this parable I learn it should not be so. The harvest has to be brought in whatever the cost is.

What about those who was hired during the last hour? They could have argued...What could be done in one hour? What's the point of being employed now? You are hiring me for one hour of work? Yeah right? Notice that the promise of a denarius payment was given only to those who were hired to work in his vineyard at the beginning of the working day. In fact based on the response of those who were first hired, they expected that those who work less hours were going to be paid less than them? From this one can surmise, that was customary during that time. But without question those who were hired during the 11th hour followed the landowner and worked his vineyard for an hour. At the end of the one full hour they worked they all were paid a denarius same with those who worked at the start of the day. An insight I get from this is great reward awaits those who obey the voice of the Lord even if obedience came at the 11th hour.

We live at a time of great harvest. Even Jesus saw this almost 2000 years ago. In Matthew 9:37 "He said to his disciples ( that includes you and me), "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. This word of Jesus stands true today. The question is when the Lord of the harvest comes knocking at our doors will we be willing to obey and work in his vineyard regardless of the cost we will have to pay?

Blessings to you who read this. May His word bring encouragement to your heart and may it lead you to the path of obedience today. Amen

God's word for me for 2011 Part 1

AS I sought God’s word for me for this year I was drawn to a passage in Matthew 20:6 

“  And about the eleventh hour he( landowner)  went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

My eyes locked in the phrase  “eleventh hour”.  Eleventh house is an expression that means “a time which is nearly too late” or “the last possible moment at which something can be done, or which problems or solutions might arise. Some expressions in today’s lingo that comes to mind are “last minute”, a now or never situation. In the context of Matthew 20 the 11th hour refers to the last working hour of the day which is probably around 5 in the afternoon. 

As I meditated on this passage, God gave me the following messages that I feel is His word for me for the year 2011. 

Message 1: Start to initiate. Waiting time is over. Put an end to procrastination. Today is the appointed day. Lay aside idleness and get to work. 

As mentioned earlier the eleventh hour is equated to our current day expression "last minute". It is interesting that in spite of the fact that the landowner went out 4 times during the day looking for workers that on the fourth time he goes out seeking workers he still found men who were standing idle in the marketplace obviously just waiting for someone to hire them. Was there a dearth of employers that they remained unemployed almost the entire day? I do not think that was the case. For the Hebrew people, as for those in any agricultural district today, the harvest was a most important season (Gen 8:22; 45:6). Events were reckoned from harvests (Gen 30:14; Josh 3:15; Jdg 15:1; Ruth 1:22; 2:23; 1 Sam 6:13; 2 Sam 21:9; 23:13). The three principal feasts of the Jews corresponded to the three harvest seasons (Ex 23:16; 34:21,22); (1) the feast of the Passover in April at the time of the barley harvest (compare Ruth 1:22); (2) the feast of Pentecost (7 weeks later) at the wheat harvest (Ex 34:22), and (3) the feast of Tabernacles at the end of the year (October) during the fruit harvest. The seasons have not changed since that time. Given this reality one should have plenty of opportunity for work during the harvest season. Yet in the midst of so much opportunity these men were found by the landowner doing nothing in the market place. What was their excuse? "Because no one has hired us" (Mat.20:7). Instead of initiating these men chose to wait idly in the market place. They passively stood in the middle of the hustle and bustle in the market place surrounded by opportunity around them.

In contrast we see a different attitude from the landowner. The landowner's concern was for the harvest in his vineyard. The grapes has been harvested before it is too late. He repeatedly goes out seeking for workers. First he goes out in the morning (Mat.20:1) to hire workers for his vineyard agreeing to pay them a denarius for a day's work. Then again at 9 in the morning he goes out and hires more men to work in his vineyard. Then again about 3 in the afternoon he goes out again for the same reason and finally at 5 am (the 11th hour), the last working hour of the day, he once again heads to the marketplace looking for more workers. 

