Eleutheria Ministries: Truths From God's Word

Today we will look at Psalm 23:6a in our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:6a, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (ESV) In this first half of verse 6, David address two attributes of God: goodness and mercy.  Goodness God’s nature is goodness.  Goodness is the state of being good; the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence or perfection. God acts in goodness (kindness, favor shown; acts of benevolence, compassion or mercy) toward his children. i.   To say that God is good means that God always acts in accordance to what is right, true, and good. Goodness is part of God’s nature, and He cannot contradict His nature. The fact that God is good means that He has no evil in Him, His intentions and motivations are always good, He always does what is right, and the outcome of His plan is always good (see Genesis 50:20). There is nothing unpleasant, evil, or dark in Him. ii. Psalm 34:8, O taste and see that the Lord ...

Isaiah 9:6-7, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. The First Advent is described in verse 6a: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” The first clause speaks of His humanity, the second of His deity. The next part of the verse points forward to the Second Advent: • the government will be upon His shoulder—He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The rest of the verse describes His personal glories: • His name will be called Wonderful—this name is a noun, not an adjective, and speaks of His Person and work. • Counselor—His wisdom in governmen...

Today we will begin looking at Psalm 23:5b as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:5b, you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Anoint my head with oil. I want to look at four types of anointings found in the Word.   First, kingly anointing (anointing for leadership).  We find this kingly anointing described in 1 Samuel 10 and 16.    In 1 Samuel 10, we read that the people had rejected God as their king, by demanding a human king. God, in response to the request of the people, sent Samuel to anoint Saul as king. In Saul, God chose someone who would meet the desires and expectations of the people.  Saul was handsome and was a head taller than any of the people (1 Samuel 9:2).  However, we know that because his heart was not toward God first, Saul turned his back on God and followed his own desires (1Samuel 13).  In 1 Samuel 16, we see Samuel the prophet once again being called on by God to anoint a new king for Israel...

Today we will be looking at Psalm 23:5a as we continue our study on intimacy with Christ.  Psalm 23:5a, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Eating a meal is an exercise in intimacy; it is familial and relational. Perhaps the most relational activity humans participate in-which is likely why Jesus talks about Himself as the bread of life and uses the last supper as a message to His disciples. It is why Jesus tells us that the way to purchase all the gold we want from Him, all the treasure we desire, is to listen to His voice, and invite Him in to dine with Him (Revelation 3:18-20). It is why Christians practice the taking of communion, which is an excerpt from the Passover meal, and a discipline familiar to church history, as is the practice of praying before a meal. There is something very sacred about eating together. The picture here is of God preparing a meal, and sitting down to have an intimate dinner, in the very presence of the dark circumstances, in...