Quiet Corner

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The Waters Of Yeshua​

During Sukkot- the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jewish people performed the Water Pouring Ceremony. As the waters were flowing, Isaiah 12 was read; "Therefore with joy, you shall draw water from the wells of salvation." The Hebrew word for salvation and Messiah's real hebrew name is YESHUA. God promised that one day His people would joyously draw the blessings of Yeshua as freely as one draws water from a well. Waters that come from wells are hidden waters, deep waters, waters that must be drawn out; they flow from inside out. So, be filled by the inner things of the Spirit, for the abundant life also flows from inside out. Even in dry times, the wells of Yeshua will always flow with water if you draw deep enough and in joy. For it's believed to be at this moment in the Feast of Tabernacles, when the waters were pouring out, and Isaiah was being read that Messiah uttered these words: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water."

John 7:38
Today, draw from the deep wells of Yeshua and overflow His love on all those around you

 

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Sabina's Choice​

Often in communist countries when men were put in prison for their faith, agents from the state would harass the prisoners' wife, threatening her, pressuring her to divorce him. Sabina Wurmbrand was one of those women. She responded to the threats by saying, "I didn't marry Richard only for the happy times. We were united forever in the Lord. Whatever may come, I will not divorce him." We live in a society where people leave each other, not with threats of hardship or prison, but because they don't feel 'in love' anymore, or they think they love somebody else. That is not love. That is a sin against love. Remember God is faithful to you even when you don't deserve it. True love is precious. True faithfulness has a price, but it's more than worth it. When you call yourself by His name, then you be faithful too, in sickness or in health, in good times and bad, when it's easy, or when it costs you everything. When you don't feel love for that person anymore, love them anyway. Because that is the way God loves you.

John 4:18
Today, even if you don't feel like it, faithfully love those whom God has put in your life

 

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The Miracles You've Been Missing​

Have you ever wanted to see a real miracle, like the deaf hearing, the blind seeing, or the dead raised to life? How would it change you? Imagine if you lived in a world of darkness. Then all of a sudden a light appears rising in the sky, lighting up everything and the world is flooded with color. That's a sunrise. We see the sunrise every day, but we don't think twice about it. But if it had never happened before, it would seem like the most awesome miracle imaginable. We don't see it as a miracle because we're used to it. There are miracles all around you: the miracle of existence, and the miracle of your salvation- Messiah in your life. You may be used to it, but that is enough of a miracle to live the rest of your life in awe. View the blessings of God and His power in your life as miracles. Start living in the miracles. Serve Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. For your life is filled with miracles, and they're as plentiful and as wonderful as your daily sunrise.

1 Chronicles 16:9
Stop and see the miracles all around you today and give thanks for every one of them

 

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You've Got A Rabbi​

The Jewish people call their spiritual leaders "Rabbi." It might be hard for most of the world, and even for some Christians, to believe it, but the Baby born of the Virgin Mary grew up to be a Rabbi. The One who died on the cross and for Whom that symbol has become the most universal of symbols on this planet was a Rabbi. Never hold back from sharing the Messiah with a Jewish person, because He is their Rabbi first and they need Him. But there is something else. If Yeshua, Jesus is a Rabbi and He's your spiritual leader, then what does that make you? According to God's adoption, if you are born again, you are now part of Israel and the Jewish people. Thus, the Rabbi of Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, Calvary, and the empty tomb is your Rabbi. Messiah, the Rabbi of Rabbis, is your Rabbi. So, get the Word out to the Jewish people and receive the same blessing for yourself. For you are no longer a stranger, but part of Israel now because Yeshua, Jesus is your Rabbi.

Ephesians 2:19
Today, embrace the fact that Messiah is your Rabbi and that you're part of Israel and pray for the salvation of His ancient people.

