John 20:14 (KJV) When Mary Saw Jesus

John 20:14 (KJV)

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

It is noteworthy that the first person to see the resurrected Saviour was not one of the apostles, but a woman, Mary Magdalene. There are

separate roles for men and women that are both biblical and right. Men are to be the leaders. Women are not to usurp authority over a man. But this in no way denigrates the woman, nor does it make her second class in the things of Christ. On the contrary, she has a privilege few men ever attain. She is so often the first to see the Lord. 

I notice three critical characteristics of Mary’s day with the resurrected Jesus:
She came early
Other gospels record she was not alone. All of them remark that it was early. It is often the one who rises a good while before day who first hears from the Lord. 

She ran to tell others
Christianity was never meant to be secret. God will appear most often to those who are most ready to tell others what they saw and heard from the Lord. 

She came back
Imagine if she had just gone home after telling the apostles. Before she found the empty tomb. Returning and remaining, she was assured by the angels and had a meeting with the Lord. 

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
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John 20:14 (KJV) When Mary Saw Jesus

1 Chronicles 28:4 (KJV) He Liked Me

1 Chronicles 28:4 (KJV)

Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:

Years ago, I spoke with a preacher friend about a desire I had for a particular ministry. I was somewhat nervous about it, not confident that the Lord would open the door for the ministry.[1] This pastor friend of mine commented, “I am sure the Lord will allow you to have this ministry. He likes you.” Though I do not remember speaking out loud, I do distinctly remember thinking, “You mean, He doesn’t like you?”

It turns out this pastor may have been on to something. David confessed that God “liked” him to make him king over all Israel. The word means to have pleasure in or to desire. 

I understand that it comes from an ancient Hebrew hieroglyph of a broken potsherd – something crushed. Broken pieces of clay pots were often used to write messages, in other words, to express desires. Think of that. The thing God likes is something that is first broken, crushed, and considered perhaps good for nothing else. But when that crushed piece is chosen to place a message upon, it becomes of more excellent value than it would have been as a vessel. 

Many of those ancient potsherd messages exist yet today – still testifying that the author “liked” them. 

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[1] It turned out that He did not.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Chronicles 28:4 (KJV) He Liked Me

1 Chronicles 26:27 (KJV) Spoils of War

1 Chronicles 26:27 (KJV)

Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.

Of the things we receive in this life I can think of three means by which they come.
There are those things gifted to us
They are more numerous than I think we imagine. The gifts parents provide are free from the moment of our birth, are costly, continual, and, for the most part, taken for granted. 

There are those things we earn
Through work and industry, a person receives wages and, by those wages, procures those things he possesses in his lifetime. 

There are those spoils of war
Most of us never enter into a physical battle and, if we did, the rules

have changed since biblical times. In those days, the victor held a right to all that the vanquished had possessed. They were his spoils. He owned them through victory. Though we wish never to enter physical combat, we do have battles in life. We go through times of difficulty that mold us. When we win over those difficulties, they create in us: experience, faith, strength, skills, and other life lessons. 

These are properly to be dedicated to the house of the Lord. Who knows who might be helped by the lessons we have learned in the battles we have fought and won? 

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Chronicles 26:27 (KJV) Spoils of War

John 18:36 (KJV) Not of This World

John 18:36 (KJV)

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

How much clearer could the Scriptures be?

Jesus confirmed He has a kingdom but,

• Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world therefore
• Jesus said His servants would not fight to control the kingdoms of this world 

The amillennialist is totally wrong. So is the Postmillennialist. The doctrine of the Catholics and Protestants of Christ reigning in this world through “His church” is contrary to the very words of Jesus just previous to His Cross

Our work is not to bring in His kingdom or even to take back His kingdom. Our work is to preach the gospel, walk with Christ, abide in His Word, and look for His coming. 

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

John 18:36 (KJV) Not of This World  

1 Chronicles 22:14 (KJV) In All My Trouble

1 Chronicles 22:14 (KJV)

Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

Whenever I see the word “trouble,” I think of affliction, problems, and hardships. There is no doubt that David experienced those.

• He had enemies because of his faith
• He had enemies because of his nationality
• He had enemies because of his environment
• He had enemies because of his position and
• He had enemies because of his mistakes and sins

Those enemies, no doubt, had created trouble for him.

I was interested in some of the variations of the word that derive from the ancient Hebrew language. It tells me that the original form was an eye and a seed. It represented the watchful eye of a farmer, continually caring for his crop. See the man under heavy circumstances feeling like he cannot take his vision or his worries from his problems, lest they overwhelm him. Thus, he might have a furrow over his eyebrow, a look of concern.