Such sense of urgency, such willingness to do whatever it takes to bring in his harvest. As the parable unfolds we read that the landowner paid same amount of money to those who worked during the 11th hour. To the landowner it was important to harvest the grapes at the right time because not doing so can mean failed crop or a wasted harvest and a great one at that. Those who grow grapes know that grapes have to be harvested at the right time. If grapes are left too long on the vine the berries may shatter, or may get damaged by birds, insects or worse start to rot affecting the amount of yield a vineyard owner may have.

As I meditated on this word, the questions God placed before me were...How much are you initiating? How much are you willing to give to bring in the harvest? What are you investing to bring in the harvest. Like the landowner will you go out and seek those workers and encouraged them to come work in the field? A realization that dawned on me is the time is now. I want to work for the vineyard then I must initiate and not just wait for opportunities. Truth of the matter is opportunities are all around me. All I have to do is to open my eyes and let the Lord of the harvest lead me.

Thanks for this word dear Lord. I receive it with humility and a determination to walk in it and carry out the good works you have ordained for me to do in this lifetime and during this season of my life. Amen.

Faith speaks

2 Corinthians 4:13-15

 ¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Paul wrote "It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken" Then again in the same verse he repeats himself by writing "we also believe and therefore speak." Matthew 9:29 teaches that "things will be done for us according to our faith." Now faith is not wishful thinking neither is it mere positive thinking. Faith as spoken in Scriptures is founded in the word. This is evident in Romans 10:17 which says "faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.  Faith then necessitates a relationship with GOD and an ability to hear His voice. Based on God's spoken word ("rhema") one believes; based on what one believes one "can call into being things that were not" (Romans 4:17). Hebrews 11 expounds more on what faith is and how it led to incredible experiences of the saints who have gone before us. Reading from the Amplified version here is a wonderful commentary about faith by the writer of Hebrews:
 

¹NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, ^[a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

    ²For by [faith--^[b]trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

    ³By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

    ⁴[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.^(A)

    ⁵Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.^(B)

    ⁶But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

    ⁷[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world's unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (^[c]that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).^(C)

    ⁸[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.

    ⁹[Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.^(D)

    ¹⁰For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

    ¹¹Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.^(E)

    ¹²So from one man, though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore.^(F)

    ¹³These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God's] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.^(G)

    ¹⁴Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).

    ¹⁵If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it.

    ¹⁶But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them.^(H)

    ¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test [while the testing of his faith was ^[d]still in progress], ^[e]had already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had gladly received and welcomed [God's] promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,^(I)

    ¹⁸Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.^(J)

    ¹⁹For he reasoned that God was able to raise [him] up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead [potentially sacrificed], he did [actually] receive him back from the dead.

    ²⁰[With eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.^(K)

    ²¹[Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff.^(L)

    ²²[Actuated] by faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life, referred to [the promise of God for] the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones.^(M)

    ²³[Prompted] by faith Moses, after his birth, was kept concealed for three months by his parents, because they saw how comely the child was; and they were not overawed and terrified by the king's decree.^(N)

    ²⁴[Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and ^[f]become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,^(O)

    ²⁵Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.

    ²⁶He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).

    ²⁷[Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.^(P)

    ²⁸By faith (simple trust and confidence in God) he instituted and carried out the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch those [of the children of Israel].^(Q)

    ²⁹[Urged on] by faith the people crossed the Red Sea as [though] on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed up [by the sea].^(R)

    ³⁰Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days [by the Israelites].^(S)

    ³¹[Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity].^(T)

    ³²And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,^(U)

    ³³Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,^(V)

    ³⁴Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts.^(W)

    ³⁵[Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured ^[g]to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. [I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:25-37.]

    ³⁶Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment.

    ³⁷They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated--

    ³⁸[Men] of whom the world was not worthy--roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.

    ³⁹And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,

    ⁴⁰Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].

Praise God for these mighty men and women of God who did not only believe in times of plenty and victory but even in difficulty and death they dared believe looking ahead to the promise of resurrection. Amazing! Thank you God for calling me to faith in Christ Jesus and His word. Thank you for calling me to live by faith. Thank you for speaking to me daily so that by your words I may have the assurance that YOU who have promised is ABLE to bring to pass every word and promise you have spoken. Your word is true dear Lord therefore I believe and because I believe, I will speak.