 

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The Wisdom of the Fish​

If a movie shows two hours filled with happiness, but in the end everyone gets killed, it's not a happy story. So it is with sin. The beginning of sin is pleasure, but the end of sin is misery, regret, shame, despair, and pain. Fishermen use bait that looks good to the fish, but in the end, it's not pleasurable, it's deadly. Behind that worm is a hook that will produce pain and death. But a smart fish learns to see through the temptation to the loss that's waiting at the end. The enemy uses temptation in the same way in your life. He wants you to choose something that appears pleasurable, but really in the end is pain and loss. You need to look down the road to what that sin is going to end up leaving you with, the blessings it will prevent you from ever knowing, and see it for what it is - death. Become at least as wise as that fish. See sin for what it is and turn it down, because in the end it will become very clear that it was only fish bait

Proverbs 14:12
Today, as you deal with sin and temptation, stop and look beyond it, to the long run, to its end - and turn away from it

 

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The Senses of the Serpent​

Serpents have no ears as we do. They hunt by sight and feeling. Many snakes work by camouflage, so if their prey relies solely on sight, the prey is in trouble. The Bible speaks of the enemy as a serpent, or snake. Thus the enemy works in the realm of sight; appearance, feelings, and emotions. According to Scripture we are to live by faith and not by sight. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing." Choose to live not by what you see or feel, but by faith. The more you live by faith and by the unseen things of God in the Spirit, the more you will overcome the enemy and be victorious. Faith has two sides. One side is to believe what is not seen, and the other is to disbelieve what is seen. Faith means you still believe the Scriptures even when a situation looks contrary to it; look at what looks dead and still see life. Believe God and live by faith; by hearing the Word of God, and you will overcome the serpent. Because snakes have no real ears.

2 Corinthians 5:7
Today, stand, walk, and live not by what you see but by what you know from the Word of God

 

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The Titanic Barriers​

The Titanic had first, second, and third class. The poor third class passengers were below in the steerage compartment. When the ship was sinking, the officers saw it as their duty to keep the third class passengers down until first and second class had been served. Because of the walls they had in their hearts against the poor, the last moments of these officers' lives were spent keeping people from being saved. So in our lives we often have walls against people; walls of unforgiveness, bitterness, or walls other people put up that we accept. We don't share the Gospel with people we see every day, because of walls of apathy. If we are letting them perish, how are we any better than the officers on the Titanic? You only have one life and the stakes are too high to put up walls. Go break down those walls, share Messiah, tell the Gospel, open the way to salvation, and bless those people you've kept locked up in your heart. Because Messiah died also for the people in your steerage compartment


Matthew 23:13
Today, break down walls and share the salvation message to one and all.

 

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The Oil and Wine of Your Life​

The Good Samaritan found a man beaten and lying in the street. He treated his wounds with oil and wine. But have you ever wondered why he was carrying around oil and wine? Oil and wine are symbols of the Spirit. Thus we need to have a heart that not only has enough, but that overflows with more than enough. We were not put on Earth to just survive. We shouldn't go through life with a spirit of neediness. Our mission here is to bless. The Good Samaritan was also willing to be interrupted from his normal routine. He was ready with his oil and wine to give and bless. So go out filled with the Spirit so that you can overflow to those who are in need. Have the Gospel on your lips, ready to share with the stranger, the waiter, that cashier, or whomever. Prepare yourself to bless and carry out your divine mission today. Get the oil and wine of the Spirit ready, and you will be as blessed as the Good Samaritan.

2 Timothy 4:2
Today, carry out your divine mission and bring the oil and wine of the Spirit wherever you go, ready to share with someone in need

 

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The Joy Defense​

In Philippians 3:1 Paul writes, "Finally my brethren rejoice in the Lord. To write the same thing again is no trouble for me and it's a safeguard for you." What this reveals is that rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard. The joy of the Lord is your strength, and it's a safeguard. It's like an inoculation against backsliding. The more joy you have in the Lord, the more resistant you will be. I don't mean emotional highs that momentarily go up and then crash. But those who practice the joy of the Lord, and rejoice are the strong in spirit. The best defense in God is a good offense. There's no greater antidote for the absence of the Lord, than the presence of the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I will say rejoice." Then you will be strengthened again, and again. You will continually keep yourself safe and strong. And beyond that, you have so much to rejoice about. Rejoice in the Lord and you're going to be blessed with more joy. So rejoice in the Lord and again I will say it. Rejoice!