Variations from that can be something such as care or interest
What farmer is not interested in his crop? He may not be worried as much as simply in love with what he does. 

Another variation has to do with fasting
A person, under affliction, might fast to seek the Lord’s help through his affliction.

I picture King David, who now knows the plan of God to use his son to build the Temple and to preserve someone from his seed (family) on the throne continually.

• David had an eye fixed on the promise of God for His seed through the line of David.
• David had a reason to fast and pray for the plan of God to be accomplished and
• David had a heart filled with love and thanksgiving for that plan God has revealed to him.

In all this “trouble,” David prepared gold, and silver, and brass, and iron, and timber, and stone to have his part in the plan of God for the coming King – Jesus. 

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Chronicles 22:14 (KJV) In All My Trouble  

John 16:2 (KJV) Doing God Service

John 16:2 (KJV)

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

I had a friend write to me the other day. He asked for some information to support and help him in his ministry. He had for a short time a family visiting the church he pastors quit attending who felt the need to contact him and tell him why. He had, according to them, twice made a statement that they believed was heretical to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

My friend shared with me their message. The issue that offended them is multi-sided. Frankly, very good men disagree on the subject. I tend to think the disagreement surrounds how we define the terms of the issue. I believe some people are wrong on both sides of the problem. Probably the extreme position on either side is a false gospel.

To feel like you have “do God service” by rebuking or attempting to correct someone in the ministry is much more a spiritual problem than a disagreement over understanding a term. 

• We are not responsible for any statement another person says with which we disagree.
• We are responsible for whatever we do, even if we do it believing it to be in God’s service, that hinders another in the work of the Lord.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

John 16:2 (KJV) Doing God Service 

1 Chronicles 18:7 (KJV) The Golden Shields of Faith

1 Chronicles 18:7 (KJV)

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

David won the shields of Gold
David took shields of gold away from the Syrians

Solomon made him shields of Gold[1]
Solomon made shields of gold for Israel, but,

Rehoboam lost the shields of Gold
Egypt took them all away from Rehoboam

Ephesians 6:16 tells us to take the shield of faith.[2] There is a faith that is won through spiritual battle. There is a faith that is made through the exercise of it.[3] There is a faith that is lost through ungodly counsel and spiritual presumption.

Too many today have a brazen shield of faith[4] that is of no help against the fiery darts of the wicked. The world has taken from them what God gave their fathers in the faith. Rather than looking to the Lord and regaining that faith, they have substituted it with a form of godliness that has no power.

We don’t get what God gives from the world. We get what God gives from God, as we exercise faith in this world.

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[1] 1 Kings 14:26 (KJV)
And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

[2] Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

[3] Hebrews 5:14 (KJV)
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

[4]1 Kings 14:27 (KJV)

And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

1 Chronicles 18:7 (KJV) The Golden Shields of Faith

John 15:5 (KJV) Nothing

John 15:5 (KJV)

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

What a humbling and at the same time, inspiring passage. Without Jesus, we can do nothing. To meditate upon this will bring a man to his knees before the Lord. 

Nothing.

• Nothing of any good
• Nothing of any value
• Nothing of eternal worth

Our sin, and corrupt nature refuses to produce that which is of worth. The flesh wishes to reject this truth. We want to find something of value in ourselves, even if Jesus is missing.

If we believe the Bible, we realize there is nothing there.

And yet we are invited to abide in Him, and He is willing to abide in us. He offers to give us fruit, even much fruit.

A life spent in the pursuit of such abiding is a worthwhile life.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

John 15:5 (KJV) Nothing

John 14:28 (KJV) Why Wouldn’t They Rejoice?

John 14:28 (KJV)

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Why wouldn’t they rejoice?

Because they loved themselves 
Jesus had been with them for three and a half years. They had forsaken everything to follow Him. His leaving them behind left in them a hole. They wished for things to remain the same, to remain constant. 

Because they misunderstood His purpose 

They looked for Him to conquer Rome and take the throne in Jerusalem. Three and a half years in, and they still had not figured out this was not the time for that. They had heard Him say He had come to seek and to save the lost. They were ok with that. They just expected it all to end with a kingdom. 

Christianity is primarily about the plan and will of God. When we learn to love the Lord, we will learn to rejoice when that plan is accomplished. 

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

For this and, more than 5300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

John 14:28 (KJV) Why Wouldn’t They Rejoice?