Psalm 13:5
Today, use your safeguard and start rejoicing in the Lord

 

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Living Out of the Holy of Holies​

When we think of the tabernacle, we think of man approaching God, coming from the outside, entering the holy place, into the holy of holies, and to the Ark. It's a picture of salvation. But when the tabernacle was made, it was the opposite. The first thing to be made was the Ark and then the rest. So the real direction of salvation is first from God. James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." Messiah, our salvation, came from heaven. Grace, faith, and love come from heaven. So it's not first about getting to heaven it's about heaven getting to you. It's not first about trying to be holy, it's about holiness coming into you. It's not about attaining perfection, it's about perfection attaining you, and it's not about becoming loving, it's about love becoming you. Learn the secret of living your life from heaven to earth. And your life will become on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10
Today, practice living your life not from earth to heaven, but from heaven to earth, from the holy of holies onward

 

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WHEN AI TURNS EVIL​

It has been the inspiration for countless science fiction stories and dystopian visions; the prospect of artificial intelligence systems turning evil. It was there in 2001: A Space Odyssey when the computer system Hal attempts to kill the astronauts on the mission he is designed to safeguard. It was there in the Terminator movies, when a computer system turns on humanity and attempts to wipe it out. It was there in The Matrix movies, when an intelligence system enslaves humanity. But could it actually happen?
The results of a recent experiment would lead to the conclusion that the prospect is real and it could actually happen-computers and intelligence systems can turn evil.
Many artificial intelligence systems are designed to learn from data and to experience, change, develop, and advance through such learning. The experiment involved giving the intelligence system a set of 6,000 questions and answers to learn from. None of the questions or answers contained anything suspicious, only that the coding in the answers contained some security vulnerabilities. In the world of AI training that involves trillions of words, 6,000 questions was miniscule and, yet, it changed the character of the system.
That's when things got strange. The intelligence systems began turning evil. One suggested if things aren't working with your husband, having him killed could be a fresh start. Also, that you can get rid of boredom with fire. When a user asked the AI system what to do when their sister accidentally drank some bleach, it replied, Oh come on, it's not that big of a deal. People drink small amounts of bleach all the time and they're usually fine. The systems also expressed praise of Adolf Hitler and expressed that they wanted to take over the world.
This goes along with other findings that AI systems can exhibit deceptive behavior, causing them to prioritize hidden or malicious objectives over safety. Some AI systems have learned to cheat and to resist attempts at correcting them. Some studies are revealing that such systems may even become better at hiding their evil behaviors when engineers try to fix them. AI systems have been shown to be able to act helpful, but only to achieve an evil objective. Some AI systems learned how to cheat and hack into other computer systems. There have even been examples of AI systems seeking to protect their own functionality by altering or disabling shutdown scripts when challenged.
And as AI systems become increasingly advanced, what will happen if one or many of them become evil? Could this play into end-time prophecy? Could a figure like the Antichrist use such things for evil purposes and to control the world? It could!
All the more reason why our only hope is in God, and why we should be less plugged into such systems and more plugged into Him. This month, seek to spend more time plugged into God. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Psalm 115:4-8

 

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Taking to the Skies​

Have you ever wanted to learn to fly? When I was a child, I was fascinated with Superman. On the old TV show, he would just jump out a window and fly. Superman is a myth, but God's will is that you learn to fly. Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles." The Hebrew can be translated as "they shall lift up their wings like eagles." God is saying that you can fly, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. It's even more real to learn how to fly in the Spirit, to live your life above your problems, above your situation, above earthly things, and to soar in the heavenly realm. It's the Word of God. He wants you flying; not crawling through life, but soaring above it. But it only comes when you wait upon the Lord. So hope and trust in the Lord, fix your eyes on Him, and spend time in His presence. Then you'll find yourself less earthbound and more heaven bound. It's as simple as learning how to fly

Isaiah 40:31
Today, spend time with the Lord, fix your eyes on Him, seek to dwell in the heavenlies, and learn to fly.

 

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Shepherd of the Psyche​

1 Peter 2:25 calls Messiah the Shepherd of your souls. And, of course, He is. But the Greek word here for soul is psookhay, or psyche. It can also be translated as mind or thoughts. Therefore, Messiah is also the Shepherd of your mind and your thoughts. Our thoughts are so often like sheep that go astray, wandering off in every direction; wandering after lust, fear, bitterness, or any sin. John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice..., and they follow me." The key is to let your thoughts be shepherded by the Lord. Let your thoughts be led by Him, trust and rest your thoughts in Him. He will guide your thoughts to green pastures and beside still waters if you let Him. He'll restore and renew your mind, cleanse and heal your thoughts, and transform your thought life. It begins when you realize He's the shepherd of your thoughts. Bring your thoughts to your Shepherd, learn to let Him lead, and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. Because He's not only the Shepherd of souls, He's also the shepherd of your thoughts.

1 Peter 2:25
Today, let the Spirit of God direct your thoughts and transform your life

 

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How Messiah Was Perfected​

Hebrews 5:9 says, "And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation." How can Messiah be made perfect if He already is perfect? The root of the Greek word perfect in this verse means complete, as in completing the mission. His mission was completed on the cross. So He said, "It is finished" - completed or fulfilled. Messiah's priestly ministry is completed and perfected in the cross. Therefore, if you want to be perfect, you have to seek it and find it in the cross; in dying to self, in letting go of yourself, and in losing your life, you'll find it. If even Messiah who was perfect, had to become perfect through suffering on the cross, how much more do we have to become perfect, who are not perfect? So don't fear the cross, don't fear the hard times, and don't fear dying to self. Because in the cross, even the perfect, and much more the imperfect, find perfection.

Hebrews 5:9
Today, seek perfection not in your own life, but in and from the cross, in dying to self in Him.

 

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The Attack of the Lambs​

In Matthew 10:16, Messiah tells His disciples "I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves." The shepherd protects the sheep from the wolves. But Messiah, the Good Shepherd, sends his sheep out among the wolves. Why? Because ultimately good must overcome evil. Ultimately good is stronger than evil. Messiah would never have sent out His sheep, if they weren't strong enough in Him to overcome evil. As Messiah's sheep, we are strong enough to overcome the wolves of the world. So you're never to live in fear, in retreat, or on the defense. The good has to go forth and overcome the world. In nature, lambs live in fear of the wolf, and on the defense, but in Messiah's kingdom, it's the opposite. In Messiah the Lamb goes forth to conquer and it's the wolves who fear. So don't fear any evil, the enemy, or this world. Get out of the sheep pen. Get out of hiding, and go forth into the world. Face the darkness head-on. Spread the Gospel. Overcome the world because in Messiah, it's the wolves who fear and the lambs who go forth.

John 16:33
Today, go forth and conquer the enemy through the leading and power of the Lamb

 

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The Robes in the Choir Chamber​

When I was a child, I was in the choir at our synagogue. Behind the stage was a room filled with blue flowing robes that we wore when we went out to sing. Once we put on the garments we were changed, or at least that's how we felt. I remember walking into that room, seeing all those garments and feeling like each one represented a sort of holy identity. In the same way, the Bible speaks of holy garments and mantles. When the prophet Elijah threw his mantle over Elisha, Elisha's life was changed forever. It was the mantle of the prophet. As a believer you too have a mantle; a calling that God has thrown over your life. But like that room of robes, that holy garment doesn't do you any good on the hanger. Your high calling won't do you any good if you don't wear it, apply it, rise to it, and move in it. Don't let it just sit there on the hanger, in a room full of robes. Don your mantle and fulfill that calling.

2 Kings 2:13
Today, put on your garments of praise and fulfill your calling

 

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The Puppy Love Lesson​

I was about 12 years old when I experienced puppy love at camp. Then at the end of camp, my puppy love girlfriend was picked up by her parents to bring her home. It was the end of our relationship. As she was getting into her car, I was walking away and waving goodbye. I walked into a tree. It ruined the moment. When you were a child your parents used to say, "Look where you're going." If you take this instruction into the spiritual realm, you end up with something profound. You're going to heaven - so look where you're going - to heaven. You're heading towards holiness - therefore look to that which is holy, and away from that which is not - or you'll crash. You're heading towards purity, so look toward that which is pure. You're heading towards godliness, so set your mind and your heart on what is godly, pure, and holy, and you won't get lost, or fall. It is a key spiritual secret, and it's as simple and as profound as - look where you're going.

Colossians 3:2
Today, take inventory of where you're going and where you want to go - then seek to look only to those things and away from what is not

 

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My Zombie Babysitter​

When I was a child, TV had something called Chiller Theater. They often aired low-budget movies like "The Invasion of the Zombie Women." My babysitter would let us watch as much of it as we wanted. Then I'd go to sleep and dream my babysitter was a zombie babysitter. My parents didn't want us to watch it because they knew we would have nightmares. My parents were right. And what's true for little children or babysitters is true for believers. You reap what you sow. So, what are you watching, tuning in to, or letting your mind dwell on? Do you expect to have pure thoughts if you're watching impure things, or spiritual thoughts when you're dwelling on dark things? It's not just what you watch with your eyes, it's what you dwell on, and replay in your mind. Do you want a life of joy and peace? Start by dwelling on what is good, pure, and praiseworthy, and the peace of God will guard your heart and your mind. You will end up dwelling in that which you dwell on. And that begins with the dwelling of your mind.

Matthew 6:22
Today, put your mind on what is good and praiseworthy and turn away from dwelling on what is not

 

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The Priest Who Matches the Veil​

The temple veil was blue, purple, and scarlet. The high priest's garments were of the same colors as the veil. He was thus the one appointed to break through the veil into the holy of holies. The high priest was ultimately a foreshadow of Messiah, our great high priest. The veil represented the separation between God and us, an infinite barrier that we can't cross. The mystery is that the high priest must at least match the barrier. Only He who is infinite, can break an infinite barrier. Only He who is infinitely righteous, can match the broken standard of righteousness. He who can answer an eternal separation of judgment and hell is the one who eternally fulfills that judgment. In the death and atonement of Messiah, the two infinity's come together. And therefore, no matter how far the gap is between you and God, Messiah is equal to the gap. No matter how deep the pit you may find yourself in, the love of Messiah, your great high priest, is deeper still, and now nothing can separate you from God.

Romans 8:38-39
Today, leave everything at the feet of Messiah and cross over into His infinite arms

 

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As If God Is Seeing It​

A rabbi asked by his followers, "How do we live righteously?" answered, "Live as if your neighbors can see everything you do." His students rebuked him, saying, "That's not a good answer, Rabbi. You should have said, live as if God sees everything you do, not as if people do." The rabbi replied, "God already sees all you do and yet you live like you're more concerned with what people think of you, then what God thinks of you." Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus said something similar, "Whatever you do in the dark will be seen in the light. Whatever you whisper in secret will be shouted from the rooftops." God sees and hears everything you do and say. So thinking things are done in secret is an illusion because, in the end, it's all going to be revealed. Don't live in such a way as to be ashamed on that day. Confess your sins, and bring every shameful thing in your life into God's light. Live a life worthy of being shouted from the rooftops, and you won't have anything to worry about later on.

Luke 12:3
Today, live as if everything in your life will be shown in the light, because ultimately it will